Autozone Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call
What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 September 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.
Key takeaways
- Fourth-quarter sales rose 5.6%: Net sales were $6.6 billion for the 16-week quarter ended August 29, 2026, up 5.6% from the 16-week quarter a year earlier. Source
- Quarterly diluted EPS reached $56.05: Diluted EPS was $56.05 versus $48.71 a year earlier. Net income was $931.6 million versus $837.0 million, and operating profit rose 10.1% to $1.3 billion. Source
- Domestic same store sales rose 1.6%: Domestic same store sales were 1.6% for the 16 weeks and 3.3% for the 52 weeks, against 4.8% and 3.2% in the prior-year periods. Source
- Gross margin rose 182 basis points: Gross profit was 53.3% of sales for the quarter, up 182 basis points from the prior year. Source
- Tariff refunds and LIFO shaped margin: Tariff refunds added 145 basis points and a net non-cash LIFO impact added 105 basis points to gross margin. Higher commercial mix partly offset these effects. Source
- Fiscal buybacks totalled $2.0 billion: Over fiscal 2026 the company repurchased 579 thousand shares for $2.0 billion at an average price of $3,496. In the fourth quarter it bought 223 thousand shares for $697.5 million. Source
- Quarter openings reached 175 stores: The company opened 175 new stores in the quarter, including 16 new Mega Hub stores in the U.S. Source
- Sales strengthened in final eight weeks: Sales results strengthened over the last eight weeks of the quarter. Management said the company is well positioned for sales growth in fiscal 2027. Source
“I want to thank our entire organization for delivering another quarter of sales and earnings growth.”
Phil Daniele, President and Chief Executive Officer
Guidance
| Area | Period | Figure | Against last quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store openings | fiscal 2026 (full year) | approximately 355-365 stores |
Results and growth drivers
- Fourth-quarter sales rose 5.6%: Net sales were $6.6 billion for the 16-week quarter ended August 29, 2026, up 5.6% from the 16-week quarter a year earlier. Source
- Quarterly diluted EPS reached $56.05: Diluted EPS was $56.05 versus $48.71 a year earlier. Net income was $931.6 million versus $837.0 million, and operating profit rose 10.1% to $1.3 billion. Source
- Fiscal year sales rose 7.4%: Fiscal 2026 net sales were $20.3 billion, up 7.4%, against $18.9 billion in fiscal 2025. Source
- Fiscal diluted EPS rose 5.3%: Fiscal diluted EPS was $152.55 against $144.87, up 5.3%. Fiscal operating profit rose 3.1% to $3.7 billion and net income rose 3.0% to $2.6 billion. Source
Segments and regions
- Domestic same store sales rose 1.6%: Domestic same store sales were 1.6% for the 16 weeks and 3.3% for the 52 weeks, against 4.8% and 3.2% in the prior-year periods. Source
- International same store sales rose 10.7%: International same store sales were 10.7% as reported and 1.3% in constant currency for the 16 weeks. The release defines constant currency as excluding exchange rate fluctuations. Source
- Total company same store sales 2.7%: Total company same store sales were 2.7% as reported and 1.5% in constant currency for the 16 weeks, and 4.5% and 3.2% for the 52 weeks. Source
“In spite of a difficult selling environment the first eight weeks of our quarter, we remained committed to executing on our strategies to grow both our domestic and international businesses.”
Phil Daniele, President and Chief Executive Officer
Commercial and customer mix
- Domestic commercial sales rose 8.6%: Domestic commercial sales were $1.91 billion for the 16 weeks, up 8.6%. Average sales per commercial program per week were $18.7, up 2.7% from $18.2. Source
- Commercial programs reached 6,443: Stores with commercial programs were 6,443 at quarter end, up from 6,098 a year earlier, out of 6,863 domestic stores. Source
- Sales per average store increased: Sales per average store were $830 for the 16 weeks against $823 a year earlier, and $2,593 for the 52 weeks against $2,523. Source
Costs, margins and pricing
- Gross margin rose 182 basis points: Gross profit was 53.3% of sales for the quarter, up 182 basis points from the prior year. Source
- Tariff refunds and LIFO shaped margin: Tariff refunds added 145 basis points and a net non-cash LIFO impact added 105 basis points to gross margin. Higher commercial mix partly offset these effects. Source
- Operating expenses deleveraged on growth: Operating expenses were 33.4% of sales against 32.4% last year. Management said the deleverage was primarily driven by growth initiatives. Source
- Full-year gross margin was 52.3%: Fiscal gross margin was 52.3% against 52.6%. A 61 basis point net non-cash LIFO impact was partly offset by a 48 basis point benefit from tariff refunds. Source
“Over the last eight weeks of the quarter our sales results strengthened, and we feel we are well positioned for sales growth in fiscal 2027.”
Phil Daniele, President and Chief Executive Officer
Inventory and payables
- Inventory rose 10.1% to $7.7 billion: Merchandise inventory was $7.7 billion, up 10.1%. Inventory per store was $963 thousand against $918 thousand a year earlier. Source
- Net inventory per store negative $107 thousand: Net inventory per store was negative $107 thousand, against negative $131 thousand a year earlier and negative $107 thousand last quarter. Accounts payable were 111.1% of inventory, against 114.2%. Source
- Inventory turns eased to 1.3 times: Inventory turns over the trailing five quarters were 1.3 times, against 1.4 times a year earlier. Source
Capital, cash and shareholder returns
- Fiscal buybacks totalled $2.0 billion: Over fiscal 2026 the company repurchased 579 thousand shares for $2.0 billion at an average price of $3,496. In the fourth quarter it bought 223 thousand shares for $697.5 million. Source
- Repurchase authorization left at $1.6 billion: Remaining repurchase authorization was $1.6 billion at year end, up from $632.3 million a year earlier. Source
- Operating cash flow reached $3.30 billion: Fiscal operating cash flow was $3.30 billion against $3.16 billion. Capital spending was $1.50 billion against $1.37 billion. Source
- Total debt rose to $9.08 billion: Total debt was $9.08 billion at August 29, 2026, against $8.80 billion. The stockholders’ deficit narrowed to $2.50 billion from $3.41 billion. Source
- Investment-grade ratings are targeted: Management said it targets the capital structure to maintain investment grade credit ratings, and uses this for debt levels and share repurchases. Source
Store growth and investment
- Quarter openings reached 175 stores: The company opened 175 new stores in the quarter, including 16 new Mega Hub stores in the U.S. Source
- Openings split across three countries: Quarter openings were 97 in the U.S., 68 in Mexico and 10 in Brazil. Source
- Store count reached 8,031: The ending store count was 8,031, with 6,863 in the U.S., 1,001 in Mexico and 167 in Brazil. Fiscal year openings totalled 374. Source
Management view and leadership
- Difficult first eight weeks noted: Management described a difficult selling environment in the first eight weeks of the quarter, while continuing to execute its domestic and international growth strategies. Source
- Sales strengthened in final eight weeks: Sales results strengthened over the last eight weeks of the quarter. Management said the company is well positioned for sales growth in fiscal 2027. Source
- CEO thanks organization for growth: Phil Daniele thanked the organization for another quarter of sales and earnings growth. Source
Coming up, as management said on 22 September 2026
- Sales expected to accelerate in fiscal 2027: Management expects sales in each of its three countries to accelerate in the new fiscal year, based on data showing continued share gains. Source
In management's words
“Based on the data we have, we continued to gain share and we expect sales in each of the three countries in which we operate to accelerate in the new fiscal year.”
Phil Daniele, President and Chief Executive Officer
Figures management reported
| Figure | Reported |
|---|---|
| Comparable sales Source | 16 weeks: Domestic 1.6%, International 10.7%, Total Company 2.7% (reported) |
| Inventory Source | $7,735,560 thousand; $963 thousand per store |
| Store openings and closings Source | 175 opened, net, in the 16 weeks; 374 in fiscal 2026 |
| Gross margin Source | 53.3% for the 16 weeks, up 182 basis points |
Risks management discussed
- Demand: Management described a difficult selling environment in the first eight weeks of the quarter, with sales strengthening over the final eight weeks. Source
- Operational: Operating expenses rose as a share of sales, with management attributing the deleverage primarily to growth initiatives. Source
Earlier plans management reported on
- Not stated: The prior release tied this plan to current expectations. This release reports 374 fiscal year openings and does not state whether the plan was met.
- Not stated: Management restated its commitment to a disciplined approach to driving shareholder value. Source
Other quarters
Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.