ATLANTA ?EUR??,,????'??+ The Home Depot has reported record third quarter net earnings of $1.15 billion for fiscal 2003, compared with net earnings of $940 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2002. Sales for the quarter increased 14.7 percent to $16.6 billion compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2002. Comparable store sales increased 7.8 percent, the company's best quarterly comp performance since the fourth quarter of 1999. ?EUR??,,????'??Home Depot grew its share of the home improvement industry this quarter, as our sales increased by $2.1 billion,?EUR??,,????'?? Bob Nardelli, chairman, president and CEO of The Home Depot, said. ?EUR??,,????'??We saw strength across the country and across the majority of our selling departments.?EUR??,,????'?? During the quarter, The Home Depot added 36 new stores. At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2003, the company operated a total of 1,643 stores, including 1,456 Home Depot stores in the United States, 99 Home Depot stores in Canada, and 17 Home Depot stores in Mexico. The company also operates 54 EXPO Design Centers, five HD Supply stores, 10 HD Landscape Supply stores, and two Home Depot Floor Stores.