AutoZone 4th Quarter Same Store Sales Increase 4.3%; 4th Quarter EPS Increases to $35.72; Annual Sales of $14.6 Billion


MEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO) today reported net sales of $4.9 billion for its fourth quarter (16 weeks) ended August 28, 2021, an increase of 8.1% from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 (16 weeks). Domestic same store sales, or sales for stores open at least one year, increased 4.3% for the quarter.

“Our strong sales and earnings this quarter are a testament to our AutoZoners’ ongoing commitment to going the extra mile for our customers. Our retail business performed very well this quarter ending with virtually flat same store sales on top of last year’s historic growth of over 20%.  And, our commercial business growth continues to be exceptionally strong at 21.2%. The investments we are making continue to strengthen our competitive positioning in all the sectors and markets we compete. We are optimistic about our growth prospects heading into our new fiscal year,” said Bill Rhodes, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

For the quarter, gross profit, as a percentage of sales, was 52.3%, a decrease of 82 basis points versus the prior year. The decrease in gross margin was primarily driven by the initiatives to accelerate growth in our Commercial business. Operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, was 31.0% versus 30.7% last year. Our expense growth was primarily driven by higher payroll to support our sales and customer service initiatives, partially offset by a decrease in pandemic related expenses. In addition, we are investing in   technology to underpin our growth initiatives and we are seeing higher wage costs in our stores and distribution centers.

Operating profit increased 2.6% to $1.0 billion. Net income for the quarter increased 6.1% over the same period last year to $785.8 million, while diluted earnings per share increased 15.5% to $35.72 from $30.93 in the year-ago quarter.

For the fiscal year ended August 28, 2021, sales were $14.6 billion, an increase of 15.8% from the prior year, while domestic same store sales were up 13.6%. Gross profit, as a percentage of sales, was 52.8% versus 53.6%. The decrease in gross margin was primarily attributable to the initiatives to accelerate growth in our Commercial business. Operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, were 32.6% versus 34.5%. The reduction in operating expenses as a percent of sales was driven by strong sales growth and a decrease in pandemic related expenses. For fiscal 2021, net income increased 25.2% to $2.2 billion and diluted earnings per share increased 32.3% to $95.19 from $71.93. Return on invested capital finished at 41.0%.

Under its share repurchase program, AutoZone repurchased 592 thousand shares of its common stock for $900 million during the fourth quarter, at an average price of $1,519 per share. For the fiscal year, the Company repurchased 2.6 million shares of its common stock for $3.4 billion, at an average price of $1,303 per share. At year end, the Company had $417.6 million remaining under its current share repurchase authorization.

The Company’s inventory increased 3.7% over the same period last year, driven by new stores and improved product assortment. Inventory per store was $686 thousand versus $683 thousand last year and $701 thousand last quarter. Net inventory, defined as merchandise inventories less accounts payable, on a per store basis, was negative $203 thousand versus negative $104 thousand last year and negative $167 thousand last quarter.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our customers’ and AutoZoners’ lives, our primary focus remains everyone’s health and well-being. We will continue to help wherever we can to make our stores the best and safest place to shop for everyone’s automotive needs. We remain committed to helping our AutoZoners during these difficult times. As always, we will take nothing for granted while striving for continued sales growth in fiscal 2022. As we continue to prudently invest capital in our business, we remain committed to our long-term, disciplined, approach of increasing operating earnings and cash flow while utilizing our balance sheet effectively,” said Rhodes.

During the quarter ended August 28, 2021, AutoZone opened 76 new stores in the U.S., 29 stores in Mexico and five stores in Brazil. At our fiscal year end, the Company had 6,051 stores in the U.S., 664 in Mexico and 52 in Brazil for a total store count of 6,767.

AutoZone is the leading retailer and a leading distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the Americas. Each AutoZone 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 all stores in Mexico and Brazil. AutoZone also sells the ALLDATA brand diagnostic and repair software through www.alldata.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.

AutoZone will host a conference call this morning, Tuesday, September 21, 2021, beginning at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) to discuss its fourth quarter results. This call is being web cast and can be accessed, along with supporting slides, at AutoZone’s website at www.autozone.com and clicking on Investor Relations. Investors may also listen to the call by dialing (877) 407-8031. In addition, a telephone replay will be available by dialing (877) 481-4010 through October 19, 2021,11:59 pm (EDT).

This release includes certain financial information not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). These non-GAAP measures include adjustments to reflect return on invested capital, adjusted debt and adjusted debt to 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 capital structure in order to maintain its investment grade credit ratings. 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; risks associated with self-insurance; war and the prospect of war, including terrorist activity; the impact of public health issues, such as the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic; 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; 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 Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 29, 2020, 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. However, it should be understood that it is not possible to identify or predict all such risks and other factors that could affect these forward-looking statements. 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.

Contact Information:
Financial: Brian Campbell at (901) 495-7005, brian.campbell@autozone.com
Media: David McKinney at (901) 495-7951, david.mckinney@autozone.com

 
 
AutoZone's 4th Quarter Highlights - Fiscal 2021
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
4th Quarter, FY2021
(in thousands, except per share data)
  GAAP Results
  16 Weeks Ended 16 Weeks Ended
  August 28, 2021 August 29, 2020(2)
     
Net sales $4,913,484  $4,545,968 
Cost of sales  2,345,646   2,132,993 
Gross profit  2,567,838   2,412,975 
Operating, SG&A expenses  1,523,808   1,394,930 
Operating profit (EBIT)  1,044,030   1,018,045 
Interest expense, net  58,119   65,638 
Income before taxes  985,911   952,407 
Income taxes(1)  200,140   211,950 
Net income $785,771  $740,457 
Net income per share:    
 Basic $36.72  $31.67 
 Diluted $35.72  $30.93 
Weighted average shares outstanding:    
 Basic  21,400   23,383 
 Diluted  22,000   23,942 
       
(1)The sixteen weeks ended August 28, 2021 and the comparable prior year period include $21.2M and $3.3M in tax benefits from stock option exercises, respectively
(2)The sixteen weeks ended August 29, 2020 was negatively impacted by pandemic related expenses, including Emergency Time-Off of approximately $10.7M (pre-tax)
 
 
Fiscal Year 2021    
(in thousands, except per share data)    
    GAAP Results
    52 Weeks Ended 52 Weeks Ended
    August 28, 2021(2) August 29, 2020(2)
       
Net sales $14,629,585  $12,631,967 
Cost of sales  6,911,800   5,861,214 
Gross profit  7,717,785   6,770,753 
Operating, SG&A expenses  4,773,258   4,353,074 
Operating profit (EBIT)  2,944,527   2,417,679 
Interest expense, net  195,337   201,165 
Income before taxes  2,749,190   2,216,514 
Income taxes(1)  578,876   483,542 
Net income $2,170,314  $1,732,972 
Net income per share:    
 Basic $97.60  $73.62 
 Diluted $95.19  $71.93 
Weighted average shares outstanding:    
 Basic  22,237   23,540 
 Diluted  22,799   24,093 
 
 (1)The 52 weeks ended August 28, 2021 and the comparable prior year period include $56.4M and $20.9M in tax benefits from stock option exercises, respectively
(2)The 52 weeks ended August 28, 2021 and the comparable prior year period were negatively impacted by pandemic related expenses, including Emergency Time-Off of approximately $43.0M (pre-tax) and $83.9M (pre-tax), respectively
 
 
Selected Balance Sheet Information    
(in thousands)    
    August 28, 2021 August 29, 2020
       
Cash and cash equivalents $1,171,335  $1,750,815 
Merchandise inventories  4,639,813   4,473,282 
Current assets  6,415,303   6,811,872 
Property and equipment, net  4,856,891   4,509,221 
Operating lease right-of-use assets  2,718,712   2,581,677 
Total assets  14,516,199   14,423,872 
Accounts payable  6,013,924   5,156,324 
Current liabilities  7,369,754   6,283,091 
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion  2,632,842   2,501,560 
Total debt  5,269,820   5,513,371 
Stockholders' deficit  (1,797,536)  (877,977)
Working capital  (954,451)  528,781 
       


AutoZone's 4th Quarter Highlights - Fiscal 2021      
            
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations         
            
Adjusted Debt / EBITDAR        
(in thousands, except adjusted debt to EBITDAR ratio) Trailing 4 Quarters    
     August 28, 2021 August 29, 2020    
Net income  $2,170,314  $1,732,972     
Add: Interest expense  195,337   201,165     
         Income tax expense  578,876   483,542     
EBIT    2,944,527   2,417,679     
            
Add: Depreciation and amortization  407,683   397,466     
 Rent expense(1)  345,380   329,783     
 Share-based expense  56,112   44,835     
EBITDAR  $3,753,702  $3,189,763     
            
Debt   $5,269,820  $5,513,371     
Financing lease liabilities  276,054   223,353     
Add: Rent x 6(1)  2,072,280   1,978,696     
Adjusted debt $7,618,154  $7,715,420     
            
Adjusted debt to EBITDAR  2.0   2.4     
            
Adjusted Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)        
(in thousands, except ROIC)        
     Trailing 4 Quarters    
     August 28, 2021 August 29, 2020    
Net income  $2,170,314  $1,732,972     
Adjustments:         
Interest expense  195,337   201,165     
Rent expense(1)  345,380   329,783     
Tax effect(2)  (114,091)  (115,747)    
Adjusted after-tax return $2,596,940  $2,148,173     
            
Average debt(3) $5,416,471  $5,375,356     
Average stockholders' deficit(3)  (1,397,892)  (1,542,355)    
Add: Rent x 6(1)  2,072,280   1,978,696     
Average financing lease liabilities(3)  237,267   203,998     
Invested capital $6,328,126  $6,015,695     
            
Adjusted After-Tax ROIC  41.0%  35.7%    
                
(1) 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 trailing four quarters ended August 28, 2021 and August 29, 2020 (in thousands):    
            
  Total lease cost, per ASC 842, for the trailing four quarters ended August 28, 2021 $427,443     
  Less:Financing lease interest and amortization  (56,334)    
  Less:Variable operating lease components, related to insurance and common area maintenance  (25,729)    
       
  Rent expense for the trailing four quarters ended August 28, 2021 $345,380     
              
  Total lease cost, per ASC 842, for the trailing four quarters ended August 29, 2020 $415,505     
  Less:Financing lease interest and amortization    (60,275)    
  Less:Variable operating lease components, related to insurance and common area maintenance  (25,447)    
       
  Rent expense for the trailing four quarters ended August 29, 2020 $329,783     
            
(2) Effective tax rate over trailing four quarters ended August 28, 2021 and August 29, 2020 is 21.1% and 21.8%, respectively    
(3)All averages are computed based on trailing 5 quarter balances    
            
Other Selected Financial Information        
(in thousands)         
     August 28, 2021 August 29, 2020    
Cumulative share repurchases ($ since fiscal 1998) $25,732,431  $22,354,110     
Remaining share repurchase authorization ($)  417,569   795,890     
            
Cumulative share repurchases (shares since fiscal 1998)  150,288   147,696     
            
Shares outstanding, end of quarter  21,138   23,376     
            
            
            
     16 Weeks Ended 16 Weeks Ended 52 Weeks Ended 52 Weeks Ended
     August 28, 2021 August 29, 2020 August 28, 2021 August 29, 2020
            
Depreciation and amortization $129,639  $125,351  $407,683 $397,466
            
Capital spending  246,114   183,848   621,767  457,736
            
            


AutoZone's 4th Quarter Highlights - Fiscal 2021
Selected Operating Highlights
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
             
Store Count & Square Footage           
             
   16 Weeks Ended  16 Weeks Ended  52 Weeks Ended  52 Weeks Ended
   August 28, 2021  August 29, 2020  August 28, 2021  August 29, 2020
Domestic:           
 Beginning stores  5,975    5,836    5,885    5,772 
 Stores opened  76    49    167    113 
 Stores closed  -    -    (1)   - 
 Ending domestic stores  6,051    5,885    6,051    5,885 
      .      
 Relocated stores  1    4    12    5 
             
 Stores with commercial programs  5,179    5,007    5,179    5,007 
             
 Square footage (in thousands)  39,727    38,559    39,727    38,559 
             
Mexico:           
 Beginning stores  635    610    621    604 
 Stores opened  29    11    43    17 
 Ending Mexico stores  664    621    664    621 
             
Brazil:           
 Beginning stores  47    38    43    35 
 Stores opened  5    5    9    8 
 Ending Brazil stores  52    43    52    43 
             
Total   6,767    6,549    6,767    6,549 
             
 Square footage (in thousands)  45,057    43,502    45,057    43,502 
 Square footage per store  6,658    6,643    6,658    6,643 
             
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 28, 2021  August 29, 2020  August 28, 2021  August 29, 2020
 Sales per average store $720   $686   $2,160   $1,914 
 Sales per average square foot $108   $103   $325   $288 
             
Total Auto Parts (Domestic, Mexico and Brazil)            
 Total auto parts sales $4,830,136   $4,473,098   $14,381,712   $12,405,929 
 % Increase vs. LY  8.0%   14.2%   15.9%   6.5%
             
Domestic Commercial            
 Total domestic commercial sales $1,182,626   $975,573   $3,345,450   $2,727,767 
 % Increase vs. LY  21.2%   10.0%   22.6%   6.4%
             
 Average sales per program per week $14.4   $12.2   $12.6   $10.6 
 % Increase vs. LY  18.0%   14.2%   18.9%   5.6%
             
All Other, including ALLDATA           
 All other sales $83,348   $72,870   $247,873   $226,038 
 % Increase vs. LY  14.4%   2.1%   9.7%   3.4%
             
        
   16 Weeks Ended  16 Weeks Ended  52 Weeks Ended  52 Weeks Ended
   August 28, 2021  August 29, 2020  August 28, 2021  August 29, 2020
Domestic same store sales  4.3%   21.8%   13.6%   7.4%
             
Inventory Statistics (Total Stores)           
   as of  as of      
   August 28, 2021  August 29, 2020      
 Accounts payable/inventory  129.6%   115.3%      
             
 ($ in thousands)           
 Inventory $4,639,813   $4,473,282       
 Inventory per store  686    683       
 Net inventory (net of payables)  (1,374,111)   (683,042)      
 Net inventory / per store  (203)   (104)      
             
   Trailing 5 Quarters      
   August 28, 2021  August 29, 2020      
 Inventory turns  1.5 x   1.3 x