EXHIBIT 99.1
AutoZone 1st Quarter Sales Increase 7.5%; EPS Increases 26.4% to $2.82
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 8, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) today reported net sales of $1.6 billion for its first quarter (12 weeks) ended November 21, 2009, an increase of 7.5% from the first quarter of fiscal 2009 (12 weeks). Domestic same store sales, or sales for stores open at least one year, increased 5.6% for the quarter.
Net income for the quarter increased $11.9 million, or 9.1%, over the same period last year to $143.3 million, while diluted earnings per share increased 26.4% to $2.82 per share from $2.23 per share in the year-ago quarter.
For the quarter, gross profit, as a percentage of sales, was 50.3% (versus 50.1% last year). Gross margin increased by 20 basis points primarily due to leverage of distribution costs from lower fuel charges and improved efficiencies. Operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, were 33.9% (versus 34.0% last year). Operating expense leverage from increased sales volumes was offset by ongoing investments in our hub stores and an increase in pension expense due to the recognition of actuarial losses primarily from lower than expected investment performance in fiscal 2009.
Under its share repurchase program, AutoZone repurchased 1.4 million shares of its common stock for $204 million during the first quarter, at an average price of $144 per share. The Company has $105 million remaining under its current share repurchase authorization.
The Company's inventory increased 3.5% over the same period last year, driven by new store openings. Inventory per store was $508 thousand versus $512 thousand last year. Net inventory, defined as merchandise inventories less accounts payable, decreased on a per store basis to $17 thousand from $43 thousand last year.
"We are pleased to report a 26.4% increase in diluted earnings per share, which is our 13th consecutive quarter of double digit EPS growth. I would like to thank all AutoZoners across North America for their dedication and commitment to providing the type of customer service and trustworthy advice our customers have come to expect from AutoZone. This past quarter, both our Retail and Commercial businesses reported strong sales growth. We remain committed to our plan of continually improving our parts coverage, hiring, retaining and training the best automotive parts professionals, and growing our Commercial business. Additionally, we reported a 24.9% trailing four quarter return on invested capital ratio this past quarter, as we remain committed to our disciplined approach of growing operating earnings while utilizing our capital effectively," said Bill Rhodes, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.
During the quarter ended November 21, 2009, AutoZone opened 38 new stores, closed two stores, and relocated one store in the U.S. and opened 5 stores in Mexico. As of November 21, 2009, the Company had 4,265 stores in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in the U.S. and 193 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, service stations, and public sector accounts. 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, December 8, 2009, beginning at 10:00 a.m. (EST) to discuss its first 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, December 15, 2009 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 return on invested capital, 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 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 comp arable GAAP measures in the accompanying reconciliation 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: credit market conditions; the impact of recessionary conditions; competition; product demand; 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 regulations. Certain of these risks are discussed in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section contained in Item 1A under Part 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 29, 2009, 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.
AutoZone's 1st Quarter Highlights - Fiscal 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
1st Quarter
(in thousands, except per share data)
GAAP Results
--------------------------
12 Weeks 12 Weeks
Ended Ended
November November
21, 2009 22, 2008
---------- ----------
Net sales $1,589,244 $1,478,292
Cost of sales 789,320 737,101
---------- ----------
Gross profit 799,924 741,191
Operating, SG&A expenses 539,496 502,652
---------- ----------
Operating profit (EBIT) 260,428 238,539
Interest expense, net 36,340 31,166
---------- ----------
Income before taxes 224,088 207,373
Income taxes 80,788 76,002
---------- ----------
Net income $ 143,300 $ 131,371
========== ==========
Net income per share:
Basic $ 2.86 $ 2.25
Diluted $ 2.82 $ 2.23
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic 50,114 58,325
Diluted 50,824 58,915
Selected Balance Sheet Information
(in thousands)
November November August
21, 2009 22, 2008 29, 2009
----------- ----------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents $ 79,603 $ 85,756 $ 92,706
Merchandise inventories 2,262,823 2,186,627 2,207,497
Current assets 2,617,941 2,462,145 2,561,730
Property and equipment, net 2,368,846 2,267,198 2,354,357
Total assets 5,385,823 5,113,214 5,318,405
Accounts payable 2,187,347 2,002,128 2,118,746
Current liabilities 2,804,380 2,527,977 2,706,752
Total debt 2,739,500 2,268,200 2,726,900
Stockholders' equity (deficit) (483,965) 59,997 (433,074)
Working capital (186,439) (65,832) (145,022)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjusted Debt / EBITDAR (Trailing 4 Qtrs) November November
----------------------------------------- 21, 2009 22, 2008
----------- -----------
Net income $ 668,979 $ 640,461
Add: Interest 147,491 119,849
Taxes 381,482 364,988
----------- -----------
EBIT 1,197,952 1,125,298
Add: Depreciation 182,846 169,970
Rent expense 185,520 170,644
Option expense 18,932 18,662
----------- -----------
EBITDAR $1,585,250 $1,484,574
Debt $2,739,500 $2,268,200
Capital lease obligations 53,004 59,640
Add: rent x 6 1,113,120 1,023,864
----------- -----------
Adjusted debt $3,905,624 $3,351,704
=========== ===========
Adjusted debt to EBITDAR 2.5 2.3
Selected Cash Flow Information
(in thousands)
12 Weeks 12 Weeks
Ended Ended
November November
21, 2009 22, 2008
----------- -----------
Depreciation $ 42,566 $ 40,153
Capital spending $ 53,439 $ 51,099
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flow before share repurchases:
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents $ (13,103) $ (156,705)
Subtract increase in debt 12,600 18,200
Subtract share repurchases (204,379) (272,123)
----------- -----------
Cash flow before share repurchases and
changes in debt $ 178,676 $ 97,218
=========== ===========
Other Selected Financial Information
(in thousands)
November November
21, 2009 22, 2008
----------- -----------
Cumulative share repurchases ($ since
fiscal 1998) $7,795,296 $6,563,038
Remaining share authorization ($) $ 104,704 $ 336,962
Cumulative share repurchases (shares since
fiscal 1998) 116,787 108,290
Shares outstanding, end of quarter 49,427 57,488
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Trailing 4 Quarters
November November
21, 2009 22, 2008
----------- -----------
Net income $ 668,979 $ 640,461
Add: After-tax interest 93,952 76,224
After-tax rent 118,176 108,529
----------- -----------
After-tax return 881,107 825,214
Average debt* 2,581,169 2,073,108
Average capital lease obligations* 56,863 61,637
Average equity* (211,980) 291,256
Add: pre-tax rent x 6 1,113,120 1,023,864
----------- -----------
Invested capital $3,539,172 $3,449,865
=========== ===========
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) 24.9% 23.9%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
* All averages are computed by taking trailing 14 periods balances
AutoZone's 1st Quarter Fiscal 2010
Selected Operating Highlights
Store Count & Square Footage
----------------------------
12 Weeks 12 Weeks
Ended Ended
November November
21, 2009 22, 2008
------------ ------------
Domestic stores:
Store count:
Stores opened 38 30
Stores closed 2 --
Replacement stores 1 2
Total domestic stores 4,265 4,122
Stores with commercial programs 2,312 2,240
Square footage (in thousands): 27,444 26,443
Mexico stores:
Stores opened 5 2
Total stores in Mexico 193 150
Total stores chainwide 4,458 4,272
Square footage (in thousands): 28,838 27,513
Square footage per store 6,469 6,440
Sales Statistics
----------------
($ in thousands, except sales per average
square foot)
12 Weeks 12 Weeks
Ended Ended
November November
Total Auto Parts (Domestic and Mexico) 21, 2009 22, 2008
------------ ------------
Total auto parts sales $ 1,556,261 $ 1,445,601
% Increase vs. LY 7.7% 1.4%
Sales per average store $ 351 $ 340
Sales per average square foot $ 54 $ 53
Domestic Commercial
Total domestic commercial sales $ 183,842 $ 170,627
% Increase vs. LY 7.7% 1.8%
All Other (ALLDATA and E-Commerce)
All other sales $ 32,983 $ 32,690
% Increase vs. LY 0.9% 6.7%
Trailing Trailing
4 quarters 4 quarters
November November
Total Auto Parts (Domestic and Mexico) 21, 2009 22, 2008
------------ ------------
Total auto parts sales $ 6,782,599 $ 6,404,268
% Increase vs. LY 5.9% 4.9%
% Increase vs. LY (excl 53rd week) 8.0% 2.9%
Sales per average store $ 1,554 $ 1,531
Sales per average square foot $ 241 $ 238
Domestic Commercial
Total domestic commercial sales $ 786,262 $ 756,786
% Increase vs. LY 3.9% 6.2%
% Increase vs. LY (excl 53rd week) 5.7% 4.4%
All Other (ALLDATA and E-Commerce)
All other sales $ 145,177 $ 141,075
% Increase vs. LY 2.9% 10.3%
% Increase vs. LY (excl 53rd week) 4.9% 8.2%
12 Weeks 12 Weeks
Ended Ended
November November
21, 2009 22, 2008
------------ ------------
Domestic same store sales 5.6% (1.5%)
Inventory Statistics (Total Stores)
-----------------------------------
as of as of
November November
21, 2009 22, 2008
------------ ------------
Accounts payable/inventory 96.7% 91.6%
($ in thousands)
Inventory $ 2,262,823 $ 2,186,627
Inventory per store $ 508 $ 512
Net inventory (net of payables) $ 75,476 $ 184,499
Net inventory / per store $ 17 $ 43
Trailing 4 quarters
November November
21, 2009 22, 2008
------------ ------------
Inventory turns 1.6 x 1.5 x
CONTACT: AutoZone, Inc.
Financial:
Brian Campbell
(901) 495-7005
brian.campbell@autozone.com
Media:
Ray Pohlman
(901) 495-7962
ray.pohlman@autozone.com
