Advance Auto Parts Inc. (NYSE: AAP) and AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO) each saw shares make a handy gain early on Tuesday. These companies have reported their most recent quarterly results, and while each had somewhat mixed reports, the overall outcome was good enough to give the shares a nice bump.
When Advance Auto Parts released its first-quarter financial results before the markets opened on Tuesday, the company said that it had $2.10 in earnings per share (EPS) on $2.87 billion in revenue. That compared with consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters of $1.97 in EPS on revenue of $2.91 billion. The same period of last year reportedly had EPS of $1.60 and $2.89 billion in revenue.
Total net sales for the first quarter decreased 0.6% from the prior-year period, and comparable store sales decreased 0.8% as well.
As a result of the recently signed Tax Cut and Jobs Act, which lowered the federal tax rate, the company’s effective tax rate in the first quarter was 24.5%, compared to 35.0% in the prior-year first quarter.
Shares of Advance Auto Parts closed trading at $119.15 Monday, with a consensus analyst price target of $119.72 and a 52-week trading range of $78.81 to $143.83. Following the announcement, the stock was up about 2.5% at $122.20 in early trading indications Tuesday.
AutoZone also shared its fiscal third-quarter earnings report before the markets opened on Tuesday. The auto parts retailer posted $13.42 in EPS on $2.66 billion in revenue, while consensus forecast had called for $13.01 in EPS on revenue of $2.72 billion. In the same period of last year, the company said it had EPS of $11.44 and $2.62 billion in revenue.
During the quarter, domestic same same-store increased 0.6%, while total sales increased by 1.6%. Also in this time, AutoZone opened 26 new stores and relocated two stores in the United States, and it opened four new stores in Mexico.
Bill Rhodes, board chair, president and CEO, commented on the report:
Our ongoing initiatives, which include enhanced inventory availability, further commercial acceleration and new omni-channel selling initiatives, continue to gain traction as we roll them further across our chain. As we continue to invest in our business, we remain committed to our disciplined approach of increasing operating earnings and cash flow, and utilizing our balance sheet and capital effectively.
Shares of AutoZone closed Monday at $665.09. The consensus price target is $777.00, and the 52-week range is $491.13 to $797.89. Following the announcement, the stock was up 2.4% at $681.00 in early trading indications Tuesday.
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