The world's largest home improvement finished strong in 2019, with a 5.3% U.S. comp-store-sales number for U.S. stores. Here are five keys to that fourth-quarter performance, as described by the company's top merchant – Executive VP of Merchandising Ted Decker. Looking ahead to 2020, Decker emphasized the retail power of cordless products. The retailer will reset its outdoor power equipment bays in the first half of the year, as more customers embrace cordless. Environmental friendliness is one selling point of cordless OPE. Another is advances in power and runtime. Borrowing from its power tool department, Home Depot is resetting its OPE assortment by brand. "Through this new presentation, customers can clearly see and easily shop the value proposition that these cordless platforms bring," Decker said.