HD-2.3.2013-10-K
Table of Contents


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
________________________________________
FORM 10-K
ý
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended February 3, 2013
OR
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File Number 1-8207
THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
95-3261426
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2455 PACES FERRY ROAD, N.W., ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30339
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (770) 433-8211
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
TITLE OF EACH CLASS
NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE
ON WHICH REGISTERED
Common Stock, $0.05 Par Value Per Share
New York Stock Exchange
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT: None
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No ý
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ý
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No ý
The aggregate market value of the common stock of the Registrant held by non-affiliates of the Registrant on July 29, 2012 was $80.2 billion.
The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s common stock as of March 11, 2013 was 1,485,517,485 shares.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrant’s proxy statement for the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K to the extent described herein.


Table of Contents

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
FISCAL YEAR 2012 FORM 10-K
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Table of Contents

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO THE
PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
Certain statements regarding our future performance 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 demand for our products and services, net sales growth, comparable store sales, state of the economy, state of the residential construction, housing and home improvement markets, state of the credit markets, including mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit, inventory and in-stock positions, commodity price inflation and deflation, implementation of store and supply chain initiatives, continuation of share repurchase programs, net earnings performance, earnings per share, capital allocation and expenditures, liquidity, return on invested capital, management of relationships with our suppliers and vendors, stock-based compensation expense, the effect of accounting charges, the effect of adopting certain accounting standards, the ability to issue debt on terms and at rates acceptable to us, store openings and closures, expense leverage and financial outlook.
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 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 this report.
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 ("SEC").


PART I

Item 1. Business.
Introduction
The Home Depot, Inc. is the world’s largest home improvement retailer based on Net Sales for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2013 ("fiscal 2012"). The Home Depot stores sell a wide assortment of building materials, home improvement products and lawn and garden products and provide a number of services. The Home Depot stores average approximately 104,000 square feet of enclosed space, with approximately 24,000 additional square feet of outside garden area. As of the end of fiscal 2012, we had 2,256 The Home Depot stores located throughout the United States including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, Canada and Mexico. When we refer to "The Home Depot," the "Company," "we," "us" or "our" in this report, we are referring to The Home Depot, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
The Home Depot, Inc. is a Delaware corporation that was incorporated in 1978. Our Store Support Center (corporate office) is located at 2455 Paces Ferry Road, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30339. Our telephone number is (770) 433-8211.
We maintain an Internet website at www.homedepot.com. We make available on our website, free of charge, our Annual Reports to shareholders, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statements and Forms 3, 4 and 5, and amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such documents with, or furnishing such documents to, the SEC.
We include our website addresses throughout this filing for reference only. The information contained on our websites is not incorporated by reference into this report.
For information on key financial highlights, including historical revenues, profits and total assets, see the "Five-Year Summary of Financial and Operating Results" on page F-1 of this report and Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

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Our Business
Operating Strategy    
In fiscal 2012, we continued to execute on our strategy focused on the following key initiatives:
Customer Service. Our customer service initiative is anchored on the principles of creating an emotional connection with our customers, putting customers first, taking care of our associates and simplifying the business. We underscored the importance of this initiative in fiscal 2012 by retraining all U.S. store associates on our Customers FIRST program prior to the Spring selling season. During fiscal 2012, we continued to invest in information technology and made certain strategic acquisitions to serve our customers more effectively. Through these efforts, we have continually improved our customer satisfaction survey results. We also sought to maintain competitive wages and incentive opportunities to attract, retain and motivate our associates.
Product Authority. Our product authority initiative is facilitated by our merchandising transformation and portfolio strategy, which is focused on delivering product innovation, assortment and value. In fiscal 2012, we introduced a wide range of innovative new products to our professional and do-it-yourself customers, while remaining focused on offering every day values in our stores.
Disciplined Capital Allocation, Productivity and Efficiency. We have advanced this initiative through building best-in-class competitive advantages in information technology and supply chain. During fiscal 2012, we completed the mechanization of our Rapid Deployment Center ("RDC") network, and we continue to focus on operating and optimizing our supply chain network. We also advanced this initiative through our continued focus on disciplined capital allocation and expense control, which drove higher returns on invested capital and allowed us to return value to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends.
Interconnected Retail. As customers increasingly expect to be able to buy how, when and where they want, we believe that providing a seamless shopping experience across multiple channels, with an expanded array of merchandise, will be a key enabler for future success. The interconnected retail initiative is woven throughout our business and connects our other three key initiatives. In fiscal 2012, we launched several projects to support this initiative, starting in the first quarter with the rollout of a significant upgrade to our website, which enhanced the layout, visual appearance and responsiveness of the site. We also began construction of a new distribution center to support direct-to-customer fulfillment, with a second distribution center also under development, and we added new customer call centers in Utah and Georgia. Lastly, we introduced new programs, such as Buy Online, Return In Store ("BORIS") and Buy Online, Ship to Store ("BOSS"), to expand upon Buy Online, Pick-Up In Store ("BOPIS"), which we introduced in fiscal 2011.
Customer Service    
Our Customers. The Home Depot stores serve three primary customer groups, and we have different customer service approaches to meet their particular needs:
Do-It-Yourself ("D-I-Y") Customers. These customers are typically home owners who purchase products and complete their own projects and installations. Our associates assist these customers with specific product and installation questions both in our stores and through online resources and other media designed to provide product and project knowledge. We also offer a variety of clinics and workshops both to impart this knowledge and to build an emotional connection with our D-I-Y customers.
Do-It-For-Me ("D-I-F-M") Customers. These customers are typically home owners who purchase materials themselves and hire third parties to complete the project or installation. Our stores offer a variety of installation services targeted at D-I-F-M customers who select and purchase products and installation of those products from us in the store. Our installation programs include products such as carpeting, flooring, cabinets, countertops and water heaters. In addition, we provide professional installation of a number of products sold through our in-home sales programs, such as roofing, siding, windows, furnaces and central air systems.
Professional Customers. These customers are primarily professional remodelers, general contractors, repairmen, small business owners and tradesmen. We offer a variety of special programs to these customers, including delivery and will-call services, dedicated staff, expanded credit programs, designated parking spaces close to store entrances and bulk pricing programs for both online and in-store purchases. We recognize the unique service needs of the professional customer and use our expertise to facilitate their buying experience.
In fiscal 2012, we undertook a number of projects and new developments to enhance our customers' shopping experiences. In addition to retraining our associates on the Customers FIRST program, we rolled out the "First Phone Junior" to all of our

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stores. This version combines the communication features of a phone with the product and inventory lookup features of our First Phone, but without its complex business analytics and product ordering features. We can now spread the basic functionality and customer service benefits of the First Phone throughout the store at a lower cost. We also implemented a new "Store to Store" feature, which allows our associates to look up inventory in other stores, reserve the inventory and complete the sales transaction for the customer. We continued to take tasking out of the stores so that our associates can focus on assisting customers. To improve our labor efficiency, we have developed tools for automated, in-aisle inventory management to replace our former manual, paper-driven processes. As of the end of fiscal 2012, approximately 57% of our store labor hours were dedicated to customer-facing activity, with a goal of reaching 60% by the end of fiscal 2013.
In fiscal 2012, we continued to automate our special order and installation process to improve transparency and communication and to simplify the customer experience, and we launched MyInstall on our website, which allows our customers to schedule appointments and track their projects online. Our recent strategic acquisitions are also aimed at improving our customers' home improvement experiences. Red Beacon, acquired at the end of fiscal 2011, is a website that helps our D-I-F-M customers find professionals to help them complete home improvement projects. This acquisition enables us to deliver on consumer expectations by making it easier to get these projects done; it allows us to help our professional customers find jobs; and it builds relationships with our customers. We also acquired two companies that provided services to our customers – a flooring measurement company and a kitchen and bath refacing company. These acquisitions enable us to strengthen and unify our customers' home services experience under The Home Depot brand.
We help our professional, D-I-Y and D-I-F-M customers finance their projects by offering private label credit products in our stores through third-party credit providers. In fiscal 2012, our customers opened approximately 2.5 million new The Home Depot private label credit accounts, and at fiscal year end the total number of The Home Depot active account holders was approximately 10 million. Private label credit card sales accounted for approximately 22% of sales in fiscal 2012. In addition, to improve customer convenience at the register, we completed our rollout of PayPal® as an in-store payment option and, in certain stores, implemented a program for customers to receive an electronic copy of their receipt.
Our Associates.   Our associates are key to our customer service initiative. We empower our associates to deliver excellent customer service through our Customers FIRST training program, and we have a number of Company-sponsored programs to recognize stores and individual associates for exceptional customer and community service. At the end of fiscal 2012, we employed approximately 340,000 associates, of whom approximately 21,000 were salaried, with the remainder compensated on an hourly or temporary basis. To attract and retain qualified personnel, we seek to maintain competitive salary and wage levels in each market we serve. We measure associate satisfaction regularly and maintain multiple means of ensuring effective communications with our associates. We believe that our employee relations are very good.
Product Authority
Our Products.   Our product portfolio strategy is aimed at delivering innovation, assortment and value. A typical The Home Depot store stocks approximately 30,000 to 40,000 products during the year, including both national brand name and proprietary items. We also offer over 600,000 products through our Home Depot and Home Decorators Collection websites. To enhance our merchandising capabilities, we continued to make improvements to our information technology tools in fiscal 2012 to give our merchants and suppliers greater visibility into category and item performance and to continue to increase the localized assortment in our stores. We also acquired BlackLocus, Inc., a data analytics and pricing firm, which will bring additional tools and capabilities to support our merchandising team.
In fiscal 2012, we introduced a number of innovative and distinctive products to our customers at attractive values. Examples of these new products include the second generation of EcoSmart® LED light bulbs, including the only Daylight Downlight LED sold in retail; an improved version of Behr® Premium Ultra Interior Paint & Primer in One; appliances from Electrolux®, Whirlpool® and Frigidaire®; the second generation of Ryobi® lithium battery technology for power tools; a "click version" of tile with realistic wood looks from TrafficMaster® Allure™; and one inch cellular window blinds under our Home Decorators Collection brand.
During fiscal 2012, we offered a number of proprietary and exclusive brands across a wide range of departments, such as Husky® hand tools and tool storage, Defiant® door locks, Everbilt® hardware fasteners, Hampton Bay® lighting and fans, Vigoro® lawn care products, RIDGID® and Ryobi® power tools and Glacier Bay® bath fixtures. We also introduced the HDX brand in February 2012, with products in the tools and hardware, storage and cleaning categories. We will continue to assess strategic alliances and relationships with suppliers and opportunities to expand the range of products available under brand names that are exclusive to The Home Depot.

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From our Store Support Center, we maintain a global sourcing program to obtain high-quality products directly from manufacturers around the world. Our merchant team identifies and purchases innovative products directly for our stores. Additionally, we have three sourcing offices located in the Chinese cities of Shanghai, Shenzhen and Dalian, as well as sourcing offices in Gurgaon, India; Rome, Italy; Monterrey, Mexico and Toronto, Canada.
Quality Assurance. We have both quality assurance and engineering resources that are dedicated to overseeing the quality of all of our products, whether they are directly imported, locally or globally sourced or proprietary branded products. Through these programs, we have established criteria for supplier and product performance that are designed to ensure that our products comply with applicable international, federal, state and local safety, quality and performance standards. We also have a Supplier Social and Environmental Responsibility Program designed to ensure that our suppliers adhere to the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility.
Energy Saving Products and Programs. As an industry leader, The Home Depot is committed to doing the right thing for our customers and the environment. By providing consumers a selection of environmentally preferred products that help them save money, energy and water, we are helping to ensure a more sustainable future. Through our Eco Options® Program introduced in 2007, we have created product categories that allow consumers to easily identify products that meet specifications for energy efficiency, water conservation, healthy home, clean air and sustainable forestry. As of the end of fiscal 2012, our Eco Options® Program has certified over 5,000 products. Through this program, we sell products such as ENERGY STAR® refrigerators, dishwashers, compact fluorescent light ("CFL") bulbs, EcoSmart® LED light bulbs, programmable thermostats, tankless "on demand" water heaters and other products, enabling our customers to save on their utility bills. LED light bulbs, which use approximately 85% less energy and last up to 20 years longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, continued to be one of our fastest growing categories for the year. We estimate that in fiscal 2012, sales of ENERGY STAR® qualified products helped consumers save over $700 million in annual utility costs. We also helped our customers save water through sales of WaterSense®-labeled bath faucets, showerheads, aerators and toilets. Through the sales of these products, we estimate that we have helped consumers save over 30 billion gallons of water and over $200 million in water bills.
In fiscal 2012, we made extensive updates to the Eco Options® page on our website to enable us to address growing customer demand for environmentally responsible and cost-saving products and projects. The newly enhanced site increases consumer awareness of the environmental impacts of various products, provides educational tips and identifies "green" projects. The site also helps consumers identify products included in the Eco Options® program, and it now includes a calculator to enable consumers to determine energy and water savings achievable by making small changes in their homes.
In partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, we launched a website in fiscal 2012 to help our customers easily identify products with potential Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ("LEED") point values. At the end of fiscal 2012, we had approximately 3,500 "LEED for Homes" products sold in our stores and online. The website, found at www.leed.homedepot.com, is designed to simplify the complexities of building green and arm our customers with the tools needed to navigate the LEED for Homes programs by providing tips, informative videos and educational content.
We continue to offer our nationwide, in-store CFL bulb recycling program launched in 2008. This service is offered to customers free of charge and is available in all U.S. stores. We also maintain an in-store rechargeable battery recycling program. Launched in 2001 and currently done in partnership with Call2Recycle, this program is also available to customers free of charge in all stores throughout the U.S. Through these recycling programs, in fiscal 2012 we helped recycle over 600,000 pounds of CFL bulbs and over 852,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries collected from our customers. In fiscal 2012, we also recycled over 98,000 lead acid batteries collected from our customers under our lead acid battery exchange program, as well as approximately 173,000 tons of cardboard through a nationwide cardboard recycling program across our U.S. stores.

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Net Sales of Major Product Groups. The following table shows the percentage of Net Sales of each major product group (and related services) for each of the last three fiscal years:
Product Group
Percentage of Net Sales for Fiscal Year Ended
February 3,
2013
 
January 29,
2012
 
January 30,
2011
Plumbing, electrical and kitchen
30.8
%
 
30.5
%
 
30.0
%
Hardware and seasonal
29.4

 
29.5

 
29.4

Building materials, lumber and millwork
20.6

 
21.1

 
21.7

Paint and flooring
19.2

 
18.9

 
18.9

  Total
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
Net Sales outside the U.S. were $8.4 billion, $8.0 billion and $7.5 billion for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Long-lived assets outside the U.S. totaled $3.1 billion, $3.1 billion and $3.2 billion as of February 3, 2013January 29, 2012 and January 30, 2011, respectively.
Seasonality.   Our business is subject to seasonal influences. Generally, our highest volume of sales occurs in our second fiscal quarter, and the lowest volume occurs during our fourth fiscal quarter. Fiscal 2012 included 53 weeks, rather than 52 weeks. As a result, our fourth fiscal quarter in 2012 included an extra week, which increased sales for that quarter.
Competition.   Our industry is highly competitive, with competition based primarily on customer service, price, store location and appearance, and quality, availability and assortment of merchandise. Although we are currently the world’s largest home improvement retailer, in each of the markets we serve there are a number of other home improvement stores, electrical, plumbing and building materials supply houses and lumber yards. With respect to some products and services, we also compete with specialty design stores, showrooms, discount stores, local, regional and national hardware stores, mail order firms, warehouse clubs, independent building supply stores and, to a lesser extent, other retailers, as well as with installers of home improvement products. In addition, we face growing competition from online and multichannel retailers.
Intellectual Property.   Our business has one of the most recognized brands in North America. As a result, we believe that The Home Depot® trademark has significant value and is an important factor in the marketing of our products, e-commerce, stores and business. We have registered or applied for registration of trademarks, service marks, copyrights and internet domain names, both domestically and internationally, for use in our business. We also maintain patent portfolios relating to some of our products and services and seek to patent or otherwise protect innovations we incorporate into our products or business operations.
Disciplined Capital Allocation, Productivity and Efficiency
Logistics.   Our supply chain operations are focused on creating a competitive advantage through ensuring product availability for our customers, effectively using our investment in inventory, and managing total supply chain costs. Our fiscal 2012 initiatives have been to further optimize and efficiently operate our network, build new logistics capabilities and improve our inventory management systems and processes.
Our distribution strategy is to provide the optimal flow path for a given product. RDCs play a key role in optimizing our network as they allow for aggregation of product needs for multiple stores to a single purchase order and then rapid allocation and deployment of inventory to individual stores upon arrival at the RDC. This results in a simplified ordering process and improved transportation and inventory management. To enhance our RDC network, we continued adding mechanization, and at the end of fiscal 2012, all 18 of our U.S. RDCs were mechanized. We also expanded our U.S. transload program for imported products to four facilities operated by third parties near ocean ports. Transload facilities allow us to improve our import logistics costs and inventory management by enabling imported product to flow through our RDC network.
Over the past several years, we have centralized our inventory planning and replenishment function and implemented new forecasting and replenishment technology. This has helped us to improve our in-stock rates and our inventory productivity at the same time. At the end of fiscal 2012, over 91% of our U.S. store products were ordered through central replenishment.
In addition to our 18 RDCs in the U.S., at the end of fiscal 2012, we operated 33 bulk distribution centers, which handle products distributed optimally on flat bed trucks, in the U.S. and Canada. We also operated 36 conventional distribution centers, which include stocking, direct fulfillment and specialty distribution centers, in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. We remain committed to leveraging our supply chain capabilities to fully utilize and optimize our improved logistics network.

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Commitment to Environmentally Responsible Operations. The Home Depot is committed to conducting business in an environmentally responsible manner. This commitment impacts all areas of our business, including energy usage, supply chain, store construction and maintenance, and, as noted above under "Energy Saving Products and Programs," product selection and delivery of product knowledge to our customers.
In fiscal 2012, we continued to implement strict operational standards that establish energy efficient practices in all of our U.S. facilities. These include HVAC unit temperature regulation and adherence to strict lighting schedules, which are the largest sources of energy consumption in our stores, as well as use of energy management systems in each store to monitor energy efficiency. We estimate that by implementing and utilizing these energy saving programs, we have saved over 5.5 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) since 2004, and we are on track to meet our goal of a 20% reduction in kWh per square foot in our U.S. stores by 2015.
Through our supply chain efficiencies described above under "Logistics," we are targeting a 20% reduction in our domestic supply chain greenhouse gas emissions from 2008 to 2015, which would equate to annual fuel savings of approximately 25 million gallons. We also continued to monitor our "carbon footprint" from the operation of our stores as well as from our transportation and supply chain activities. Through our energy conservation and supply chain initiatives, we reduced our absolute carbon emissions by approximately 777,000 metric tons in 2011 compared to 2010.
With respect to construction of our stores, we partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council and have built seven LEED for New Construction certified or similarly certified stores. In 2012, we opened a new store in Lodi, California and used a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to help design, monitor and verify the energy savings at that store. The building is designed to consume substantially less energy than the 2007 90.1 ASHRAE standards established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, an international society that sets forth HVAC and refrigeration standards to promote sustainability. We also implemented a rainwater reclamation pilot in 2010. As of the end of fiscal 2012, we have retrofitted 81 of our stores with reclamation tanks to collect rainwater and condensation from HVAC units and garden center roofs, which is in turn used to water plants in our outside garden centers. In September 2011, we opened a store in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands with both ground mount and roof mount solar panel systems, and we estimate the combined total annual energy production of these systems to be over 580 megawatt hours.
Our efforts have resulted in a number of environmental awards and recognitions. For example, in 2012, we were named "Retail Partner of the Year" by the ENERGY STAR® division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") for our overall excellence in energy efficiency, and we received the EPA's WaterSense® "2012 Associate Education Excellence Award." We were also recognized as a "High Performer" by the Carbon Disclosure Project.
We are strongly committed to maintaining a safe shopping and working environment for our customers and associates and protecting the environment of the communities in which we do business. Our Environmental, Health & Safety ("EH&S") function is dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of our customers and associates, with trained associates who evaluate, develop, implement and enforce policies, processes and programs on a Company-wide basis. Our EH&S policies are woven into our everyday operations and are part of The Home Depot culture. Some common program elements include: daily store inspection checklists (by department); routine follow-up audits from our store-based safety team members and regional, district and store operations field teams; equipment enhancements and preventative maintenance programs to promote physical safety; departmental merchandising safety standards; training and education programs for all associates, with varying degrees of training provided based on an associate's role and responsibilities; and awareness, communication and recognition programs designed to drive operational awareness and understanding of EH&S issues.
Interconnected Retail
Our interconnected retail initiative supports and connects our three other key initiatives. In fiscal 2012, we focused on leveraging technology to improve our customer's retail experience and provide better access to and information about our products. As described above, these efforts included information technology solutions that take tasks out of the store and free our associates to devote more time to customer-facing activities. They also included significant website enhancements that allow customers to more easily find and purchase an expanded array of products and provide them with flexibility and convenience for their purchases (for example, through our BOPIS, BORIS, BOSS and "Store to Store" programs). Through our website, which can be accessed through computers, tablets, smart phones and other mobile devices, customers can purchase products and track their installation projects through MyInstall and can connect with our associates and with one another to gain product and project knowledge in areas that are important to them. For example, in fiscal 2012, we updated the Eco Options® page on our website to provide more information for our environmentally-minded customers, and we had convenience in mind when we introduced a mobile application that allows our customers to select and purchase products quickly. Furthermore, to increase the productivity and efficiency of our associates, merchants and suppliers and ensure that

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the right product is in the right place to meet our customers' needs, we continued to develop our distribution forecasting and replenishment system for enhanced inventory management.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
The risks and uncertainties described below could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations and projections. You should read these Risk Factors in conjunction with "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Item 7 and our Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes in Item 8. There also may be other factors that we cannot anticipate or that are not described in this report generally because we do not currently perceive them to be material. Those factors could cause results to differ materially from our expectations.
Sustained uncertainty regarding current economic conditions and other factors beyond our control could adversely affect demand for our products and services, our costs of doing business and our financial performance.
Our financial performance depends significantly on the stability of the housing, residential construction and home improvement markets, as well as general economic conditions, including changes in gross domestic product. Adverse conditions in or sustained uncertainty about these markets or the economy could adversely impact consumer confidence, causing our customers to delay purchasing or determine not to purchase home improvement products and services. Other factors – including high levels of unemployment and foreclosures, interest rate fluctuations, fuel and other energy costs, labor and healthcare costs, the availability of financing, the state of the credit markets, including mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit, weather, natural disasters and other conditions beyond our control – could further adversely affect demand for our products and services, our costs of doing business and our financial performance.
Strong competition could adversely affect prices and demand for our products and services and could decrease our market share.
We operate in markets that are highly competitive. We compete principally based on customer service, price, store location and appearance, and quality, availability and assortment of merchandise. In each market we serve, there are a number of other home improvement stores, electrical, plumbing and building materials supply houses and lumber yards. With respect to some products and services, we also compete with specialty design stores, showrooms, discount stores, local, regional and national hardware stores, mail order firms, warehouse clubs, independent building supply stores and, to a lesser extent, other retailers, as well as with installers of home improvement products. In addition, we face growing competition from online and multichannel retailers as our customers increasingly use computers, tablets, smart phones and other mobile devices to shop online. Intense competitive pressures from one or more of our competitors or our inability to adapt effectively and quickly to a changing competitive landscape could affect our prices, our margins or demand for our products and services. If we are unable to timely and appropriately respond to these competitive pressures, including through maintenance of superior customer service and customer relationships, our market share and our financial performance could be adversely affected.
We may not timely identify or effectively respond to consumer needs, expectations or trends, which could adversely affect our relationship with customers, the demand for our products and services, and our market share.
It is difficult to successfully predict the products and services our customers will demand. The success of our business depends in part on our ability to identify and respond promptly to evolving trends in demographics, consumer preferences, expectations and needs, and unexpected weather conditions, while also managing inventory levels. Further, we have an aging store base that requires maintenance to deliver the shopping environment our customers desire. Failure to maintain attractive stores and to timely identify or effectively respond to changing consumer preferences, expectations and home improvement needs could adversely affect our relationship with customers, the demand for our products and services, and our market share.
Our success depends upon our ability to attract, train and retain highly qualified associates while also controlling our labor costs.
Our customers expect a high level of customer service and product knowledge from our associates. To meet the needs and expectations of our customers, we must attract, train and retain a large number of highly qualified associates while at the same time controlling labor costs. Our ability to control labor costs is subject to numerous external factors, including prevailing wage rates and health and other insurance costs, as well as the impact of legislation or regulations governing labor relations or healthcare benefits. In addition, we compete with other retail businesses for many of our associates in hourly positions, and we invest significant resources in training and motivating them to maintain a high level of job satisfaction. These positions have historically had high turnover rates, which can lead to increased training and retention costs. There is no assurance that we will be able to attract or retain highly qualified associates in the future.

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We rely on third party suppliers. If we fail to identify and develop relationships with a sufficient number of qualified suppliers, or if our current suppliers experience financial difficulties, our ability to timely and efficiently access products that meet our high standards for quality could be adversely affected.
We buy our products from suppliers located throughout the world. Our ability to continue to identify and develop relationships with qualified suppliers who can satisfy our high standards for quality and our need to access products in a timely and efficient manner is a significant challenge. Our ability to access products also can be adversely affected by political instability, the financial instability of suppliers (particularly in light of continuing economic difficulties in various regions of the world), suppliers’ noncompliance with applicable laws, trade restrictions, tariffs, currency exchange rates, supply disruptions, shipping interruptions or costs, and other factors beyond our control.
If we are unable to effectively manage and expand our alliances and relationships with selected suppliers of brand name products, we may be unable to effectively execute our strategy to differentiate ourselves from our competitors.
As part of our focus on product differentiation, we have formed strategic alliances and exclusive relationships with selected suppliers to market products under a variety of well-recognized brand names. If we are unable to manage and expand these alliances and relationships or identify alternative sources for comparable products, we may not be able to effectively execute product differentiation.
If we do not maintain the security of customer, associate, supplier or company information, we could damage our reputation, incur substantial additional costs and become subject to litigation.
Our information systems are vulnerable to an increasing threat of continually evolving cybersecurity risks. Any significant compromise or breach of our data security could significantly damage our reputation, cause the disclosure of confidential customer, associate, supplier or company information, and result in significant costs, lost sales, fines and lawsuits. While we have implemented systems and processes to protect against unauthorized access to secured data and prevent data loss, there is no guarantee that these procedures are adequate to safeguard against all data security breaches. The regulatory environment related to information security, data collection and privacy is increasingly rigorous, with new and constantly changing requirements applicable to our business, and compliance with those requirements could result in additional costs.
A failure of a key information technology system or process could adversely affect our business.
We rely extensively on information technology systems, some of which are managed by third-party service providers, to analyze, process and manage transactions and data. We also rely heavily on the integrity of this data in managing our business. We or our service providers could experience errors, interruptions, delays or cessations of service in key portions of our information technology infrastructure, which could significantly disrupt our operations and be expensive, time consuming and resource-intensive to remedy.
Disruptions in our customer-facing technology systems could impair our interconnected retail strategy and give rise to negative customer experiences.
Through our information technology developments, we are able to provide an improved overall shopping environment and a multichannel experience that empowers our customers to shop and interact with us from computers, tablets, smart phones and other mobile communication devices. We use our website both as a sales channel for our products and also as a method of providing product, project and other relevant information to our customers to drive both in-store and online sales. We have multiple online communities and knowledge centers that allow us to inform, assist and interact with our customers. Multichannel retailing is continually evolving and expanding, and we must effectively respond to changing customer expectations and new developments. Disruptions, failures or other performance issues with these customer-facing technology systems could impair the benefits that they provide to our online and in-store business and negatively affect our relationship with our customers.
The implementation of our supply chain and technology initiatives could disrupt our operations in the near term, and these initiatives might not provide the anticipated benefits or might fail.
We have made, and we plan to continue to make, significant investments in our supply chain and technology. These initiatives are designed to streamline our operations to allow our associates to continue to provide high quality service to our customers, while simplifying customer interaction and providing our customers with a more interconnected retail experience. The cost and potential problems and interruptions associated with the implementation of these initiatives, including those associated with managing third-party service providers and employing new web-based tools and services, could disrupt or reduce the efficiency of our operations in the near term. In addition, our improved supply chain and new or upgraded technology might not provide the anticipated benefits, it might take longer than expected to realize the anticipated benefits, or the initiatives might fail altogether.

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Disruptions in our supply chain and other factors affecting the distribution of our merchandise could adversely impact our business.
A disruption within our logistics or supply chain network, including damage or destruction to our distribution centers, could adversely affect our ability to deliver inventory in a timely manner, which could impair our ability to meet customer demand for products and result in lost sales or damage to our reputation. Such a disruption could negatively impact our financial performance or financial condition.
If we are unable to manage effectively our installation service business, we could suffer lost sales and be subject to fines, lawsuits and damaged reputation.
We act as a general contractor to provide installation services to our D-I-F-M customers through third-party installers. As such, we are subject to regulatory requirements and risks applicable to general contractors, which include management of licensing, permitting and quality of our third-party installers. We have established processes and procedures that provide protections beyond those required by law to manage these requirements and ensure customer satisfaction with the services provided by our third-party installers. If we fail to manage these processes effectively or provide proper oversight of these services, we could suffer lost sales, fines and lawsuits, as well as damage to our reputation, which could adversely affect our business.
Our costs of doing business could increase as a result of changes in, increased enforcement of, or adoption of new federal, state or local laws and regulations.
We are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations that govern numerous aspects of our business. Recently, there have been a large number of legislative and regulatory initiatives and reforms, as well as increased enforcement of existing laws and regulations by federal, state and local agencies. Changes in, increased enforcement of, or adoption of new federal, state or local laws and regulations governing minimum wage or living wage requirements, other wage, labor or workplace regulations, the sale of some of our products, transportation, logistics, taxes, energy costs or environmental matters could increase our costs of doing business or impact our store operations. Healthcare reform under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 could adversely impact our labor costs and our ability to negotiate favorable terms under our benefit plans for our associates.
If we cannot successfully manage the unique challenges presented by international markets, we may not be successful in our international operations.
Our ability to successfully conduct retail operations in, and source from, international markets is affected by many of the same risks we face in our U.S. operations, as well as unique costs and difficulties of managing international operations. Our international operations, including any expansion in international markets, may be adversely affected by local laws and customs, U.S. laws applicable to foreign operations and other legal and regulatory constraints, as well as political and economic conditions. Risks inherent in international operations also include, among others, potential adverse tax consequences, greater difficulty in enforcing intellectual property rights, risks associated with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and local anti-bribery law compliance, challenges in our ability to identify and gain access to local suppliers and the impact of foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations.
The inflation or deflation of commodity prices could affect our prices, demand for our products, our sales and our profit margins.
Prices of certain commodity products, including lumber and other raw materials, are historically volatile and are subject to fluctuations arising from changes in domestic and international supply and demand, labor costs, competition, market speculation, government regulations and periodic delays in delivery. Rapid and significant changes in commodity prices may affect the demand for our products, our sales and our profit margins.
Our ability to obtain additional financing on favorable terms, if needed, could be adversely affected by the volatility in the capital markets.
We obtain and manage liquidity from the positive cash flow we generate from our operating activities and our access to capital markets, including our commercial paper programs supported by a back-up credit facility with a consortium of banks. There is no assurance that our ability to obtain additional financing through the capital markets, if needed, will not be adversely impacted due to economic conditions. New or incremental tightening in the credit markets, low liquidity and volatility in the capital markets could result in diminished availability of credit, higher cost of borrowing and lack of confidence in the equity market, making it more difficult to obtain additional financing on terms that are favorable to us.

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Changes in accounting standards and subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by management related to complex accounting matters could significantly affect our financial results or financial condition.
Generally accepted accounting principles and related accounting pronouncements, implementation guidelines and interpretations with regard to a wide range of matters that are relevant to our business, such as revenue recognition, asset impairment, impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, inventories, lease obligations, self-insurance, tax matters and litigation, are highly complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments. Changes in these rules or their interpretation or changes in underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments could significantly change our reported or expected financial performance or financial condition.
We are involved in a number of legal proceedings, and while we cannot predict the outcomes of those proceedings and other contingencies with certainty, some of these outcomes may adversely affect our operations or increase our costs.
We are involved in a number of legal proceedings, including government inquiries and investigations, and consumer, employment, tort and other litigation that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Litigation is inherently unpredictable, and the outcome of some of these proceedings and other contingencies could require us to take or refrain from taking actions which could adversely affect our operations or could result in excessive verdicts. Additionally, defending against these lawsuits and proceedings may involve significant expense and diversion of management’s attention and resources from other matters.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
Not applicable.


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Item 2. Properties.
The following tables show locations of the 1,976 The Home Depot stores located in the U.S. and its territories and the 280 The Home Depot stores outside the U.S. at the end of fiscal 2012:
 
U.S. Locations
Number of Stores

 
U.S. Locations
Number of Stores

Alabama
28

 
Montana
6

Alaska
7

 
Nebraska
8

Arizona
56

 
Nevada
21

Arkansas
14

 
New Hampshire
20

California
232

 
New Jersey
67

Colorado
46

 
New Mexico
13

Connecticut
29

 
New York
100

Delaware
9

 
North Carolina
40

District of Columbia
1

 
North Dakota
1

Florida
153

 
Ohio
70

Georgia
90

 
Oklahoma
16

Guam
1

 
Oregon
27

Hawaii
7

 
Pennsylvania
70

Idaho
11

 
Puerto Rico
8

Illinois
76

 
Rhode Island
8

Indiana
24

 
South Carolina
25

Iowa
10

 
South Dakota
1

Kansas
16

 
Tennessee
39

Kentucky
14

 
Texas
178

Louisiana
27

 
Utah
22

Maine
11

 
Vermont
3

Maryland
41

 
Virgin Islands
2

Massachusetts
45

 
Virginia
49

Michigan
70

 
Washington
45

Minnesota
33

 
West Virginia
6

Mississippi
14

 
Wisconsin
27

Missouri
34

 
Wyoming
5

 
 
 
Total U.S.
1,976




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Table of Contents

International Locations
Number of Stores
 
International Locations
Number of Stores
Canada:
 
 
Mexico:
 
Alberta
27

 
Aguascalientes
1

British Columbia
26

 
Baja California Norte
5

Manitoba
6

 
Baja California Sur
2

New Brunswick
3

 
Chiapas
2

Newfoundland
1

 
Chihuahua
5

Nova Scotia
4

 
Coahuila
5

Ontario
86

 
Colima
2

Prince Edward Island
1

 
Distrito Federal
7

Quebec
22

 
Durango
1

Saskatchewan
4

 
Guanajuato
4

Total Canada
180

 
Guerrero
1

 
 
 
Hidalgo
1

 
 
 
Jalisco
6

 
 
 
Michoacán
2

 
 
 
Morelos
2

 
 
 
Nuevo León
10

 
 
 
Puebla
4

 


 
Queretaro
3

 

 
Quintana Roo
1

 
 
 
San Luis Potosi
1

 
 
 
Sinaloa
3

 
 
 
Sonora
4

 
 
 
State of Mexico
14

 
 
 
Tabasco
1

 
 
 
Tamaulipas
5

 
 
 
Tlaxcala
1

 
 
 
Veracruz
6

 
 
 
Yucatan
1

 
 
 
Total Mexico
100


During fiscal 2012, we opened three new The Home Depot stores in the U.S., including one relocation. We also opened nine new stores in Mexico. We closed seven stores in China.
Of our 2,256 stores operating at the end of fiscal 2012, approximately 90% were owned (including those owned subject to a ground lease) consisting of approximately 209.8 million square feet, and approximately 10% of such stores were leased consisting of approximately 24.7 million square feet.
Additionally, at the end of fiscal 2012, we had six Home Decorators Collection locations in Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey and Oklahoma, and one specialty paint and flooring location in Tianjin, China.
At the end of fiscal 2012, we operated 153 warehouses and distribution centers located in 35 states or provinces, consisting of approximately 37.2 million square feet, of which approximately 1.2 million is owned and approximately 36.0 million is leased.
Our executive, corporate staff, divisional staff and financial offices occupy approximately 2.2 million square feet of leased and owned space in Atlanta, Georgia. At the end of fiscal 2012 including the offices in Atlanta, we occupied an aggregate of approximately 3.5 million square feet, of which approximately 2.1 million square feet is owned and approximately 1.4 million square feet is leased, for store support centers and customer support centers.

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Table of Contents

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
We are reporting the following proceedings to comply with SEC regulations, which require us to disclose certain information about proceedings arising under federal, state or local environmental provisions if we reasonably believe that such proceedings may result in monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more.
As previously reported, in September 2010, the Company was contacted by district attorneys in three counties in California within the South Coast Air Quality Management District (the "SCAQMD") and the City of Los Angeles regarding allegations that the Company sold products in those counties with VOC (volatile organic compound) levels in excess of amounts permitted by SCAQMD rules. In June 2011, two related complaints were filed in the Superior Court of California – County of Los Angeles against the Company. The first action was brought by the SCAQMD and alleges that the Company sold products with higher-than-permitted VOC levels. This action seeks $30 million in civil penalties and injunctive relief. The second action was brought by the Los Angeles City Attorney and the district attorneys of each of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties and alleges that the Company engaged in unfair business practices and false advertising when selling these products. This action seeks unspecified civil penalties and injunctive relief. Both actions are scheduled to be tried together as a bench trial in May 2013. In March 2013, we tentatively reached a joint settlement agreement to resolve these actions for an aggregate of $6.9 million, plus $1.1 million in fees and costs. The settlement requires the approval of the trial court.
 
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.


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Table of Contents

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Since April 19, 1984, our common stock has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol "HD." The Company paid its first cash dividend on June 22, 1987, and has paid cash dividends during each subsequent quarter. Future dividend payments will depend on the Company’s earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other factors considered relevant by the Board of Directors.
The table below sets forth the high and low sales prices of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange and the quarterly cash dividends declared per share of common stock for the periods indicated.
 
Price Range
 
Cash Dividends
Declared
 
High
 
Low
 
Fiscal Year 2012
 
 
 
 
 
First Quarter Ended April 29, 2012
$
52.03

 
$
44.39

 
$
0.29

Second Quarter Ended July 29, 2012
$
53.71

 
$
47.02

 
$
0.29

Third Quarter Ended October 28, 2012
$
63.20

 
$
51.39

 
$
0.29

Fourth Quarter Ended February 3, 2013
$
67.82

 
$
60.65

 
$
0.39

Fiscal Year 2011
 
 
 
 
 
First Quarter Ended May 1, 2011
$
38.48

 
$
35.68

 
$
0.25

Second Quarter Ended July 31, 2011
$
37.46

 
$
33.47

 
$
0.25

Third Quarter Ended October 30, 2011
$
37.22

 
$
28.51

 
$
0.29

Fourth Quarter Ended January 29, 2012
$
45.41

 
$
35.54

 
$
0.29


As of March 11, 2013, there were approximately 146,000 shareholders of record of our common stock and approximately 1,066,000 additional "street name" holders whose shares are held of record by banks, brokers and other financial institutions.

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Stock Performance Graph
The graph and table below present the Company’s cumulative total shareholder returns relative to the performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Index and the Standard & Poor’s Retail Composite Index for the five-year period commencing February 1, 2008, the last trading day of fiscal 2007, and ending February 1, 2013, the last trading day of fiscal 2012. The graph assumes $100 invested at the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange and each index on February 1, 2008 and assumes that all dividends were reinvested on the date paid. The points on the graph represent fiscal year-end amounts based on the last trading day in each fiscal year.
 
 
February 1,
2008
 
January 30,
2009
 
January 29,
2010
 
January 28,
2011
 
January 27,
2012
 
February 1, 2013
The Home Depot
$
100.00

 
$
73.23

 
$
98.87

 
$
133.58

 
$
168.08

 
$
257.62

S&P 500 Index
$
100.00

 
$
60.63

 
$
80.72

 
$
97.88

 
$
103.10

 
$
121.25

S&P Retail Composite Index
$
100.00

 
$
62.28

 
$
96.88

 
$
123.43

 
$
140.22

 
$
178.55



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Table of Contents

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Since the inception of the Company's share repurchase program in fiscal 2002 through the end of fiscal 2012, the Company has repurchased shares of its common stock having a value of approximately $37.6 billion. The number and average price of shares purchased in each fiscal month of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 are set forth in the table below:
 
Period
Total Number of
Shares Purchased(1)
 
Average Price Paid
Per Share(1)
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Program(2)
 
Dollar Value of Shares
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Program(2)
Oct. 29, 2012 – Nov. 25, 2012
784,340

 
$
63.56

 
737,172

 
$
3,063,069,066

Nov. 26, 2012 – Dec. 23, 2012(3)
5,254,485

 
$
62.49

 
5,252,936

 
$
2,826,716,204

Dec. 24, 2012 – Feb. 3, 2013
6,502,215

 
$
64.25

 
6,485,514

 
$
2,410,014,073

 —————
(1)
These amounts include repurchases pursuant to the Company’s 1997 and 2005 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plans (the "Plans"). Under the Plans, participants may surrender shares as payment of applicable tax withholding on the vesting of restricted stock and deferred share awards. Participants in the Plans may also exercise stock options by surrendering shares of common stock that the participants already own as payment of the exercise price. Shares so surrendered by participants in the Plans are repurchased pursuant to the terms of the Plans and applicable award agreement and not pursuant to publicly announced share repurchase programs.
(2)
The Company’s common stock repurchase program was initially announced on July 15, 2002. As of the end of fiscal 2012, the Board had approved purchases up to $40.0 billion, of which $2.4 billion remained available at the end of fiscal 2012. In February 2013, our Board of Directors authorized a new $17.0 billion share repurchase program that replaces the previous authorization.
(3)
In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company paid $650 million under an Accelerated Share Repurchase ("ASR") agreement with a third-party financial institution and received an initial delivery of approximately 9 million shares. The transaction was completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, with the Company receiving approximately 2 million additional shares to settle the agreement. The Average Price Paid Per Share was calculated with reference to the average stock price of the Company's common stock over the term of the ASR agreement.
In March 2013, the Company entered into an ASR agreement with a third-party financial institution to repurchase $1.5 billion of the Company’s common stock. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report. Shares received in connection with the ASR agreement will be reflected in the share repurchase table in future quarters.
Sales of Unregistered Securities
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company issued 436 deferred stock units under The Home Depot, Inc. NonEmployee Directors’ Deferred Stock Compensation Plan pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The deferred stock units were credited to the accounts of those nonemployee directors who elected to receive board retainers in the form of deferred stock units instead of cash during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. The deferred stock units convert to shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis following a termination of service as described in this plan.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company credited 24,961 deferred stock units to participant accounts under The Home Depot FutureBuilder Restoration Plan pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for involuntary, non-contributory plans. The deferred stock units convert to shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis following a termination of service as described in this plan.
 
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to page F-1 of this report.


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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Executive Summary and Selected Consolidated Statements of Earnings Data
For the fiscal year ended February 3, 2013 ("fiscal 2012"), we reported Net Earnings of $4.5 billion and Diluted Earnings per Share of $3.00 compared to Net Earnings of $3.9 billion and Diluted Earnings per Share of $2.47 for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2012 ("fiscal 2011"). The results for fiscal 2012 included a total charge of $145 million, net of tax, related to the closing of our remaining seven big box stores in China ("China store closings") in fiscal 2012, which had a negative impact of $0.10 to Diluted Earnings per Share. Excluding the charges related to the China store closings, Net Earnings were $4.7 billion and Diluted Earnings per Share were $3.10 for fiscal 2012.
Net Sales increased 6.2% to $74.8 billion for fiscal 2012 from $70.4 billion for fiscal 2011. Our comparable store sales increased 4.6% in fiscal 2012, driven by a 2.9% increase in our comparable store average ticket and an increase in our comparable store customer transactions. Comparable store sales for our U.S. stores increased 4.9% in fiscal 2012.
Fiscal 2012 consisted of 53 weeks compared with 52 weeks for fiscal 2011. The 53rd week added approximately $1.2 billion in Net Sales and increased Diluted Earnings per Share by approximately $0.07 for fiscal 2012.
In fiscal 2012, we continued to focus on the following four key initiatives:
Customer Service – Our focus on customer service is anchored on the principles of creating an emotional connection with customers, putting customers first and simplifying the business. In fiscal 2012, we opened new customer call centers in Utah and Georgia to support our interconnected business. In addition, as a result of initiatives such as our new scheduling system for our associates and a centralized return to vendor process initiated in fiscal 2011, we now have approximately 57% of our store labor hours dedicated to customer-facing activity and expect to achieve our goal of 60% in fiscal 2013. Through these and other efforts, we continue to see our customer satisfaction survey scores improve.
Product Authority – Our focus on product authority is facilitated by our merchandising transformation and portfolio strategy, which is aimed at delivering product innovation, assortment and value. As part of this effort, we introduced innovative new products and great values for both our professional and D-I-Y customers in a variety of departments. Also in fiscal 2012, we expanded some of our appliance showrooms to include the Electrolux®, Whirlpool® and Frigidaire® brands. These brands were also added to our e-commerce platform in fiscal 2012.
Disciplined Capital Allocation, Productivity and Efficiency – Our approach to driving productivity and efficiency is advanced through continuous operational improvement, incremental supply chain benefits, disciplined capital allocation and expense control and building shareholder value through higher returns on invested capital and total value returned to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. In fiscal 2012, we completed the mechanization of all of our RDCs, which we expect to further improve the cost effectiveness of this platform. Our inventory turnover ratio was 4.5 times at the end of fiscal 2012 compared to 4.3 times at the end of fiscal 2011.
We repurchased a total of 74 million shares for $4.0 billion through ASR agreements and the open market during fiscal 2012. In addition, in February 2013, our Board of Directors authorized a new $17.0 billion share repurchase program that replaces the previous authorization, and announced a 34% increase in our quarterly cash dividend to $0.39 per share.
Interconnected Retail – Our focus on interconnected retail is based on building a competitive platform across all commerce channels. During fiscal 2012, we launched improvements to our website, including MyInstall, which is designed to improve transparency and communication in installation projects and to simplify the customer experience. We made several enhancements to our professional customer website, including adding an online bulk pricing program that mirrors our in-store bulk pricing program. We also introduced new programs, such as Buy Online, Return In Store ("BORIS") and Buy Online, Ship To Store ("BOSS") in fiscal 2012, to expand upon Buy Online, Pick-Up In Store ("BOPIS"), which we introduced in fiscal 2011.
In May 2012, we acquired MeasureComp L.L.C., a flooring measurement and quote building company. MeasureComp's business was largely dedicated to The Home Depot and by in-sourcing this service under Home Depot Measurement Services, we expect to build a seamless process for our flooring customers that is designed to provide a better experience for them and a better close rate for us.
In October 2012, we completed the acquisition of U.S. Home Systems, Inc. ("USHS"). USHS was an exclusive provider of kitchen and bath refacing products and services as well as closet and garage organizational systems to The Home Depot. This acquisition will allow us to create more effective interconnection between our stores and the USHS in-home selling platform under Home Depot Interiors, similar to what we have done with our roofing, siding and windows businesses.

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Table of Contents

We also completed the acquisition of BlackLocus, Inc. in December 2012. BlackLocus is a data analytics and pricing company, which will bring additional tools and capabilities to support our merchandising team.
We opened twelve new stores, including nine new stores in Mexico, two new stores in the U.S. and one relocation in the U.S., and closed seven stores in China in fiscal 2012, for a total store count of 2,256 at the end of fiscal 2012. As of the end of fiscal 2012, a total of 280 of our stores, or 12.4%, were located in Canada and Mexico.
We generated $7.0 billion of cash flow from operations in fiscal 2012. We used this cash flow to fund $4.0 billion of share repurchases, pay $1.7 billion of dividends and fund $1.3 billion in capital expenditures.
Our return on invested capital (computed on net operating profit after tax for the trailing twelve months and the average of beginning and ending long-term debt and equity) was 17.0% for fiscal 2012 compared to 14.9% for fiscal 2011.


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Table of Contents

We believe the selected sales data, the percentage relationship between Net Sales and major categories in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings and the percentage change in the dollar amounts of each of the items presented below are important in evaluating the performance of our business operations.
 
 
% of Net Sales
 
% Increase (Decrease)
In Dollar Amounts
 
Fiscal Year(1)
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
2012
vs. 2011
 
2011
vs. 2010
NET SALES
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
 
6.2
 %
 
3.5
 %
GROSS PROFIT
34.6

 
34.5

 
34.3

 
6.5

 
4.1

Operating Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, General and Administrative
22.1

 
22.8

 
23.3

 
3.0

 
1.1

Depreciation and Amortization
2.1

 
2.2

 
2.4

 
(0.3
)
 
(2.7
)
Total Operating Expenses
24.2

 
25.0

 
25.7

 
2.7

 
0.8

OPERATING INCOME
10.4

 
9.5

 
8.6

 
16.6

 
14.1

Interest and Other (Income) Expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest and Investment Income

 

 

 
N/M

 
N/M

Interest Expense
0.8

 
0.9

 
0.8

 
4.3

 
14.3

Other
(0.1
)
 

 
0.1

 
N/M

 
(100.0
)
Interest and Other, net
0.7

 
0.8

 
0.8

 
(8.1
)
 
4.8

EARNINGS BEFORE PROVISION
FOR INCOME TAXES
9.7

 
8.6

 
7.8

 
19.0

 
15.1

Provision for Income Taxes
3.6

 
3.1

 
2.8

 
22.9

 
12.9

NET EARNINGS
6.1
 %
 
5.5
 %
 
4.9
 %
 
16.8
 %
 
16.3
 %
SELECTED SALES DATA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of Customer Transactions (in millions)(2)
1,364.0

 
1,317.5

 
1,305.7

 
3.5
 %
 
0.9
 %
Average Ticket(2)
$
54.89

 
$
53.28

 
$
51.93

 
3.0
 %
 
2.6
 %
Weighted Average Weekly Sales per
Operating Store (in thousands)
$
627

 
$
601

 
$
581

 
4.3
 %
 
3.4
 %
Weighted Average Sales per Square Foot(2)
$
318.63

 
$
299.00

 
$
288.64

 
6.6
 %
 
3.6
 %
Comparable Store Sales Increase (%)(3)
4.6
 %
 
3.4
 %
 
2.9
 %
 
N/A

 
N/A

Note: Certain percentages may not sum to totals due to rounding. 
—————
(1)
Fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010 refer to the fiscal years ended February 3, 2013January 29, 2012 and January 30, 2011, respectively. Fiscal year 2012 includes 53 weeks; fiscal years 2011 and 2010 include 52 weeks.
(2)
The 53rd week of fiscal 2012 increased customer transactions by approximately 21 million, positively impacted average ticket by approximately $0.06 and positively impacted weighted average sales per square foot by approximately $5.51.
(3)
Includes Net Sales at locations open greater than 12 months, including relocated and remodeled stores and excluding closed stores. Retail stores become comparable on the Monday following their 365th day of operation. Comparable store sales is intended only as supplemental information and is not a substitute for Net Sales or Net Earnings presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Net Sales for the 53rd week of fiscal 2012 are not included in comparable store sales results for fiscal 2012.
N/M – Not Meaningful
N/A – Not Applicable


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Results of Operations
For an understanding of the significant factors that influenced our performance during the past three fiscal years, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this report.
Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011
Net Sales
Fiscal 2012 consisted of 53 weeks compared to 52 weeks in fiscal 2011. Net Sales for fiscal 2012 increased 6.2% to $74.8 billion from $70.4 billion for fiscal 2011. The increase in Net Sales for fiscal 2012 reflects the impact of positive comparable store sales and $1.2 billion of Net Sales attributable to the additional week in fiscal 2012. Total comparable store sales increased 4.6% for fiscal 2012 compared to an increase of 3.4% for fiscal 2011.
The positive comparable store sales for fiscal 2012 reflect a number of factors including the execution of our key initiatives and an improved U.S. housing market. All of our departments except for one posted positive comparable store sales for fiscal 2012, and comparable store average ticket increased 2.9% for fiscal 2012. Comparable store sales for our Lumber, Flooring, Paint, Tools, Bath, Electrical, Lighting, Indoor Garden and Décor product categories were above or at the Company average for fiscal 2012. Comparable store sales for our Hardware, Plumbing, Outdoor Garden, Kitchen and Millwork product categories were positive for fiscal 2012. Comparable store sales for our Building Materials product category were negative for fiscal 2012, reflecting the impact of weather and difficult year-over-year comparisons in roofing due to storm and repair activity that drove sales in fiscal 2011.
Gross Profit
Gross Profit increased 6.5% to $25.8 billion for fiscal 2012 from $24.3 billion for fiscal 2011. Gross Profit for fiscal 2012 included a $10 million charge related to the China store closings. Gross Profit as a percent of Net Sales was 34.6% for fiscal 2012 compared to 34.5% for fiscal 2011, an increase of 10 basis points. The increase in gross profit margin in fiscal 2012 was driven primarily by a change in mix of products sold and benefits from our supply chain transformation in the U.S.
Operating Expenses
Selling, General and Administrative expenses ("SG&A") increased 3.0% to $16.5 billion for fiscal 2012 from $16.0 billion for fiscal 2011. SG&A for fiscal 2012 included a $135 million charge related to the China store closings. As a percent of Net Sales, SG&A was 22.1% for fiscal 2012 compared to 22.8% for fiscal 2011. Excluding the charge related to the China store closings, SG&A as a percent of Net Sales was 21.9% for fiscal 2012. The decrease in SG&A as a percent of Net Sales for fiscal 2012 reflects expense leverage resulting from the positive comparable store sales environment, strong expense controls, and lower credit card expense and casualty reserves, offset by the charge related to the China store closings.
Depreciation and Amortization was $1.6 billion for both fiscal 2012 and 2011. Depreciation and Amortization as a percent of Net Sales was 2.1% for fiscal 2012 compared to 2.2% for fiscal 2011. The decrease in Depreciation and Amortization as a percent of Net Sales reflects expense leverage in the positive comparable store sales environment.
Operating Income
Operating Income increased 16.6% to $7.8 billion for fiscal 2012 from $6.7 billion for fiscal 2011. Operating Income as a percent of Net Sales was 10.4% for fiscal 2012 compared to 9.5% for fiscal 2011. Excluding the charges related to the China store closings, Operating Income increased 18.8% to $7.9 billion for fiscal 2012.
Interest and Other, net
In fiscal 2012, we recognized $545 million of Interest and Other, net, compared to $593 million for fiscal 2011. Interest and Other, net, as a percent of Net Sales was 0.7% for fiscal 2012 compared to 0.8% for fiscal 2011. Interest and Other, net, for fiscal 2012 included a $67 million pretax benefit related to the termination of our guarantee of a senior secured loan of HD Supply, Inc. ("HD Supply Guarantee").
Provision for Income Taxes
Our combined effective income tax rate was 37.2% for fiscal 2012 compared to 36.0% for fiscal 2011. The effective income tax rate for fiscal 2012 was higher than fiscal 2011 as we were unable to realize any tax benefit from the $145 million of charges related to the China store closings. Excluding the charges related to the China store closings, our combined effective income tax rate was 36.5% for fiscal 2012. Additionally, the effective income tax rate for fiscal 2011 reflects a benefit from

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the reversal of a valuation allowance related to the utilization of capital loss carryforwards as well as certain favorable state and local tax settlements.
Diluted Earnings per Share
Diluted Earnings per Share were $3.00 for fiscal 2012 compared to $2.47 for fiscal 2011. Excluding the charges related to the China store closings, Diluted Earnings per Share were $3.10 for fiscal 2012. The 53rd week increased Diluted Earnings per Share by approximately $0.07 for fiscal 2012. Diluted Earnings per Share for fiscal 2012 also reflect $0.11 of benefit from repurchases of our common stock in the twelve months ended February 3, 2013.
Non-GAAP Measures
To provide clarity, internally and externally, about our operating performance, we supplement our reporting with non-GAAP financial measures to reflect certain adjustments. The results for fiscal 2012 included a $145 million charge, net of tax, related to the China store closings as described more fully in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. There were no adjustments for fiscal 2011 or 2010 for events of unusual nature or frequency. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures better enable management and investors to understand and analyze our performance by providing them with meaningful information relevant to events of unusual nature or frequency that impact the comparability of underlying business results from period to period. However, this supplemental information should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures. The following reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measures for fiscal 2012 (amounts in millions, except per share data): 
 
Fiscal Year Ended February 3, 2013
 
As
Reported
 
Adjustments
 
Non-GAAP
Measures
 
% of
Net Sales
Gross Profit
$
25,842

 
$
(10
)
 
$
25,852

 
34.6
%
Selling, General and Administrative
16,508

 
135

 
16,373

 
21.9

Operating Income
7,766

 
(145
)
 
7,911

 
10.6

Net Earnings
4,535

 
(145
)
 
4,680

 
6.3
%
Diluted Earnings per Share
$
3.00

 
$
(0.10
)
 
$
3.10

 
N/A

Fiscal 2011 Compared to Fiscal 2010
Net Sales
Net Sales for fiscal 2011 increased 3.5% to $70.4 billion from $68.0 billion for fiscal 2010. The increase in Net Sales for fiscal 2011 reflects the impact of positive comparable store sales. Total comparable store sales increased 3.4% for fiscal 2011 compared to an increase of 2.9% for fiscal 2010.
The positive comparable store sales for fiscal 2011 reflect a number of factors including the execution of our key initiatives, economic growth and favorable weather conditions. We experienced positive comparable store sales in 13 of our 15 departments for fiscal 2011. Comparable store sales for our Building Materials, Paint, Hardware, Tools, Plumbing, Electrical, Kitchen and Décor product categories were above the Company average for fiscal 2011. Comparable store sales for our Flooring, Bath, Lighting, Outdoor Garden and Indoor Garden product categories were positive for fiscal 2011. Comparable store sales for our Lumber and Millwork product categories were negative for fiscal 2011. The increase in comparable store sales also reflects a 2.6% increase in our comparable store average ticket and an 0.8% increase in our comparable store customer transactions.
Gross Profit
Gross Profit increased 4.1% to $24.3 billion for fiscal 2011 from $23.3 billion for fiscal 2010. Gross Profit as a percent of Net Sales was 34.5% for fiscal 2011 compared to 34.3% for fiscal 2010, an increase of 20 basis points. The increase in gross profit margin in fiscal 2011 was driven primarily by benefits arising from our supply chain transformation in the U.S., which was partially offset by higher shrink compared to fiscal 2010.
Operating Expenses
SG&A increased 1.1% to $16.0 billion for fiscal 2011 from $15.8 billion for fiscal 2010. As a percent of Net Sales, SG&A was 22.8% for fiscal 2011 compared to 23.3% for fiscal 2010. The decrease in SG&A as a percent of Net Sales for fiscal 2011 reflects expense leverage in the positive comparable store sales environment partially offset by a $32 million impairment charge for a non-core carpet cleaning and cabinet refinishing business that was sold in fiscal 2011 and $26

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million of expenses related to natural disasters. Additionally, we experienced an expense benefit of $44 million in fiscal 2010 related to our private label credit card that did not repeat in fiscal 2011.
Depreciation and Amortization was $1.6 billion for both fiscal 2011 and 2010. Depreciation and Amortization as a percent of Net Sales was 2.2% for fiscal 2011 compared to 2.4% for fiscal 2010. The decrease in Depreciation and Amortization as a percent of Net Sales reflects expense leverage in the positive comparable store sales environment and an increase in fully depreciated assets.
Operating Income
Operating Income increased 14.1% to $6.7 billion for fiscal 2011 from $5.8 billion for fiscal 2010. Operating Income as a percent of Net Sales was 9.5% for fiscal 2011 compared to 8.6% for fiscal 2010.
Interest and Other, net
In fiscal 2011, we recognized $593 million of Interest and Other, net, compared to $566 million for fiscal 2010. Interest and Other, net, as a percent of Net Sales was 0.8% for both fiscal 2011 and 2010. Interest and Other, net, for fiscal 2010 reflects a $51 million pretax charge related to the extension of our HD Supply Guarantee. Additionally, we experienced a $44 million benefit in fiscal 2010 that arose from favorable Internal Revenue Service guidance and a resulting reversal of an interest accrual.
Provision for Income Taxes
Our combined effective income tax rate decreased to 36.0% for fiscal 2011 from 36.7% for fiscal 2010. The effective income tax rate for fiscal 2011 reflects a benefit from the reversal of a valuation allowance related to the utilization of capital loss carryforwards as well as certain favorable state and local tax settlements.
Diluted Earnings per Share
Diluted Earnings per Share were $2.47 for fiscal 2011 compared to $2.01 for fiscal 2010. Diluted Earnings per Share for fiscal 2011 reflect $0.13 of benefit from repurchases of our common stock in the twelve months ended January 29, 2012.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash flow generated from operations provides us with a significant source of liquidity. For fiscal 2012, Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities was $7.0 billion compared to $6.7 billion for fiscal 2011. This increase reflects a $652 million increase in Net Earnings resulting from higher comparable store sales and expense controls. In support of sales growth, we grew merchandise inventory. The increase in inventory, net of the corresponding increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses, partially offsets the increase in operating cash flows generated by Net Earnings by $330 million.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities for fiscal 2012 was $1.4 billion compared to $1.1 billion for fiscal 2011. This change was primarily due to a $105 million increase in Payments for Businesses Acquired, net, in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011, no Proceeds from Sale of Business, net, in fiscal 2012 compared to $101 million in fiscal 2011 related to the sale of a non-core carpet cleaning and cabinet refinishing business, and a $91 million increase in Capital Expenditures in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011.
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities for fiscal 2012 was $5.0 billion compared to $4.0 billion for fiscal 2011. This change was primarily the result of how we funded our share repurchase program. In fiscal 2012, we repurchased $4.0 billion of our outstanding shares of common stock using cash flow generated from operations. In fiscal 2011, we repurchased $3.5 billion of our outstanding shares, and funded $1.0 billion of those repurchases with proceeds from long-term borrowings. We did not issue any long-term borrowings in fiscal 2012. The repurchases of common stock in fiscal 2012 were partially offset by $478 million more in proceeds from sales of common stock due to increased stock option exercises in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011.
In fiscal 2012, we entered into ASR agreements with third-party financial institutions to repurchase $3.05 billion of our common stock. Under the agreements, we paid $3.05 billion to the financial institutions, using cash on hand, and received a total of 58 million shares in fiscal 2012. Also in fiscal 2012, we repurchased 16 million additional shares of our common stock for $950 million through the open market. Since the inception of our share repurchase program in fiscal 2002, we have repurchased 1.0 billion shares of our common stock for a total of $37.6 billion. In February 2013, our Board of Directors authorized a new $17.0 billion share repurchase program that replaces the previous authorization.

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In March 2011, we issued $1.0 billion of 4.40% Senior Notes due April 1, 2021 at a discount of $2 million and $1.0 billion of 5.95% Senior Notes due April 1, 2041 at a discount of $4 million (together, the "March 2011 issuance"). Interest on these Senior Notes is due semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning October 1, 2011. The net proceeds of the March 2011 issuance were used to repurchase $1.0 billion of our common stock, and the balance of the net proceeds was used to repay our 5.20% Senior Notes that matured March 1, 2011 in the aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion.
In connection with the March 2011 issuance, we entered into an ASR agreement with a third-party financial institution to repurchase $1.0 billion of our common stock. Under the agreement, we paid $1.0 billion to the financial institution and received a total of 27 million shares in fiscal 2011.
In March 2011, we entered into an interest rate swap that expires on March 1, 2016, with a notional amount of $500 million, accounted for as a fair value hedge, that swaps fixed rate interest on our 5.40% Senior Notes due March 1, 2016 for variable interest equal to LIBOR plus 300 basis points. At February 3, 2013, the approximate fair value of this agreement was an asset of $36 million, which is the estimated amount we would have received to settle the agreement.
Also at February 3, 2013, we had outstanding interest rate swaps, accounted for as fair value hedges, that expire on December 16, 2013 with a notional amount of $1.25 billion that swap fixed rate interest on our $1.25 billion 5.25% Senior Notes due December 16, 2013 for variable interest equal to LIBOR plus 259 basis points. At February 3, 2013, the approximate fair value of these agreements was an asset of $28 million, which is the estimated amount we would have received to settle the agreements.
We have commercial paper programs that allow for borrowings up to $2.0 billion. In connection with the programs, we have a back-up credit facility with a consortium of banks for borrowings up to $2.0 billion. As of February 3, 2013, there were no borrowings outstanding under the commercial paper programs or the related credit facility. The credit facility expires in July 2017 and contains various restrictive covenants. As of February 3, 2013, we were in compliance with all of the covenants, and they are not expected to impact our liquidity or capital resources. See Note 5 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of our commercial paper programs and related credit facility.
We use capital and operating leases to finance a portion of our real estate, including our stores, distribution centers and store support centers. The net present value of capital lease obligations is reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets in Long-Term Debt and Current Installments of Long-Term Debt. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the operating leases are not reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In connection with the sale of HD Supply on August 30, 2007, we guaranteed a $1.0 billion senior secured amortizing term loan of HD Supply. The original expiration date of the guarantee was August 30, 2012. In March 2010, we amended the guarantee to extend the expiration date to April 1, 2014. The fair value of the guarantee at August 30, 2007 was $16 million and was recorded as a liability in Other Long-Term Liabilities. The extension of the guarantee increased the fair value of the guarantee to $67 million, resulting in a $51 million charge to Interest and Other, net, for fiscal 2010. In April 2012, the term loan guarantee was terminated. As a result, we reversed the $67 million liability related to the guarantee, resulting in a $67 million pretax benefit to Interest and Other, net, for fiscal 2012.
As of February 3, 2013, we had $2.5 billion in Cash and Cash Equivalents. We believe that our current cash position, access to the debt capital markets and cash flow generated from operations should be sufficient to enable us to complete our capital expenditure programs and fund dividend payments, share repurchases and any required long-term debt payments through the next several fiscal years. In addition, we have funds available from our commercial paper programs and the ability to obtain alternative sources of financing.
In March 2013, we entered into an ASR agreement with a third-party financial institution to repurchase $1.5 billion of our common stock. Under the agreement, we will pay $1.5 billion to the financial institution, using cash on hand, and receive an initial delivery of approximately 18 million shares in the first quarter of fiscal 2013. The final number of shares delivered upon settlement of the agreement will be determined with reference to the average price of our common stock over the term of the ASR agreement.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, operating leases for a portion of our real estate and other assets are not reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.


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Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations as of February 3, 2013 (amounts in millions):
 
Payments Due by Fiscal Year
Contractual Obligations
Total
 
2013
 
2014-2015
 
2016-2017
 
Thereafter
Total Debt(1)
$
10,256

 
$
1,252

 
$
3

 
$
3,001

 
$
6,000

Interest Payments on Debt(2)
7,798

 
517

 
963

 
732

 
5,586

Capital Lease Obligations(3)
1,305

 
112

 
206

 
190

 
797

Operating Leases
8,208

 
856

 
1,554

 
1,238

 
4,560

Purchase Obligations(4)
2,485

 
1,531

 
954

 

 

Unrecognized Tax Benefits(5)
105

 
105

 

 

 

Total
$
30,157

 
$
4,373

 
$
3,680

 
$
5,161

 
$
16,943

 —————
(1)
Excludes present value of capital lease obligations, fair value of interest rate swaps and unamortized debt discounts.
(2)
Interest payments are at current interest rates including the impact of active interest rate swaps.
(3)
Includes $813 million of imputed interest.
(4)
Purchase obligations include all legally binding contracts such as firm commitments for inventory purchases, utility purchases, capital expenditures, software acquisitions and license commitments and legally binding service contracts. Purchase orders that are not binding agreements are excluded from the table above.
(5)
Excludes $533 million of noncurrent unrecognized tax benefits due to uncertainty regarding the timing of future cash payments.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Our exposure to market risk results primarily from fluctuations in interest rates. Interest rate swap agreements are used, at times, to manage our fixed/floating rate debt portfolio. At February 3, 2013, after giving consideration to our interest rate swap agreements, approximately 82% of our debt portfolio was comprised of fixed-rate debt and 18% was floating-rate debt. A 1.0 percentage point change in the interest costs of floating-rate debt would not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
As of February 3, 2013 we had, net of discounts, $10.3 billion of Senior Notes outstanding. The aggregate market value of these publicly traded Senior Notes as of February 3, 2013 was approximately $12.2 billion.
Although we have international operating entities, our exposure to foreign currency rate fluctuations is not significant to our financial condition or results of operations.
Impact of Inflation, Deflation and Changing Prices
We have experienced inflation and deflation related to our purchase of certain commodity products. We do not believe that changing prices for commodities have had a material effect on our Net Sales or results of operations. Although we cannot precisely determine the overall effect of inflation and deflation on operations, we do not believe inflation and deflation have had a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Critical Accounting Policies
Our significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The following discussion addresses our most critical accounting policies, which are those that are both important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and that require significant judgment or use of significant assumptions or complex estimates.
Revenues
We recognize revenue, net of estimated returns and sales tax, at the time the customer takes possession of merchandise or receives services. We estimate the liability for sales returns based on our historical return levels. We believe that our estimate for sales returns is an accurate reflection of future returns. We have never recorded a significant adjustment to our estimated liability for sales returns. However, if these estimates are significantly below the actual amounts, our sales could be adversely impacted. When we receive payment from customers before the customer has taken possession of the merchandise or the service has been performed, the amount received is recorded as Deferred Revenue in the accompanying Consolidated

24

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Balance Sheets until the sale or service is complete. We also record Deferred Revenue for the sale of gift cards and recognize this revenue upon the redemption of gift cards in Net Sales.
Merchandise Inventories
Our Merchandise Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market, with approximately 76% valued under the retail inventory method and the remainder under a cost method. Retailers like us, with many different types of merchandise at low unit cost and a large number of transactions, frequently use the retail inventory method. Under the retail inventory method, Merchandise Inventories are stated at cost, which is determined by applying a cost-to-retail ratio to the ending retail value of inventories. As our inventory retail value is adjusted regularly to reflect market conditions, our inventory valued under the retail method approximates the lower of cost or market. We evaluate our inventory valued under a cost method at the end of each quarter to ensure that it is carried at the lower of cost or market. The valuation allowance for Merchandise Inventories valued under a cost method was not material to our Consolidated Financial Statements as of the end of fiscal 2012 or 2011.
Independent physical inventory counts or cycle counts are taken on a regular basis in each store and distribution center to ensure that amounts reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for Merchandise Inventories are properly stated. During the period between physical inventory counts in our stores, we accrue for estimated losses related to shrink on a store-by-store basis. Shrink (or in the case of excess inventory, "swell") is the difference between the recorded amount of inventory and the physical inventory. Shrink may occur due to theft, loss, inaccurate records for the receipt of inventory or deterioration of goods, among other things. We estimate shrink as a percent of Net Sales using the average shrink results from the previous two physical inventories. The estimates are evaluated quarterly and adjusted based on recent shrink results and current trends in the business. Actual shrink results did not vary materially from estimated amounts for fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010.
Self-Insurance
We have established liabilities for certain losses related to general liability (including products liability), workers’ compensation, employee group medical and automobile claims for which we are self-insured. Our self-insured retention or deductible, as applicable, for each claim involving general liability, workers' compensation and automobile liability is limited to $25 million, $1 million and $1 million, respectively. We do not have any stop loss limits for self-insured employee group medical claims. Our liabilities represent estimates of the ultimate cost for claims incurred as of the balance sheet date. The estimated liabilities are not discounted and are established based upon analysis of historical data and actuarial estimates. The liabilities are reviewed by management and third-party actuaries on a regular basis to ensure that they are appropriate. While we believe these estimates are reasonable based on the information currently available, if actual trends, including the severity or frequency of claims, medical cost inflation or fluctuations in premiums, differ from our estimates, our results of operations could be impacted. Actual results related to these types of claims did not vary materially from estimated amounts for fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010.
Vendor Allowances
Vendor allowances primarily consist of volume rebates that are earned as a result of attaining certain purchase levels and advertising co-op allowances for the promotion of vendors’ products that are typically based on guaranteed minimum amounts with additional amounts being earned for attaining certain purchase levels. These vendor allowances are accrued as earned, with those allowances received as a result of attaining certain purchase levels accrued over the incentive period based on estimates of purchases. We believe that our estimate of vendor allowances earned based on expected volume of purchases over the incentive period is an accurate reflection of the ultimate allowance to be received from our vendors.
Volume rebates and certain advertising co-op allowances earned are initially recorded as a reduction in Merchandise Inventories and a subsequent reduction in Cost of Sales when the related product is sold. Certain advertising co-op allowances that are reimbursements of specific, incremental and identifiable costs incurred to promote vendors’ products are recorded as an offset against advertising expense in SG&A.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
We evaluate our long-lived assets each quarter for indicators of potential impairment. Indicators of impairment include current period losses combined with a history of losses, management’s decision to relocate or close a store or other location before the end of its previously estimated useful life or when changes in other circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The evaluation for long-lived assets is performed at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows, which is generally the individual store level.

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The assets of a store with indicators of impairment are evaluated by comparing its undiscounted cash flows with its carrying value. The estimate of cash flows includes management’s assumptions of cash inflows and outflows directly resulting from the use of those assets in operations, including gross margin on Net Sales, payroll and related items, occupancy costs, insurance allocations and other costs to operate a store. If the carrying value is greater than the undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair market value. Impairment losses are recorded as a component of SG&A in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings. When a leased location closes, we also recognize in SG&A the net present value of future lease obligations less estimated sublease income.
We make critical assumptions and estimates in completing impairment assessments of long-lived assets. Our cash flow projections look several years into the future and include assumptions on variables such as future sales and operating margin growth rates, economic conditions, market competition and inflation. A 10% decrease in the estimated undiscounted cash flows for the stores with indicators of impairment would not have a material impact on our results of operations. Our estimates of fair market value are generally based on market appraisals of owned locations and estimates on the amount of potential sublease income and the time required to sublease for leased locations. A 10% decrease in estimated sublease income and a 10% increase in the time required to sublease would not have a material impact on our results of operations. We recorded impairments and lease obligation costs on closings and relocations in the ordinary course of business, as well as for the China store closings in fiscal 2012, which were not material to the Consolidated Financial Statements in fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired. We do not amortize goodwill but do assess the recoverability of goodwill in the third quarter of each fiscal year, or more often if indicators warrant, by determining whether the fair value of each reporting unit supports its carrying value. We assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to complete quantitative impairment assessments. During fiscal 2012, for all reporting units other than our China reporting unit, we used qualitative factors to determine that our goodwill balances for each reporting unit were not impaired. For our China reporting unit, we recorded a charge of $97 million to impair all of the goodwill associated with that reporting unit in fiscal 2012. Impairment charges related to our remaining goodwill were not material for fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010.
We amortize the cost of other intangible assets over their estimated useful lives, which range up to ten years, unless such lives are deemed indefinite. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are tested in the third quarter of each fiscal year for impairment, or more often if indicators warrant. Impairment charges related to our other intangible assets were not material for fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, "Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income" ("ASU No. 2011-05"). ASU No. 2011-05 eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income. Under ASU No. 2011-05, an entity can elect to present items of net earnings and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, statements. This guidance was effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter, and retrospective application was required. This guidance impacted the presentation of our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to Item 7, "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this report.


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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Management’s Responsibility for Financial Statements
The financial statements presented in this Annual Report have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and are the responsibility of the management of The Home Depot, Inc. These financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and properly reflect certain estimates and judgments based upon the best available information.
The financial statements of the Company have been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. Their accompanying report is based upon an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, consisting solely of independent directors, meets five times a year with the independent registered public accounting firm, the internal auditors and representatives of management to discuss auditing and financial reporting matters. In addition, a telephonic meeting is held prior to each quarterly earnings release. The Audit Committee retains the independent registered public accounting firm and regularly reviews the internal accounting controls, the activities of the independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditors and the financial condition of the Company. Both the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the internal auditors have free access to the Audit Committee.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of February 3, 2013 based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of February 3, 2013 in providing reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of February 3, 2013 has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included on page 28 in this Form 10-K.

/s/ FRANCIS S. BLAKE
 
/s/ CAROL B. TOMÉ
Francis S. Blake
Chairman &
Chief Executive Officer
 
Carol B. Tomé
Chief Financial Officer &
Executive Vice President – Corporate Services


27

Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
The Home Depot, Inc.:
We have audited The Home Depot, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of February 3, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Home Depot, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, The Home Depot, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of February 3, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Consolidated Balance Sheets of The Home Depot, Inc. and subsidiaries as of February 3, 2013 and January 29, 2012, and the related Consolidated Statements of Earnings, Comprehensive Income, Stockholders’ Equity, and Cash Flows for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended February 3, 2013, and our report dated March 28, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
March 28, 2013


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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
The Home Depot, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets of The Home Depot, Inc. and subsidiaries as of February 3, 2013 and January 29, 2012, and the related Consolidated Statements of Earnings, Comprehensive Income, Stockholders’ Equity, and Cash Flows for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended February 3, 2013. These Consolidated Financial Statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these Consolidated Financial Statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the Consolidated Financial Statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Home Depot, Inc. and subsidiaries as of February 3, 2013 and January 29, 2012, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended February 3, 2013, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), The Home Depot, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of February 3, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 28, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
March 28, 2013


29

Table of Contents

THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

amounts in millions, except share and per share data
February 3,
2013
 
January 29,
2012
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current Assets:
 
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
$
2,494

 
$
1,987

Receivables, net
1,395

 
1,245

Merchandise Inventories
10,710

 
10,325

Other Current Assets
773

 
963

Total Current Assets
15,372

 
14,520

Property and Equipment, at cost
38,491

 
38,975

Less Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization
14,422

 
14,527

Net Property and Equipment
24,069

 
24,448

Notes Receivable
140

 
135

Goodwill
1,170

 
1,120

Other Assets
333

 
295

Total Assets
$
41,084

 
$
40,518

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Current Liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts Payable
$
5,376

 
$
4,856

Accrued Salaries and Related Expenses
1,414

 
1,372

Sales Taxes Payable
472

 
391

Deferred Revenue
1,270

 
1,147

Income Taxes Payable
22

 
23

Current Installments of Long-Term Debt
1,321

 
30

Other Accrued Expenses
1,587

 
1,557

Total Current Liabilities
11,462

 
9,376

Long-Term Debt, excluding current installments
9,475

 
10,758

Other Long-Term Liabilities
2,051

 
2,146

Deferred Income Taxes
319

 
340

Total Liabilities
23,307

 
22,620

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Common Stock, par value $0.05; authorized: 10 billion shares; issued: 1.754 billion shares at February 3, 2013 and 1.733 billion shares at January 29, 2012; outstanding: 1.484 billion shares at February 3, 2013 and 1.537 billion shares at January 29, 2012
88

 
87

Paid-In Capital
7,948

 
6,966

Retained Earnings
20,038

 
17,246

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
397

 
293

Treasury Stock, at cost, 270 million shares at February 3, 2013 and 196 million shares at January 29, 2012
(10,694
)
 
(6,694
)
Total Stockholders’ Equity
17,777

 
17,898

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
$
41,084

 
$
40,518

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
 
 
Fiscal Year Ended(1)
amounts in millions, except per share data
February 3,
2013
 
January 29,
2012
 
January 30,
2011
NET SALES
$
74,754

 
$
70,395

 
$
67,997

Cost of Sales
48,912

 
46,133

 
44,693

GROSS PROFIT
25,842

 
24,262

 
23,304

Operating Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, General and Administrative
16,508

 
16,028

 
15,849

Depreciation and Amortization
1,568

 
1,573

 
1,616

Total Operating Expenses
18,076

 
17,601

 
17,465

OPERATING INCOME
7,766

 
6,661

 
5,839

Interest and Other (Income) Expense:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest and Investment Income
(20
)
 
(13
)
 
(15
)
Interest Expense
632

 
606

 
530

Other
(67
)
 

 
51

Interest and Other, net
545

 
593

 
566

EARNINGS BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
7,221

 
6,068

 
5,273

Provision for Income Taxes
2,686

 
2,185

 
1,935

NET EARNINGS
$
4,535

 
$
3,883

 
$
3,338

Weighted Average Common Shares
1,499

 
1,562

 
1,648

BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
$
3.03

 
$
2.49

 
$
2.03

Diluted Weighted Average Common Shares
1,511

 
1,570

 
1,658

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
$
3.00

 
$
2.47

 
$
2.01

 —————
(1)
Fiscal year ended February 3, 2013 includes 53 weeks. Fiscal years ended January 29, 2012 and January 30, 2011 include 52 weeks.
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


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THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 
Fiscal Year Ended(1)
amounts in millions
February 3,
2013
 
January 29,
2012
 
January 30,
2011
Net Earnings
$
4,535

 
$
3,883

 
$
3,338

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
100

 
(143
)
 
206

Cash Flow Hedges, net of tax
5

 
5

 
(116
)
Other
(1
)
 
(14
)
 
(7
)
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
104

 
(152
)
 
83

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
$
4,639

 
$
3,731

 
$
3,421

 —————
(1)
Fiscal year ended February 3, 2013 includes 53 weeks. Fiscal years ended January 29, 2012 and January 30, 2011 include 52 weeks.
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



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THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Paid-In
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
 
Treasury Stock
 
Stockholders’
Equity
amounts in millions, except per share data
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Balance, January 31, 2010
 
1,716

 
$
86

 
$
6,304

 
$
13,226

 
$
362

 
(18
)
 
$
(585
)
 
$
19,393

Net Earnings
 

 

 

 
3,338

 

 

 

 
3,338

Shares Issued Under Employee Stock Plans
 
6

 

 
42

 

 

 

 

 
42

Tax Effect of Stock-Based Compensation
 

 

 
2

 

 

 

 

 
2

Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 

 

 

 

 
206

 

 

 
206

Cash Flow Hedges, net of tax
 

 

 

 

 
(116
)
 

 

 
(116
)
Stock Options, Awards and Amortization of
Restricted Stock
 

 

 
214

 

 

 

 

 
214

Repurchases of Common Stock
 

 

 

 

 

 
(81
)
 
(2,608
)
 
(2,608
)
Cash Dividends ($0.945 per share)
 

 

 

 
(1,569
)
 

 

 

 
(1,569
)
Other
 

 

 
(6
)
 

 
(7
)
 

 

 
(13
)
Balance, January 30, 2011
 
1,722

 
$
86

 
$
6,556

 
$
14,995

 
$
445

 
(99
)
 
$
(3,193
)
 
$
18,889

Net Earnings
 

 

 

 
3,883

 

 

 

 
3,883

Shares Issued Under Employee Stock Plans
 
11

 
1

 
196

 

 

 

 

 
197

Tax Effect of Stock-Based Compensation
 

 

 
(2
)
 

 

 

 

 
(2
)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 

 

 

 

 
(143
)
 

 

 
(143
)
Cash Flow Hedges, net of tax
 

 

 

 

 
5

 

 

 
5

Stock Options, Awards and Amortization of
Restricted Stock
 

 

 
215

 

 

 

 

 
215

Repurchases of Common Stock
 

 

 

 

 

 
(97
)
 
(3,501
)
 
(3,501
)
Cash Dividends ($1.04 per share)
 

 

 

 
(1,632
)
 

 

 

 
(1,632
)
Other
 

 

 
1

 

 
(14
)
 

 

 
(13
)
Balance, January 29, 2012
 
1,733

 
$
87

 
$
6,966

 
$
17,246

 
$
293

 
(196
)
 
$
(6,694
)
 
$
17,898

Net Earnings
 

 

 

 
4,535

 

 

 

 
4,535

Shares Issued Under Employee Stock Plans
 
21

 
1

 
678

 

 

 

 

 
679

Tax Effect of Stock-Based Compensation
 

 

 
82

 

 

 

 

 
82

Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 

 

 

 

 
100

 

 

 
100

Cash Flow Hedges, net of tax
 

 

 

 

 
5

 

 

 
5

Stock Options, Awards and Amortization of
Restricted Stock
 

 

 
218

 

 

 

 

 
218

Repurchases of Common Stock
 

 

 

 

 

 
(74
)
 
(4,000
)
 
(4,000
)
Cash Dividends ($1.16 per share)
 

 

 

 
(1,743
)
 

 

 

 
(1,743
)
Other
 

 

 
4

 

 
(1
)
 

 

 
3

Balance, February 3, 2013
 
1,754

 
$
88

 
$
7,948

 
$
20,038

 
$
397

 
(270
)
 
$
(10,694
)
 
$
17,777

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Table of Contents

THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
 
Fiscal Year Ended(1)
amounts in millions
February 3,
2013
 
January 29,
2012
 
January 30,
2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
Net Earnings
$
4,535

 
$
3,883

 
$
3,338

Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and Amortization
1,684

 
1,682

 
1,718

Stock-Based Compensation Expense
218

 
215

 
214

Goodwill Impairment
97

 

 

Changes in Assets and Liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions and disposition:
 
 
 
 
 
Receivables, net
(143
)
 
(170
)
 
(102
)
Merchandise Inventories
(350
)
 
256

 
(355
)
Other Current Assets
93

 
159

 
12

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
698

 
422

 
(133
)
Deferred Revenue
121

 
(29
)
 
10

Income Taxes Payable
87

 
14

 
(85
)
Deferred Income Taxes
107

 
170

 
104

Other Long-Term Liabilities
(180
)
 
(2
)
 
(61
)
Other
8

 
51

 
(75
)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
6,975

 
6,651

 
4,585

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
Capital Expenditures, net of $98, $25 and $62 of non-cash capital expenditures in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively
(1,312
)
 
(1,221
)
 
(1,096
)
Proceeds from Sale of Business, net

 
101

 

Payments for Businesses Acquired, net
(170
)
 
(65
)
 

Proceeds from Sales of Property and Equipment
50

 
56

 
84

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
(1,432
)
 
(1,129
)
 
(1,012
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from Long-Term Borrowings, net of discount

 
1,994

 
998

Repayments of Long-Term Debt
(32
)
 
(1,028
)
 
(1,029
)
Repurchases of Common Stock
(3,984
)
 
(3,470
)
 
(2,608
)
Proceeds from Sales of Common Stock
784

 
306

 
104

Cash Dividends Paid to Stockholders
(1,743
)
 
(1,632
)
 
(1,569
)
Other Financing Activities
(59
)
 
(218
)
 
(347
)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
(5,034
)
 
(4,048
)
 
(4,451
)
Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents
509

 
1,474

 
(878
)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents
(2
)
 
(32
)
 
2

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year
1,987

 
545

 
1,421

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year
$
2,494

 
$
1,987

 
$
545

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH PAYMENTS MADE FOR:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest, net of interest capitalized
$
617

 
$
580

 
$
579

Income Taxes
$
2,482

 
$
1,865

 
$
2,067

 —————
(1)
Fiscal year ended February 3, 2013 includes 53 weeks. Fiscal years ended January 29, 2012 and January 30, 2011 include 52 weeks.
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Business, Consolidation and Presentation
The Home Depot, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company") operate The Home Depot stores, which are full-service, warehouse-style stores averaging approximately 104,000 square feet of enclosed space, with approximately 24,000 additional square feet of outside garden area. The stores stock approximately 30,000 to 40,000 different kinds of building materials, home improvement supplies and lawn and garden products that are sold to do-it-yourself customers, do-it-for-me customers and professional customers. The Company also offers over 600,000 products through its Home Depot and Home Decorators Collection websites. At the end of fiscal 2012, the Company was operating 2,256 The Home Depot stores, which included 1,976 stores in the United States, including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam ("U.S."), 180 stores in Canada and 100 stores in Mexico. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Year
The Company’s fiscal year is a 52- or 53-week period ending on the Sunday nearest to January 31. The fiscal year ended February 3, 2013 ("fiscal 2012") includes 53 weeks and fiscal years ended January 29, 2012 ("fiscal 2011") and January 30, 2011 ("fiscal 2010") include 52 weeks.
Use of Estimates
Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses in preparing these financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of Cash and Cash Equivalents, Receivables and Accounts Payable approximate fair value due to the short-term maturities of these financial instruments. The fair value of the Company’s Long-Term Debt is discussed in Note 11.
Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash equivalents are carried at fair market value and consist primarily of money market funds.
Accounts Receivable
The Company has an agreement with a third-party service provider who directly extends credit to customers, manages the Company’s private label credit card program and owns the related receivables. The Company evaluated the third-party entities holding the receivables under the program and concluded that they should not be consolidated by the Company. The agreement with the third-party service provider expires in 2018, with the Company having the option, but no obligation, to purchase the receivables at the end of the agreement. The deferred interest charges incurred by the Company for its deferred financing programs offered to its customers are included in Cost of Sales. The interchange fees charged to the Company for the customers’ use of the cards and any profit sharing with the third-party service provider are included in Selling, General and Administrative expenses ("SG&A"). The sum of the three is referred to by the Company as "the cost of credit" of the private label credit card program.
In addition, certain subsidiaries of the Company extend credit directly to customers in the ordinary course of business. The receivables due from customers were $42 million and $45 million as of February 3, 2013 and January 29, 2012, respectively. The Company’s valuation reserve related to accounts receivable was not material to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company as of the end of fiscal 2012 or 2011.
Merchandise Inventories
The majority of the Company’s Merchandise Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market, as determined by the retail inventory method. As the inventory retail value is adjusted regularly to reflect market conditions, the inventory valued using the retail method approximates the lower of cost or market. Certain subsidiaries, including retail

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Table of Contents

operations in Canada and Mexico, and distribution centers, record Merchandise Inventories at the lower of cost or market, as determined by a cost method. These Merchandise Inventories represent approximately 24% of the total Merchandise Inventories balance. The Company evaluates the inventory valued using a cost method at the end of each quarter to ensure that it is carried at the lower of cost or market. The valuation allowance for Merchandise Inventories valued under a cost method was not material to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company as of the end of fiscal 2012 or 2011.
Independent physical inventory counts or cycle counts are taken on a regular basis in each store and distribution center to ensure that amounts reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for Merchandise Inventories are properly stated. During the period between physical inventory counts in stores, the Company accrues for estimated losses related to shrink on a store-by-store basis based on historical shrink results and current trends in the business. Shrink (or in the case of excess inventory, "swell") is the difference between the recorded amount of inventory and the physical inventory. Shrink may occur due to theft, loss, inaccurate records for the receipt of inventory or deterioration of goods, among other things.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. The Company provides for federal, state and foreign income taxes currently payable, as well as for those deferred due to timing differences between reporting income and expenses for financial statement purposes versus tax purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted income tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in income tax rates is recognized as income or expense in the period that includes the enactment date.
The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs.
The Company and its eligible subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. Non-U.S. subsidiaries and certain U.S. subsidiaries, which are consolidated for financial reporting purposes, are not eligible to be included in the Company’s consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. Separate provisions for income taxes have been determined for these entities. The Company intends to reinvest substantially all of the unremitted earnings of its non-U.S. subsidiaries and postpone their remittance indefinitely. Accordingly, no provision for U.S. income taxes for these non-U.S. subsidiaries was recorded in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Depreciation and Amortization
The Company’s Buildings, Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold Improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the original term of the lease or the useful life of the improvement, whichever is shorter. The Company’s Property and Equipment is depreciated using the following estimated useful lives: 
 
Life
Buildings
5 – 45 years
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment
2 – 20 years
Leasehold Improvements
5 – 45 years
Capitalized Software Costs
The Company capitalizes certain costs related to the acquisition and development of software and amortizes these costs using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the software, which is three to six years. These costs are included in Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment as discussed further in Note 4. Certain development costs not meeting the criteria for capitalization are expensed as incurred.
Revenues
The Company recognizes revenue, net of estimated returns and sales tax, at the time the customer takes possession of merchandise or receives services. The liability for sales returns is estimated based on historical return levels. When the Company receives payment from customers before the customer has taken possession of the merchandise or the service has been performed, the amount received is recorded as Deferred Revenue in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets

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Table of Contents

until the sale or service is complete. The Company also records Deferred Revenue for the sale of gift cards and recognizes this revenue upon the redemption of gift cards in Net Sales. Gift card breakage income is recognized based upon historical redemption patterns and represents the balance of gift cards for which the Company believes the likelihood of redemption by the customer is remote. During fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company recognized $33 million, $42 million and $46 million, respectively, of gift card breakage income. This income is included in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings as a reduction in SG&A.
Services Revenue
Net Sales include services revenue generated through a variety of installation, home maintenance and professional service programs. In these programs, the customer selects and purchases material for a project, and the Company provides or arranges professional installation. These programs are offered through the Company’s stores and in-home sales programs. Under certain programs, when the Company provides or arranges the installation of a project and the subcontractor provides material as part of the installation, both the material and labor are included in services revenue. The Company recognizes this revenue when the service for the customer is complete.
All payments received prior to the completion of services are recorded in Deferred Revenue in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Services revenue was $3.2 billion, $2.9 billion and $2.7 billion for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Self-Insurance
The Company is self-insured for certain losses related to general liability (including products liability), workers’ compensation, employee group medical and automobile claims. The expected ultimate cost for claims incurred as of the balance sheet date is not discounted and is recognized as a liability. The expected ultimate cost of claims is estimated based upon analysis of historical data and actuarial estimates.

Prepaid Advertising
Television and radio advertising production costs, along with media placement costs, are expensed when the advertisement first appears. Amounts included in Other Current Assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets relating to prepayments of production costs for print and broadcast advertising as well as sponsorship promotions were not material at the end of fiscal 2012 and 2011.
Vendor Allowances
Vendor allowances primarily consist of volume rebates that are earned as a result of attaining certain purchase levels and advertising co-op allowances for the promotion of vendors’ products that are typically based on guaranteed minimum amounts with additional amounts being earned for attaining certain purchase levels. These vendor allowances are accrued as earned, with those allowances received as a result of attaining certain purchase levels accrued over the incentive period based on estimates of purchases.
Volume rebates and certain advertising co-op allowances earned are initially recorded as a reduction in Merchandise Inventories and a subsequent reduction in Cost of Sales when the related product is sold. Certain advertising co-op allowances that are reimbursements of specific, incremental and identifiable costs incurred to promote vendors’ products are recorded as an offset against advertising expense. In fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, gross advertising expense was $831 million, $846 million and $864 million, respectively, and is included in SG&A. Specific, incremental and identifiable advertising co-op allowances were $85 million, $94 million and $90 million for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and are recorded as an offset to advertising expense in SG&A.
Cost of Sales
Cost of Sales includes the actual cost of merchandise sold and services performed, the cost of transportation of merchandise from vendors to the Company’s stores, locations or customers, the operating cost of the Company’s sourcing and distribution network and the cost of deferred interest programs offered through the Company’s private label credit card program.
The cost of handling and shipping merchandise from the Company’s stores, locations or distribution centers to the customer is classified as SG&A. The cost of shipping and handling, including internal costs and payments to third parties, classified as SG&A was $435 million, $430 million and $410 million in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

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Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company evaluates its long-lived assets each quarter for indicators of potential impairment. Indicators of impairment include current period losses combined with a history of losses, management’s decision to relocate or close a store or other location before the end of its previously estimated useful life or when changes in other circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The evaluation for long-lived assets is performed at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows, which is generally the individual store level.
The assets of a store with indicators of impairment are evaluated by comparing its undiscounted cash flows with its carrying value. The estimate of cash flows includes management’s assumptions of cash inflows and outflows directly resulting from the use of those assets in operations, including gross margin on Net Sales, payroll and related items, occupancy costs, insurance allocations and other costs to operate a store. If the carrying value is greater than the undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair market value. Impairment losses are recorded as a component of SG&A in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings. When a leased location closes, the Company also recognizes in SG&A the net present value of future lease obligations less estimated sublease income. The Company recorded impairments and lease obligation costs on closings and relocations in the ordinary course of business, as well as for the closing of seven stores in China in fiscal 2012, which were not material to the Consolidated Financial Statements in fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired. The Company does not amortize goodwill but does assess the recoverability of goodwill in the third quarter of each fiscal year, or more often if indicators warrant, by determining whether the fair value of each reporting unit supports its carrying value. The Company assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to complete quantitative impairment assessments. During fiscal 2012, for all reporting units other than the China reporting unit, the Company used qualitative factors to determine that its goodwill balances for each reporting unit were not impaired. For the China reporting unit, the Company recorded a charge of $97 million to impair all of the goodwill associated with that reporting unit in fiscal 2012. Impairment charges related to the remaining goodwill were not material for fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010.
The Company amortizes the cost of other intangible assets over their estimated useful lives, which range up to ten years, unless such lives are deemed indefinite. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are tested in the third quarter of each fiscal year for impairment, or more often if indicators warrant. Impairment charges related to other intangible assets were not material for fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010.
Stock-Based Compensation
The per share weighted average fair value of stock options granted during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $9.86, $7.42 and $6.70, respectively. The fair value of these options was determined at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: 
 
Fiscal Year Ended
 
February 3,
2013
 
January 29,
2012
 
January 30,
2011
Risk-free interest rate
1.2
%
 
2.0
%
 
3.1
%
Assumed volatility
27.0
%
 
27.3
%
 
26.4
%
Assumed dividend yield
2.3
%
 
2.7
%
 
2.9
%
Assumed lives of options
5 years

 
5 years

 
5 years

Derivatives
The Company uses derivative financial instruments from time to time in the management of its interest rate exposure on long-term debt and its exposure on foreign currency fluctuations. The Company accounts for its derivative financial instruments in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification ("FASB ASC") Subtopic 815-10. The fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments is discussed in Note 11.

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Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive Income includes Net Earnings adjusted for certain gains and losses that are excluded from Net Earnings under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Adjustments to Net Earnings and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income consist primarily of foreign currency translation adjustments.
Foreign Currency Translation
Assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange on the last day of the reporting period. Revenues and expenses are generally translated using average exchange rates for the period and equity transactions are translated using the actual rate on the day of the transaction.

Segment Information
The Company operates within a single reportable segment primarily within North America. Net Sales for the Company outside the U.S. were $8.4 billion, $8.0 billion and $7.5 billion for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Long-lived assets outside the U.S. totaled $3.1 billion and $3.1 billion as of February 3, 2013 and January 29, 2012, respectively.
Reclassifications
Certain amounts in prior fiscal years have been reclassified to conform with the presentation adopted in the current fiscal year.

2. CHINA STORE CLOSINGS
In fiscal 2012, the Company closed its remaining seven big box stores in China. As a result of the closings, the Company recorded a total charge of $145 million, net of tax, in fiscal 2012. Inventory markdown costs of $10 million are included in Cost of Sales, and $135 million of costs related to the impairment of Goodwill and other assets, lease terminations, severance and other charges are included in SG&A in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

3. DEBT GUARANTEE
In connection with the sale of HD Supply, Inc. on August 30, 2007, the Company guaranteed a $1.0 billion senior secured amortizing term loan of HD Supply. The original expiration date of the guarantee was August 30, 2012. In March 2010, the Company amended the guarantee to extend the expiration date to April 1, 2014. The fair value of the guarantee at August 30, 2007 was $16 million and was recorded as a liability of the Company in Other Long-Term Liabilities. The extension of the guarantee increased the fair value of the guarantee to $67 million, resulting in a $51 million charge to Interest and Other, net, for fiscal 2010. In April 2012, the term loan guarantee was terminated. As a result, the Company reversed its $67 million liability related to the guarantee, resulting in a $67 million pretax benefit to Interest and Other, net, for fiscal 2012.


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4. PROPERTY AND LEASES
Property and equipment as of February 3, 2013 and January 29, 2012 consisted of the following (amounts in millions):
 
February 3,
2013
 
January 29,
2012
Property and Equipment, at cost:
 
 
 
Land
$
8,485

 
$
8,480

Buildings
17,981

 
17,737

Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment
9,338

 
10,040

Leasehold Improvements
1,382

 
1,372

Construction in Progress
647

 
758

Capital Leases
658

 
588

 
38,491

 
38,975

Less Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization
14,422

 
14,527

Net Property and Equipment
$
24,069

 
$
24,448

The Company leases certain retail locations, office space, warehouse and distribution space, equipment and vehicles. While most of the leases are operating leases, certain locations and equipment are leased under capital leases. As leases expire, it can be expected that, in the normal course of business, certain leases will be renewed or replaced.
Certain lease agreements include escalating rents over the lease terms. The Company expenses rent on a straight-line basis over the lease term, which commences on the date the Company has the right to control the property. The cumulative expense recognized on a straight-line basis in excess of the cumulative payments is included in Other Accrued Expenses and Other Long-Term Liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Total rent expense, net of minor sublease income, for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $849 million, $823 million and $821 million, respectively. Certain store leases also provide for contingent rent payments based on percentages of sales in excess of specified minimums. Contingent rent expense for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 was approximately $4 million, $4 million and $3 million, respectively. Real estate taxes, insurance, maintenance and operating expenses applicable to the leased property are obligations of the Company under the lease agreements.
The approximate future minimum lease payments under capital and all other leases at February 3, 2013 were as follows (amounts in millions):
Fiscal Year
Capital
Leases

Operating
Leases
2013
$
112


$
856

2014
107


807

2015
99


747

2016
97


656

2017
93


582