We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Advance Auto Parts (AAP) Beats Earnings & Revenues in Q3
Read MoreHide Full Article
Advance Auto Parts Inc. (AAP - Free Report) reported a decrease in adjusted earnings to $1.73 per share in the third quarter (ended Oct 8, 2016) of fiscal 2016 from $1.95 earned in the prior-year quarter. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.72. Adjusted net earnings declined to $128.6 million from $144.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.
Revenues dropped 2% year over year to $2.25 billion but surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.20 billion. The year-over-year decline in the top line was due to a fall in comparable store sales, store closures in 2015 and the effect of Carquest store consolidations. Comparable store sales fell 1% in the reported quarter as against 0.5% growth recorded a year ago.
Gross profit dropped to $988.2 million or 43.9% of sales in the reported quarter from $1.03 billion or 45.2% of sales a year ago. The decrease in gross profit margin can be attributed to supply chain expense and headwinds related to reducing inventory levels.
Comparable selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses totaled $770.6 million or 34.3% of sales in the quarter under review, compared with $788.6 million or 34.4% of sales in third-quarter fiscal 2015. The decrease in SG&A resulted from continued cost reduction initiatives, partially offset by investments in customer service initiatives.
Comparable operating income fell 10.8% to $217.6 million from $243.8 million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted operating margin was 9.7% versus 10.6% a year ago.
Dividend
On Nov 8, 2016, the board of directors of Advance Auto Parts declared a regular quarterly dividend of 6 cents per share, payable on Jan 6, 2017, to stockholders on record as of Dec 23, 2016.
Financial Position
Advance Auto Parts had cash and cash equivalents of $119.5 million as of Oct 8, 2016, reflecting an increase from $90.8 million as of Jan 2, 2016. Total long-term debt was $1.04 billion as of Oct 8, 2016, compared with $1.21 billion as of Jan 2, 2016.
During the 40-week period ended Oct 8, 2016, operating cash flow was $409.4 million compared with $520.1 million in the year-ago period. Free cash flow in the said period amounted to $205.2 million compared with $358.9 million in the prior-year period. Capital expenditures amounted to $204.2 million compared with $161.2 million a year ago.
Store Update
As of Oct 8, 2016, the company’s total store count was 5,058, including 127 Worldpac branches. Advance Auto Parts served roughly 1,250 independently owned Carquest stores as of that date.
Advance Auto Parts currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Some better-ranked auto stocks include America's Car-Mart Inc. (CRMT - Free Report) , Gentex Corp. (GNTX - Free Report) and Rush Enterprises, Inc. (RUSHA - Free Report) .
Rush Enterprises, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has a long-term expected growth rate of 15%, compared to the industry average of 13.20%.
Gentex, also a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has a long-term expected growth rate of 11.20%.
Now See Our Private Investment Ideas
While the above ideas are being shared with the public, other trades are hidden from everyone but selected members. Would you like to peek behind the curtain and view them? Starting today, for the next month, you can follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time from value to momentum . . . from stocks under $10 to ETF and option moves . . . from insider trades to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises (we've called them with 80%+ accuracy). You can even look inside portfolios so exclusive that they are normally closed to new investors. Click here for Zacks' secret trades >>
Unique Zacks Analysis of Your Chosen Ticker
Pick one free report - opportunity may be withdrawn at any time
Image: Bigstock
Advance Auto Parts (AAP) Beats Earnings & Revenues in Q3
Advance Auto Parts Inc. (AAP - Free Report) reported a decrease in adjusted earnings to $1.73 per share in the third quarter (ended Oct 8, 2016) of fiscal 2016 from $1.95 earned in the prior-year quarter. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.72. Adjusted net earnings declined to $128.6 million from $144.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.
Revenues dropped 2% year over year to $2.25 billion but surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.20 billion. The year-over-year decline in the top line was due to a fall in comparable store sales, store closures in 2015 and the effect of Carquest store consolidations. Comparable store sales fell 1% in the reported quarter as against 0.5% growth recorded a year ago.
Gross profit dropped to $988.2 million or 43.9% of sales in the reported quarter from $1.03 billion or 45.2% of sales a year ago. The decrease in gross profit margin can be attributed to supply chain expense and headwinds related to reducing inventory levels.
Comparable selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses totaled $770.6 million or 34.3% of sales in the quarter under review, compared with $788.6 million or 34.4% of sales in third-quarter fiscal 2015. The decrease in SG&A resulted from continued cost reduction initiatives, partially offset by investments in customer service initiatives.
Comparable operating income fell 10.8% to $217.6 million from $243.8 million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted operating margin was 9.7% versus 10.6% a year ago.
Dividend
On Nov 8, 2016, the board of directors of Advance Auto Parts declared a regular quarterly dividend of 6 cents per share, payable on Jan 6, 2017, to stockholders on record as of Dec 23, 2016.
Financial Position
Advance Auto Parts had cash and cash equivalents of $119.5 million as of Oct 8, 2016, reflecting an increase from $90.8 million as of Jan 2, 2016. Total long-term debt was $1.04 billion as of Oct 8, 2016, compared with $1.21 billion as of Jan 2, 2016.
During the 40-week period ended Oct 8, 2016, operating cash flow was $409.4 million compared with $520.1 million in the year-ago period. Free cash flow in the said period amounted to $205.2 million compared with $358.9 million in the prior-year period. Capital expenditures amounted to $204.2 million compared with $161.2 million a year ago.
Store Update
As of Oct 8, 2016, the company’s total store count was 5,058, including 127 Worldpac branches. Advance Auto Parts served roughly 1,250 independently owned Carquest stores as of that date.
ADVANCE AUTO PT Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
ADVANCE AUTO PT Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | ADVANCE AUTO PT Quote
Zacks Rank
Advance Auto Parts currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Some better-ranked auto stocks include America's Car-Mart Inc. (CRMT - Free Report) , Gentex Corp. (GNTX - Free Report) and Rush Enterprises, Inc. (RUSHA - Free Report) .
America's Car-Mart has witnessed positive estimate revisions over the last 30 days. The company sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Rush Enterprises, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has a long-term expected growth rate of 15%, compared to the industry average of 13.20%.
Gentex, also a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has a long-term expected growth rate of 11.20%.
Now See Our Private Investment Ideas
While the above ideas are being shared with the public, other trades are hidden from everyone but selected members. Would you like to peek behind the curtain and view them? Starting today, for the next month, you can follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time from value to momentum . . . from stocks under $10 to ETF and option moves . . . from insider trades to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises (we've called them with 80%+ accuracy). You can even look inside portfolios so exclusive that they are normally closed to new investors. Click here for Zacks' secret trades >>