Why Advance Auto Parts Crashed Today

Core Viewpoint - Advance Auto Parts reported second-quarter earnings that beat forecasts, but the overall financial performance revealed significant weaknesses, leading to a sharp decline in stock price. Financial Performance - The company reported an adjusted profit of $0.69 per share on revenue of $2 billion, exceeding forecasts of $0.58 per share [2] - Revenue was down 9% year over year, despite beating estimates [4] - Gross profit margin decreased by 10 basis points, while selling, general, and administrative costs increased by 130 basis points [4] - Operating margin fell to just 1.1%, a decline of more than half compared to the previous year [5] - GAAP earnings were reported at $0.25 per share, which is less than half of the $0.51 per share earned in the same quarter last year [5] - The company experienced negative free cash flow of $201 million, which is four times worse than the previous year [6] Management Commentary - CEO Shane O'Kelly described the second-quarter results as "solid," which contrasts sharply with the financial data presented [7] - Management forecasted a positive same-store sales growth of about 1% year over year and promised improved, but still negative, free cash flow [8] Stock Valuation - The stock is currently trading at approximately 29 times the current year's earnings, raising concerns about its valuation despite the management's optimistic outlook [8]