O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2018 Results

  • 4th quarter comparable store sales increase of 3.3%, full-year increase of 3.8%
  • 27% increase in full-year diluted EPS to $16.10
  • Full-Year net cash provided by operating activities increased 23%

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Feb. 06, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (the “Company” or “O’Reilly”) (Nasdaq: ORLY), a leading retailer in the automotive aftermarket industry, today announced record revenues and earnings for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2018.  The results represent 26 consecutive years of comparable store sales growth and record revenue and operating income for O’Reilly since becoming a public company in April of 1993.

4th Quarter Financial Results
Greg Johnson, O’Reilly’s CEO and Co-President, commented, “We are pleased to once again report another profitable quarter and a solid finish to 2018.  Team O’Reilly’s commitment to excellent customer service drove a 3.3% increase in fourth quarter comparable store sales, which was above the mid-point of our guidance range.  Our solid top-line performance, combined with our relentless focus on profitable growth, resulted in a 6% increase in operating profit dollars for the fourth quarter.  As a reminder, our fourth quarter 2017 results included a one-time $0.62 benefit to diluted earnings per share from the revaluation of the Company’s deferred income tax liabilities due to the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December of 2017, and we were still able to drive a 6% increase in diluted earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2018, despite this difficult comparison.  Our continued growth is the direct result of Team O’Reilly’s dedication to providing unsurpassed levels of service to our customers, and I would like to thank our over 78,000 Team Members for their hard work and commitment to our long-term success.”

Sales for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018, increased $124 million, or 6%, to $2.31 billion from $2.19 billion for the same period one year ago.  Gross profit for the fourth quarter increased to $1.23 billion (or 53.3% of sales) from $1.16 billion (or 52.9% of sales) for the same period one year ago, representing an increase of 6%.  Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) for the fourth quarter increased to $806 million (or 34.8% of sales) from $756 million (or 34.5% of sales) for the same period one year ago, representing an increase of 7%.  Operating income for the fourth quarter increased to $428 million (or 18.5% of sales) from $403 million (or 18.4% of sales) for the same period one year ago, representing an increase of 6%.

Net income for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018, decreased $2 million, or 1%, to $300 million (or 13.0% of sales) from $302 million (or 13.8% of sales) for the same period one year ago.  Diluted earnings per common share for the fourth quarter increased 6% to $3.72 on 81 million shares versus $3.52 on 86 million shares for the same period one year ago.  The U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, enacted in December 2017, significantly reduced the federal corporate income tax rate and required the Company to revalue its deferred income tax liabilities based on the lower enacted federal corporate income tax rate.  The Company’s Net Income for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017, included a one-time $53 million benefit related to the initial revaluation of its deferred income tax liabilities, and the Company’s fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017, diluted earnings per common share of $3.52 included a $0.62 benefit from the revaluation.

Full-Year Financial Results
Commenting on O’Reilly’s full-year 2018 performance, Mr. Johnson continued, “Our 3.8% increase in full-year 2018 comparable store sales was at the top end of our guidance range and, coupled with a reduced tax rate under the new tax law, drove our 27% increase in full-year 2018 diluted earnings per share to $16.10.  I would like to congratulate Team O’Reilly on their 26th consecutive year of annual comparable store sales growth and our 10th consecutive year of 15% or greater annual diluted earnings per share growth.  Our 2018 success is a testament to the dedication of our Team Members, and we look forward to continuing our long track record of profitable growth in 2019.”

Mr. Johnson concluded, “We achieved our goal of opening 200 net, new stores across 36 states in 2018 and are very well positioned to continue our profitable store growth in 2019.  On November 13, 2018, we announced the signing of an asset purchase agreement with Bennett Auto Supply, and we are very happy to report that we closed this acquisition after the close of business on December 31, 2018.  We set our 2019 target of between 200 and 210 net, new stores in our third quarter earnings release in October of 2018, prior to the signing of the Bennett acquisition agreement.  We are still targeting that range of net, new store openings for 2019, but will likely finish at the lower end of the range due to the work related to the conversion of the Bennett stores during the first half of 2019.”

Sales for the year ended December 31, 2018, increased $559 million, or 6%, to $9.54 billion from $8.98 billion for the same period one year ago.  Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2018, increased to $5.04 billion (or 52.8% of sales) from $4.72 billion (or 52.6% of sales) for the same period one year ago, representing an increase of 7%.  SG&A for the year ended December 31, 2018, increased to $3.22 billion (or 33.8% of sales) from $3.00 billion (or 33.4% of sales) for the same period one year ago, representing an increase of 8%.  Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2018, increased to $1.82 billion (or 19.0% of sales) from $1.73 billion (or 19.2% of sales) for the same period one year ago, representing an increase of 5%.

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2018, increased $191 million, or 17%, to $1.32 billion (or 13.9% of sales) from $1.13 billion (or 12.6% of sales) for the same period one year ago.  Diluted earnings per common share for the year ended December 31, 2018, increased 27% to $16.10 on 82 million shares versus $12.67 on 90 million shares for the same period one year ago.  For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company’s diluted earnings per common share of $12.67 included a one-time benefit of $0.59 from the revaluation of its deferred income tax liabilities.

Share Repurchase Program
During the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018, the Company repurchased 1.4 million shares of its common stock at an average price per share of $338.92, for a total investment of $463 million.  During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company repurchased 6.1 million shares of its common stock at an average price per share of $282.80, for a total investment of $1.71 billion.  Subsequent to the end of the fourth quarter and through the date of this release, the Company repurchased an additional 0.7 million shares of its common stock, at an average price per share of $341.20, for a total investment of $248 million.  The Company has repurchased a total of 73.0 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 $150.56, for a total aggregate investment of $11.00 billion.  As of the date of this release, the Company had approximately $754 million remaining under its current share repurchase authorization.

4th Quarter and Full-Year Comparable Store Sales Results
Comparable store sales are calculated based on the change in sales for stores open at least one year and exclude sales of specialty machinery, sales to independent parts stores and sales to Team Members.  Online sales, resulting from ship-to-home orders and pick-up-in-store orders, for stores open at least one year, are included in the comparable store sales calculation.  Comparable store sales increased 3.3% for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018, on top of 1.3% for the same period one year ago.  Comparable store sales increased 3.8% for the year ended December 31, 2018, on top of 1.4% for the same period one year ago.

1st Quarter and Full-Year 2019 Guidance
The table below outlines the Company’s guidance for selected first quarter and full-year 2019 financial data:

  For the Three Months Ending
March 31, 2019
  For the Year Ending
December 31, 2019
Net, new store openings (1)     200 to 210
Comparable store sales 3% to 5%   3% to 5%
Total revenue     $10.0 billion to $10.3 billion
Gross profit as a percentage of sales     52.7% to 53.2%
Operating income as a percentage of sales     18.7% to 19.2%
Effective income tax rate     23.5%
Diluted earnings per share (2) $3.92 to $4.02   $17.37 to $17.47
Net cash provided by operating activities     $1.63 billion to $1.79 billion
Capital expenditures     $625 million to $675 million
Free cash flow (3)     $1.0 billion to $1.1 billion

(1) Net, new store openings does not include the acquired Bennett Auto Supply, Inc. stores.
(2) Weighted-average shares outstanding, assuming dilution, used in the denominator of this calculation, includes share repurchases made by the Company through the date of this release.
(3) Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure.  The table below reconciles Free cash flow guidance to Net cash provided by operating activities guidance, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure:

 

(in millions) For the Year Ending
December 31, 2019
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 1,630 to $ 1,790
Less: Capital expenditures 625 to 675
  Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation payments 5 to 15
Free cash flow $ 1,000 to $ 1,100
           

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 selected financial information below.

Earnings Conference Call Information
The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, February 7, 2019, 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 (847) 619-6396; the conference call identification number is 47939964.  A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website through February 6, 2020.

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 December 31, 2018, the Company operated 5,219 stores in 47 states.

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, the impact of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, 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, product demand, the market for auto parts, competition, weather, risks associated with the performance of acquired businesses, our ability to hire and retain qualified employees, consumer debt levels, our increased debt levels, credit ratings on public debt, governmental regulations, terrorist activities, war and the threat of war.  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, 2017, 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.

For further information contact: Investor & Media Contact
  Mark Merz (417) 829-5878
   


O’REILLY AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)

  December 31, 2018   December 31, 2017
  (Unaudited)   (Note)
Assets      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 31,315     $ 46,348  
Accounts receivable, net 192,026     216,251  
Amounts receivable from suppliers 78,155     76,236  
Inventory 3,193,344     3,009,800  
Other current assets 48,262     49,037  
Total current assets 3,543,102     3,397,672  
       
Property and equipment, at cost 5,645,552     5,191,135  
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization 2,058,550     1,847,329  
Net property and equipment 3,587,002     3,343,806  
       
Goodwill 807,260     789,058  
Other assets, net 43,425     41,349  
Total assets $ 7,980,789     $ 7,571,885  
       
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable $ 3,376,403     $ 3,190,029  
Self-insurance reserves 77,012     71,695  
Accrued payroll 86,520     77,147  
Accrued benefits and withholdings 89,082     69,308  
Income taxes payable 11,013      
Other current liabilities 253,990     239,187  
Total current liabilities 3,894,020     3,647,366  
       
Long-term debt 3,417,122     2,978,390  
Deferred income taxes 105,566     85,406  
Other liabilities 210,414     207,677  
       
Shareholders’ equity:      
Common stock, $0.01 par value:      
Authorized shares – 245,000,000      
Issued and outstanding shares –      
79,043,919 as of December 31, 2018, and      
84,302,187 as of December 31, 2017 790     843  
Additional paid-in capital 1,262,063     1,265,043  
Retained deficit (909,186 )   (612,840 )
Total shareholders’ equity 353,667     653,046  
       
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 7,980,789     $ 7,571,885  

Note:  The balance sheet at December 31, 2017, 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.

O’REILLY AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)

  For the Three Months Ended
 December 31,
  For the Year Ended
 December 31,
  2018   2017   2018   2017
  (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Note)
Sales $ 2,314,957     $ 2,190,808     $ 9,536,428     $ 8,977,726  
Cost of goods sold, including warehouse and distribution expenses 1,080,642     1,031,628     4,496,462     4,257,043  
Gross profit 1,234,315     1,159,180     5,039,966     4,720,683  
               
Selling, general and administrative expenses 806,275     756,345     3,224,782     2,995,283  
Operating income 428,040     402,835     1,815,184     1,725,400  
               
Other income (expense):              
Interest expense (31,468 )   (26,794 )   (122,129 )   (91,349 )
Interest income 683     579     2,521     2,347  
Other, net (4,098 )   104     (1,489 )   1,406  
Total other expense (34,883 )   (26,111 )   (121,097 )   (87,596 )
               
Income before income taxes 393,157     376,724     1,694,087     1,637,804  
Provision for income taxes 92,800     74,409     369,600     504,000  
Net income $ 300,357     $ 302,315     $ 1,324,487     $ 1,133,804  
               
Earnings per share-basic:              
Earnings per share $ 3.76     $ 3.56     $ 16.27     $ 12.82  
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – basic 79,826     84,830     81,406     88,426  
               
Earnings per share-assuming dilution:              
Earnings per share $ 3.72     $ 3.52     $ 16.10     $ 12.67  
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – assuming dilution 80,636     85,848     82,280     89,502  

Note:  The income statement for the year ended December 31, 2017, 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.

O’REILLY AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)

  For the Year Ended
 December 31,
  2018   2017
  (Unaudited)   (Note)
Operating activities:      
Net income $ 1,324,487     $ 1,133,804  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and intangibles 258,937     233,845  
Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs 3,470     2,871  
Deferred income taxes 20,160     (4,593 )
Share-based compensation programs 20,176     19,401  
Other 9,895     11,790  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
Accounts receivable 18,138     (27,742 )
Inventory (163,367 )   (231,802 )
Accounts payable 177,676     253,265  
Income taxes payable 22,903     14,220  
Other 35,080     (1,372 )
Net cash provided by operating activities 1,727,555     1,403,687  
       
Investing activities:      
Purchases of property and equipment (504,268 )   (465,940 )
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 4,784     4,464  
Other (34,818 )   (2,747 )
Net cash used in investing activities (534,302 )   (464,223 )
       
Financing activities:      
Proceeds from borrowings on revolving credit facility 2,414,000     3,101,000  
Payments on revolving credit facility (2,473,000 )   (2,755,000 )
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt 498,660     748,800  
Payment of debt issuance costs (3,923 )   (7,590 )
Repurchases of common stock (1,714,013 )   (2,172,530 )
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock 72,146     45,762  
Other (2,156 )   (156 )
Net cash used in financing activities (1,208,286 )   (1,039,714 )
       
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (15,033 )   (100,250 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 46,348     146,598  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year $ 31,315     $ 46,348  
       
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:      
Income taxes paid $ 311,376     $ 496,728  
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest 117,938     77,766  

Note:  The cash flow statement for the year ended December 31, 2017, 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.

O’REILLY AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)

  For the Year Ended
 December 31,
Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR: 2018   2017
(In thousands, except adjusted debt to EBITDAR ratio)      
GAAP debt $ 3,417,122   $ 2,978,390
Add: Letters of credit 35,148   36,843
  Discount on senior notes 4,294   3,721
  Debt issuance costs 15,584   13,889
  Six-times rent expense 1,903,698   1,791,684
Adjusted debt $ 5,375,846   $ 4,824,527
         
GAAP net income $ 1,324,487   $ 1,133,804
Add: Interest expense 122,129   91,349
  Provision for income taxes 369,600   504,000
  Depreciation and amortization 258,937   233,845
  Share-based compensation expense                                                                                                                                        20,176   19,401
  Rent expense 317,283   298,614
EBITDAR $ 2,412,612   $ 2,281,013
         
Adjusted debt to EBITDAR 2.23   2.12
       

  December 31,
  2018   2017
Selected Balance Sheet Ratios:      
Inventory turnover (1) 1.4     1.4  
Average inventory per store (in thousands) (2) $ 612     $ 600  
Accounts payable to inventory (3) 105.7 %   106.0 %
Return on assets (4) 16.9 %   15.3 %
           

    For the Three Months Ended
 December 31,
  For the Year Ended
 December 31,
    2018   2017   2018   2017
Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow (in thousands):              
Cash provided by operating activities $ 385,536   $ 316,268   $ 1,727,555   $ 1,403,687
Less: Capital expenditures 153,807   118,184   504,268   465,940
  Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation payments 1,729   13,406   34,703   48,688
Free cash flow $ 230,000   $ 184,678   $ 1,188,584   $ 889,059
                       

Store and Team Member Information:              
  For the Three Months Ended
December 31,
  For the Year Ended
 December 31,
  2018   2017   2018   2017
Beginning store count 5,190     4,984     5,019     4,829  
New stores opened 29     36     206     198  
Stores closed     (1 )   (6 )   (8 )
Ending store count 5,219 *   5,019     5,219     5,019  

*  Ending store count does not include the Bennett Auto Supply, Inc. stores acquired after the close of business on December 31, 2018, as they were not operated by the Company for any portion of 2018.

  For the Three Months Ended December 31,   For the Year Ended
 December 31,
  2018   2017   2018   2017
Total employment 78,882     75,552          
Square footage (in thousands) 38,455     36,685          
Sales per weighted-average square foot (5) $ 59.99     $ 59.48     $ 251.06     $ 247.97  
Sales per weighted-average store (in thousands) (6) $ 442     $ 434     $ 1,842     $ 1,807  

(1)  Calculated as cost of goods sold for the last 12 months divided by average inventory.  Average inventory is calculated as the average of inventory for the trailing four quarters used in determining the denominator.
(2)  Calculated as inventory divided by store count at the end of the reported period.
(3)  Calculated as accounts payable divided by inventory.
(4)  Calculated as net income for the last 12 months divided by average total assets.  Average total assets is calculated as the average of total assets for the trailing four quarters used in determining the denominator.
(5)  Calculated as sales less jobber sales, divided by weighted-average square footage.  Weighted-average square footage is determined by weighting store square footage based on the approximate dates of store openings, acquisitions, expansions or closings.
(6)  Calculated as sales less jobber sales, divided by weighted-average stores.  Weighted-average stores is determined by weighting stores based on their approximate opening, acquisition or closing dates.