Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The LIFO effect for Q1 was just under $100 million, and for Q2, it is expected to be around $60 million due to higher incoming costs and tariffs [12][13][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has been diversifying its sourcing strategies across multiple countries and categories to mitigate tariff impacts and control costs [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company opened 89 stores in Mexico and 7 or 8 in Brazil last year, indicating a strong international expansion strategy [15][16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The long-term strategy includes opening around 300 stores domestically and 200 stores internationally by 2028, aiming for a total of approximately 500 stores globally [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management emphasized the importance of providing exceptional customer service and expressed confidence in the company's mission moving forward [17] Other Important Information - The company successfully re-elected all 11 directors and ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent auditor for fiscal year 2026 [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the LIFO effect due to the tariffs, and are there any changes in the supply chain? - The LIFO effect is primarily caused by higher incoming costs, with charges expected to continue due to tariffs [12][13] - The company has been working on diversifying its sourcing strategies since 2016 to mitigate risks and control costs [14] Question: What is the strategy for international expansion, especially in Mexico? - The company plans to continue its expansion in Mexico and Brazil, with a goal of opening around 500 stores globally by 2028 [15][16]

AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) Q1 2026 Earnings Call December 09, 2025 10:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsJamere Jackson - CFOAriana Warden - Equity Research AssociatePhilip Daniele III - President and CEOConference Call ParticipantsNone - AnalystJustin Kleber - Senior Equity Research AnalystZane Brock - AnalystBret Jordan - Managing Director and Senior Equity Research AnalystNone - AnalystMichael Montani - Managing Director and Senior Equity Research AnalystNone - AnalystSkylar Tennant - Research AnalystTravis Sherman - ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q3 2025, the company reported net sales from continuing operations of $2 billion, a decline of 5% year-over-year, primarily due to store optimization activities completed in Q1 [22] - Comparable sales grew by 3%, with positive weekly performance throughout the quarter, although sales trends moderated in the last eight weeks [22] - Adjusted operating income from continuing operations was $90 million, or 4.4% of net sales, reflecting a year-over-year operating margin expansion of 370 basis points, the strongest in over two years [25][26] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.92, compared to a loss of $0.05 last year [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Pro channel experienced a comparable sales growth of just over 4%, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of positive performance [23] - The DIY channel delivered positive low single-digit comps and improved sequentially on a two-year basis [23] - The company achieved gross profit of $913 million, or 44.8% of net sales, resulting in gross margin expansion of about 260 basis points compared to last year [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that same SKU inflation was about 3% in Q3, up from about 2% in the previous quarter [23] - The company observed variability in performance as prices increased during the quarter, with transaction and unit trends remaining stable on a two-year basis [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a turnaround strategy built on three pillars, aiming for profitable growth through operational excellence and strategic initiatives [8][9] - The company is leveraging technology, including generative AI, to enhance service levels and improve operational efficiency [8] - The company plans to open 60 market hubs by mid-2027, with a focus on expanding hard parts coverage in underserved regions [15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term fundamentals of the industry, noting that over 90% of sales are driven by maintenance and break-fix repair [6] - The company anticipates potential volatility in sales trends as consumers adjust their budgets in an inflationary environment [6] - Management reaffirmed full-year guidance, expecting net sales of $8.55 to $8.6 billion, with comparable sales growth between 0.7% to 1.3% [26][27] Other Important Information - The company raised nearly $2 billion in cash to enhance liquidity and support operations [35] - A non-cash charge of $28 million was recorded due to the bankruptcy proceedings of a supplier, but this does not impact adjusted results or full-year guidance [33][34] - The company has invested about $50 million in store upgrades year-to-date, significantly increasing the number of upgraded stores compared to the previous year [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the elasticity of demand and the impact of weather on sales? - Management noted that consumer spending is being adjusted in response to inflation, impacting maintenance intervals, but emphasized the non-discretionary nature of many products sold [41][42] Question: What is the outlook on inflation for the upcoming quarters? - The company expects inflation to be around 4% in Q4, with a slight increase in Q1 of the following year, indicating a transition towards a normalized state [54] Question: How does the company plan to manage inventory levels moving forward? - Management highlighted the importance of having the right inventory to support customer needs, indicating that investments in inventory will be necessary to ensure product availability [48][49] Question: What is the strategy regarding pricing and margin management? - The company aims to remain competitively priced without sacrificing margin, focusing on maintaining a balance between sales and profitability [96][100] Question: Can you elaborate on the performance of the new Atlanta hub? - The Atlanta hub is expected to provide a 100 basis point lift for supported stores, with plans to continue opening greenfield hubs to enhance distribution capabilities [72]

Core Viewpoint - AutoZone's recent earnings report showed a mixed performance, with earnings per share missing expectations while net sales slightly increased year over year, leading to a downward trend in stock estimates and a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [2][6][8] Financial Performance - AutoZone reported earnings of $48.71 per share for Q4 fiscal 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $50.52, but net sales increased by 0.6% year over year to $6.24 billion, surpassing the estimate of $6.22 billion [2] - Domestic commercial sales rose to $1.76 billion from $1.66 billion in the prior year, while same-store sales increased by 4.8%. However, gross profit decreased to $3.22 billion from $3.26 billion, and operating profit fell by 7.8% year over year to $1.2 billion [3] Store Expansion and Inventory - During the quarter, AutoZone opened 91 new stores in the U.S., 45 in Mexico, and 6 in Brazil, ending with a total of 7,657 stores globally [4] - Inventory increased by 14.1% year over year, with net inventory per store improving to negative $131,000 from negative $163,000 a year ago [4] Cash and Debt Position - As of August 30, 2025, AutoZone had cash and cash equivalents of $271.8 million, down from $298.2 million a year earlier, while total debt decreased to $8.8 billion from $9.02 billion [5] - The company repurchased 117,000 shares for $446.7 million during the fiscal fourth quarter, with $632.3 million remaining under its current share repurchase authorization [5] Market Sentiment and Estimates - Following the earnings release, there has been a downward trend in estimates, with the consensus estimate shifting down by 12.32% [6] - AutoZone currently holds an average Growth Score of C, a Momentum Score of F, and a Value Score of D, resulting in an aggregate VGM Score of D, indicating underperformance across investment strategies [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 5.6% increase in comparable store sales for Q3 2025, with total sales increasing by $341 million [5][26] - Operating income increased by 9%, and diluted earnings per share rose by 12% [5] - The updated diluted earnings per share guidance is now in the range of $2.90 to $3.00, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 9% [13][14] - Free cash flow for the first nine months of 2025 was $1.2 billion, down from $1.7 billion in the same period in 2024 [28][29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The professional business saw a comparable store sales increase of just over 10%, significantly contributing to overall sales growth [6][7] - The DIY segment experienced low single-digit comparable store sales growth, driven by average ticket benefits but faced pressure on transaction counts [7][8] - Same-skew inflation was just over 4%, impacting both business segments [8][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company updated its full-year comparable store sales guidance from 3%-4.5% to 4%-5% [10][11] - Inventory per store finished the quarter at $858,000, up 10% from the previous year [29][30] - The adjusted debt to EBITDA ratio was 2.04 times, slightly up from 1.99 times at the end of 2024 [30][31] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to open 200-210 net new stores by year-end 2025 and has set a target of 225-235 net new stores for 2026 [22][23] - The focus remains on maintaining strong customer service and product availability to gain market share [12][18] - The company is navigating the evolving tariff environment while ensuring competitive pricing [17][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed caution regarding consumer spending due to economic uncertainty but noted that DIY consumers are still willing to invest in vehicle maintenance [9][12] - The company remains optimistic about its ability to gain market share despite potential consumer deferral in larger ticket jobs [9][10] - The overall industry backdrop is described as stable and supportive, with expectations of continued share gains [12][18] Other Important Information - The company reduced its full-year capital expenditure guidance by $100 million to a range of $1.1-$1.2 billion [25] - The gross margin for Q3 was 51.9%, up 27 basis points from the previous year [15][16] - SG&A per store growth was 4%, at the top end of expectations, driven by strong sales performance and inflationary pressures [20][21] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Regarding the 4% same-skew inflation, will there be any residuals in the next quarters? - Management indicated that a tailwind from same-skew inflation is expected in Q4 and Q1, but adjustments needed are mostly behind them [34][35] Question: What has been observed historically regarding price elasticity, particularly on the DIY side? - Historically, larger ticket jobs can be deferred, but the company remains confident in the overall strength of both business segments [36][37] Question: Is the elasticity function getting worse, and why wouldn't comps be higher than expected inflation? - Management noted that various factors influence the outlook, including weather and consumer behavior, but they remain cautious yet optimistic about trends [42][46] Question: Can you discuss the potential for U.S. store growth and international expansion? - The company sees significant growth potential in the U.S. and untapped markets in Mexico and Canada, with plans to accelerate store openings [47][50] Question: Are there any notable differences in geographic performance due to weather patterns? - No material differences were observed in regional performance during Q3, aligning with internal plans [56][57] Question: What risks or exposure does the company have regarding First Brands? - First Brands represents a small portion of COGs, and the company has strong relationships with multiple suppliers to mitigate risks [58][59]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 5.6% increase in comparable store sales for Q3 2025, which was at the high end of expectations [5][11] - Operating income increased by 9%, and diluted earnings per share rose by 12% [5] - The updated diluted earnings per share guidance for the full year is now between $2.90 and $3.00, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 9% [13][14] - Total revenues for 2025 are expected to be between $17.6 billion and $17.8 billion [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The professional business segment saw a comparable store sales increase of just over 10%, driven by pro-ticket count growth [5][6] - The DIY segment experienced low single-digit comparable store sales growth, primarily due to average ticket benefits, although there was pressure on transaction counts [7][10] - Same-skew inflation was reported at just over 4%, impacting both business segments [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that the DIY business faced modest pressure from rising prices, which may have led to some deferral in larger ticket jobs [8][10] - The professional side of the business showed strong performance across failure and maintenance-related categories, indicating resilience in customer demand [10][11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to open 200 to 210 net new stores by year-end 2025, with a target of 225 to 235 net new stores for 2026 [23][24] - The expansion strategy includes growth in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, with a focus on building teams and infrastructure to support operations [49][50] - The company aims to maintain competitive pricing and service levels while navigating the evolving tariff environment [18][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed caution regarding consumer spending due to economic uncertainty but noted that DIY consumers are still willing to invest in vehicle maintenance [10][13] - The company remains optimistic about gaining market share despite the challenges posed by inflation and tariffs [12][13] - Management highlighted the importance of customer service and product availability in maintaining competitive advantage [19][20] Other Important Information - The gross margin for Q3 was reported at 51.9%, up 27 basis points from the previous year [16][17] - SG&A per store growth was at the top end of expectations at 4%, driven by strong sales performance and inflationary pressures [21] - Free cash flow for the first nine months of 2025 was $1.2 billion, down from $1.7 billion in the same period in 2024 [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of same-skew inflation - Management indicated that while the majority of cost adjustments are behind them, there may still be some tailwind from same-skew inflation moving into Q4 [35][36] Question: Price elasticity on DIY side - Historical trends suggest that larger ticket jobs may be deferred, but essential repairs are likely to be prioritized by consumers [38][39] Question: Geographic performance differences - No significant material differences were noted in regional performance during Q3, despite varying weather patterns [52][53] Question: Supplier health and risks - The company expressed confidence in its supplier health, noting that First Brands represents only 3% of COGs and that they have multiple sourcing strategies in place [54][56] Question: Conditions for restoring SG&A per store growth - Management acknowledged that broader macroeconomic conditions play a significant role in SG&A growth and emphasized their focus on maintaining high service levels [77][79]

Core Insights - A new individual business named Changsha Kaifu District Junling Auto Parts Operating Department has been established, with a registered capital of 50,000 RMB [1] Business Scope - The business scope includes retail of auto parts, motorcycle parts, vehicle repair and maintenance, tire sales, towing and rescue services, vehicle appraisal, automotive decoration products sales, mechanical parts sales, hardware products retail, construction decoration materials sales, building materials sales, daily necessities sales, lighting sales, and wire and cable operations [1] - The business is allowed to operate independently within the scope of its business license, except for projects that require legal approval [1]