Home Depot reports 4th quarter loss of $54M
Posted: 02.24.2009 at 11:13 AM

$54M loss for Home Depot in 4th quarter of 2008

(AP) -- Home Depot, the nation's largest home improvement retailer, reported a fiscal fourth-quarter loss of $54 million mostly due to its plan to shut its four smaller home-improvement brands, but adjusted results topped analysts' estimates.

The Atlanta-based company posted a loss of 3 cents per share.  That compares with a profit of $671 million, or 40 cents per share, a year ago.  Excluding the charge related to the closings and other items, Home Depot Inc.'s profit was 19 cents per share.  Revenue slid 17 percent to $14.61 billion, with comparable-store sales down 13 percent.  Analysts forecast a profit of 15 cents per share on revenue of $14.67 billion.

Home Depot says it expects earnings from continuing operations to fall about 7 percent, with total sales down about 9 percent.

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