Third quarter comparable store sales increase of 5.0%11% increase in third quarter operating profit dollars13% increase in third quarter diluted earnings per share to $5.08SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Oct. 23, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (the “Company” or “O’Reilly”) (Nasdaq: ORLY), a leading retailer in the automotive aftermarket industry, today announced record revenues and earnings for its third quarter ended September 30, 2019.3rd Quarter Financial Results
Greg Johnson, O’Reilly’s CEO and Co-President, commented, “We are pleased to report strong results for the third quarter, highlighted by comparable store sales growth of 5.0%, which was at the high end of our guidance and on top of our solid 3.9% comparable store sales growth in the prior year. Our Team is committed to driving profitable growth, and we are pleased with our ability to deliver strong sales growth in the quarter, while also expanding our gross margin by 35 basis points. We capitalized on the top-line results, as our team diligently controlled expenses to leverage SG&A by 22 basis points over last year, resulting in a total increase in operating profit dollars of 11%. Our third quarter performance and ongoing success is the direct result of our Team Members’ continued hard work and dedication, and I would like to thank each of them for their relentless commitment to providing the highest levels of service in the industry.”Sales for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019, increased $184 million, or 7%, to $2.67 billion from $2.48 billion for the same period one year ago. Gross profit for the third quarter increased 8% to $1.42 billion (or 53.3% of sales) from $1.32 billion (or 53.0% of sales) for the same period one year ago. Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) for the third quarter increased 7% to $886 million (or 33.2% of sales) from $831 million (or 33.5% of sales) for the same period one year ago. Operating income for the third quarter increased 11% to $536 million (or 20.1% of sales) from $485 million (or 19.5% of sales) for the same period one year ago.Net income for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019, increased $25 million to $391 million (or 14.7% of sales) from $366 million (or 14.7% of sales) for the same period one year ago. Diluted earnings per common share for the third quarter increased 13% to $5.08 on 77 million shares versus $4.50 on 81 million shares for the same period one year ago.Year-to-Date Financial Results
Mr. Johnson continued, “Through the first nine months of 2019, our free cash flow results were stronger than planned, primarily driven by the amount and timing of our quarterly estimated tax payments. We continue to invest in renewable energy projects that generate investment tax credits and the timing of these investments can create unevenness in our cash flows, however, we expect this timing to normalize during the fourth quarter, and for the full-year, we continue to expect free cash flow to finish in the range of $1.0 billion to $1.1 billion.”Sales for the first nine months of 2019 increased $446 million, or 6%, to $7.67 billion from $7.22 billion for the same period one year ago. Gross profit for the first nine months of 2019 increased 7% to $4.07 billion (or 53.1% of sales) from $3.81 billion (or 52.7% of sales) for the same period one year ago. SG&A for the first nine months of 2019 increased 7% to $2.59 billion (or 33.8% of sales) from $2.42 billion (or 33.5% of sales) for the same period one year ago. Operating income for the first nine months of 2019 increased 7% to $1.48 billion (or 19.3% of sales) from $1.39 billion (or 19.2% of sales) for the same period one year ago.Net income for the first nine months of 2019 increased $42 million, or 4%, to $1.07 billion (or 13.9% of sales) from $1.02 billion (or 14.2% of sales) for the same period one year ago. Diluted earnings per common share for the first nine months of 2019 increased 10% to $13.63 on 78 million shares versus $12.36 on 83 million shares for the same period one year ago.Mr. Johnson concluded, “As we discussed in our second quarter earnings release, year-to-date store openings through June 30 fell short of our plan, due to weather related construction delays. We made significant progress with store openings during the third quarter to close that timing gap, and remain on track to open 200 net, new stores by the end of 2019. We continue to view organic store growth to be a strong opportunity to invest capital at robust rates of return and plan to continue to execute our expansion strategy during 2020 with the addition of approximately 180 net, new stores. This target is slightly below our 2019 store opening pace as our Teams will be heavily involved with completing the acquisition of Mayasa Auto Parts, which we announced in August. We are very excited to close on this acquisition in the fourth quarter and begin the process of partnering with the experienced Mayasa leadership team to capitalize on the long-term profitable growth opportunities that exist in the Mexican market.”3rd Quarter Comparable Store Sales Results
Comparable store sales are calculated based on the change in sales for stores open at least one year and exclude sales of specialty machinery, sales to independent parts stores and sales to Team Members. Online sales, resulting from ship-to-home orders and pick-up-in-store orders, for stores open at least one year, are included in the comparable store sales calculation. Comparable store sales increased 5.0% for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019, on top of 3.9% for the same period one year ago. Comparable store sales increased 3.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, on top of 4.0% for the same period one year ago.Share Repurchase Program
During the third quarter ended September 30, 2019, the Company repurchased 1.0 million shares of its common stock, at an average price per share of $377.85, for a total investment of $387 million. During the first nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company repurchased 3.6 million shares of its common stock, at an average price per share of $364.84, for a total investment of $1.31 billion. Subsequent to the end of the third quarter and through the date of this release, the Company repurchased an additional 0.1 million shares of its common stock, at an average price per share of $393.33, for a total investment of $32 million. The Company has repurchased a total of 76.0 million shares of its common stock under its share repurchase program since the inception of the program in January of 2011 and through the date of this release, at an average price of $159.11, for a total aggregate investment of $12.09 billion. As of the date of this release, the Company had approximately $662 million remaining under its current share repurchase authorization.
Non-GAAP Information
This release contains certain financial information not derived in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). These items include adjusted debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation and rent (“EBITDAR”) and free cash flow. The Company does not, nor does it suggest investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, GAAP financial information. The Company believes that the presentation of adjusted debt to EBITDAR and free cash flow provide meaningful supplemental information to both management and investors that is indicative of the Company’s core operations. The Company has included a reconciliation of this additional information to the most comparable GAAP measure in the table above and the selected financial information below.Earnings Conference Call Information
The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, October 24, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss its results as well as future expectations. Investors may listen to the conference call live on the Company’s website at www.OReillyAuto.com by clicking on “Investor Relations” and then “News Room.” Interested analysts are invited to join the call. The dial-in number for the call is (847) 619-6396 and the conference call identification number is 49053015. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website through Friday, October 23, 2020.About O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. was founded in 1957 by the O’Reilly family and is one of the largest specialty retailers of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment and accessories in the United States, serving both the do-it-yourself and professional service provider markets. Visit the Company’s website at www.OReillyAuto.com for additional information about O’Reilly, including access to online shopping and current promotions, store locations, hours and services, employment opportunities and other programs. As of September 30, 2019, the Company operated 5,420 stores in 47 states.Forward-Looking Statements
The Company claims the protection of the safe-harbor for forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “estimate,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “would,” “consider,” “should,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “intend” or similar words. In addition, statements contained within this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, such as statements discussing, among other things, expected growth, store development, integration and expansion strategy, business strategies, future revenues and future performance. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions and are not guarantees of future events and results. Such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the economy in general, inflation, tariffs, product demand, the market for auto parts, competition, weather, risks associated with the performance of acquired businesses, our ability to hire and retain qualified employees, consumer debt levels, our increased debt levels, credit ratings on public debt, governmental regulations, information security and cyber-attacks, terrorist activities, war, the threat of war, and the ability to successfully complete the acquisition of Mayasa Auto Parts on a timely basis. Actual results may materially differ from anticipated results described or implied in these forward-looking statements. Please refer to the “Risk Factors” section of the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission filings for additional factors that could materially affect the Company’s financial performance. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
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