AutoZone 1st Quarter Total Company Same Store Sales Increase 4.7%; Domestic Same Store Sales Increase 4.8%; 1st Quarter EPS of $31.04

Core Insights - AutoZone, Inc. reported net sales of $4.6 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, marking an 8.2% increase compared to the same period in fiscal 2025 [1] - Same store sales increased by 5.5% overall, with domestic sales up 4.8% and international sales up 11.2% [1][25] - The company opened 53 net new stores globally during the quarter, contributing to a total of 7,710 stores as of November 22, 2025 [6][7] Financial Performance - Gross profit margin decreased to 51.0%, down 203 basis points year-over-year, primarily due to a non-cash LIFO impact [2] - Operating profit fell by 6.8% to $784.2 million, while net income decreased to $530.8 million from $564.9 million in the prior year [3] - Diluted earnings per share were $31.04, down from $32.52 in the same quarter last year [3] Share Repurchase and Capital Allocation - AutoZone repurchased 108 thousand shares at an average price of $3,999, totaling $431.1 million, with $1.7 billion remaining under its share repurchase authorization [4] - The company’s inventory increased by 13.9% year-over-year, driven by growth initiatives and inflation [5] Store Expansion and Operations - The company opened 39 new stores in the U.S., 12 in Mexico, and 2 in Brazil during the quarter [7] - As of the end of the quarter, the company had 6,666 stores in the U.S., 895 in Mexico, and 149 in Brazil [7] Sales and Inventory Metrics - Sales per average store increased to $602, up from $570 in the previous year, while sales per average square foot rose to $89 from $85 [24] - Total inventory as of November 22, 2025, was $7.1 billion, with inventory per store at $927 [26]