The Home Depot Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2020 Results; Increases Quarterly Dividend by 10 Percent

ATLANTA, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today reported fourth quarter and fiscal 2020 results.

ATLANTA, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today reported fourth quarter and fiscal 2020 results.

Fourth Quarter 2020

Sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 were $32.3 billion, an increase of $6.5 billion, or 25.1 percent from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019. Comparable sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 increased 24.5 percent, and comparable sales in the U.S. increased 25.0 percent.

Net earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 were $2.9 billion, or $2.65 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $2.5 billion, or $2.28 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2019. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, diluted earnings per share increased 16.2 percent from the same period in the prior year. Net earnings for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year were negatively impacted by non-recurring, pre-tax expenses related to the completion of the acquisition of HD Supply Holdings, Inc. on December 24, 2020, which totaled approximately $110 million, or $0.09 per diluted share.

Fiscal 2020

Sales for fiscal 2020 were $132.1 billion, an increase of $21.9 billion, or 19.9 percent, from fiscal 2019. Comparable sales for fiscal 2020 increased 19.7 percent, and comparable sales in the U.S. increased 20.6 percent.

Net earnings for fiscal 2020 were $12.9 billion, or $11.94 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $11.2 billion, or $10.25 per diluted share in fiscal 2019. For fiscal year 2020, diluted earnings per share increased 16.5 percent versus the prior year.  

«The team demonstrated ongoing flexibility to operate effectively in a very challenging environment and deliver record-breaking sales and earnings. Our ability to grow the business by over $21 billion in fiscal 2020 is a testament to both the investments we have made in the business as well as our associates’ unwavering commitment to our customers,» said Craig Menear, chairman and CEO. «We continue to lean into these investments because we believe they are critical in enabling market share growth in any economic environment. I am proud of the many ways our associates lived our values by serving our customers, communities and each other during these unquestionably challenging times, and I would like to thank them and our supplier partners for their extraordinary efforts.»

Fiscal 2021

Given the uncertainty related to the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its influence on the consumer, the Company believes it is limited in its ability to forecast demand for fiscal 2021. As a result, the Company is not providing guidance for fiscal 2021.

«We were pleased with our record financial performance in fiscal 2020. As we look ahead to fiscal 2021, while we are not able to predict how consumer spending will evolve, if the demand environment during the back half of fiscal 2020 were to persist through fiscal 2021, it would imply flat to slightly positive comparable sales growth and operating margin of at least 14 percent,» said Richard McPhail, executive vice president and CFO.  

Dividend Declaration

The Company today announced that its board of directors approved an increase in its quarterly dividend by 10.0 percent to $1.65 per share, which equates to an annual dividend of $6.60.

The dividend is payable on March 25, 2021, to shareholders of record on the close of business on March 11, 2021. This is the 136th consecutive quarter the Company has paid a cash dividend.

The Home Depot will conduct a conference call today at 9 a.m. ET to discuss information included in this news release and related matters. The conference call will be available in its entirety through a webcast and replay at ir.homedepot.com/events-and-presentations.

At the end of the fourth quarter, the Company operated a total of 2,296 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. The Company employs approximately 500,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

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Certain statements contained herein constitute «forward-looking statements» as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related recovery on our business, operations and financial results (which, among other things, may affect many of the items listed below); the demand for our products and services; net sales growth; comparable sales; effects of competition; our brand and reputation; implementation of store, interconnected retail, supply chain and technology initiatives; inventory and in-stock positions; state of the economy; state of the housing and home improvement markets; state of the credit markets, including mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit; impact of tariffs; issues related to the payment methods we accept; demand for credit offerings; management of relationships with our associates, suppliers and service providers; international trade disputes, natural disasters, public health issues (including pandemics and quarantines, related shut-downs and other governmental orders, and similar restrictions, as well as subsequent re-openings), and other business interruptions that could disrupt supply or delivery of, or demand for, the Company’s products or services; continuation or suspension of share repurchases; net earnings performance; earnings per share; dividend targets; capital allocation and expenditures; liquidity; return on invested capital; expense leverage; stock-based compensation expense; commodity price inflation and deflation; the ability to issue debt on terms and at rates acceptable to us; the impact and expected outcome of investigations, inquiries, claims and litigation, including compliance with related settlements; the effect of accounting charges; the effect of adopting certain accounting standards; the impact of regulatory changes, including changes to tax laws and regulations; store openings and closures; guidance for fiscal 2021 and beyond; financial outlook; and the impact of acquired companies, including HD Supply, on our organization and the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of those acquisitions. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to future events, risks and uncertainties – many of which are beyond our control, dependent on the actions of third parties, or are currently unknown to us – as well as potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations and projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A, «Risk Factors,» and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended February 2, 2020 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 1, 2020.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements other than as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Fiscal Year Ended

in millions, except per share data

January 31,
2021

February 2,
2020

% Change

January 31,
2021

February 2,
2020

% Change

Net sales

$

32,261

$

25,782

25.1

%

$

132,110

$

110,225

19.9

%

Cost of sales

21,430

17,046

25.7

87,257

72,653

20.1

Gross profit

10,831

8,736

24.0

44,853

37,572

19.4

Operating expenses:

Selling, general and administrative

6,187

4,814

28.5

24,447

19,740

23.8

Depreciation and amortization

561

519

8.1

2,128

1,989

7.0

Total operating expenses

6,748

5,333

26.5

26,575

21,729

22.3

Operating income

4,083

3,403

20.0

18,278

15,843

15.4

Interest and other (income) expense:

Interest and investment income

(10)

(17)

(41.2)

(47)

(73)

(35.6)

Interest expense

337

309

9.1

1,347

1,201

12.2

Interest and other, net

327

292

12.0

1,300

1,128

15.2

Earnings before provision for income taxes

3,756

3,111

20.7

16,978

14,715

15.4

Provision for income taxes

899

630

42.7

4,112

3,473

18.4

Net earnings

$

2,857

$

2,481

15.2

%

$

12,866

$

11,242

14.4

%

Basic weighted average common shares

1,074

1,083

(0.8)

%

1,074

1,093

(1.7)

%

Basic earnings per share

$

2.66

$

2.29

16.2

$

11.98

$

10.29

16.4

Diluted weighted average common shares

1,078

1,088

(0.9)

%

1,078

1,097

(1.7)

%

Diluted earnings per share

$

2.65

$

2.28

16.2

$

11.94

$

10.25

16.5

Three Months Ended

Fiscal Year Ended

Selected Sales Data (1)

January 31,
2021

February 2,
2020

% Change

January 31,
2021

February 2,
2020

% Change

Customer transactions (in millions)

416.8

369.6

12.8

%

1,756.3

1,616.0

8.7

%

Average ticket

$

75.69

$

68.29

10.8

$

74.32

$

67.30

10.4

Sales per retail square foot

$

528.01

$

425.70

24.0

$

543.74

$

454.82

19.6

—————

(1)  Selected Sales Data does not include results for the legacy Interline Brands business, now operating as a part of The Home Depot Pro, or results for HD Supply Holdings, Inc.

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

in millions

January 31,
2021

February 2,
2020

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

7,895

$

2,133

Receivables, net

2,992

2,106

Merchandise inventories

16,627

14,531

Other current assets

963

1,040

Total current assets

28,477

19,810

Net property and equipment

24,705

22,770

Operating lease right-of-use assets

5,962

5,595

Goodwill

7,126

2,254

Other assets

4,311

807

Total assets

$

70,581

$

51,236

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Short-term debt

$

$

974

Accounts payable

11,606

7,787

Accrued salaries and related expenses

2,463

1,494

Current installments of long-term debt

1,416

1,839

Current operating lease liabilities

828

828

Other current liabilities

6,853

5,453

Total current liabilities

23,166

18,375

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

35,822

28,670

Long-term operating lease liabilities

5,356

5,066

Other liabilities

2,938

2,241

Total liabilities

67,282

54,352

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

3,299

(3,116)

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

70,581

$

51,236

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

Fiscal Year Ended

in millions

January 31,
2021

February 2,
2020

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

Net earnings

$

12,866

$

11,242

Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

2,519

2,296

Stock-based compensation expense

310

251

Changes in working capital

3,592

(488)

Changes in deferred income taxes

(569)

202

Other operating activities

121

184

Net cash provided by operating activities

18,839

13,687

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

Capital expenditures

(2,463)

(2,678)

Payments for business acquired, net

(7,780)

Other investing activities

73

25

Net cash used in investing activities

(10,170)

(2,653)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

Repayments of short-term debt, net

(974)

(365)

Proceeds from long-term debt, net of discounts and premiums

7,933

3,420

Repayments of long-term debt

(2,872)

(1,070)

Repurchases of common stock

(791)

(6,965)

Proceeds from sales of common stock

326

280

Cash dividends

(6,451)

(5,958)

Other financing activities

(154)

(140)

Net cash used in financing activities

(2,983)

(10,798)

Change in cash and cash equivalents

5,686

236

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

76

119

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

2,133

1,778

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$

7,895

$

2,133

—————

Note: Effective February 3, 2020, we reclassified cash flows relating to book overdrafts from financing to operating activities for all periods presented on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The amounts of these reclassifications were not material.

 

 

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SOURCE The Home Depot

Aptiv Named One of World’s Most Ethical Companies for Ninth Consecutive Year

DUBLIN, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — For the ninth consecutive year, Aptiv PLC (NYSE: APTV), a global technology company enabling the future of mobility, announced today it has been recognized as one of the 2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies by <a target="_blank"…

DUBLIN, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — For the ninth consecutive year, Aptiv PLC (NYSE: APTV), a global technology company enabling the future of mobility, announced today it has been recognized as one of the 2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.

«Aptiv’s mission of enabling a safer, greener and more connected world has never been more important than it is today,» said Kevin Clark, president and chief executive officer, Aptiv. «Amidst an unprecedented year of challenges, Aptiv team members were unwavering in their commitment to living our values, enabling us to keep our employees safe while delivering sustainable, long-term value to customers, shareholders, and the communities in which we operate.»

Aptiv’s industry-leading portfolio of advanced technologies is solving the industry’s biggest challenges and enabling a safer, greener and more connected future of mobility. To learn more about Aptiv’s commitment to making the world a better place, please visit Aptiv.com/sustainability.

About Aptiv
Aptiv is a global technology company that develops safer, greener and more connected solutions enabling the future of mobility. Visit aptiv.com.

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aptiv-named-one-of-worlds-most-ethical-companies-for-ninth-consecutive-year-301233136.html

SOURCE Aptiv PLC

Hydra Energy Partners with Chemtrade to Provide Commercial Truck Fleets With Green Hydrogen Below the Cost of Diesel

Hydra secures its first partnership with a chemical company to unlock a new revenue stream for hydrogen

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Continuing to speed up the adoption of hydrogen in long-haul transportation, Hydra Energy today announced a first-of-its-kind strategic partnership…

Hydra secures its first partnership with a chemical company to unlock a new revenue stream for hydrogen

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Continuing to speed up the adoption of hydrogen in long-haul transportation, Hydra Energy today announced a first-of-its-kind strategic partnership with Chemtrade (TSX:CHE.UN). The long-term contract is a pillar of Hydra’s Hydrogen-as-a-Service (HaaS) business model and includes Hydra capturing, cleaning, and compressing hydrogen. Initially, both companies are focused on one of Chemtrade’s plants in British Columbia with the potential to expand across the country. Commercial truck fleet operators with Hydra-converted semi-trucks can access green hydrogen at a fixed price, five percent below the price they typically pay for diesel. Multi-year pilots demonstrated an ability to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions up to 40 percent, using hydrogen-injection technology and fuel source without impacting truck performance or range. Natural gas distributors can also use the green hydrogen to meet renewable content requirements.

Hydra’s ability to deploy stranded hydrogen assets to fleet operators, who can use it to reduce their fuel costs and meet emission targets, opens up new opportunities for chemical manufacturers. The company’s distinctive HaaS model helps commercial fleets reduce costs and emissions with limited risk and no up-front investment. The company installs hydrogen-diesel co-combustion conversion kits into existing semi-trucks and provides the fueling infrastructure for the green hydrogen sourced from chemical producers like Chemtrade at no cost to fleet owners. 

California’s Low-Carbon Fuel Standard fuel pathways report notes diesel fuel possesses a carbon intensity of 74.86g per megajoule of energy (g CO2/MJ). While still in the process of being defined internationally, a spectrum of colors are typically used to define the carbon intensity of hydrogen, from grey on the higher side and green on the lower end of the spectrum. In Hydra’s case, the company applies a circular economy approach using hydrogen gas already vented as a by-product of manufacturing to fuel fleets. In some plant implementations, like its initial Chemtrade project, Hydra can also leverage hydropower to power its compressors, making it possible to achieve under 10.53g per megajoule – fitting within the range of both low-carbon and green hydrogen. This achievement was verified through a full greenhouse life cycle analysis completed by Don O’Connor, CEO of S&T Squared Consultants Inc, the expert behind the greenhouse gas analysis used in British Columbia’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (BC-LCFS) program

«Hydra enables a rapid and affordable transition to cleaner trucking by turning one’s waste into another’s valuable resource. According to a report by Navius Research, Hydra’s model can be expanded to power tens of thousands of trucks and reduce emissions up to six megatons per year in Canada alone,» said Jessica Verhagen, COO of Hydra Energy. «That compares to the same amount of greenhouse gas reductions that the Canadian government forecasts for electric vehicle adoption by 2030.»

Global transportation is currently responsible for 16 percent of GHG emissions, with a significant portion from road transport. In Canada, 10.5 percent of these emissions come from freight transportation. In the U.S, this number increases to 23 percent stemming from medium- and heavy-duty trucks. 

«Beyond the environmental impact, we’ve learned from trucking operators that they typically only achieve two to five percent operating margins with fuel costs coming in at half of a fleet’s operating expenses,» highlights David Batstone, Hydra Energy board member and managing director of Just Business, an impact fund out of Silicon Valley. «This represents an opportunity for a more economical approach made possible by a strategic partnership like the one we’ve just announced with Chemtrade. We offer the most cost-effective approach for chemical manufacturers to turn an often wasted asset into something of value while delivering hydrogen at below-diesel rates for those commercial truck fleets ready to go green now.» 

The flagship Hydra-Chemtrade commercial project will break ground this year, with gas expected to be flowing in 2022.

To learn more, please contact www.hydraenergy.com

About Hydra Energy
Hydra Energy is the world’s first Hydrogen-as-a-Service (HaaS) provider for commercial fleets looking to reduce costs and emissions today with limited risk and no up-front investment. The company’s innovative approach sources green hydrogen from leading chemical partners and provides clean fuel to fleets at below-diesel prices, enabling a rapid and economic transition to cleaner trucking. In exchange for long-term, discounted fuel contracts, Hydra quickly converts semi-truck fleets to a proprietary hydrogen injection system helping operators optimize truck performance, fuel efficiency, and emissions reduction regardless of payload and weather. 

Hydra and its partners deliver real hydrogen now and are committed to making the world run greener when it comes to goods’ transportation. For more information, please visit www.hydraenergy.com, and follow the company on LinkedIn.

Media Contact for Hydra
Lisa Ann Pinkerton
Technica Communications
hydraenergy@technicacommunications.com

 

SOURCE Hydra Energy Corporation

Martin Alfredo Garache’s new book Amándote a la Distancia, is an enrapturing collection of poems that share an unbreakable love amid separation and loneliness

SAN PABLO, Calif., Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The book Amándote a la Distancia was created by Martin Alfredo Garache. Martin is an author who was born in Managua, Nicaragua. His poetic spirit reappeared when he wrote to his partner due to a forced separation.

<a…

SAN PABLO, Calif., Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The book Amándote a la Distancia was created by Martin Alfredo Garache. Martin is an author who was born in Managua, Nicaragua. His poetic spirit reappeared when he wrote to his partner due to a forced separation.

Garache said this about his book: «This work is a fragment of the love story of a Nicaraguan couple, whose happiness was affected by the effects of the fratricidal war that brought so much pain to that town in the ’80s and that, sadly, like thousands of families more, they were forced to separate.

As a result of the well-known political situation in that country at that time, it was not possible for him to leave, given his status as a military officer. But she did manage to emigrate to the United States to reside there. To overcome the distance, they wrote and sent correspondence every Friday. She knew how to keep jealously and with tender love letters, postcards, and other writings that she regularly received, noting that his writing was somewhat poetic. She said what she said with the flavor of poetry.

The separation reached the age of twelve, after which fate allowed them to be united again and it was when by mutual agreement they extracted the poetic portions that each letter had and thus gave birth to this book, as a testimony that it is possible to remain lovers, keep love alive in time and love at a distance.»

Published by Page Publishing, Martin Alfredo Garache’s new book Amándote a la Distancia fills the readers with feelings of compassion, yearning, and hope in life as they delve into heartfelt poems that emanate grace and wisdom in life.

Consumers who wish to immerse themselves in a journey of poignant love can purchase Amándote a la Distancia online at Apple iTunes, Amazon.com, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries, you can contact Page Publishing, through the following number: 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional full-service publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors’ books, including distribution in the world’s largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex, and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at www.pagepublishing.com.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1441292/Martin_Alfredo_Garache.jpg

SOURCE Page Publishing

Laura Lavayen’s new book El Precio del Odio, a gripping fiction about a woman’s harrowing journey through abuse and bigotry that impacted her life

NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The book El Precio del Odio was created by Laura Lavayen. Laura is an author who was born in Bariloche, Argentina. She then moved to Buenos Aires where she lived until she came to the United States where she still lives.

<a…

NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The book El Precio del Odio was created by Laura Lavayen. Laura is an author who was born in Bariloche, Argentina. She then moved to Buenos Aires where she lived until she came to the United States where she still lives.

Lavayen said this about his book: «El Precio del Odio is a book that shows a lot about current life—three generations of women whose history makes us think that although women have gained rights such as voting and studying and going out to work on the streets to support their family, even so they must sometimes put up with a husband or a man who is physically stronger that she manages to dominate her in different ways. In this fiction, the grandmother, who had a domineering father who did not allow her to study because she was a woman, forced her daughter to do so but at a school that was very expensive. Far from her neighborhood where she is, she did not want to go because she did not separate from her friends. Her discontent made Angela reveal herself and when her mother bought her a dress to celebrate her sixteenth birthday, Angela left the house. She came back married later and had a month-old baby. One day she disappeared, she didn’t come back for a long time. It was never known what she did the whole time she was away. She had lost her memory and couldn’t say when or how.

This novel deals with many issues of now and others of always—the actual situation, drugs, the freedom to own a gun, attacks on schools. Everything causes a situation that has everyone worried. And we wonder what else awaits us in the future. Will we learn to act like human and civilized beings or will we continue to act like beings without feelings?»

Published by Page Publishing, Laura Lavayen’s new book El Precio del Odio unveils the prevailing prejudice against gender, status, and race that usurps the heart and mind of those affected by such.

Consumers who wish to immerse in a woman’s emotionally driven tale of pain, loss, and a search for personal redemption can purchase El Precio del Odio online at Apple iTunes, Amazon.com, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries, you can contact Page Publishing, through the following number: 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional full-service publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors’ books, including distribution in the world’s largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex, and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at www.pagepublishing.com.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1441300/Laura_Lavayen.jpg

SOURCE Page Publishing

El nuevo libro de Martin Alfredo Garache, Amándote a la Distancia, un hermoso poemario donde el tiempo y la distancia no tiene cabida.

SAN PABLO, Calif., 23 de febrero de 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — El reciente lanzamiento del libro Amándote a la Distancia por Martin Alfredo Garache de la editorial Page Publishing, un compendio de poemas donde la fortaleza del amor perduró por más de doce años.

SAN PABLO, Calif., 23 de febrero de 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — El reciente lanzamiento del libro Amándote a la Distancia por Martin Alfredo Garache de la editorial Page Publishing, un compendio de poemas donde la fortaleza del amor perduró por más de doce años.

Martin Alfredo Garache nació en Managua, ciudad capital de Nicaragua. Desde temprana edad mostró una clara inclinación a la lectura y escritura. Cuando mostraba sus escritos a amigos y familiares le decían que los había plagiado de algún poeta o filosofo famoso, no creían que fueran de su autoría. Estas opiniones le desanimaban y sus poemas, versos y cuentos terminaron en el cesto de papeles, bote de la basura o un predio baldío.

Aunque no todo fue solo amargura, pues algunos chiquillos, compañeros de clase, le pedían escribiera poemas para ellos regalárselos a la jovencita que cortejaban, como si fueran suyos, recibiendo a cambio alguna gaseosa o la promesa de unas monedas que jamás aparecían. A pesar de todo eso, él nunca se negó a ayudar a sus amiguitos. Eran tiempos infantiles y juveniles.

Su espíritu poético reapareció cuando escribió a su pareja debido a una separación forzada. Pero aquí también sucedió algo triste, un pariente cercano de ella le destruyo toda la correspondencia de cinco años. Estamos seguros de que también allí se fue mucha poesía.

Este trabajo es un fragmento de la historia de amor de una pareja nicaragüense, cuya felicidad se vio afectada por los efectos de la guerra fratricida que tanto dolor trajo a ese pueblo en la década de los 80 y que, tristemente, igual que miles de familias más, fueron obligados a separarse.

Producto de la consabida situación política existente entonces en ese país, a él no le fue posible salir, dado su condición de oficial militar. Pero ella si alcanzó con mucho esfuerzo emigrar a los EE. UU. a residir allí. Para superar la distancia, se escribían y enviaban correspondencia cada viernes. Ella supo guardar celosamente y con tierno amor cartas, postales y demás escritos que regularmente recibía, advirtiendo que la forma de escribir de él era un tanto poética. Decía lo que decía con sabor a poesía.

La separación alcanzó la edad de doce años, luego de los cuales el destino les concedió estar nuevamente unidos y fue cuando de mutuo acuerdo extrajeron las porciones poéticas que cada carta tenía y así dieron a luz este libro, como un testimonio de que es posible permanecer enamorados, mantener vivo el amor en el tiempo y, amar a la distancia.

Publicada por Page Publishing, el interesante e increíble libro de Martin Alfredo Garache, Amándote a la Distancia, nos entrega la pasión, la determinación y la lealtad de alguien enamorado, que a pesar de miles de kilómetros seguía demostrando amor como nunca.

Para los lectores que deseen experimentar esta hermosa experiencia, pueden hacerlo, a través de la lectura de este libro, concretando la compra de Amándote a la Distancia en las tiendas en línea de Apple iTunes, Amazon, Google Play o Barnes and Noble.

Para información adicional o cualquier consulta pueden contactar a Page Publishing, a través del siguiente número: 866-315-2708.

Acerca de Page Publishing:

Page Publishing es una editorial tradicional, que presta todo tipo de servicios, maneja todos los temas intrínsecos involucrados en la publicación de los libros de sus autores incluyendo la distribución en las tiendas minoristas más grandes del mundo y la generación de las regalías. Page Publishing sabe que los autores necesitan ser libres para crear, no atados a un negocio complicado con temas como la conversión de libros en línea, establecer cuentas de ventas, seguros, impuestos y temas similares. Sus autores pueden dejar atrás estos temas tan tediosos, complejos y que representan una pérdida de tiempo para ellos, y enfocarse en su pasión; escribir y crear. Aprende más en www.pagepublishing.com 

Foto – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1441293/Martin_Alfredo_Garache.jpg

FUENTE Page Publishing

El nuevo libro de Laura Lavayen, El Precio del Odio, un gran libro sobre las consecuencias de una emoción incontrolable.

NUEVA YORK, 23 de febrero de 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — El reciente lanzamiento del libro El Precio del Odio por Laura Lavayen de la editorial Page Publishing, Esta novela trata muchos temas de ahora y otros de siempre. La situación actual. Las drogas, La libertad de poseer un arma. Los ataques a las escuelas. Todo provoca una situación que tiene a todos preocupados. Y nos preguntamos que más nos espera en el futuro. ¿Aprenderemos a actuar como seres humanos y civilizados o…

NUEVA YORK, 23 de febrero de 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — El reciente lanzamiento del libro El Precio del Odio por Laura Lavayen de la editorial Page Publishing, Esta novela trata muchos temas de ahora y otros de siempre. La situación actual. Las drogas, La libertad de poseer un arma. Los ataques a las escuelas. Todo provoca una situación que tiene a todos preocupados. Y nos preguntamos que más nos espera en el futuro. ¿Aprenderemos a actuar como seres humanos y civilizados o seguiremos actuando como seres sin sentimientos?

Laura Lavayen nació en Bariloche. Una ciudad turística en el sur de Argentina. Donde vivió hasta la adolescencia. Luego se trasladó a Buenos Aires donde vivió hasta que se vino a Estados Unidos donde aún vive. Nunca se olvidó de su país de origen y lo visita siempre desde enero hasta marzo. En Estados Unidos como muchos inmigrantes hizo distintas clases de trabajo. Logro cumplir muchos anhelos menos el de poder pronunciar bien el inglés. Se casó y perdió a su esposo no hace mucho. Durante su enfermedad que duro mucho tiempo escribió dos novelas que aún no ha publicado. Pero espero poder volver a hacerlo, aunque me está costando bastantes, ya que al volver tuve que cambiar mi vieja computadora por una que me está mostrando que me va a costar mucho para adaptarme a ella porque no es tan simple como lo era mi vieja y enorme computadora. Pero no por eso me voy a resignar a dejar de escribir.

El precio del odio es un libro que muestra mucho de la vida actual. Tres generaciones de mujeres cuya historia hace pensar que, aunque la mujer ha ganados derechos como el de votar y estudiar y salir a trabajar a la calle para mantener a la familia aun así debe a veces aguantar a un marido u hombre que por ser físicamente más fuerte que ella logra dominarla de diferentes formas. En esta ficción la abuela que tuvo un padre dominante que no le permitió estudiar por ser mujer, obligó a su hija a hacerlo, pero en un colegio que era muy caro. Lejos de su barrio donde esta no quería ir por no separarse de sus amigos. Su descontento hizo que Ángela se revelara y cuando su madre le compro un vestido para celebrar sus 16 años, Ángela se fue de la casa. Volvió casada más tarde y traía un bebe de meses. Un día desapareció, no volvió por mucho tiempo. Nunca se supo lo que hizo todo el tiempo que estuvo ausente. Había perdido la memoria y no supo decir cuándo o cómo.

Publicada por Page Publishing, el maravilloso libro de Laura Lavayen, El Precio del Odio, nos hará recorrer las más profundas emociones de nuestro ser y aprender que el odio tiene consecuencias inimaginables.

Para los lectores que deseen experimentar esta increíble experiencia, pueden hacerlo, a través de la lectura de este libro, concretando la compra de El Precio del Odio en las tiendas en línea de Apple iTunes, Amazon, Google Play o Barnes and Noble.

Para información adicional o cualquier consulta pueden contactar a Page Publishing, a través del siguiente número: 866-315-2708.

Acerca de Page Publishing:

Page Publishing es una editorial tradicional, que presta todo tipo de servicios, maneja todos los temas intrínsecos involucrados en la publicación de los libros de sus autores incluyendo la distribución en las tiendas minoristas más grandes del mundo y la generación de las regalías. Page Publishing sabe que los autores necesitan ser libres para crear, no atados a un negocio complicado con temas como la conversión de libros en línea, establecer cuentas de ventas, seguros, impuestos y temas similares. Sus autores pueden dejar atrás estos temas tan tediosos, complejos y que representan una pérdida de tiempo para ellos, y enfocarse en su pasión; escribir y crear. Aprende más en www.pagepublishing.com 

Foto – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1441301/Laura_Lavayen.jpg

FUENTE Page Publishing

The Home Depot anuncia resultados del cuarto trimestre y del año fiscal 2020; aumenta el dividendo trimestral en un 10 por ciento

ATLANTA, 23 de febrero de 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot®, la tienda minorista de mejoras para el hogar más grande del mundo, reportó hoy los resultados del cuarto trimestre y del año fiscal 2020.

<img id="prnejpg1ccfleft" title="The Home Depot logo." border="0" alt="The Home Depot logo." align="middle" src="https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/118058/the_home_depot_logo.jpg"…

ATLANTA, 23 de febrero de 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot®, la tienda minorista de mejoras para el hogar más grande del mundo, reportó hoy los resultados del cuarto trimestre y del año fiscal 2020.

The Home Depot logo.

Cuarto Trimestre 2020

Las ventas del cuarto trimestre del año fiscal 2020 fueron de $32,300 millones, un aumento de $ 6,500 millones, o un 25.1 por ciento en comparación con el cuarto trimestre del año fiscal 2019. Para el cuarto trimestre del año fiscal 2020, las ventas comparables aumentaron en un 24.5 por ciento, y las ventas comparables en EE. UU. aumentaron en un 25.0 por ciento.

Las ganancias netas para el cuarto trimestre del año fiscal 2020 fueron de $2,900 millones, o $2.65 por acción diluida, en comparación con las ganancias netas de $2,500 millones, o $2.28 por acción diluida, obtenidas en el mismo período del año fiscal 2019. Para el cuarto trimestre del año fiscal 2020, las ganancias diluidas por acción aumentaron un 16.2 por ciento en comparación al mismo período el año anterior. Las ganancias netas para el cuarto trimestre y el año fiscal fueron impactadas negativamente por gastos no recurrentes antes de impuestos de aproximadamente $110 millones, o $0.09 por acción diluida, relacionados con la finalización de la adquisición de HD Supply Holdings, Inc., el 24 de diciembre de 2020.

Año fiscal 2020

Las ventas del año fiscal 2020 fueron de $132,100 millones, un aumento de $21,900 millones, o 19.9 por ciento en comparación con el año fiscal 2019. Para año fiscal 2020 las ventas comparables aumentaron en un 19.7 por ciento, y las ventas comparables en EE. UU. aumentaron en un 20.6 por ciento.

Las ganancias netas para el año fiscal 2020 fueron de $12,900 millones, o $11.94 por acción diluida, en comparación con las ganancias netas de $11,200 millones, o $10.25 por acción diluida, obtenidas en el año fiscal 2019. Para el año fiscal 2020, las ganancias diluidas por acción aumentaron un 16.5 por ciento en comparación con el año anterior. 

«El equipo demostró una flexibilidad continua para operar de manera efectiva en un entorno muy desafiante y logró romper records en ventas y ganancias. Nuestra capacidad de hacer crecer el negocio por más de $21,000 millones en el año fiscal 2020 es testimonio tanto de las inversiones que hemos realizado en el negocio como del compromiso inquebrantable de nuestros asociados hacia nuestros clientes», dijo Craig Menear, presidente de la junta directiva y CEO. «Seguimos apoyándonos en estas inversiones porque creemos que son fundamentales para permitir el crecimiento de la participación de mercado en cualquier entorno económico. Estoy orgulloso de las múltiples maneras en que nuestros asociados han vivido nuestros valores al atender a nuestros clientes, nuestras comunidades y a nosotros mismos durante estos tiempos indudablemente difíciles, y me gustaría agradecerles a ellos y a nuestros socios proveedores por el extraordinario esfuerzo que han realizado», dijo Menear. 

Año fiscal 2021

Dada la incertidumbre relacionada con la duración de la pandemia de COVID-19 y su influencia en el consumidor, la Compañía cree que está limitada en cuanto a su capacidad de pronosticar la demanda para el año fiscal 2021. Como resultado, la Compañía no va a proporcionar una guía para el año fiscal 2021.

«Nos sentimos muy complacidos con nuestro desempeño financiero récord en el año fiscal 2020. Mientras miramos hacia el año fiscal 2021, aunque no podemos predecir cómo evolucionará el gasto del consumidor, si el entorno de demanda durante la segunda mitad del año fiscal 2020 persistiera hasta el año fiscal 2021, implicaría un crecimiento de ventas comparable plano o ligeramente positivo, y un margen operativo mínimo del 14 por ciento», dijo Richard McPhail, vicepresidente ejecutivo y director financiero. 

Declaración del dividendo

La Compañía anunció hoy que su junta directiva aprobó un aumento del 10 por ciento en su dividendo trimestral a $1.65 por acción, lo que equivale a un dividendo anual de $6.60.

El dividendo es pagadero el 25 de marzo de 2021 a aquellos accionistas que estén registrados al cierre del horario de oficinas el 11 de marzo de 2021. Este es el 136o trimestre consecutivo en el que la Compañía ha pagado un dividendo en efectivo.

The Home Depot llevará a cabo una llamada de conferencia hoy a las 9:00 a.m. (hora del este) para tratar sobre la información incluida en este comunicado de prensa y asuntos relacionados. La llamada de conferencia estará disponible en su totalidad mediante transmisión por Internet y su repetición en ir.homedepot.com/events-and-presentations.

Al final del cuarto trimestre, la Compañía operaba un total de 2,296 tiendas minoristas en los 50 estados, el Distrito de Columbia, Puerto Rico, las Islas Vírgenes de EE.UU., Guam, 10 provincias canadienses y México. La compañía emplea alrededor de 500,000 asociados. Las acciones de The Home Depot se cotizan en la Bolsa de Valores de Nueva York (NYSE: HD) y están incluidas en el promedio industrial de Dow Jones y en el índice 500 de Standard & Poor.

###

Ciertas declaraciones aquí contenidas constituyen «declaraciones a futuro» según estas se definen en la Ley de 1995 sobre la Reforma del Litigio de Valores Privados. Las declaraciones a futuro podrían estar relacionadas, entre otros factores, con el impacto de la pandemia COVID-19 y la recuperación relacionada sobre nuestros negocios, operaciones y resultados financieros (lo cual, entre otros, podría afectar muchos de los factores indicados a continuación); la demanda de nuestros productos y servicios; el aumento de las ventas netas; las ventas comparables; los efectos de la competencia; nuestra marca y reputación; la implementación de iniciativas tecnológicas en tiendas, ventas minoristas interconectadas y cadena de suministros; posiciones de inventario y existencias; el estado de la economía; el estado de los mercados de la vivienda y las mejoras del hogar; el estado de los mercados crediticios, incluidos el hipotecario, el de préstamos sobre el valor neto de la vivienda y el de créditos al consumidor; el impacto de los aranceles; temas relacionados con los métodos de pago que aceptamos; la demanda de ofertas crediticias; la administración de las relaciones con nuestros asociados, abastecedores y proveedores de servicios; controversias comerciales internacionales; desastres naturales; problemas de sanidad pública (incluidas las pandemias, los cierres relacionados y otras órdenes gubernamentales, y restricciones similares, así como reaperturas subsiguientes) y otras interrupciones de negocios que podrían afectar la oferta, entrega o demanda de los productos o servicios de la compañía; la continuación o suspensión de las recompras de acciones; el desempeño de las ganancias netas; las ganancias por acción; los objetivos de dividendos; la asignación y los gastos de capital; la liquidez; el rendimiento del capital invertido; el apalancamiento de gastos; los gastos de la compensación basada en acciones; la inflación y deflación del precio de productos básicos; la capacidad para emitir deudas bajo términos y con tasas aceptables para nosotros; el impacto y el resultado esperado de investigaciones, indagaciones y litigios, incluido el cumplimiento con los acuerdos de transacción relacionados; el efecto de los cargos contables; el efecto de adoptar ciertas normas contables; el impacto de los cambios regulatorios, incluidos los cambios realizados en las leyes y regulaciones tributarias; las aperturas y clausuras de tiendas; la guía para el año fiscal 2021 y más allá del mismo; la perspectiva financiera y el impacto de compañías adquiridas, incluida HD Supply, en nuestra organización y la capacidad de reconocer los beneficios previstos de dichas adquisiciones. Las declaraciones a futuro se basan en información disponible actualmente y en nuestras presunciones, expectativas y proyecciones sobre acontecimientos futuros. Usted no debe confiarse de nuestras declaraciones a futuro. Dichas declaraciones no constituyen garantía alguna del desempeño futuro y están sujetas a acontecimientos, riesgos e incertidumbres en el futuro –muchos de los cuales están más allá de nuestro control, dependientes de acciones de terceros y que desconocemos en la actualidad, así como a presunciones posiblemente inexactas que podrían causar que los resultados reales sean substancialmente diferentes a nuestras expectativas y proyecciones. Dichos riesgos e incertidumbres incluyen pero no se limitan a los descritos en el Punto 1A, «Factores de riesgo», y en otras secciones de nuestro Informe Anual que aparece en el Formulario 10-K para nuestro año fiscal cerrado al 2 de febrero de 2020 y de nuestro Informe Trimestral que aparece en el Formulario 10-Q para el año fiscal cerrado al 1 de noviembre de 2020.

Las declaraciones a futuro corresponden solamente a partir de la fecha en que fueron emitidas, y no nos comprometemos a actualizar dichas declaraciones salvo en lo que exija la ley. No obstante, le aconsejamos que revise cualquier otra divulgación que hagamos sobre temas relacionados en las radicaciones periódicas que realicemos ante la Comisión de Bolsa y Valores [Securities and Exchange Commission].

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

ESTADOS DE GANANCIAS CONDENSADOS Y CONSOLIDADOS

(Sin Auditar)

Tres Meses Terminados

Año Fiscal Terminado

en millones, excepto en los datos por acción

31 de enero
2021

2 de febrero,
2020

% Cambio

31 de enero,
2021

2 de febrero,
2020

% Cambio

Ventas Netas

$

32,261

$

25,782

25.1

%

$

132,110

$

110,225

19.9

%

Costo de las Ventas

21,430

17,046

25.7

87,257

72,653

20.1

Utilidad Bruta

10,831

8,736

24.0

44,853

37,572

19.4

Gastos Operacionales:

Ventas, generales y administrativas

6,187

4,814

28.5

24,447

19,740

23.8

Depreciación y amortización

561

519

8.1

2,128

1,989

7.0

Total gastos operacionales

6,748

5,333

26.5

26,575

21,729

22.3

Ingreso Operacional

4,083

3,403

20.0

18,278

15,843

15.4

Interés y otros (ingreso) gastos:

Ingresos por Interés e Inversiones

(10)

(17)

(41.2)

(47)

(73)

(35.6)

Gastos por Interés

337

309

9.1

1,347

1,201

12.2

Interés y otros, neto

327

292

12.0

1,300

1,128

15.2

Ganancias antes de Provisiones de Impuestos a los Ingresos

3,756

3,111

20.7

16,978

14,715

15.4

Provisión de Impuesto a los Ingresos

899

630

42.7

4,112

3,473

18.4

Ganancias Netas

$

2,857

$

2,481

15.2

%

$

12,866

$

11,242

14.4

%

Promedio Básico Ponderado de Acciones

1,074

1,083

(0.8)

%

1,074

1,093

(1.7)

%

Ganancias Básicas por Acción

$

2.66

$

2.29

16.2

$

11.98

$

10.29

16.4

Promedio Ponderado Diluido de Acciones

1,078

1,088

(0.9)

%

1,078

1,097

(1.7)

%

Ganancias Diluidas por Acción

$

2.65

$

2.28

16.2

$

11.94

$

10.25

16.5

Tres Meses Terminados

Año Fiscal Terminado

Data de Ventas Seleccionadas(1)

31 de enero,
2021

2 de febrero,
2020

% Cambio

31 de enero,
2021

2 de febrero,
2020

% Cambio

Transacciones de Clientes (en millones)

416.8

369.6

12.8

%

1,756.3

1,616.0

8.7

%

Promedio de Transacción de Ventas

$

75.69

$

68.29

10.8

$

74.32

$

67.30

10.4

Ventas por Pie Cuadrado

$

528.01

$

425.70

24.0

$

543.74

$

454.82

19.6

 —————

(1)  La Data de Ventas Seleccionadas no incluye los resultados del legado de negocios de Interline Brands, ahora operando como parte de The Home Depot Pro, o resultados de HD Supply Holdings, Inc.

 

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

HOJA DE BALANCES CONDENSADOS Y CONSOLIDADOS

(Sin Auditar)

en millones

31 de enero,
2021

2 de febrero,
2020

Activos

Activos Circulantes:

Efectivo y equivalentes en efectivo

$

7,895

$

2,133

Cuentas por cobrar, neto

2,992

2,106

Inventarios de mercancía

16,627

14,531

Otros activos circulantes

963

1,040

Total de activos circulantes

28,477

19,810

Propiedad y equipo neto

24,705

22,770

Arrendamientos operacionales con activos con derecho a uso

5,962

5,595

Plusvalía

7,126

2,254

Otros activos

4,311

807

Total de activos

$

70,581

$

51,236

Pasivo y patrimonio de los accionistas

Pasivos Circulantes:

Deuda a corto plazo

$

$

974

Cuentas por pagar

11,606

7,787

Salarios acumulados y gastos relacionados

2,463

1,494

Plazos actuales de deuda a largo plazo

1,416

1,839

Arrendamientos operacionales actuales pasivos

828

828

Otros pasivos circulantes

6,853

5,453

Total de pasivos circulantes

23,166

18,375

Deuda a largo plazo, excluyendo pagos a plazo actuales

35,822

28,670

Arrendamientos operacionales a largo plazo pasivos

5,356

5,066

Otros pasivos

2,938

2,241

Total de pasivos

67,282

54,352

Total de patrimonio (déficit) de los accionistas

3,299

(3,116)

Total de pasivos y patrimonio de los accionistas

$

70,581

$

51,236

 

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

ESTADOS DE FLUJO DE EFECTIVO CONDENSADO Y CONSOLIDADO

(Sin Auditar)

Año Fiscal Terminado

en millones

31 de enero,
2021

2 de febrero,
2020

Flujo de efectivo de actividades operacionales:

Ganancias Netas

$

12,866

$

11,242

Reconciliación de ganancias netas a efectivo neto proporcionado por actividades operacionales:

Depreciación y amortización

2,519

2,296

Gastos de compensación basados en acciones

310

251

Cambios en capital circulante

3,592

(488)

Cambios en impuestos a los ingresos diferidos

(569)

202

Otras actividades operacionales

121

184

Efectivo neto provisto para actividades operacionales

18,839

13,687

Flujo de efectivo de actividades de inversión:

Gastos de capital

(2,463)

(2,678)

Pagos por negocio adquirido, neto

(7,780)

Otras actividades de inversión

73

25

Efectivo neto utilizado en actividades de inversión

(10,170)

(2,653)

Flujo de efectivo de actividades financieras:

Reembolso de deuda a corto plazo, neto

(974)

(365)

Ganancias de deuda a largo plazo, neto de descuentos y primas

7,933

3,420

Reembolso de deuda a largo plazo

(2,872)

(1,070)

Recompras de acciones ordinarias

(791)

(6,965)

Ganancias por ventas de acciones ordinarias

326

280

Dividendos en efectivo

(6,451)

(5,958)

Otras actividades financieras

(154)

(140)

Efectivo neto usado en actividades financieras

(2,983)

(10,798)

Cambio en efectivo y equivalentes de efectivo

5,686

236

Efecto de la tasa de cambio sobre el efectivo y equivalentes de efectivo

76

119

Efectivo y equivalentes de efectivo al principio del año

2,133

1,778

Efectivo y equivalentes de efectivo al final del año

$

7,895

$

2,133

—————

Nota: Efectivo el 3 de febrero de 2020, hemos reclasificado los flujos de efectivo relacionados con descubiertos bancarios, desde financiamientos hasta actividades operacionales para todos los períodos presentados en los Estados Consolidados de Flujo de Efectivo. Las cantidades de estas reclasificaciones no fueron materiales.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/118058/the_home_depot_logo.jpg

FUENTE The Home Depot

The Home Depot Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2020 Results; Increases Quarterly Dividend by 10 Percent

ATLANTA, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today reported fourth quarter and fiscal 2020 results.

The Home Depot logo.

Fourth Quarter…

ATLANTA, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today reported fourth quarter and fiscal 2020 results.

The Home Depot logo.

Fourth Quarter 2020

Sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 were $32.3 billion, an increase of $6.5 billion, or 25.1 percent from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019. Comparable sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 increased 24.5 percent, and comparable sales in the U.S. increased 25.0 percent.

Net earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 were $2.9 billion, or $2.65 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $2.5 billion, or $2.28 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2019. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, diluted earnings per share increased 16.2 percent from the same period in the prior year. Net earnings for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year were negatively impacted by non-recurring, pre-tax expenses related to the completion of the acquisition of HD Supply Holdings, Inc. on December 24, 2020, which totaled approximately $110 million, or $0.09 per diluted share.

Fiscal 2020

Sales for fiscal 2020 were $132.1 billion, an increase of $21.9 billion, or 19.9 percent, from fiscal 2019. Comparable sales for fiscal 2020 increased 19.7 percent, and comparable sales in the U.S. increased 20.6 percent.

Net earnings for fiscal 2020 were $12.9 billion, or $11.94 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $11.2 billion, or $10.25 per diluted share in fiscal 2019. For fiscal year 2020, diluted earnings per share increased 16.5 percent versus the prior year.  

«The team demonstrated ongoing flexibility to operate effectively in a very challenging environment and deliver record-breaking sales and earnings. Our ability to grow the business by over $21 billion in fiscal 2020 is a testament to both the investments we have made in the business as well as our associates’ unwavering commitment to our customers,» said Craig Menear, chairman and CEO. «We continue to lean into these investments because we believe they are critical in enabling market share growth in any economic environment. I am proud of the many ways our associates lived our values by serving our customers, communities and each other during these unquestionably challenging times, and I would like to thank them and our supplier partners for their extraordinary efforts.»

Fiscal 2021

Given the uncertainty related to the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its influence on the consumer, the Company believes it is limited in its ability to forecast demand for fiscal 2021. As a result, the Company is not providing guidance for fiscal 2021.

«We were pleased with our record financial performance in fiscal 2020. As we look ahead to fiscal 2021, while we are not able to predict how consumer spending will evolve, if the demand environment during the back half of fiscal 2020 were to persist through fiscal 2021, it would imply flat to slightly positive comparable sales growth and operating margin of at least 14 percent,» said Richard McPhail, executive vice president and CFO.  

Dividend Declaration

The Company today announced that its board of directors approved an increase in its quarterly dividend by 10.0 percent to $1.65 per share, which equates to an annual dividend of $6.60.

The dividend is payable on March 25, 2021, to shareholders of record on the close of business on March 11, 2021. This is the 136th consecutive quarter the Company has paid a cash dividend.

The Home Depot will conduct a conference call today at 9 a.m. ET to discuss information included in this news release and related matters. The conference call will be available in its entirety through a webcast and replay at ir.homedepot.com/events-and-presentations.

At the end of the fourth quarter, the Company operated a total of 2,296 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. The Company employs approximately 500,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

###

Certain statements contained herein constitute «forward-looking statements» as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related recovery on our business, operations and financial results (which, among other things, may affect many of the items listed below); the demand for our products and services; net sales growth; comparable sales; effects of competition; our brand and reputation; implementation of store, interconnected retail, supply chain and technology initiatives; inventory and in-stock positions; state of the economy; state of the housing and home improvement markets; state of the credit markets, including mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit; impact of tariffs; issues related to the payment methods we accept; demand for credit offerings; management of relationships with our associates, suppliers and service providers; international trade disputes, natural disasters, public health issues (including pandemics and quarantines, related shut-downs and other governmental orders, and similar restrictions, as well as subsequent re-openings), and other business interruptions that could disrupt supply or delivery of, or demand for, the Company’s products or services; continuation or suspension of share repurchases; net earnings performance; earnings per share; dividend targets; capital allocation and expenditures; liquidity; return on invested capital; expense leverage; stock-based compensation expense; commodity price inflation and deflation; the ability to issue debt on terms and at rates acceptable to us; the impact and expected outcome of investigations, inquiries, claims and litigation, including compliance with related settlements; the effect of accounting charges; the effect of adopting certain accounting standards; the impact of regulatory changes, including changes to tax laws and regulations; store openings and closures; guidance for fiscal 2021 and beyond; financial outlook; and the impact of acquired companies, including HD Supply, on our organization and the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of those acquisitions. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to future events, risks and uncertainties – many of which are beyond our control, dependent on the actions of third parties, or are currently unknown to us – as well as potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations and projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A, «Risk Factors,» and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended February 2, 2020 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 1, 2020.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements other than as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Fiscal Year Ended

in millions, except per share data

January 31,
2021

February 2,
2020

% Change

January 31,
2021

February 2,
2020

% Change

Net sales

$

32,261

$

25,782

25.1

%

$

132,110

$

110,225

19.9

%

Cost of sales

21,430

17,046

25.7

87,257

72,653

20.1

Gross profit

10,831

8,736

24.0

44,853

37,572

19.4

Operating expenses:

Selling, general and administrative

6,187

4,814

28.5

24,447

19,740

23.8

Depreciation and amortization

561

519

8.1

2,128

1,989

7.0

Total operating expenses

6,748

5,333

26.5

26,575

21,729

22.3

Operating income

4,083

3,403

20.0

18,278

15,843

15.4

Interest and other (income) expense:

Interest and investment income

(10)

(17)

(41.2)

(47)

(73)

(35.6)

Interest expense

337

309

9.1

1,347

1,201

12.2

Interest and other, net

327

292

12.0

1,300

1,128

15.2

Earnings before provision for income taxes

3,756

3,111

20.7

16,978

14,715

15.4

Provision for income taxes

899

630

42.7

4,112

3,473

18.4

Net earnings

$

2,857

$

2,481

15.2

%

$

12,866

$

11,242

14.4

%

Basic weighted average common shares

1,074

1,083

(0.8)

%

1,074

1,093

(1.7)

%

Basic earnings per share

$

2.66

$

2.29

16.2

$

11.98

$

10.29

16.4

Diluted weighted average common shares

1,078

1,088

(0.9)

%

1,078

1,097

(1.7)

%

Diluted earnings per share

$

2.65

$

2.28

16.2

$

11.94

$

10.25

16.5

Three Months Ended

Fiscal Year Ended

Selected Sales Data (1)

January 31,
2021

February 2,
2020

% Change

January 31,
2021

February 2,
2020

% Change

Customer transactions (in millions)

416.8

369.6

12.8

%

1,756.3

1,616.0

8.7

%

Average ticket

$

75.69

$

68.29

10.8

$

74.32

$

67.30

10.4

Sales per retail square foot

$

528.01

$

425.70

24.0

$

543.74

$

454.82

19.6

—————

(1)  Selected Sales Data does not include results for the legacy Interline Brands business, now operating as a part of The Home Depot Pro, or results for HD Supply Holdings, Inc.

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

in millions

January 31,
2021

February 2,
2020

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

7,895

$

2,133

Receivables, net

2,992

2,106

Merchandise inventories

16,627

14,531

Other current assets

963

1,040

Total current assets

28,477

19,810

Net property and equipment

24,705

22,770

Operating lease right-of-use assets

5,962

5,595

Goodwill

7,126

2,254

Other assets

4,311

807

Total assets

$

70,581

$

51,236

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Short-term debt

$

$

974

Accounts payable

11,606

7,787

Accrued salaries and related expenses

2,463

1,494

Current installments of long-term debt

1,416

1,839

Current operating lease liabilities

828

828

Other current liabilities

6,853

5,453

Total current liabilities

23,166

18,375

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

35,822

28,670

Long-term operating lease liabilities

5,356

5,066

Other liabilities

2,938

2,241

Total liabilities

67,282

54,352

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

3,299

(3,116)

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

70,581

$

51,236

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

Fiscal Year Ended

in millions

January 31,
2021

February 2,
2020

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

Net earnings

$

12,866

$

11,242

Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

2,519

2,296

Stock-based compensation expense

310

251

Changes in working capital

3,592

(488)

Changes in deferred income taxes

(569)

202

Other operating activities

121

184

Net cash provided by operating activities

18,839

13,687

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

Capital expenditures

(2,463)

(2,678)

Payments for business acquired, net

(7,780)

Other investing activities

73

25

Net cash used in investing activities

(10,170)

(2,653)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

Repayments of short-term debt, net

(974)

(365)

Proceeds from long-term debt, net of discounts and premiums

7,933

3,420

Repayments of long-term debt

(2,872)

(1,070)

Repurchases of common stock

(791)

(6,965)

Proceeds from sales of common stock

326

280

Cash dividends

(6,451)

(5,958)

Other financing activities

(154)

(140)

Net cash used in financing activities

(2,983)

(10,798)

Change in cash and cash equivalents

5,686

236

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

76

119

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

2,133

1,778

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$

7,895

$

2,133

—————

Note: Effective February 3, 2020, we reclassified cash flows relating to book overdrafts from financing to operating activities for all periods presented on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The amounts of these reclassifications were not material.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/118058/the_home_depot_logo.jpg

SOURCE The Home Depot

Black Female Nonprofit Leaders Call on Biden to Achieve Health Equity

CHICAGO, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — CEOs from four national healthcare organizations today called on the Biden administration to remedy the health inequities Black Americans experience throughout their lives.  The letter comes on the heels of a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report showing <a target="_blank"…

CHICAGO, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — CEOs from four national healthcare organizations today called on the Biden administration to remedy the health inequities Black Americans experience throughout their lives.  The letter comes on the heels of a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report showing Black males lost three years of life expectancy due to COVID-19 in six months, compared to 0.8 years for White males.

In an open letter to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and members of their national healthcare team, leaders of the American Diabetes Association, Black Women’s Health Imperative, Easterseals and March of Dimes said the four service organizations’ programs bear witness to the healthcare challenges Black Americans receive starting at birth.

«We urge you to prioritize solutions to remedy these persistent health care inequities within the Black community that have only worsened during the pandemic,» the CEOs write in the open letter, published in The Hill, Politico, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. The full text is available at easterseals.com.

Racial Equity Concern Spans Health Conditions

The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the nation’s health equity shortcomings. The coronavirus death rate among Blacks is 1.9 times that of whites, the CDC reported last week.

The nonprofit leaders applaud Biden’s plans to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and to protect Medicaid. Access to affordable, quality health care, plus intervention and prevention programs, they say, «promise to change the trajectory for communities of color.»

«We believe it is critical to raise health equity as a shared concern as the Biden administration addresses issues within the healthcare system,» said Easterseals President and CEO Angela F. Williams, who organized the statement. «Blacks often experience life and negotiate the healthcare system with greater challenges. We are all too familiar with this given that we lead organizations with similar missions and are regularly called on to use our positions to support the Black community and help shape a more equitable society.

«As one of the nation’s largest nonprofit healthcare organizations, Easterseals provides a range of services for children and adults with disabilities, seniors and veterans,» she continued. «One in 4 Americans today are living with disability, and of these individuals, 1 in 4 is Black. That gives us a wide and diverse view of health equity.

«With such a broad perspective, we see disturbing trends in healthcare parity that must be addressed,» Williams continued. Black children are diagnosed later than their peers with developmental or intellectual disabilities. Black adults with disabilities find it harder to afford, access or advocate for care and, as they age, experience worse outcomes from a range of chronic diseases. COVID-19 has compounded these health inequities across generations of Black Americans.»

COVID Crisis Puts Blacks at Greater Risk

The CEOs believe that political action can better the state of the Black community’s social determinants of health — unfair and avoidable conditions the World Health Organization cites as mostly responsible for health inequities — and remove systemic barriers to racial equity.

This year, Easterseals established its Black Child Fund, supporting philanthropic giving to close gaps in childcare, education and healthcare equity that have widened in the pandemic. It also introduced a new advocacy program, All In, to guide employer progress on equity in the workplace, where lower wages contribute to health insecurity for workers with disabilities.

Biden and Harris campaigned on pledges to advance affordable health insurance, quality care and a less complex system that ensures healthcare rights. Biden’s Nov. 7 victory speech made a callout to equity issues: «We must make the promise of the country real for everybody — no matter their race, their ethnicity, their faith, their identity or their disability.»

Williams was joined in signing the open letter by Tracey D. Brown, CEO of the American Diabetes Association; Linda Goler Blount, president and CEO of the Black Women’s Health Imperative; and Stacey D. Stewart, president and CEO of the March of Dimes.

About Easterseals

Easterseals has served as an indispensable resource for individuals with disabilities, veterans, seniors and their families for more than 100 years. Together, its 67 affiliates in communities nationwide serve 1.5 million people annually through high-quality programs, including autism services, early intervention, workforce development and adult day services. Driven by its purpose to change the way the world defines and views disability, Easterseals makes profound, positive differences in people’s lives every day. Learn more at easterseals.com.

For more information contact:
Kelley Quinn
Purpose Brand
kquinn@purposebrand.com 
(773) 879-3809

 

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SOURCE Easterseals