ORLY - O'Reilly Automotive Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

• Third quarter comparable store sales growth of 8.7%
• 17% increase in third quarter diluted earnings per share to $10.72
• $2.5 billion net cash provided by operating activities year-to-date

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Oct. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (the “Company” or “O’Reilly”) ( Nasdaq: ORLY), a leading retailer in the automotive aftermarket industry, today announced record revenue and earnings for its third quarter ended September 30, 2023.

3 ^rd Quarter Financial Results
Greg Johnson, O’Reilly’s CEO, commented, “We are pleased to once again report another quarter of strong performance and profitable growth, highlighted by an 8.7% increase in comparable store sales and a 17% increase in diluted earnings per share to $10.72. Team O’Reilly’s consistent execution of our proven dual market strategy and dedication to our culture of excellent customer service resulted in another quarter of mid-teen professional and solid DIY comparable store sales growth. Our profitable growth is the direct result of our Team Members’ hard work and unwavering commitment to providing the highest level of service in our industry, and I would like to thank each of them for their ongoing contributions to our long-term success.”

Sales for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, increased $405 million, or 11%, to $4.20 billion from $3.80 billion for the same period one year ago. Gross profit for the third quarter increased 12% to $2.16 billion (or 51.4% of sales) from $1.93 billion (or 50.9% of sales) for the same period one year ago. Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) for the third quarter increased 12% to $1.26 billion (or 30.1% of sales) from $1.13 billion (or 29.8% of sales) for the same period one year ago. Operating income for the third quarter increased 12% to $897 million (or 21.3% of sales) from $804 million (or 21.2% of sales) for the same period one year ago.

Net income for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, increased $64 million, or 11%, to $650 million (or 15.5% of sales) from $585 million (or 15.4% of sales) for the same period one year ago. Diluted earnings per common share for the third quarter increased 17% to $10.72 on 61 million shares versus $9.17 on 64 million shares for the same period one year ago.

Year-to-Date Financial Results
Mr. Johnson continued, “As a result of our strong year-to-date performance and a solid start to the fourth quarter thus far in October, we are raising our full-year 2023 comparable store sales guidance to a range of 7.0% to 8.0%. We face our most challenging sales comparisons of the year in the fourth quarter, as we lap the 9.0% comparable store sales increase in the fourth quarter last year. Our Team has demonstrated the ability to drive sustained robust sales growth on top of increasingly challenging comparisons, and we are very pleased with the compounding share gains we continue to earn quarter after quarter.”

Mr. Johnson concluded, “Year-to-date, we have opened 140 net, new stores, and we are on track to achieve our goal of 180 to 190 net, new store openings in 2023. We remain very pleased with the performance of our new stores and are confident in our ability to profitably grow in new and existing markets, driven by our Team’s ability to gain market share by relentlessly providing industry-leading customer service, supported by best-in-class parts availability. Looking ahead into next year, we are pleased to announce an increase to our expected annual new store openings with our 2024 new store opening target of 190 to 200 net, new store openings.”

Sales for the first nine months of 2023 increased $1.21 billion, or 11%, to $11.98 billion from $10.77 billion for the same period one year ago. Gross profit for the first nine months of 2023 increased 11% to $6.14 billion (or 51.2% of sales) from $5.53 billion (or 51.3% of sales) for the same period one year ago. SG&A for the first nine months of 2023 increased 13% to $3.67 billion (or 30.6% of sales) from $3.26 billion (or 30.2% of sales) for the same period one year ago. Operating income for the first nine months of 2023 increased 9% to $2.47 billion (or 20.6% of sales) from $2.27 billion (or 21.1% of sales) for the same period one year ago.

Net income for the first nine months of 2023 increased $150 million, or 9%, to $1.79 billion (or 15.0% of sales) from $1.64 billion (or 15.3% of sales) for the same period one year ago. Diluted earnings per common share for the first nine months of 2023 increased 16% to $29.20 on 61 million shares versus $25.08 on 66 million shares for the same period one year ago.

3 ^rd Quarter Comparable Store Sales Results
Comparable store sales are calculated based on the change in sales for U.S. stores open at least one year and exclude sales of specialty machinery, sales to independent parts stores, and sales to Team Members. Online sales for ship-to-home orders and pick-up-in-store orders for U.S. stores open at least one year are included in the comparable store sales calculation. Comparable store sales increased 8.7% for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, on top of 7.6% for the same period one year ago. Comparable store sales increased 9.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, on top of 5.6% for the same period one year ago.

Share Repurchase Program
During the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, the Company repurchased 0.9 million shares of its common stock, at an average price per share of $938.11, for a total investment of $800 million. During the first nine months of 2023, the Company repurchased 3.0 million shares of its common stock, at an average price per share of $874.99, for a total investment of $2.59 billion. Excise tax on shares repurchased, assessed at one percent of the fair market value of net shares repurchased, was $23.8 million for the first nine months of 2023. Subsequent to the end of the third quarter and through the date of this release, the Company repurchased an additional 0.5 million shares of its common stock, at an average price per share of $910.21, for a total investment of $420 million. The Company has repurchased a total of 93.9 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 $245.24, for a total aggregate investment of $23.04 billion.   As of the date of this release, the Company had approximately $712 million remaining under its current share repurchase authorization.

Updated Full-Year 2023 Guidance
The table below outlines the Company’s updated guidance for selected full-year 2023 financial data:

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 26, 2023, 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 (888) 506-0062 and the conference call identification number is 209629. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website through Friday, October 25, 2024.

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, 2023, the Company operated 6,111 stores across 48 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

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; consumer debt levels; product demand; a public health crisis; the market for auto parts; competition; weather; tariffs; availability of key products and supply chain disruptions; business interruptions, including terrorist activities, war and the threat of war; failure to protect our brand and reputation; challenges in international markets; volatility of the market price of our common stock; our increased debt levels; credit ratings on public debt; historical growth rate sustainability; our ability to hire and retain qualified employees; risks associated with the performance of acquired businesses; damage, failure or interruption of information technology systems, including information security and cyber-attacks; and governmental regulations. 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, 2022, 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.

^{Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 2022, has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.}