The Acquired podcast's deep dive, released September 25, 2026, found Home Depot delivered the highest return of any S&P 500 stock over 45 years: $1,000 at its 1981 IPO would be worth about $16 million. The discussion covers the four-store Atlanta IPO, the equity given to tradespeople on the floor, and why stagnant housing turnover has left comparable sales up just 1.7%. The $16 million figure became the headline number, and on October 14 Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and $400 price target after touring an Atlanta store.