Is This Just the Beginning For Home Depot?

Today we report on Home Depot’s decision to abandon the opening of 50 new stores and close 15 stores. That might not seem like much considering that the chain has more than 2,200 stores, but we would image that few people would have predicted this a couple years ago.It seems like every chain is pulling back from their ambitious expansion plans, from Starbucks to Kohl’s. We’re in an environment where store closures and bankruptcies are expected. But since we are dealing with a housing slump it sure seems as though chains like Home Depot and competitor Lowe’s, which is also slowing is growth, are especially susceptible.Is a pullback in expansion and a slight shedding of stores enough for Home Depot to keep its head above water, or will things get more extreme for the home-improvement giant? Could any of this be a result of overexpansion?