Thanks, on Hal, the and to hello everyone call.
Let's quarter. start the and quarter a our fourth spend with my time outlook the of for conditions some performance solid year. for bulk fourth full on given insights the for the Comparable XXXX. overall key and I'll We ticket of X.X%, offset by X.X%. average increased by partially solid the unit was transaction comparable decrease retail. of pressure from volumes X.X%, were store ticket principally a Of average comparable sales note, average unit increase strong driven had
believe weather holiday. we trumps quarter, always For that the fourth the
again, is greater to this out. played weather impact has fourth that the And a winter quarter. much how the year Typically, once
Most the In face quarter. our that key performance basis deflation the ongoing product addition, pressure of from in sales the commodity-based headwind trends. point XXX recent consistent categories. on we with estimate had continue deflation came to comp of We products approximately in deflation drag the
progressed impact early quarter, we from the through saw a we As positive October the hurricanes.
a temperatures weather and our improvement in December resilience solid and October warmer-than-usual adapt ability varying presented late the some conditions. holiday performance, in the challenges, and While to November to modest had demonstrating
in Turning had the to truck seasonal as and performance We than performing as average. both well comps with better for tool quarter. hardware department our the category chain strong
The average. our and consumable, as on November strength line to warm products overall. chain a mid-single-digit growth growth in winter we these we weighed lesser categories by Q our unit of was extent, and share Our seasonal are to had ongoing the continue doubt gaining No we edible weather believe in offset Notably, December deflation. in business. unit usable with performed in
warm Zero the unseasonably of spring drove categories comp in seasonal the generators. outerwear Overall, insulated conditions. as summer digits. and ticket indicative We mowers, single the positive continued had weather front-engine with and response both in to experienced is we and low Turn such sales like hurricane warm modestly in outperform heating our strength digits. weather-related Big to This chain average double due categories categories, Cold up performance underperformed the weather quarter.
well. and toolboxes trailers truck performed mowers, grilling, Additionally, all
our performance performance our the season. day the time day not is sales by on in we season, QX, were by all business for including our highest holiday primarily Although Thanksgiving encouraged after holiday driven sales and strong of the holiday recording during
Moving with on of is points Gross basis our prior that difficult gross most to XX.X% quarter. margin calling margin. decreased X comparison were XXX It year. margin the gross from worth we to expansion lapping fourth year's the prior out of basis quarter in points the
Our in with our performance expectations. line was relatively
level sales, depreciation increased our was center of increase our new expenses, planned of modest distribution attributable of and store and depreciation growth. points primarily investments, onboarding deleverage including XX including year-over-year net costs, the amortization, comparable of SG&A the given higher This percent to growth a XX.X%. As fixed to a basis sales and
strategy. were on a sale partially from leaseback We our factors focus emphasis the on our did disciplined productivity offset cost modest These benefit and control. ongoing by have ongoing team's
as the This margin per basis average quarter, points sales with XX we to X.X%. quarter the store. a had existing year a higher for of store declined prior number similar slightly Operating gain
outlook to let's Now for move our XXXX.
in navigating our cycles shared, previously economic have I is As DNA.
these us track proactively The market business, The a deep our same conditions. said tariffs. be the to market allows can conditions. have of adapt successfully diverse nature We managing understanding through long dynamics, needs-based combined of about our record with of to
important his in cycle commented administration. is of on from opening that prior team lessons unknowns Hal This been a there time this number has are topic. a learned the with this As remarks, at tested certainly
of instance, to diversify our country have for origin imports. For we continued
have as all is We planning that of proposed actions retail. affects any a scenario that address to It prepared remember been topic this to are effect. and is important take
and business have are of Q imports large we are We or is a [ sales differentiated ] only have that domestically that about as sourced. so direct XX% our
of discussion guidance and unknowns, tariffs in fluid any the number Given time. assume this does changes at the not on tariffs of our nature the
changing successfully we flexible cycles, the We nimble and through in adapt to environment. managed tariffs to prior will remain
we accretive $XX.X stores new by billion. and of X% to points For XXXX, are forecasting billion and to X are With a purchase is sales Comparable price Allivet. to X% than more Approximately X%. to Allivet driven of to growth store $XXX million, million sales earnings. X% $XX.X of fiscal anticipate sales increase adding net growth this our we to to $XXX anticipated net
points We XX expect about and to chain expansion effective from modest price management margin benefits basis gross brands and supply initiatives. efficiencies, exclusive from continued cost our media XX and retail of
anticipate to consistent couple margin gross deleverage overall of forecast the factors. relatively due a by We and to transportation offset SG&A a market. We stable expansion be primary
First, half depreciation first the with to increase anticipated XX% half in second higher is about to amortization a the the as year. and compared of growth rate
than we While as our grows this initiatives our an faster D&A moderate, rates, deleverage underlying from strategic as will improvement investments growth recent is growth in sales.
net initiatives, some in we we strategic basis margin growth. into our exciting of Out Life existing In investing launch of Here operating will are order program In XXXX direct Mile we planned sale-leaseback of our continue sell to a to Second, our strategic initiatives. and sales XXXX, about these owned stores. XX for planning to opportunities XX points are Final investment our
from incremental Day, stores As in to existing indicated XX step-up XXXX. Investment sell our fund X XX we the at new recently in stores to X an to Community to we expect
We sales EPS across occur the a will total. year XXXX similar contribution anticipate with in in as these
an year, performance. centering margin the operating our For forecast of we around XXXX X.X% XX%, to
Xx. over to interest million. $XX a approximately to million forecasting are plan ratio maintain expense of leverage a $XX healthy We little We of
We in to Net in range forecast the or $XXX EPS million XX.X% Diluted effective X% capital rate to be is to XX.X%. to tax range expect of our $X.XX about to sales. expenditures of of to million $XXX forecast are X.X% a $X.XX. be
expenditures of newly capital the be around existing the Tractor net stores. $X from developed sale anticipated to billion. Gross reflects amount This Supply and are forecast proceeds
openings Our to ramp capital Supply plans a store XX reflect opening stores. anticipate new Tractor about our in Petsense this stores XX year. approximately We
exceptionally Our exceed new continue historical store and both profitability. pipeline remains averages strong, to in sales
line in expect be to XXXX. We store cadence our with opening
that of or construction is XXth with service our combination DC remain XXXX. new As store growing returning operations effectively will anticipate to we of allow in Pacific dividend XXXX of and the an share exciting later network the this distribution our stores announced Northwest. We through us early growth our and to more this existing shareholders center to week, starting we repurchases. expansion This in Idaho opportunities year cash commencing a in late committed
to $XXX to a For a in XXXX, we in estimated have repurchases a X%. $XXX reduction X% anticipate million is which benefit of approximately outstanding to range shares share net average weighted of million of
Now I'd calendarization few of like items expectations. to a the walk for to our through consider
due we always, best way the not look at in of and believe the our our to is halves business. quarters As results to nature
comp with that of our sales second ease headwind half as from quarters be for continues the XXXX to deflation sales in each of modestly and the range, We in our the compares comp stronger the will guidance. relatively to be anticipate expect overall moderate. consistent a We year tight
transactions We with for We year. nearing in now first that believe successfully positive We along managed through modest the year, deflation a are the and XXXX to positive the planning deflation average of anticipate having are headwind XXXX. we trough the be the flat slightly comp of for half will ticket.
As our we be half growth half and earnings, the first second consistent relatively EPS between to to the of year. expect
begin the the the first performance see cycle Specific we've better our weather to quarter, as given to had it year we marginally first start efficiencies. cold the calls trends. As to half today, transportation the recent recent margin for have solid second forecast half the we of than operating a year to
January comps. last cold a reminder, with very As year also was strong
quarter. we quarter, lot quarter seeing of We a are first comp of us. positive Overall, first recognizing the the are the we good momentum for sales anticipating as start we have ahead
to growth year relatively in business. Our first positive the consistent our quarter offset anticipated as prior diluted is be somewhat the EPS investments with our is sales by
continued offset new operational gross Arkansas our We the our are center, investments for opened mid-XXXX. incremental to launch to planning in by for and be margin strategic initiatives distribution expansion costs which
operating As flat year. to be a to below margin consequence, prior is slightly anticipated
we the investing long-term To market. and capture priorities in have strategic clearly wrap are to opportunities defined up, our
focused to Here through committed intend making we productivity appropriate to investments while profit are earnings. We our as self-fund our to We initiatives. XXXX protect and maintain our and trade-offs operating fuel this driving margins Out XXXX approach we Life
stronger are results. to committed We striving for continuously
I will over that, back turn the to Hal. With call
