The Home Depot Announces Second Quarter Results

Aug 19, 2008

ATLANTA, Aug 19, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, today reported fiscal 2008 second quarter consolidated net earnings of $1.2 billion, or $0.71 per diluted share, compared with $1.6 billion, or $0.81 per diluted share, in the same period in fiscal 2007. Earnings per diluted share from continuing operations in the second quarter of fiscal 2008 were $0.71, compared to $0.77 per diluted share in the second quarter of fiscal 2007, a decrease of 7.8 percent.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030502/HOMEDEPOTLOGO )

Sales for the second quarter totaled $21.0 billion, a 5.4 percent decrease from the second quarter of fiscal 2007, reflecting negative comparable store sales of 7.9 percent, offset in part by sales from new stores.

The Company's fiscal 2007 contained 53 weeks of operations. This shifted the Company's 2008 fiscal calendar. Because of this shift, and given the seasonal nature of its business, second quarter sales, on a like for like calendar basis, were negatively impacted by approximately $160 million. Excluding the calendar shift, on a like for like basis, comparable store sales for the quarter were negative 7.2 percent.

"We continue to see pressure on our market and the consumer, generally," said Frank Blake, chairman & CEO. "Despite the macroeconomic conditions, we saw improved execution in our merchandising and operations initiatives during the past quarter. I am very proud of what our associates have accomplished in a difficult environment," said Blake.

Fiscal Year 2008 Financial Outlook

Given the continued softness in the housing and home improvement markets as well as the commitment to invest in its key retail priorities, the Company believes fiscal 2008 sales will decline by approximately five percent and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations will decline by approximately 24 percent. This is consistent with its previous guidance. The Company's 2008 earnings per share guidance does not include its store rationalization charge from the closing of 15 stores and removal of 50 stores from its future growth pipeline.

The Home Depot will conduct a conference call today at 9 a.m. ET to discuss information included in this news release and related matters. The conference call will be available in its entirety through a webcast and replay at homedepot.com in the Investor Relations section.

At the end of the second quarter, the Company operated a total of 2,257 retail stores, which included 1,965 The Home Depot stores in the United States (including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the territory of Guam), 167 stores in Canada, 72 stores in Mexico, 12 stores in China, as well as 2 THD Design Centers, 5 Yardbirds stores and 34 EXPO Design Center locations. The Company employs more than 300,000 associates. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index. HDE

Certain statements contained herein, including any statements related to the state of the home improvement market, the state of the construction and housing markets, our reinvestment plans and financial outlook, constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these statements are based on currently available information and current expectations and projections about future events, such forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: economic conditions in North America; changes in our cost structure; our ability to attract, train and retain highly qualified associates; conditions affecting customer transactions and average ticket, including, but not limited to, improving and streamlining operations, and customers' in-store experience. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements as they speak only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update these statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances except as may be required by law. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is contained in our periodic filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2008. HDE

                       THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
    FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 3, 2008 AND JULY 29, 2007
                                   (Unaudited)
        (Amounts in Millions Except Per Share Data and as Otherwise Noted)

                          Three Months                Six Months
                             Ended      % Increase      Ended       % Increase
                        8-3-08  7-29-07 (Decrease)  8-3-08  7-29-07 (Decrease)

    NET SALES          $20,990  $22,184    (5.4)%  $38,897  $40,729    (4.5)%
    Cost of Sales       14,026   14,843    (5.5)    25,861   27,125    (4.7)
      GROSS PROFIT       6,964    7,341    (5.1)    13,036   13,604    (4.2)

    Operating
     Expenses:
      Selling, General
       and Admini-
       strative          4,470    4,370     2.3      9,370    8,556     9.5
      Depreciation and
       Amortization        452      414     9.2        896      819     9.4
        Total Operating
         Expenses        4,922    4,784     2.9     10,266    9,375     9.5

      OPERATING INCOME   2,042    2,557   (20.1)     2,770    4,229   (34.5)

    Interest (Income) Expense:
      Interest and
       Investment
       Income               (4)     (27)  (85.2)        (7)     (38)  (81.6)
      Interest Expense     161      172    (6.4)       328      343    (4.4)

        Interest, net      157      145     8.3        321      305     5.2

    EARNINGS FROM
     CONTINUING OPERATIONS
     BEFORE PROVISION
     FOR INCOME TAXES    1,885    2,412   (21.8)     2,449    3,924   (37.6)

    Provision for
     Income Taxes          683      891   (23.3)       891    1,456   (38.8)

    EARNINGS FROM
     CONTINUING
     OPERATIONS          1,202    1,521   (21.0)     1,558    2,468   (36.9)

    EARNINGS FROM
     DISCONTINUED
     OPERATIONS,
     NET OF TAX              -       66  (100.0)         -      165  (100.0)

    NET EARNINGS        $1,202   $1,587   (24.3)%   $1,558   $2,633   (40.8)%


    Weighted Average
     Common Shares       1,680    1,960   (14.3)%    1,680    1,960   (14.3)%

    BASIC EARNINGS
     PER SHARE FROM
     CONTINUING
     OPERATIONS          $0.72    $0.78   (7.7)      $0.93    $1.26   (26.2)
    BASIC EARNINGS
     PER SHARE FROM
     DISCONTINUED
     OPERATIONS             $-    $0.03  (100.0)        $-    $0.08  (100.0)
    BASIC EARNINGS
     PER SHARE           $0.72    $0.81   (11.1)     $0.93    $1.34   (30.6)

    Diluted Weighted
     Average Common
     Shares              1,685    1,969   (14.4)%    1,684    1,969   (14.5)%
    DILUTED EARNINGS
     PER SHARE FROM
     CONTINUING
     OPERATIONS         $ 0.71    $0.77    (7.8)     $0.93    $1.25   (25.6)
    DILUTED EARNINGS
     PER SHARE FROM
     DISCONTINUED
     OPERATIONS             $-    $0.03  (100.0)        $-    $0.08  (100.0)
    DILUTED EARNINGS
     PER SHARE          $ 0.71    $0.81   (12.3)     $0.93    $1.34   (30.6)

    Note: The sum of Diluted Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations and
    Diluted Earnings per Share from Discontinued Operations may not total
    Diluted Earnings per Share due to rounding.



    SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS (1)

                          Three Months                Six Months
                             Ended      % Increase      Ended       % Increase
                       8-3-08   7-29-07 (Decrease)  8-3-08  7-29-07 (Decrease)
    Number of
     Customer
     Transactions          361      377    (4.2)%      675       695   (2.9)%
    Average Ticket      $57.58   $58.30    (1.2)    $57.48    $58.63   (2.0)
    Weighted Average
     Weekly Sales per
     Operating Store
     (in thousands)       $707    $ 772    (8.4)      $662      $719   (7.9)
    Square Footage at
     End of Period         237      230     3.0        237       230    3.0
    Capital
     Expenditures         $511    $ 794   (35.6)      $960    $1,435  (33.1)
    Depreciation and
     Amortization (2)     $482    $ 446     8.1%      $956      $881    8.5%

    (1) Includes continuing operations only.

    (2) Includes depreciation of distribution centers and tool rental
        equipment included in Cost of Sales and amortization of deferred
        financing costs included in Interest Expense.



                    THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
           AS OF AUGUST 3, 2008, JULY 29, 2007 AND FEBRUARY 3, 2008
                            (Amounts in Millions)

                                            8-3-08      7-29-07     2-3-08
                                         (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  (Audited)

    ASSETS
      Cash and Short-Term Investments       $1,062       $3,024       $457
      Receivables, net                       1,506        1,554      1,259
      Merchandise Inventories               11,864       12,287     11,731
      Other Current Assets                   1,402        1,226      1,227
      Current Assets of Discontinued
       Operations                                -        3,781          -
        Total Current Assets                15,834       21,872     14,674

      Property and Equipment, net           27,077       26,649     27,476
      Goodwill                               1,218        1,189      1,209
      Other Assets                             970          623        965
      Noncurrent Assets of Discontinued
       Operations                                -        6,531          -
        TOTAL ASSETS                       $45,099      $56,864    $44,324

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
      Short-Term Debt                           $-           $-     $1,747
      Accounts Payable                       7,122        7,686      5,732
      Accrued Salaries and Related Expenses  1,062        1,077      1,094
      Current Installments of Long-Term Debt   300           15        300
      Other Current Liabilities              4,153        4,695      3,833
      Current Liabilities of
       Discontinued Operations                   -        1,714          -
        Total Current Liabilities           12,637       15,187     12,706

      Long-Term Debt                        11,366       11,628     11,383
      Other Long-Term Liabilities            2,447        2,459      2,521
      Noncurrent Liabilities of
       Discontinued Operations                   -          415          -
        Total Liabilities                   26,450       29,689     26,610

      Total Stockholders' Equity            18,649       27,175     17,714
        TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
         STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY              $45,099      $56,864    $44,324


SOURCE The Home Depot


http://www.homedepot.com

 

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