Home Depot Confirms FY15 Outlook; Aims Annual Sales Growth Rate Of Approx. 4.7%

(RTTNews) - The Home Depot (HD) reaffirmed its sales and earnings-per-share guidance for fiscal 2015. The company expects sales to increase approximately 5.7 percent for the year, with comps of approximately 4.9 percent. The company also expects fiscal 2015 earnings per share to grow approximately 14 percent to $5.36.

In December 2013, Home Depot announced an operating margin target of 13 percent and a 27 percent return on invested capital target by the end of fiscal 2015. The company anticipates reaching these targets by the end of fiscal 2015.

Home Depot announced new long-term, fiscal 2018 financial targets, which include: total sales of approximately $101 billion; a compounded annual sales growth rate from the end of fiscal 2015 of approximately 4.7 percent; operating margin of approximately 14.5 percent; and return on invested capital of approximately 35 percent.

Home Depot also announced the company will address its approach to creating shareholder value by delivering higher returns on invested capital and increasing total value returned to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. The company updated its key initiatives under its strategic framework, which focuses on creating value by connecting the business end-to-end. Under the framework, which the company calls Interconnecting Retail, Home Depot continues to be centered on Customer Experience, Product Authority and Productivity.