AutoZone 2nd Quarter EPS Increases 7.8% to $12.39; Same Store Sales Decrease 0.8%

MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO) today reported net sales of $2.5 billion for its second quarter (12 weeks) ended February 15, 2020, an increase of 2.6% from the second quarter of fiscal 2019 (12 weeks).  Domestic same store sales, or sales for stores open at least one year, decreased 0.8% for the quarter.

Operating profit increased 2.0% to $407.9 million. Net income for the quarter increased 1.6% over the same period last year to $299.3 million, while diluted earnings per share increased 7.8% to $12.39 per share from $11.49 per share in the year-ago quarter.

For the quarter, gross profit, as a percentage of sales, increased to 54.3% (versus 54.1% the same period last year) primarily driven by supply chain leverage. Operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, were 38.1% (versus 37.7% the same period last year), with deleverage primarily driven by domestic store payroll.

Under its share repurchase program, AutoZone repurchased 267 thousand shares of its common stock for $314.8 million during the second quarter, at an average price of $1,180 per share.  At the end of the second quarter, the Company had $962 million remaining under its current share repurchase authorization.

The Company’s inventory increased 7.0% over the same period last year, driven by new stores and increased product placement.  Inventory per store was $713 thousand versus $690 thousand last year and $694 thousand last quarter.  Net inventory, defined as merchandise inventories less accounts payable, on a per store basis, was a negative $41 thousand versus negative $58 thousand last year and negative $71 thousand last quarter.

“I would like to thank all AutoZoners across the enterprise for their strong focus on delivering an excellent and differentiated customer experience.  Our sales performance in our fiscal second quarter did not meet our plans or expectations.  We had particularly challenging sales in specific weather sensitive categories and geographies, indicating to us that the mild winter was a considerable headwind to our and our industry’s sales performance.  In light of the challenging sales environment, our team again delivered solid earnings, growing EBIT by 2.0% and EPS by 7.8%.  As we enter our seasonally strong second half of the year, we are optimistic about our prospects for the balance of the year.  We continue to make good progress on our strategic initiatives primarily focused on great service, further penetration of the Commercial market, enhanced inventory assortments, improved local market expanded parts availability and leveraging technology to improve customer interactions and make us more efficient.  We will continue to manage this business for the long-term and will invest capital using our disciplined approach all focused on delivering great service, terrific opportunities for our AutoZoners and ultimately strong returns for our investors while supporting the communities we serve,” said Bill Rhodes, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

During the quarter ended February 15, 2020, AutoZone opened 25 new stores in the U.S., two in Mexico and one in Brazil.  As of February 15, 2020, the Company had 5,815 stores in the U.S., 608 stores in Mexico and 38 stores in Brazil for a total store count of 6,461.

AutoZone is the leading retailer and a leading distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the Americas.  Each store carries an extensive product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products.  Many stores also have a commercial sales program that provides commercial credit and prompt delivery of parts and other products to local, regional and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts. We also have commercial programs in stores in Mexico and Brazil.  AutoZone also sells the ALLDATA brand automotive diagnostic and repair software through www.alldata.com and www.alldatadiy.com. Additionally, we sell automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through www.autozone.com and our commercial customers can make purchases through www.autozonepro.com. We also provide product information on our Duralast branded products through www.duralastparts.com. AutoZone does not derive revenue from automotive repair or installation services.

AutoZone will host a conference call this morning, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, beginning at 10:00 a.m. (EST) to discuss its second quarter results.  Investors may listen to the conference call live and review supporting slides on the AutoZone corporate website, www.autozone.com by clicking “Investor Relations,” located at the bottom of the page.  The call will also be available by dialing [phone].  A replay of the call and slides will be available on AutoZone’s website.  In addition, a replay of the call will be available by dialing [phone] through Friday, April 3, at 11:59 p.m. (EST).

This release includes certain financial information not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).  These non-GAAP financial measures include adjustments to reflect return on invested capital, adjusted debt and adjusted debt to EBITDAR.  These calculations include adjustments for pension termination charges and deferred tax liabilities. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP measures provides information that is useful to investors as it indicates more clearly the Company’s comparative year-to-year operating results, but this information should not be considered a substitute for any measures derived in accordance with GAAP.  Management targets the Company’s capital structure in order to maintain its investment grade credit ratings and manages cash flows available for share repurchase by monitoring cash flows before share repurchases, as shown on the attached tables.  The Company believes this is important information for the management of its debt levels and share repurchases.  We have included a reconciliation of this additional information to the most comparable GAAP measures in the accompanying reconciliation tables.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements typically use words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “positioned,” “strategy,” “seek,” “may,” “could” and similar expressions. These are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors that we believe to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation: product demand; energy prices; weather; competition; credit market conditions; cash flows; access to available and feasible financing; future stock repurchases; the impact of recessionary conditions; consumer debt levels; changes in laws or regulations; war and the prospect of war, including terrorist activity; inflation; the ability to hire, train and retain qualified employees; construction delays; the compromising of confidentiality, availability or integrity of information, including cyber-attacks; historic growth rate sustainability; downgrade of our credit ratings; damages to our reputation; challenges in international markets; failure or interruption of our information technology systems; origin and raw material costs of suppliers; disruption in our supply chain, due to public health epidemics or otherwise; impact of tariffs; anticipated impact of new accounting standards; and business interruptions. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in more detail in the “Risk Factors” section contained in Item 1A under Part 1 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2019, and these Risk Factors should be read carefully. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, and events described above and in the “Risk Factors” could materially and adversely affect our business. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Actual results may materially differ from anticipated results.

Contact Information:
Financial: Brian Campbell at [phone], [e-mail]
Media: David McKinney at [phone], [e-mail]

AutoZone's 2nd Quarter Highlights - Fiscal 2020
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
2nd Quarter, FY2020
(in thousands, except per share data)
				GAAP Results
				12 Weeks Ended				12 Weeks Ended
				February 15, 2020				February 9, 2019
Net sales				$	2,513,663			$	2,450,568
Cost of sales					1,147,600				1,125,461
Gross profit					1,366,063				1,325,107
Operating, SG&A expenses					958,125				925,087
Operating profit (EBIT)					407,938				400,020
Interest expense, net					44,335				41,362
Income before taxes					363,603				358,658
Income taxes(1)					64,321				64,020
Net income				$	299,282			$	294,638
Net income per share:
Basic				$	12.70			$	11.71
Diluted				$	12.39			$	11.49
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic					23,570				25,166
Diluted					24,160				25,643
(1)The Company's effective tax rate was 17.7% for the twelve weeks ended February 15, 2020 and 17.8% for the comparable prior year period. The twelve weeks ended February 15, 2020 and the comparable prior year period include $15.0M and $14.0M in excess tax benefits from stock option exercises, respectively.
Year-To-Date 2nd Quarter, FY2020
(in thousands, except per share data)				GAAP Results
				24 Weeks Ended				24 Weeks Ended
				February 15, 2020				February 9, 2019
Net sales				$	5,306,700			$	5,092,302
Cost of sales					2,439,569				2,349,721
Gross profit					2,867,131				2,742,581
Operating, SG&A expenses					1,959,170				1,854,742
Operating profit (EBIT)					907,961				887,839
Interest expense, net					88,078				80,369
Income before taxes					819,883				807,470
Income taxes(2)					170,263				161,426
Net income				$	649,620			$	646,044
Net income per share:
Basic				$	27.38			$	25.44
Diluted				$	26.70			$	24.97
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic					23,722				25,397
Diluted					24,326				25,870
(2)The Company's effective tax rate was 20.8% for the twenty-four weeks ended February 15, 2020 and 20.0% for the comparable prior year period. The twenty-four weeks ended February 15, 2020 and the comparable prior year period include $16.5M and $25.2M in excess tax benefits from stock option exercises, respectively.
Selected Balance Sheet Information
(in thousands)
				February 15, 2020				February 9, 2019				August 31, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents				$	152,970			$	195,665			$	176,300
Merchandise inventories					4,606,211				4,305,469				4,319,113
Current Assets					5,300,547				4,997,072				5,028,685
Property and equipment, net					4,476,426				4,269,923				4,398,751
Operating lease right-of-use assets					2,579,217				-				-
Total Assets					12,863,749				9,745,095				9,895,913
Accounts payable					4,869,914				4,669,568				4,864,912
Current Liabilities					5,779,560				5,334,303				5,512,141
Operating lease liabilities - long-term					2,494,840				-				-
Total debt					5,451,471				5,111,201				5,206,344
Stockholders' deficit					(1,711,119	)			(1,594,362	)			(1,713,851	)
Working capital					(479,013	)			(337,231	)			(483,456	)

AutoZone's 2nd Quarter Highlights - Fiscal 2020
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Adjusted Debt / EBITDAR
(in thousands, except adjusted debt to EBITDAR ratio)					Trailing 4 Quarters
					February 15, 2020			February 9, 2019
Net income					$	1,620,797		$	1,413,047
Add:	Pension termination charge before tax				-			130,263
	Interest expense				192,513			176,667
	Income tax expense				422,949			435,129
Adjusted EBIT					2,236,259			2,155,106
Add:	Depreciation and amortization				384,147			353,977
	Rent expense(1)				339,117			317,228
	Share-based expense				43,804			41,468
Adjusted EBITDAR					$	3,003,327		$	2,867,779
Debt					$	5,451,471		$	5,111,201
Financing Lease Liabilities					196,047			154,923
Add: rent x 6(1)					2,034,702			1,903,368
Adjusted debt					$	7,682,220		$	7,169,492
Adjusted debt to EBITDAR					2.6			2.5
Adjusted Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)
(in thousands, except ROIC)
					Trailing 4 Quarters
					February 15, 2020			February 9, 2019
Net income					$	1,620,797		$	1,413,047
Adjustments:
	Pension termination charge before tax				-			130,263
	Interest expense				192,513			176,667
	Rent expense(1)				339,117			317,228
	Tax effect(2)				(110,048)			(152,011)
	Deferred tax liabilities, net of repatriation tax				-			(1,774)
Adjusted after-tax return					$	2,042,379		$	1,883,420
Average debt(3)					$	5,241,651		$	5,054,281
Average stockholders' deficit(3)					(1,676,987)			(1,493,097)
Add: Rent x 6(1)					2,034,702			1,903,368
Average financing lease liabilities(3)					178,416			156,840
Invested capital					$	5,777,782		$	5,621,392
Adjusted After-Tax ROIC					35.3%			33.5%
(1)Effective September 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC 842, the new lease accounting standard that required the Company to recognize operating lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. The table below outlines the calculation of rent expense and reconciles rent expense to total lease cost, per ASC 842, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, for the twenty-four weeks ended February 15, 2020.
		Total lease cost, per ASC 842, for the 24 weeks ended February 15, 2020						$	190,390
		Less:	Financing lease interest and amortization					(28,195)
		Less:	Variable operating lease components, related to insurance and common area maintenance for the 24 weeks ended February 15, 2020					(11,444)
		Rent expense for the 24 weeks ended February 15, 2020						150,751
		Add:	Rent expense for the 29 weeks ended August 31, 2019, as previously reported prior to the adoption of ASC 842					188,366
		Rent expense for the 53 weeks ended February 15, 2020						$	339,117
(2)Effective tax rate over trailing four quarters ended February 15, 2020 is 20.7%. Effective tax rate over the trailing four quarters ended February 9, 2019 is 28.1% for pension termination and 23.5% for interest and rent expense.
(3)All averages are computed based on trailing 5 quarter balances.
Other Selected Financial Information
(in thousands)
					February 15, 2020			February 9, 2019
Cumulative share repurchases ($ since fiscal 1998)					$	22,188,053		$	20,265,408
Remaining share repurchase authorization ($)					961,947			634,592
Cumulative share repurchases (shares since fiscal 1998)					147,540			145,764
Shares outstanding, end of quarter					23,488			24,958
					12 Weeks Ended			12 Weeks Ended			24 Weeks Ended			24 Weeks Ended
					February 15, 2020			February 9, 2019			February 15, 2020			February 9, 2020
Depreciation and amortization					$	90,671		$	83,778		$	180,420		$	166,230
Capital spending					89,156			97,664			190,563			195,832

AutoZone's 2nd Quarter Highlights - Fiscal 2020
Selected Operating Highlights
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Store Count & Square Footage
					12 Weeks Ended					12 Weeks Ended					24 Weeks Ended					24 Weeks Ended
					February 15, 2020					February 9, 2019					February 15, 2020					February 9, 2019
Domestic:
	Store count:
	Beginning stores					5,790					5,631					5,772					5,618
	Stores opened					25					20					43					33
	Ending domestic stores					5,815					5,651					5,815					5,651
	Relocated stores					-					-					-					1
	Stores with commercial programs					4,942					4,788					4,942					4,788
	Square footage (in thousands)					38,077					36,970					38,077					36,970
Mexico stores:
	Beginning stores					606					567					604					564
	Stores opened					2					1					4					4
	Ending Mexico stores					608					568					608					568
Brazil stores:
	Beginning stores					37					20					35					20
	Stores opened					1					2					3					2
	Ending Brazil stores					38					22					38					22
Total stores						6,461					6,241					6,461					6,241
	Square footage (in thousands)					42,885					41,335					42,885					41,335
	Square footage per store					6,638					6,623					6,638					6,623
Sales Statistics
($ in thousands, except sales per average square foot)
					12 Weeks Ended					12 Weeks Ended					Trailing 4 Quarters					Trailing 4 Quarters
Total AutoZone Stores (Domestic, Mexico and Brazil)					February 15, 2020					February 9, 2019					February 15, 2020					February 9, 2019
	Sales per average store				$	382				$	386				$	1,867				$	1,801
	Sales per average square foot				$	58				$	58				$	282				$	272
Total Auto Parts (Domestic, Mexico and Brazil)
	Total auto parts sales				$	2,464,988				$	2,402,833				$	11,857,188				$	11,106,071	(1)
	% Increase vs. LY					2.6	%				3.1	%	(1)			6.8	%				3.1	%
Domestic Commercial
	Total domestic commercial sales				$	556,924				$	514,598				$	2,679,732				$	2,328,527
	% Increase vs. LY					8.2	%				12.9	%				15.1	%				9.9	%
All Other (ALLDATA)
	All other sales				$	48,675				$	47,735				$	220,953				$	205,151	(2)
	% Increase vs. LY					2.0	%				(41.4	%)	(2)			7.7	%				(43.6	%)
(1)	Results include IMC, which was sold during the third quarter of fiscal 2018 (effective April 4, 2018).
(2)	Results include AutoAnything, which was sold during the third quarter of fiscal 2018 (effective February 26, 2018).
					12 Weeks Ended					12 Weeks Ended					24 Weeks Ended					24 Weeks Ended
					February 15, 2020					February 9, 2019					February 15, 2020					February 9, 2019
Domestic same store sales						(0.8	%)				2.6	%				1.4	%				2.7	%
Inventory Statistics (Total Stores)
					as of					as of
					February 15, 2020					February 9, 2019
	Accounts payable/inventory					105.7	%				108.5	%
	($ in thousands)
	Inventory				$	4,606,211				$	4,305,469
	Inventory per store					713					690
	Net inventory (net of payables)					(263,703	)				(364,099	)
	Net inventory / per store					(41	)				(58	)
					Trailing 5 Quarters
					February 15, 2020					February 9, 2019
	Inventory turns					1.3	x				1.3	x