Another record quarter for HD

Atlanta-based The Home Depot reported record fourth-quarter and fiscal year results, as it emphasized "the interconnected customer experience" and rode a recovering U.S. housing market.

The company's fourth-quarter sales were a record $21.0 billion, up 9.5% from the same quarter last year. Net earnings for the three months were $1.5 billion, compared with $1.4 billion a year ago.

Comp-store sales for the fourth quarter were up 7.1%, and up 8.9% for U.S. stores.

For the full year, sales were $88.5 billion, up 6.4% from fiscal 2014.

"Our focus on improving the interconnected customer experience, along with solid execution and continued recovery in the U.S. housing market, resulted in record sales and net earnings for 2015," said Craig Menear, president and CEO. 

Net earnings for the year were $7.01 billion, up from $6.35 billion. The results included a 2014-data-breach-releated expense of $128 million. 

Looking ahead, Home Depot expects fiscal 2016 sales growth of about 5.1% to 6.0%, and comparable-store sales growth of about 3.7% to 4.5%.

At the end of fiscal 2015, the company operated 2,274 stores.