Atlanta-based Home Depot's strong fourth quarter overshadowed by weakening sales and expectations for 2024

A view of the exterior of the Home Depot in Niles, Ill., Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Home Depot’s sales continued to fade during the fourth quarter as the country’s largest home improvement retailer feels the impact of high mortgage rates and inflation on its customers.

While quarterly results topped Wall Street expectations, the Atlanta company’s sales expectations for this year weighed on shares early.

Shares slipped more than 2% before the opening bell Tuesday. Rival Lowe’s, which reports fourth-quarter earnings next week, fell more than 2%.