Will the Worsening Lumber Shortage Derail Home Depot and Lowe's?

Walk into any Home Depot (NYSE: HD) or Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) stores these days and there is a good chance you will be struck by what you don't see: merchandise. A recent visit to my local Home Depot found the lumber racks virtually picked clean, with just a few stray pieces of dimensional lumber scattered about. The lumber shortage is not the fault of either retailer, but yet another bit of collateral damage from the coronavirus pandemic.