Lowe's Cos. Inc. has posted a 27% rise in its fourth-quarter earnings. Its total profit in the quarter comes out to be $205 million.

"While the psychological impact of falling home prices and an uncertain employment picture continue to weigh on consumers, improving comparable-store sales trends, including improvement in many bigger-ticket, project categories, provides an encouraging sign that consumers are gaining the confidence to take on more discretionary projects", Chief Executive Robert Niblock said.

The company has proclaimed that that it has authorized a $5 billion share-buyback program.

As the same-store sales dipped by just 1.6%, the revenues rose by 1.8%.

"While the psychological impact of falling home prices and an uncertain employment picture continue to weigh on consumers, improving comparable-store sales trends--including improvement in many bigger-ticket, project categories--provides an encouraging sign that consumers are gaining the confidence to take on more discretionary projects", Niblock further said.

Lowe's has been operating in more than 1,700 stores in North America.