ATLANTA – A boost from the gradually recovering housing market helped boost Home Depot's net income in its fiscal third quarter.

Home improvement companies have long been under pressure due to the weak housing market, as consumers cut back on large-scale renovation projects. But they stand ready to benefit as evidence mounts that the housing market is slowly improving.

Last week a measure of U.S. home prices reported by real estate data provider CoreLogic climbed the most in six years. And low interest ratings are making it attractive for those that can afford purchases.