OREANDA-NEWS. AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) today reported net sales of $3.4 billion for its fourth quarter (16 weeks) ended August 27, 2016, an increase of 3.3% from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 (16 weeks).  Domestic same store sales, or sales for stores open at least one year, increased 1.0% for the quarter.

Net income for the quarter increased 6.4% over the same period last year to $426.8 million, while diluted earnings per share increased 12.2% to $14.30 per share from $12.75 per share in the year-ago quarter. 

For the quarter, gross profit, as a percentage of sales, was 52.8% (versus 52.5% for the same period last year).  The improvement in gross margin was attributable to lower acquisition costs, partially offset by higher supply chain costs associated with current year inventory initiatives (-19 bps).  Operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, were 32.1% (versus 32.2% the same period last year).  The slight decrease in operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, was primarily due to the favorable comparison to last year’s higher legal costs (+30 bps), partially offset by higher store payroll.   

For the fiscal year ended August 27, 2016, sales were $10.6 billion, an increase of 4.4% from the prior year, while domestic same store sales were up 2.4% for the year.  Operating profit increased 5.5% on an operating margin of 19.4%.  For fiscal 2016, net income increased 7.0% to $1.2 billion, while diluted earnings per share for the period increased 13.0% to $40.70 from $36.03.  Return on invested capital was 31.3%, while full year cash flow before share repurchases and changes in debt was $1.167 billion.

Under its share repurchase program, AutoZone repurchased 482 thousand shares of its common stock for $370 million during the fourth quarter, at an average price of $767 per share.  For the fiscal year, the Company repurchased 1.9 million shares of its common stock for $1.45 billion, at an average price of $763 per share.  At year end, the Company had $395 million remaining under its current share repurchase authorization. 

The Company’s inventory increased 6.1% over the same period last year, driven by new stores and increased product placement.  Inventory per location was $625 thousand versus $610 thousand last year and $629 thousand last quarter.  Net inventory, defined as merchandise inventories less accounts payable, on a per location basis, was a negative $80 thousand versus negative $79 thousand last year and negative $69 thousand last quarter.

“I would like to thank our entire organization for the strong performance delivered this past fiscal year.  We are pleased to report our fortieth consecutive quarter of double digit earnings per share growth. Since our inception, we’ve been committed to providing superior customer service and trustworthy advice: our key points of differentiation.  This commitment to our customers leads us to deliver exceptional financial performance.  For the year, we reached many milestones which included generating $10.6 billion in sales, opening 156 new domestic AutoZone stores, 43 AutoZone stores internationally, and six IMC branches.  Additionally, the ongoing rollout of our inventory availability initiatives, including expanding our multi-deliveries per week to stores and opening mega hub locations, has gone very well.  We expect to continue with these initiatives in 2017 while expanding our supply chain network with the already announced planned openings of two or three new domestic distribution centers over the next few years.  In order to continue to meet our customers’ needs across all selling channels, we continue to invest capital in our product availability initiatives across our businesses.  While investing to grow, we will remain committed to our disciplined approach to increasing operating earnings and utilizing our capital effectively,” said Bill Rhodes, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

During the quarter ended August 27, 2016, AutoZone opened 71 new stores and relocated two stores in the U.S., opened 25 new stores in Mexico, and opened one new IMC branch.  As of August 27, 2016, the Company had 5,297 stores in 50 states in the U.S., the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, 483 stores in Mexico, 26 IMC branches, and eight stores in Brazil for a total count of 5,814.

AutoZone's 4th Quarter Highlights - Fiscal 2016
             
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations    
4th Quarter, FY2016        
(in thousands, except per share data)        
        GAAP Results
        16 Weeks Ended   16 Weeks Ended
        August 27, 2016   August 29, 2015
             
Net sales   $ 3,398,769     $ 3,290,404  
Cost of sales     1,604,021       1,562,856  
Gross profit     1,794,748       1,727,548  
Operating, SG&A expenses     1,091,382       1,058,276  
Operating profit  (EBIT)     703,366       669,272  
Interest expense, net     45,789       47,065  
Income before taxes     657,577       622,207  
Income taxes     230,809       221,070  
Net income   $ 426,768     $ 401,137  
Net income per share:        
  Basic   $ 14.58     $ 13.02  
  Diluted   $ 14.30     $ 12.75  
Weighted average shares outstanding:        
  Basic     29,280       30,813  
  Diluted     29,847       31,469  
             
             
Fiscal 2016        
(in thousands, except per share data)   GAAP Results
        52 Weeks Ended   52 Weeks Ended
        August 27, 2016   August 29, 2015
             
Net sales   $ 10,635,676     $ 10,187,340  
Cost of sales     5,026,940       4,860,309  
Gross profit     5,608,736       5,327,031  
Operating, SG&A expenses     3,548,341       3,373,980  
Operating profit  (EBIT)     2,060,395       1,953,051  
Interest expense, net     147,681       150,439  
Income before taxes     1,912,714       1,802,612  
Income taxes     671,707       642,371  
Net income   $ 1,241,007     $ 1,160,241  
Net income per share:        
  Basic   $ 41.52     $ 36.76  
  Diluted   $ 40.70     $ 36.03  
Weighted average shares outstanding:        
  Basic     29,889       31,560  
  Diluted     30,488       32,206  
             
Selected Balance Sheet Information        
(in thousands)        
        August 27, 2016   August 29, 2015
             
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 189,734     $ 175,309  
Merchandise inventories     3,631,916       3,421,635  
Current assets     4,239,573       3,970,294  
Property and equipment, net     3,733,254       3,505,632  
Total assets     8,599,787       8,102,349  
Accounts payable     4,095,854       3,864,168  
Current liabilities     4,690,320       4,712,873  
Total debt     4,924,119       4,624,876  
Stockholders' deficit     (1,787,538 )     (1,701,390 )
Working capital     (450,747 )     (742,579 )
             
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations                  
                       
Adjusted Debt / EBITDAR (Trailing 4 Qtrs)              
(in thousands, except adjusted debt to EBITDAR ratio)                  
        August 27, 2016   August 29, 2015          
Net income   $ 1,241,007     $ 1,160,241            
Add:  Interest     147,681       150,439            
Taxes     671,707       642,371            
EBIT       2,060,395       1,953,051            
                       
Add:  Depreciation and amortization     297,397       269,919            
Rent expense     280,490       269,458            
Share-based expense     39,825       40,995            
EBITDAR   $ 2,678,107     $ 2,533,423            
                       
Debt     $ 4,924,119     $ 4,624,876            
Capital lease obligations     147,285       128,167            
Add: rent x 6     1,682,940       1,616,748            
Adjusted debt   $ 6,754,344     $ 6,369,791            
                       
Adjusted debt to EBITDAR     2.5       2.5            
         
                       
Selected Cash Flow Information                  
(in thousands)                  
        16 Weeks Ended   16 Weeks Ended     52 Weeks Ended   52 Weeks Ended
        August 27, 2016   August 29, 2015     August 27, 2016   August 29, 2015
                       
Depreciation and amortization   $ 93,932     $ 86,708       $ 297,397     $ 269,919  
Capital spending     188,869       187,834         488,791       480,579  
                       
Cash flow before share repurchases:                  
(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents   $ (23,646 )   $ 22,021       $ 14,425     $ 50,824  
Subtract (decrease)/increase in debt, excluding deferred financing   (31,000 )     113,100         299,900       303,800  
Add back share repurchases     369,737       430,498         1,452,462       1,271,416  
Cash flow before share repurchases and changes in debt   $ 377,091     $ 339,419       $ 1,166,987     $ 1,018,440  
                       
                       
Other Selected Financial Information                  
(in thousands, except ROIC)                  
        August 27, 2016   August 29, 2015          
                       
                       
Cumulative share repurchases ($ since fiscal 1998)   $ 16,754,649     $ 15,302,186            
Remaining share repurchase authorization ($)     395,351       347,814            
                       
Cumulative share repurchases (shares since fiscal 1998)     140,795       138,891            
                       
Shares outstanding, end of quarter     29,118       30,659            
                       
        Trailing 4 Quarters          
        August 27, 2016   August 29, 2015        
Net income   $ 1,241,007     $ 1,160,241            
Adjustments:                  
Interest expense     147,681       150,439            
Rent expense     280,490       269,458            
Tax effect*     (150,288 )     (149,483 )          
After-tax return     1,518,890       1,430,655            
                       
Average debt**     4,820,402       4,458,114            
Average stockholders' deficit**     (1,774,329 )     (1,619,596 )          
Add: Rent x 6     1,682,940       1,616,748            
Average capital lease obligations**     131,008       126,096            
Pre-tax invested capital   $ 4,860,021     $ 4,581,362            
                       
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)     31.3 %     31.2 %          
                       
*Effective tax rate over trailing four quarters ended August 27, 2016 is 35.1% and August 29, 2015 is 35.6%.
**All averages are computed based on trailing 5 quarter balances.
                       

 

AutoZone's 4th Quarter Fiscal 2016                      
Selected Operating Highlights                            
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations                      
                                   
Location Count & Square Footage                            
                                   
            16 Weeks Ended       16 Weeks Ended     52 Weeks Ended       52 Weeks Ended
            August 27, 2016       August 29, 2015     August 27, 2016       August 29, 2015
AutoZone Domestic stores (Domestic):                            
  Store count:                            
  Beginning domestic stores       5,226           5,069         5,141           4,984  
  Stores opened       71           72         156           158  
  Stores closed       -           -         -           1  
  Ending domestic stores       5,297           5,141         5,297           5,141  
                                   
  Relocated stores       2           2         6           5  
                                   
  Stores with commercial programs       4,390           4,141         4,390           4,141  
                                   
  Square footage (in thousands)       34,575           33,515         34,575           33,515  
                                   
AutoZone Mexico stores:                            
  Stores opened       25           23         42           39  
  Total stores in Mexico       483           441         483           441  
                                   
AutoZone Brazil stores:                            
  Stores opened       -           -         1           2  
  Total stores in Brazil       8           7         8           7  
                                   
Total AutoZone stores       5,788           5,589         5,788           5,589  
  Square footage (in thousands)       38,198           36,815         38,198           36,815  
  Square footage per store       6,600           6,587         6,600           6,587  
                                   
IMC branches:                              
  Branches opened       1           2         6           3  
  Branches acquired       -           -         -           17  
  Total IMC branches       26           20         26           20  
                                   
Total locations chainwide       5,814           5,609         5,814           5,609  
                                   
Sales Statistics                              
($ in thousands, except sales per average square foot)                            
            16 Weeks Ended       16 Weeks Ended     52 Weeks Ended       52 Weeks Ended
Total AutoZone stores (Domestic, Mexico and Brazil) August 27, 2016       August 29, 2015     August 27, 2016       August 29, 2015
  Sales per average store     $ 562         $ 564       $ 1,773         $ 1,761  
  Sales per average square foot     $ 85         $ 86       $ 269         $ 268  
                                   
Total Auto Parts (Domestic, Mexico, Brazil, and IMC)                         
  Total auto parts sales     $ 3,282,699         $ 3,179,164       $ 10,261,112         $ 9,824,876  
  % Increase vs. LY       3.3 %         8.1 %       4.4 %         7.6 %
                                   
Domestic Commercial (Excludes IMC)                            
  Total domestic commercial sales     $ 635,148         $ 603,647       $ 1,951,919         $ 1,822,069  
  % Increase vs. LY       5.2 %         13.1 %       7.1 %         12.9 %
                                   
All Other (ALLDATA, E-Commerce, and AutoAnything)                        
  All other sales     $ 116,069         $ 111,239       $ 374,564         $ 362,463  
  % Increase vs. LY       4.3 %         2.0 %       3.3 %         5.6 %
                                   
            16 Weeks Ended       16 Weeks Ended     52 Weeks Ended       52 Weeks Ended
            August 27, 2016       August 29, 2015     August 27, 2016       August 29, 2015
Domestic same store sales        1.0 %         4.5 %       2.4 %         3.8 %
                                   
Inventory Statistics (Total Locations)                            
            as of       as of              
            August 27, 2016       August 29, 2015              
  Accounts payable/inventory       112.8 %         112.9 %              
                                   
  ($ in thousands)                              
  Inventory       $ 3,631,916         $ 3,421,635                
  Inventory per location       625           610                
  Net inventory (net of payables)       (463,938 )         (442,533 )              
  Net inventory  / per location       (80 )         (79 )              
                                   
            Trailing 5 Quarters              
            August 27, 2016       August 29, 2015              
  Inventory turns       1.4   x       1.4   x