Lowe’s Q3 profits soar

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — For its third quarter, Lowe’s has reported a 17.3% increase in net earnings to $585 million, on sales that were up 5.6% to $13.7 billion from $13.0 billion a year earlier. Same-store sales for the quarter increased 5.1%. For the nine month period, sales were $43.7 billion, a 4.6% increase over the same period a year ago, and same-store sales increased 3.5%. Net earnings year to date increased 13.5% to $2.25 billion.