(Reuters) — Home Depot Incorporated, the world’s number one home improvement chain, reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit as an improving job market encouraged Americans to spend more on renovations.

The company reaffirmed its 2014 sales growth forecast of about 4.8 per cent and profit forecast of US$4.54 per share.

That includes about US$34 million of net costs related to a data breach between April and September.

The company said it may face other breach-related costs, including legal action, that could have a material impact on results for the fourth quarter and future periods.

The retailer is facing at least 44 civil lawsuits related to the breach in the United States and Canada.

Home Depot said on September 18 that hackers stole details on about 56 million payment cards in the attack.

The retailer said earlier this month that about 53 million email addresses were also stolen in the attack.

US homebuilder sentiment hit new records in the August to October period as a firming job market unleashed pent-up demand, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Home Depot’s net income rose to US$1.54 billion, or US$1.15 per share, in the third quarter ended November 2, from US$1.35 billion, or 95 cents per share, a year earlier.

Same-store sales rose 5.2 per cent, beating the average analyst estimate of five per cent, according to research firm Consensus Metrix.

Same-store sales increased 5.8 per cent in the United States, where Home Depot has more than 85 per cent of its stores.

Net sales rose 5.4 per cent to US$20.52 billion.