Home Depot Letting the Online Game Come to It

Home Depot (HD Quote), the bolts-to-nuts home-improvement retailer, soon will roll out its much-anticipated e-commerce unit.

While the company isn't saying much, except to confirm that it will launch e-commerce efforts in the Las Vegas market next month, analysts already are buzzing about the site, which they say will offer all of the 40,000-plus products available in the typical Home Depot store, along with a range of delivery options.

The e-commerce push likely won't goose Home Depot's stock, which is 29% off its highs amid fears that the economy is slowing. And the entire online home-improvement market -- worth only about $100 million this year, according to Jupiter Communications -- is a mere pittance compared with Home Depot's $38 billion in sales last year. ...