Home Depot Beat Earnings Estimates, Shares Rise

Home Depot (HD) - Get Report shares are trading up this morning after the home-improvement retailer posted a monster earnings beat showing strength in the U.S. housing recovery. The company beat earnings estimates, reporting profit of $1.44 a share beating estimates by 11 cents. Same-store sales rose almost 5.8% sailing past estimates of 3.5%. Home Depot increased its dividend by 29% from 69 cents to 89 cents and authorized a $15 billion share buyback progam.