Home Depot's sales fall 0.3%

The Home Depot reported sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 of $14.6 billion, a 0.3 percent decrease from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

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Total company comparable store sales for the fourth quarter grew 1.2 percent. Comparable store sales for U.S. stores were negative 1.1 percent.

Fiscal 2009 fourth quarter consolidated net earnings were $342 million, or 20 cents per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $54 million, or a 3 cent loss per diluted share, for the same period in fiscal 2008. Consolidated net earnings include $41 million of earnings from discontinued operations arising from the company's working capital settlement agreement with HD Supply.

Sales for fiscal 2009 were $66.2 billion, a decline of 7.2 percent from fiscal 2008. Total company comparable store sales for the year declined 6.6 percent, and comps for U.S. stores were negative 6.2 percent for the year.

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