Core Viewpoint - AutoZone reported fourth-quarter earnings per share of $48.71, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $50.91, with quarterly sales of $6.242 billion, a 0.6% year-over-year increase, also falling short of expectations [1][5] Group 1: Financial Performance - Fourth-quarter earnings per share were $48.71, below the expected $50.91 [1] - Quarterly sales reached $6.242 billion, slightly missing the forecast of $6.245 billion [1] - Gross margin decreased by 98 basis points to 51.5%, primarily due to a 128 basis point LIFO impact from an $80 million non-cash charge [2] Group 2: Margin and Cost Pressures - Tariff-driven cost inflation is impacting margins, with LIFO headwinds expected to continue, projecting $120 million in the first quarter and $80–$85 million per quarter for the remainder of 2026 [3] - A larger commercial mix may exert pressure that merchandise margin gains could offset, with a forecasted 250 basis point drop to 50.5% in the first quarter [3] Group 3: Strategic Initiatives - Accelerated investments are anticipated to help increase the Pro-segment share above the current 5% [4] - First quarter SG&A is expected to deleverage to 33.5%, with SG&A per store rising by 4.8% [4] Group 4: Analyst Outlook - The analyst remains confident in AutoZone's resilience during recessions, potential share gains in DIY and Pro segments, and favorable pricing dynamics from inflation [5] - EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 were revised down to $152.93 from $166.90 based on fourth-quarter results [5] - AutoZone shares were trading higher by 2.62% to $4,228 at the time of publication [5]