Home Depot announces quarterly results

In the first quarter of 2006 Home Depot realized sales growth of 13.1 per cent to US $ 21.461 bn (€ 16.637 bn). While the Retail Division's increase rose by 5.7 per cent to US $ 19.376 bn (€ 15.021 bn), the Supply Division recorded sales up by 224.5 per cent to US $ 2.132 bn (€ 1.653 bn) through the acquisition of Hughes Supply in the first quarter. Net earnings rose over the same period last year by 19 per cent to US $ 1.484 bn (€ 1.151 bn). Twenty-three new stores were opened, four of them in Canada and two in Mexico. This resulted in the total number of outlets increasing to 2 051 by the end of the quarter.