EXHIBIT 99.1
AutoZone 2nd Quarter Sales Increase 3.0 Percent; EPS Increases 15.7 Percent
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 26, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) today reported net sales of $1.3 billion for its second quarter (12 weeks) ended February 9, 2008, an increase of 3.0% from fiscal second quarter 2007. Domestic same store sales, or sales for stores open at least one year, decreased 0.3% for the quarter.
Net income for the quarter increased 3.6% over the same period last year to $106.7 million, while diluted earnings per share increased 15.7% to $1.67 per share from $1.45 per share in the year-ago quarter.
For the quarter, gross profit, as a percentage of sales, was 49.9% (versus 49.2% last year). The improvement in gross margin was primarily due to ongoing category management efforts. Additionally, operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, were 35.2% (versus 34.6% last year). The increase in operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, primarily reflected higher occupancy costs versus the previous year.
The Company's GAAP inventory increased 8.2% over the same period last year. However, adjusted inventory per store, which includes supplier owned pay-on-scan inventory, as of February 9, 2008, was $504 thousand versus $496 thousand last year, an increase of 1.6%. Net inventory, defined as merchandise inventories less accounts payable, decreased on a per store basis to $55 thousand from $63 thousand last year.
AutoZone did not repurchase any shares of its common stock during the second quarter. The Company has $108 million remaining under its current share repurchase authorization. For the fiscal year-to-date, the Company has repurchased 2.9 million shares of its common stock for $350 million.
"I would like to thank our AutoZoners for delivering another quarter of record earnings, and, most importantly, for their ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional customer service. For the second quarter, we delivered EBIT growth in excess of four percent and our earnings per share again grew in excess of 15%. During the quarter, we experienced some deceleration in sales trends from the first fiscal quarter, however, we remain optimistic in our outlook for the future. Additionally, as our operating model continues to be strong, we will maintain our disciplined approach to growing operating earnings and utilizing our capital effectively," said Bill Rhodes, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.
During the quarter ended February 9, 2008, AutoZone opened 28 new stores and replaced two stores in the U.S. and opened four stores in Mexico. As of February 9, 2008, the Company had 4,000 stores in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in the U.S. and 128 stores in Mexico.
AutoZone is the leading retailer and a leading distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. 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, and service stations. AutoZone also sells the ALLDATA brand diagnostic and repair software. On the web, AutoZone sells diagnostic and repair information, and auto and light truck parts through www.autozone.com. AutoZone does not derive revenue from automotive repair or installation.
AutoZone will host a conference call this morning, Tuesday, February 26, 2008, beginning at 10:00 a.m. (EST) to discuss the second quarter results. Investors may listen to the conference call live and review supporting slides on the AutoZone corporate website, www.autozoneinc.com by clicking "Investor Relations," "Conference Calls." The call will also be available by dialing (210) 839-8923. 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 (203) 369-1211 through Tuesday, March 4, 2008 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 measures include adjusted inventory, adjusted inventory per store, adjusted debt, and adjusted debt/EBITDAR. 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 debt levels to a ratio of adjusted debt to EBITDAR 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 information to the most comparable GAAP measures in the accompanying recon ciliation tables.
Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements typically use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "should," "intend," "plan," "will," "expect," "estimate," "project," "positioned," "strategy," 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: competition; product demand; the economy; credit markets; the ability to hire and retain qualified employees; consumer debt levels; inflation; weather; raw material costs of our suppliers; energy prices; war and the prospect of war, including terrorist activity; availability of consumer transportation; construction delays; access to available and feasible financing; and changes in laws or r egulations. 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 such events 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. Please refer to the Risk Factors section of AutoZone's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 25, 2007, for more information related to those risks.
AutoZone's 2nd Quarter Highlights - Fiscal 2008
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
2nd Quarter
(in thousands, except per share data)
GAAP Results
--------------------------
12 Weeks Ended
February 9, February 10,
2008 2007
----------- -----------
Net sales $ 1,339,244 $ 1,300,357
Cost of sales 671,449 661,145
----------- -----------
Gross profit 667,795 639,212
Operating, SG&A expenses 470,909 450,289
----------- -----------
Operating profit (EBIT) 196,886 188,923
Interest expense, net 28,588 26,818
----------- -----------
Income before taxes 168,298 162,105
Income taxes 61,593 59,089
----------- -----------
Net income $ 106,705 $ 103,016
=========== ===========
Net income per share:
Basic $ 1.69 $ 1.46
Diluted $ 1.67 $ 1.45
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic 63,201 70,476
Diluted 63,740 71,227
Year-to-date 2nd Quarter, FY 2008
(in thousands, except per share data)
GAAP Results
--------------------------
24 Weeks Ended
February 9, February 10,
2008 2007
----------- -----------
Net sales $ 2,794,899 $ 2,693,426
Cost of sales 1,400,656 1,368,918
----------- -----------
Gross profit 1,394,243 1,324,508
Operating, SG&A expenses 959,982 912,589
----------- -----------
Operating profit (EBIT) 434,261 411,919
Interest expense, net 56,650 53,911
----------- -----------
Income before taxes 377,611 358,008
Income taxes 138,390 131,103
----------- -----------
Net income $ 239,221 $ 226,905
=========== ===========
Net income per share:
Basic $ 3.74 $ 3.21
Diluted $ 3.70 $ 3.17
Weighted Average Shares outstanding:
Basic 64,028 70,779
Diluted 64,592 71,520
Selected Balance Sheet Information
(in thousands)
Feb. 9, Feb. 10, Aug. 25,
2008 2007 2007
---------- ---------- ----------
Merchandise inventories $2,068,483 $1,910,849 $2,007,430
Current assets 2,356,644 2,180,348 2,270,455
Property and equipment, net 2,204,102 2,110,937 2,177,842
Total assets 4,938,397 4,646,506 4,804,709
Accounts payable 1,842,951 1,662,989 1,870,668
Current liabilities 2,325,222 2,080,379 2,285,894
Debt 2,095,000 1,854,304 1,935,618
Stockholders' equity 282,233 543,590 403,200
Working capital 31,422 99,969 (15,439)
Adjusted Debt / EBITDAR (Trailing 4 Qtrs)
-----------------------------------------
Feb. 9, Feb. 10,
2008 2007
----------- -----------
Net income $ 607,988 $ 584,784
Add: Interest 121,855 113,728
Taxes 347,765 339,694
----------- -----------
EBIT 1,077,608 1,038,206
Add: Depreciation 166,309 148,815
Rent expense 160,626 144,477
Option expense 18,130 18,146
----------- -----------
EBITDAR $ 1,422,673 $ 1,349,644
Debt $ 2,095,000 $ 1,854,304
Capital lease obligations 55,742 25,748
Add: adjusted rent x 6 963,756 837,466*
----------- -----------
Adjusted debt $ 3,114,498 $ 2,717,518
=========== ===========
Adjusted debt to EBITDAR 2.2 2.0
* For fiscal 2007 adjusted rent is defined as GAAP rent expense
less the rent expense associated with operating leases converted
to capital leases in fiscal 2007.
Selected Cash Flow Information
(in thousands)
12 Weeks Ended 24 Weeks Ended
Feb. 9, Feb. 10, Feb. 9, Feb. 10,
2008 2007 2008 2007
-------- -------- -------- --------
Depreciation $ 38,865 $ 36,105 $ 78,557 $ 71,659
Capital spending $ 50,258 $ 50,064 $ 95,145 $102,262
Cash flow before
share repurchases:
Net increase (decrease)
in cash and cash
equivalents $ 13,652 $ 12,703 $ 6,811 $ (5,496)
Subtract increase
(decrease) in debt (66,070) (4,617) 159,382 (2,853)
Subtract share
repurchases -- (128,891) (349,990) (219,658)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Cash flow before share
repurchases and changes
in debt $ 79,722 $146,211 $197,419 $217,015
======== ======== ======== ========
Other Selected Financial Information
(in thousands)
February 9, February 10,
2008 2007
----------- -----------
Cumulative share repurchases ($) $ 5,791,708 $ 4,899,489
Remaining share authorization ($) $ 108,292 $ 511
Cumulative share repurchases (shares) 102,152 95,085
Shares outstanding, end of quarter 63,215 69,926
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Trailing 4 Quarters
February 9, February 10,
2008 2007
----------- -----------
Net income $ 607,988 $ 584,784
Add: After-tax interest 77,516 71,944
After-tax rent 102,180 91,396
----------- -----------
After-tax return 787,684 748,124
Average debt 2,028,599 1,917,117
Average capital lease obligations 45,322 11,157
Average equity 363,928 537,016
Add: rent x 6 963,756 866,862
----------- -----------
Pre-tax invested capital $ 3,401,605 $ 3,332,152
=========== ===========
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) 23.2% 22.5%
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* All averages are computed by taking trailing 14 periods balances.
AutoZone's 2nd Quarter Fiscal 2008
Selected Operating Highlights
Store Count & Square Footage
12 Weeks Ended 24 Weeks Ended
Feb. 9, Feb. 10, Feb. 9, Feb. 10,
2008 2007 2008 2007
-------- -------- -------- --------
Domestic stores:
Store count:
Stores opened 28 34 68 74
Stores closed -- -- 1 --
Replacement stores 2 5 5 10
Total domestic stores 4,000 3,847 4,000 3,847
Stores with commercial
programs 2,223 2,154 2,223 2,154
Square footage
(in thousands): 25,590 24,543 25,590 24,543
Square footage per store 6,398 6,380 6,398 6,380
Mexico stores:
Stores opened 4 8 5 8
Total stores in Mexico 128 108 128 108
Total stores chainwide 4,128 3,955 4,128 3,955
Sales Statistics (Domestic Stores Only)
12 Weeks Ended Trailing 4 quarters
Feb. 9, Feb. 10, Feb. 9, Feb. 10,
2008 2007 2008 2007
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total retail sales
($ in thousands) $1,099,099 $1,078,608 $5,223,000 $5,071,395
% Increase vs.
LY retail sales 1.9% 3.6% 3.0% 4.0%
Total commercial
sales
($ in thousands) $ 156,084 $ 150,896 $ 717,645 $ 705,138
% Increase vs.
LY commercial
sales 3.4% (2.5%) 1.8% (1.4%)
Sales per average
store ($ in
thousands) $ 315 $ 321 $ 1,514 $ 1,540
Sales per average
square foot $ 49 $ 50 $ 237 $ 242
12 Weeks Ended 24 Weeks Ended
Feb. 9, Feb. 10, Feb. 9, Feb. 10,
2008 2007 2008 2007
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Same store sales (0.3%) (0.3%) 0.5% 0.0%
Inventory Statistics (Total Stores)
as of as of
February 9, February 10,
2008 2007
----------- -----------
Accounts payable/inventory 89.1% 87.0%
($ in thousands)
Inventory* $ 2,068,483 $ 1,910,849
Pay-on-scan inventory 10,805 50,492
----------- -----------
Adjusted inventory $ 2,079,288 $ 1,961,341
Adjusted inventory per store $ 504 $ 496
Net inventory (net of payables) $ 225,532 $ 247,860
Net inventory / store $ 55 $ 63
Trailing 4 quarters
February 9, February 10,
2008 2007
----------- -----------
Inventory turns** 1.6 x 1.7 x
* This is reported balance sheet inventory
** Inventory turns is calculated as cost of sales divided by the
average merchandise inventory balance over the previous year. The
calculation includes cost of sales related to pay-on-scan sales,
which were $44.0MM for the trailing 52 weeks ended February 9,
2008 and $152.4MM for the trailing 52 weeks ended February 10,
2007.
CONTACT: AutoZone, Inc
Financial:
Brian Campbell
(901) 495-7005
brian.campbell@autozone.com
Media:
Ray Pohlman
(901) 495-7962
ray.pohlman@autozone.com
