Home Depot Inc. (HD)

The majority of Home Depot’s merchandise inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market, as determined by the retail inventory method. As the inventory retail value is adjusted regularly to reflect market conditions, the inventory valued using the retail method approximates the lower of cost or market. Certain subsidiaries, including retail operations in Canada and Mexico, and distribution centers, record merchandise inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value, as determined by a cost method. These merchandise inventories represent approximately 29% of the total merchandise inventories balance. Home Depot evaluates the inventory valued using a cost method at the end of each quarter to ensure that it is carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The valuation allowance for merchandise inventories valued under a cost method was not material to Home Depot’s consolidated financial statements at the end of fiscal 2018 or fiscal 2017.

Independent physical inventory counts or cycle counts are taken on a regular basis in each store and distribution center to ensure that amounts reflected in merchandise inventories are properly stated. Shrink (or in the case of excess inventory, "swell") is the difference between the recorded amount of inventory and the physical inventory. Home Depot calculates shrink based on actual inventory losses occurring as a result of physical inventory counts during each fiscal period and estimated inventory losses occurring between physical inventory counts. The estimate for shrink occurring in the interim period between physical inventory counts is calculated on a store-specific basis based on recent shrink results and current trends in the business.

Source: 10-K (filing date: 2019-03-28).

Home Depot Inc., balance sheet: inventory

US$ in millions

		Feb 3, 2019		Jan 28, 2018		Jan 29, 2017		Jan 31, 2016		Feb 1, 2015		Feb 2, 2014
	Merchandise inventories

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-03-28), 10-K (filing date: 2018-03-22), 10-K (filing date: 2017-03-23), 10-K (filing date: 2016-03-24), 10-K (filing date: 2015-03-26), 10-K (filing date: 2014-03-27).