The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, today reported second quarter of fiscal 2011 net earnings of$1.4 billion, or$0.86per diluted share, compared with net earnings of$1.2 billion, or$0.72per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2010. For the second quarter of fiscal 2011, diluted earnings per share increased 19.4 percent from the prior year.

Sales for the second quarter totaled$20.2 billion, a 4.2 percent increase from the second quarter of fiscal 2010. Comparable store sales for the second quarter were positive 4.3 percent, and comp sales for U.S. stores were positive 3.5 percent.

"Our second-quarter results were driven by a rebound in our seasonal business, storm-related repairs and strength in our core categories," saidFrank Blake, chairman & CEO. "We continue to deliver a strong operating performance while also investing in customer service and our merchandising initiatives. I would like to thank our associates for their hard work and dedication. It is their efforts that enabled us to deliver these results."