The Home Depot (NYSE: HD),  Atlanta, GA, reported sales for the fiscal third quarter ended October 28, 2012, of $18.1 billion, a 4.6 percent improvement over the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Profit grew 1.4 percent to $947 million.

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"Our third-quarter results were better than we expected and reflected, in part, what we believe is the start of the path toward the healing of the housing market," Frank Blake, chairman & CEO, said.

For the first three quarters, sales were $56.5 billion, marking 5.9 percent growth year-over-year. Profit grew 13 percent to $3.5 billion.

"I particularly want to thank all of our associates who are helping the communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy. They are working under difficult circumstances, often with their own lives and homes disrupted by the storm, and their efforts exemplify our core values," Blake said.