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PROFIT MARGINS FOR U.S. HOME SELLERS MOSTLY UNCHANGED DURING SECOND QUARTER DESPITE RENEWED PRICE SPIKE

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Returns on Typical U.S. Home Sales Increase Slightly to 56 Percent; Margins Generally Flat Even as Median U.S. Home Price Hits New High During Spring Buying Season; Median Raw Profits Rise Back Over $130,000

IRVINE, Calif., July 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, today released its second-quarter 2024 U.S. Home Sales Report, which shows that home sellers earned a 55.8 percent profit margin on typical single-family home and condo sales in the United States during the second quarter. That figure was largely unchanged, rising about one percentage point from the first quarter of 2024, but remaining down one point from the second quarter of last year.

The nationwide investment return barely moved, and still was far behind a highwater mark hit in 2022, despite the median U.S. home price shooting up during the 2024 Spring home-buying season to a new record of $365,000.

The price surge did help boost typical raw profits for sellers back over $130,000. That nearly marked a new all-time peak. But it failed to broadly boost profit margins – the percentage return on investment – around the country because the renewed price surge was not enough to outpace spikes recent sellers had been absorbing when they originally bought their homes.

“The second-quarter profit report offers a mixed bag of plusses and minuses that added up to an overall picture of not much change for sellers,” said Rob Barber, chief executive officer for ATTOM. “Prices jumped back upward, which was great news for owners. So did raw profits. Profit margins also remained historically elevated. But the bottom-line profit-margin trend didn’t move much at all because soaring prices are far from a new thing. Even greater price improvements will be needed to kick margins up over the rest of the year.”

The latest price and profit numbers reflect a period when the national median home value shot up 9 percent quarterly and 6 percent annually. Those gains came amid the usual Springtime rise in demand among house hunters, combined with home-mortgage rates remaining relatively stable at just below 7 percent for a 30-year fixed loan, and historically tight supplies of homes for sale that made bargains few and far between. 

The price increases, however, did not boost investment returns notably because median values had been rising about 8 percent quarterly and 7 percent annually during the time when homeowners were buying the properties they then sold during the second-quarter of this year. Those similar price patterns largely cancelled each other out.

Profit margins tick upward quarterly while still down annually in majority of nation
Typical profit margins – the percent difference between median purchase and resale prices – increased from the first quarter of 2024 to the second quarter of 2024 in 94 (58.8 percent) of the 160 metropolitan statistical areas around the U.S. with sufficient data to analyze. But they remained down annually in 100, or 62.5 percent, of those metros.

They also were down in about three quarters of those areas from the second quarter of 2022, when the nationwide return on median-priced home sales peaked at 64.3 percent.

The higher end of the housing market – metro areas where home values mostly topped $350,000 – absorbed the brunt of the year-over-year softening of profit margins. About three quarters of those areas saw typical margins decline compared to about half of lower-priced markets. Metro areas were included if they had sufficient population and at least 1,000 single-family home and condo sales in the second quarter of 2024.

The biggest year-over-year decreases in typical profit margins came in the metro areas of Hilo, HI (margin down from 80.5 percent in the second quarter of 2023 to 45.3 percent in the second quarter of 2024); Port St. Luce, FL (down from 95 percent to 73.9 percent); Daphne-Fairhope, FL (down from 49.8 percent to 34 percent); Crestview–Fort Walton Beach, FL (down from 60.7 percent to 45.1 percent) and Naples, FL (down from 84.9 percent to 69.2 percent).

The biggest annual profit-margin decreases in metro areas with a population of at least 1 million in the second quarter of 2024 were in Honolulu, HI (return down from 51.8 percent to 38.5 percent); Austin, TX (down from 50.3 percent to 40.3 percent); Nashville, TN (down from 72.9 percent to 63.3 percent); Seattle, WA (down from 94.4 percent to 85 percent) and San Antonio, TX (down from 34.9 percent to 27 percent).

The biggest annual improvements in returns on investment came in Syracuse, NY (margin up from 51.6 percent in the second quarter of 2023 to 71.8 percent in the second quarter of 2024); Rockford, IL (up from 54.8 percent to 74.5 percent); Scranton, PA (up from 79.9 percent to 97.7 percent); Lansing, MI (up from 50.1 percent to 62.7 percent) and Roanoke, VA (up from 45.1 percent to 56.1 percent).

The largest annual increases in profit margins among metro areas with a population of at least 1 million came in Rochester, NY (up from 66.2 percent to 76 percent); Cleveland, OH (up from 53.5 percent to 61 percent); Hartford, CT (up from 65.8 percent to 73.3 percent); Chicago, IL (up from 39.5 percent to 46.1 percent) and Providence, RI (up from 73.3 percent to 78.8 percent).

Investment returns still exceed 50 percent in two-thirds of U.S.
Despite the latest trends, returns on investment for median-priced home sales during the second quarter of 2024 surpassed 50 percent in 106 of the metro areas analyzed (66.3 percent). That was down from almost three quarters of those areas in the second quarter of last year but far above the level of about 10 percent five years ago.

The investment return leaders among areas with a population of at least 1 million in the second quarter of this year were San Jose, CA (typical return of 109.6 percent); Seattle, WA (85 percent); San Francisco, CA (83.6 percent); Boston, MA (81.3 percent) and Miami, FL (80.3 percent).

Among areas with a population of at least 1 million, those with the lowest typical returns were in New Orleans, LA (24.4 percent); San Antonio, TX (27 percent); Houston, TX (34.8 percent); Virginia Beach, VA (37.3 percent) and Dallas, TX (37.9 percent).

Raw profits return to near-record level
The raw profit on median-priced home sales nationwide, measured in dollars, rose 10.1 percent quarterly and 5.2 percent annually during the months running from April through June of 2024. The latest raw profit of $130,712 marked the high point since a level of $135,000 in the Spring of 2022.

Typical raw profits were up quarterly in 134, or 83.8 percent, of the markets analyzed, and annually in 86, or 53.8 percent.

The biggest year-over-year increases in raw profits on typical sales among metro areas with a population of at least 1 million were in Chicago, IL (up 21.6 percent); Hartford, CT (up 18.4 percent); Rochester, NY (up 18 percent); Cleveland, OH (up 17 percent) and New York, NY (up 15 percent).

Raw profits on median-priced sales exceeded $100,000 during the second quarter in 62.5 percent of the metro areas analyzed, with 18 of the top 20 along the east or west coasts. They were led by San Jose, CA (raw profit of $836,500); San Francisco, CA ($547,000); San Diego, CA ($400,000); Los Angeles, CA ($375,500) and Barnstable, MA ($365,000).

The 30 lowest raw profits were all in the Midwest or South. The smallest were in Shreveport, LA ($8,063); Beaumont, TX ($27,266); Columbus, GA ($37,703); Lubbock, TX ($38,083) and Peoria, IL ($38,700).

Spring buying season of 2024 spurs quarterly and annual price surges
Nationwide, the median price of single-family homes and condos jumped from $335,000 in the first quarter of this year to $365,000 in the second quarter. It also was up from $344,000 in the second quarter of last year.

The typical value increased quarterly in 95.7 percent of the metro areas around the country with enough data to analyze and annually in 89.6 percent. It hit new highs in about 75 percent of those markets.

The Midwest and Northeast benefitted most from the latest price spike, with about three-quarters of the metro areas in those regions seeing gains of at least 5 percent annually.

Metro areas with the biggest year-over-year increases in median home prices were Des Moines, IA (up 16.8 percent); Trenton, NJ (up 16.2 percent); Fort Wayne, IN (up 15.2 percent); Scranton, PA (up14.3 percent) and Albany, NY (up 14.1 percent).

The largest annual median-price increases in metro areas with a population of at least 1 million were in San Jose, CA (up 11.5 percent); Detroit, MI (up 11.3 percent); Hartford, CT (up 11.1 percent); New York, NY (up 9.9 percent) and Miami, FL (up 9.7 percent).

Metro areas with a population of at least 1 million where the median home price went down most from the second quarter of last year to the same period this year were Austin, TX (down 3.1 percent); Memphis, TN (down 3 percent); Honolulu, HI (down 2.5 percent); Birmingham, AL (down 2.2 percent) and San Antonio, TX (down 1.4 percent).

Historical Median Home Sales Prices 

Homeownership tenure up slightly
Homeowners who sold in the second quarter of 2024 had owned their homes an average of 7.88 years. That was up from 7.7 years in the first quarter of 2024 and from 7.59 years in the second quarter of 2023.

Average tenure was up from the second quarter of 2023 to the same period this year in 80 percent of metro areas with sufficient data. The largest annual increases were in Lake Havasu City, AZ (tenure up 18 percent); Redding, CA (up 16 percent); Salinas, CA (up 15 percent); Manchester, NH (up 13 percent) and Vallejo, CA (up 12 percent).

The longest 35 average tenures for owners who sold in the second quarter were again in the Northeast or West regions of the U.S. They were led by Barnstable, MA (13.46 years); Bridgeport, CT (12.58 years); Hartford, CT (12.4 years); Santa Rosa, CA (12.29 years) and Boston, MA (12.25 years).

Average U.S. Homeownership Tenure

The smallest average tenures among second-quarter sellers were in Crestview–Fort Walton Beach, FL (6.55 years); Panama City, FL (6.59 years); Ocala, FL (6.61 years); Oklahoma City, OK (6.67 years) and Austin, TX (6.71 years).

Lender-owned foreclosures back down again
Home sales following foreclosures by banks and other lenders represented just 1.4 percent, or one of every 73 U.S. single-family home and condo sales in the second quarter of 2024. That was down from 1.7 percent in the first quarter of 2024 and from 1.5 percent in the second quarter of last year. The figure continues to represent just a tiny fraction of the 30.1 percent peak this century hit in early 2009 during the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2007.

Among metro areas with sufficient data, those where REO sales represented the largest portion of all sales in the second quarter of 2024 included Honolulu (5.9 percent, or one in 17 sales); Shreveport, LA (4.8 percent); St. Louis, MO (4.2 percent); Flint, MI (3.7 percent) and Baton Rouge, LA (3.3 percent).

Cash sales decline as portion of all transactions
Nationwide, all-cash purchases accounted for 39.1 percent of single-family home and condo sales in the second quarter of 2024. That was down slightly from 41.6 percent in the first quarter of 2024, although up from 37.1 percent in the second quarter of last year.

“Cash-sale levels dropped a bit in the second quarter, but remained above average as mortgage rates hovered back and forth around 7 percent for 30-year fixed loan,” Barber said. “With no sign that rates are headed down significantly, which would lower borrowing costs, we are likely to continue seeing higher portions of cash deals.”

Among metropolitan areas with sufficient data, those where all-cash sales represented the largest share of all transactions in the second quarter of 2024 included Myrtle Beach, SC (68.7 percent of all sales); Claremont–Lebanon, NH (63.6 percent); Naples, FL (61.5 percent); Utica, NY (61.2 percent) and Columbus, GA (60.8 percent).

Those where cash sales represented the smallest share of all transactions in the second quarter of 2024 included Greeley, CO (16.4 percent); Vallejo, CA (19 percent); Charleston, WV (19.2 percent); Jacksonville, NC (22 percent) and Stockton, CA (22 percent).

Institutional investment drops
Institutional investors nationwide accounted for 6 percent, or one of every 17 single-family home and condo purchases in the second quarter of 2024. That was down from 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2024 and from 6.6 percent in the second quarter of last year.

Among states with enough data to analyze, those with the largest percentages of sales to institutional investors in the second quarter of 2024 included Tennessee (8.7 percent of all sales), Alabama (8.2 percent), Oklahoma (8.1 percent), Georgia (8.1 percent) and Mississippi (8 percent).

States with the smallest levels of sales to institutional investors in the second quarter of 2024 included Rhode Island (2.1 percent), New Hampshire (2.8 percent), Maine (3.1 percent), New York (3.3 percent) and Massachusetts (3.7 percent).

Historical Home Sales by Type

FHA-financed purchases also dip downward
Nationwide, buyers using Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans comprised 8.3 percent of all single-family home and condo purchases in the second quarter of 2024 (one of every 12). That was down from 8.6 percent in the first quarter of 2024 and from 9.1 percent a year earlier.

Among metropolitan areas with sufficient FHA-buyer data, those with the highest levels of sales to FHA purchasers in the second quarter of 2024 included Lakeland, FL (24.2 percent of all sales); Merced, CA (23.3 percent); Bakersfield, CA (21.5 percent); Kennewick, WA (20.1 percent) and Visalia, CA (19.7 percent).

Report methodology
The ATTOM U.S. Home Sales Report provides percentages of REO sales and all sales that are sold to institutional investors and cash buyers, at the state and metropolitan statistical area. Data is also available at the county and zip code level, upon request. The data is derived from recorded sales deeds, foreclosure filings and loan data. Statistics for previous quarters are revised when each new report is issued as more deed data becomes available.

Definitions
All-cash purchase: sale where no loan is recorded at the time of sale and where ATTOM has coverage of loan data.

Homeownership tenure: for a given market and given quarter, the average time between the most recent sale date and the previous sale date, expressed in years.

Home seller price gains: the difference between the median sales price of homes in a given market in a given quarter and the median sales price of the previous sale of those same homes, expressed both in a dollar amount and as a percentage of the previous median sales price.

Institutional investor purchases: residential property sales to non-lending entities that purchased at least 10 properties in a calendar year.

REO sale: a sale of a property that occurs while the property is actively bank owned (REO).

About ATTOM
ATTOM provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency, and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation’s population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes, and enhances the real estate data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID — the ATTOM ID. The 30TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include ATTOM Cloud, bulk file licenses, property data APIs, real estate market trends, property navigator and more. Also, introducing our newest innovative solution, making property data more readily accessible and optimized for AI applications– AI-Ready Solutions.

Media Contact:
Megan Hunt
megan.hunt@attomdata.com 

Data and Report Licensing:
datareports@attomdata.com

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In HelloNation, Real Estate Expert Lee Malcom Explains Why Local Knowledge Matters When Buying Older Homes

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October 26, 2026

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The article outlines key inspection priorities and explains how local expertise helps buyers evaluate older properties.

MONROE, Ga., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What should buyers look for when purchasing an older home?

HelloNation published an article that answers this question, drawing on insights from Lee Malcom, real estate expert at Malcom & Malcom Realty Professionals LLC in Monroe, Georgia.

The article examines the unique opportunities and responsibilities of buying older homes. While many buyers are drawn to historic details, mature landscaping, and established neighborhoods, the article explains that age can also bring maintenance concerns that deserve careful evaluation before a purchase.

According to a HelloNation article, one of the most important areas to assess during an older-home inspection is the roof. Roofing systems naturally deteriorate over time, and replacement costs can be substantial. The article notes that understanding the roof’s age, condition, and maintenance history can help buyers anticipate future expenses and avoid unexpected repairs. Professional evaluations can also reveal leaks, damaged materials, and ventilation issues that may not show up during a casual walkthrough.

The article also highlights the importance of reviewing plumbing systems. Many older homes contain materials and components installed decades ago that may no longer meet modern standards. Corrosion, leaks, and reduced water pressure can create challenges for homeowners. The article explains that evaluating plumbing systems before purchase allows buyers to better understand potential upgrade or repair needs.

Electrical systems represent another key area of focus. The article explains that older wiring, electrical panels, and outlets may have been designed for households with much lower power demands than today. Modern families often rely on many electronic devices and appliances, so it’s important to determine whether existing electrical systems can safely support current usage.

The article also discusses foundation concerns as part of a comprehensive evaluation process. The article explains that while minor cracks may be common in some homes, larger issues can signal structural problems. Uneven floors, sticking doors, and visible foundation movement may warrant additional professional assessment before buyers decide to purchase.

The HelloNation article emphasizes that a detailed inspection of an older home can uncover concerns early and provide valuable information about future maintenance responsibilities. Understanding the condition of major systems allows buyers to make more informed decisions and prepare for potential ownership costs.

Beyond physical inspections, the article explains why local real estate knowledge matters when buying an older property. Experienced professionals often understand neighborhood histories, regional building practices, and long-term housing trends that may not appear in standard property disclosures. This knowledge helps buyers better evaluate the risks and opportunities associated with older homes.

For those exploring Walton County real estate, local expertise can provide important context regarding construction methods, neighborhood development patterns, and common maintenance issues found throughout the area. The article notes that this understanding helps buyers approach purchasing decisions with greater confidence and a clearer understanding of long-term ownership expectations.

The article also discusses the value of working with professionals who maintain strong local networks. Access to trusted inspectors, roofing specialists, contractors, and foundation experts can help buyers obtain reliable assessments and accurate information before finalizing a transaction.

Why Local Knowledge Matters When Buying Older Homes features insights from Lee Malcom, real estate expert in Monroe, Georgia, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

www.hellonation.com

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EZRA, the coaching arm of the Adecco Group, launches Loop – the first connected human and AI coaching experience

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October 26, 2026

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The first connected coaching experience pairs a dedicated ICF-accredited coach and Cai, an AI development partner that remembers conversations, priorities and organizational context to enable manager performance enhancement

ZURICH, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EZRA, the enterprise coaching arm of the Adecco Group (SIX: ADEN), today launched EZRA Loop, a first-of-its-kind fully connected coaching experience that combines human expertise with AI to help managers build the skills needed to lead in the age of AI.

As AI becomes part of everyday work, hybrid workforce orchestration is about redesigning work so people and AI agents each contribute where they create the most value and impact.

In this new environment, managers are under increasing pressure to lead change, navigate complexity and develop their teams. Yet coaching remains out of reach for most employees. EZRA Loop democratizes coaching: businesses can now provide managers with an always-on AI development partner that knows exactly when to loop in a dedicated, accredited human coach.

Denis Machuel, CEO of the Adecco Group: “As AI changes how work gets done, organizations need to bring their people along with them. Loop shows how human expertise and AI support can work together to make coaching more accessible, in the flow of work. This is an excellent example of how to leverage technology, while retaining a human touch, judgement and trust that only people can provide. In the hybrid – human-AI – workplace, it is essential to intentionally design how people and technology interact.”

Research shows that teams led by coached managers resolved customer problems 18% faster. Drawing on insights from more than a million coaching sessions with 200,000 people across its customers including companies like Microsoft, Spotify, Mastercard, HSBC, Eli Lilly and KPMG, EZRA found that AI and human coaching each excel in different areas. It noticed that AI support outperformed human coaches on task skills such as prioritization and goal setting, while human coaching outperformed on interpersonal skills like emotional intelligence and executive presence. Together, humans and AI, outperform either alone, driving a 37% increased chance of behavioral changes. 

This combination reflects a broader shift across organizations where the greatest value is increasingly created not by humans or AI working independently, but by orchestrating the interaction between people and technology.

To access the full text of the press release, click here: https://www.adeccogroup.com/our-group/media/press-releases/ezra-launch-loop-human-ai-coahing

About The Adecco Group

The Adecco Group is the world’s leading talent and technology expertise company. Our purpose is making the future work for everyone. Through our three global business units – Adecco, Akkodis and LHH – across 60 countries, we enable sustainable and lifelong employability for individuals, deliver digital engineering consulting to innovate and accelerate business transformation and empower organizations to optimize their workforces. The Adecco Group leads by example and is committed to fostering sustainable employability and supporting resilient economies and communities. The Adecco Group AG is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN). https://www.adeccogroup.com/

About EZRA

EZRA is the connected coaching company that gives every manager a coach. Founded in 2019 as part of The Adecco Group, EZRA has delivered more than a million coaching sessions to over 200,000 people in 120 countries and 75 languages. EZRA combines behavioral science with 4,500 ICF-accredited human coaches and Cai, its AI development partner, to deliver coaching that drives behavior changes, leadership development and better performance. Companies like Microsoft, Spotify, Mastercard, HSBC, Eli Lilly, KPMG and ServiceNow rely on EZRA coaching. 

For further information please contact:

The Adecco Group Corporate Press Office
media@adeccogroup.com
Rodrigo Sánchez Flórez – Tel: +34 658 06 54 02 / Jürg Schneider – Tel: +41 79 876 09 21
r.sanchezflores@adecco.com / Juerg.Schneider@adeccogroup.com

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EaseUS Software Releases Disk Health Insights Report 2026 H1 from 440K Disk Samples, Finding HDDs Show a 20x Higher Share of Caution/Bad Ratings Than SSDs

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NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EaseUS Software released the Disk Health Insights Report 2026 H1 from 444,282 disk samples, highlighting differences in HDD and SSD health ratings, key warning indicators, and storage characteristics that may warrant closer monitoring.

According to this report, HDD samples were substantially more likely than SSD samples to receive a Caution or Bad health rating: 24.83% of sampled HDDs received one of these ratings, compared with 1.22% of sampled SSDs – a difference of approximately 20 times in the share of health warnings.

The findings highlight the importance of regular disk health checks and proactive data protection, particularly for users who continue to rely on hard disk drives.

How Did EaseUS Lab Conduct This Disk Health Report?

EaseUS Lab, in collaboration with the EaseUS Partition Master R&D and technical support teams, conducted this study and analyzed 444,828 HDD and SSD samples collected from February 1 through July 31, 2026.

The EaseUS Lab examined disk health ratings and S.M.A.R.T. diagnostic indicators, as well as drive capacity, power-on hours (POH), partition styles, and Windows system drive configurations. Rather than measuring actual failure rates or predicting the remaining lifespan of individual drives, the report identifies patterns in observed health ratings and characteristics associated with a higher share of warnings in the dataset.

Alongside the differences between HDDs and SSDs, the findings revealed several noteworthy patterns, including:

HDDs with capacities below 500 GB showed a 35.89% share of Caution/Bad ratings, while those with more than 5,000 power-on hours recorded a 28.10% share.MBR HDDs also showed a higher share of Caution/Bad ratings than GPT HDDs, at 34.14% versus 19.29%.The share of HDDs receiving Caution/Bad ratings was nearly identical when C: drive utilization reached 90% or higher.

These findings help Windows users identify key disk health warning signs, protect important data, and prepare for migration or replacement when needed.

The following key findings offer a more thorough look at the report’s most notable disk health patterns and the factors that may warrant closer attention.

Core Findings: Five Key Insights Into Windows Disk Health

According to the report, EaseUS Lab identified five key findings to help users better understand disk health and prioritize maintenance.

1. HDDs Show a Higher Share of Caution and Bad Health Ratings

Among sampled HDDs, 74.73% were rated Good, 23.04% Caution, and 1.78% Bad. By comparison, 98.26% of sampled SSDs were rated Good, while 0.21% were rated Caution and 1.01% Bad.

Overall, 24.83% of HDDs were rated Caution or Bad, compared with 1.22% of SSDs.

Although SSDs show a much lower risk of getting Caution/Bad ratings, it still matters to run regular SSD health checks and take timely action when significant warnings remain.

2. Reallocated Sectors and Read Errors Stand Out Among HDD Warning Indicators

The report identifies S.M.A.R.T. attribute 05, Reallocated Sectors Count, and attribute 01, Read Error Rate, as notable HDD warning indicators.

Reallocated Sectors Count was reported in 5.06% of HDD samples, while Read Error Rate was reported in 1.62%. Among the warning indicators recorded in HDDs rated Bad, these attributes accounted for 70.00% and 22.47%, respectively.

These findings highlight the importance of combining overall health rating with significant diagnostic indicators. When significant warnings appear, users should prioritize protecting important data and determine whether disk cloning, migration, or replacement is appropriate.

3. Smaller-Capacity, Longer-Running, and MBR HDDs Show Higher Shares of Health Warnings

The report found higher Caution/Bad shares in several HDD groups:

35.89% of HDDs with capacities below 500 GB were rated Caution or Bad.28.10% of HDDs with more than 5,000 power-on hours (POH) were rated Caution or Bad.34.14% of MBR HDDs were rated Caution or Bad, compared with 19.29% of GPT HDDs.

These patterns identify scenarios that may warrant closer monitoring. However, the findings do not indicate that smaller capacity, longer operating hours, or MBR partitioning style may directly cause disk health to decline. Users should consider these characteristics alongside diagnostic results, device configuration, and usage history when planning maintenance or migration.

4. Low C: Drive Space Does Not Necessarily Indicate Poor HDD Health

This study also examined the relationship between C: drive utilization and disk health, using 90% utilization as the threshold for high storage pressure.

Among HDDs, 29.04% of samples with C: drive utilization at or above 90% were rated Caution or Bad, compared with 29.32% of those below 90%. The similar result doesn’t show a direct relationship between C: drive utilization and poorer HDD health in this dataset.Among SSDs, the Caution/Bad share was 1.83% in the high-utilization group and 0.89% in the lower-utilization group. Although the high-utilization group showed a higher share of Caution/Bad ratings, the data do not show a causal relationship.

For Windows users, low disk space and disk health issues are distinct concerns and should be evaluated separately, even when both issues affect the same device.

5. HDDs Continue to Power a Meaningful Share of Windows Systems

Despite the growing adoption of SSDs, HDDs accounted for 17.79% of sampled Windows system drives. GPT accounted for 75.46% of system drives, while MBR remained in use on 24.54%.

These findings show effective disk health management requires more than mere disk diagnostics. Windows users with HDDs should also consider storage capacity, data protection, partition compatibility, and SSD migration operations.

Industry Implications: Disk Health Detection Is Shifting to Proactive Management

According to this report, disk health diagnostics are taking a broader role in Windows storage management.

A single health rating can indicate whether a further investigation is needed, but it can’t provide a complete picture of storage readiness or determine the remaining lifespan of a disk drive.

This report highlights three practical priorities for disk management providers, PC support teams, and individual users:

Don’t ignore and check for early warning signs. Review overall health status along with S.M.A.R.T. indicators, power-on hours, and other drive details rather than relying on a single indicator.Back up data in advance. When a drive receives a Caution or Bad rating, confirm the reported issue and back up important files before making further decisions.Prepare for disk drive upgrade. If a drive is aging or running out of space, check the new drive’s capacity, partition style, and BIOS/UEFI compatibility before migrating or replacing a system drive.

This approach helps users understand disk health warnings and take appropriate action without assuming every warning signals an immediate drive failure.

Actionable Suggestions to Protect HDD and SSD Health in Windows

Based on the report’s findings, EaseUS Lab recommends a practical approach to disk health management tailored to the condition of each drive.

Drives in Good Status: Continue normal use, back up data regularly, and check disk health periodically.Drives in Caution Status: Review warning indicators, back up important files, and monitor disk health.Drives in Bad Status: Back up data first and consider drive replacement or data recovery if needed.Using small or aging HDDs: Monitor disk health and consider upgrading to an SSD if appropriate.Disk with low C: drive space issue: Free up space or expand the partition; low space alone does not indicate disk failure.HDD-to-SSD migration: Check disk health, target capacity, and boot compatibility before migrating.

The report emphasizes a complete process to take as long as a user is using a disk drive on their devices: Check Disk Health → Protect Data → Prepare New Disk → Migrate or Replace Disk. The goal is not simply to label a drive as healthy or unhealthy, but to help users respond appropriately to the available evidence.

The full report, including detailed findings and practical recommendations, is available at: https://www.easeus.com/whitepapers/disk-health-insights-report-2026-h1.html

About EaseUS Software

Founded in 2004, EaseUS is a software provider specializing in data recovery, disk management, data backup, and multimedia solutions. Trusted by users in more than 160 countries and regions, EaseUS develops accessible software to help individuals and businesses manage, protect, and make the most of their digital data. For more information, visit https://www.easeus.com.

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