Article: Home Depot 2Q profit beats expectations

Home Depot Inc. on Tuesday that its fiscal second-quarter profit fell 7 percent, as consumers continued to shy away from bigger purchases, but cost cutting and sales of smaller items such as paint and garden products helped results beat expectations.

The nation's biggest home-improvement retailer said total transactions in the U.S. increased year-over-year for the first time in five years and same-store sales rates improved in Florida and California, two of its most important _ and troubled _ markets. It lifted its guidance for full-year earnings from continuing operations.

Shares rose 74 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $26.85 during afternoon trading.

Still, similar to its ...

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