For fiscal year 2004, The Home Depot achieved recordnet earnings of $5 billion compared to $4.3 billionfor 2003. Earnings per share increased 20.2% to of$2.26 compared to $1.88 for last year. Sales increaseda record-breaking 12.8% to $73.1 billion as the retailrang up a record average ticket of $54.89 in 2004, anincrease of 7.3% compared to fiscal 2003. Comparablestore sales grew by 5.4%, while total customertransactions were 1.295 billion, up 3.9%. In particular, The Home Depot's services business grew27.9% during 2004, and the retailer expects tomaintain double-digit growth for the segment. Theretailer has 23 national programs in place and severalothers that are being rolled out.

Much of the retailer's growth can be attributed to its continuing investment in its business. According to Home Deport chairman, president & CEO Bob Nardelli, the retailer invested $3.9 billion in its business including its expansion in the United States as well as internationally. In the fourth quarter alone, added 64 new stores in the United States for a total of 1,657 stores here.

In 2004, opened 15 new stores in Canada, bringing thetotal to 117, and beefed up its presence in Mexico to44 stores. According to The Home Depot, it is now thenumber one home improvement retailer in bothcountries. Moreover, in 2004, the retailer beganplanning to enter China.