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O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 lowered, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 8% on comparable growth: Sales rose $367 million, or 8%, to $4.89 billion from $4.53 billion a year earlier. Comparable store sales rose 6.0% on top of 4.1% in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose 10%: Diluted EPS was $0.86 on 829 million shares, against $0.78 on 858 million shares a year earlier. Net income rose 7% to $715 million. Source
  • Professional and DIY both grew: Sales to professional service provider customers rose to $2.47 billion from $2.20 billion. Sales to do-it-yourself customers rose to $2.34 billion from $2.23 billion. Source
  • Net margin fell to 14.6%: Net income rose 7% to $715 million, or 14.6% of sales against 14.8%. Interest expense rose to $69.9 million from $57.3 million. Source
  • 110 net new stores this year: Year-to-date, 110 net new stores opened across North America. In the second quarter, 46 domestic and 5 Mexico stores opened, with no closures. Source
  • $1.51 billion repurchased in quarter: In the second quarter the Company repurchased 16.7 million shares at an average $90.40. First-half repurchases totalled 26.7 million shares for $2.43 billion. Source
  • Operating cash flow and free cash flow rose: First-half net cash provided by operating activities was $2.0 billion. Second-quarter free cash flow was $693 million, against $449 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year guidance raised on demand: Management raised full-year comparable store sales guidance to 4% to 6%. It cited confidence in underlying industry demand drivers and Team focus on customer service. Source

“Our Team continues to consistently execute our proven dual market strategy at a high level and delivered solid growth in both professional and DIY during the quarter.”

Brad Beckham, O’Reilly’s CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net new store openings SourceFull year 2026225 to 235Kept
Comparable store sales SourceFull year 20264.0% to 6.0%Raised from 3.0% to 5.0%
Total revenue SourceFull year 2026$18.9 billion to $19.2 billionRaised from $18.7 billion to $19.0 billion
Gross profit as a percentage of sales SourceFull year 202651.5% to 52.0%Kept
Operating income as a percentage of sales SourceFull year 202619.3% to 19.8%Kept
Effective income tax rate SourceFull year 202622.5%Lowered from 22.6%
Diluted earnings per share SourceFull year 2026$3.20 to $3.30Raised from $3.15 to $3.25
Net cash provided by operating activities SourceFull year 2026$3.1 billion to $3.5 billionKept
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$1.3 billion to $1.4 billionKept
Free cash flow SourceFull year 2026$1.8 billion to $2.1 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year comparable store sales guidance raised to 4.0% to 6.0% from 3.0% to 5.0%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year total revenue guidance raised to $18.9 billion to $19.2 billion from $18.7 billion to $19.0 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year diluted EPS guidance raised to $3.20 to $3.30 from $3.15 to $3.25. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year effective income tax rate guidance lowered to 22.5% from 22.6%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Store openings, gross and operating margin ranges, operating cash flow, capital expenditures and free cash flow guidance were not changed. Source

Second quarter results and growth

  • Sales rose 8% on comparable growth: Sales rose $367 million, or 8%, to $4.89 billion from $4.53 billion a year earlier. Comparable store sales rose 6.0% on top of 4.1% in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Comparable growth slowed from first quarter: Comparable store sales growth was 6.0% in the second quarter, against 8.1% in the first quarter. The first-half comparable rate was 7.0%. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose 10%: Diluted EPS was $0.86 on 829 million shares, against $0.78 on 858 million shares a year earlier. Net income rose 7% to $715 million. Source
  • First-half sales and EPS growth: First-half sales rose 9% to $9.45 billion. First-half diluted EPS rose 13% to $1.58 on 836 million shares, against $1.40 on 861 million shares. Source

Professional and DIY customers

  • Professional and DIY both grew: Sales to professional service provider customers rose to $2.47 billion from $2.20 billion. Sales to do-it-yourself customers rose to $2.34 billion from $2.23 billion. Source
  • First-quarter growth split by customer: In the first quarter, professional sales grew double digits and DIY sales grew mid-single digits, as management described it in the prior release.
  • Other sales and adjustments declined: Other sales and sales adjustments were $85.6 million in the quarter, against $100.7 million a year earlier. Source

“we are raising our full-year 2026 comparable store sales guidance to a range of 4% to 6%.”

Brad Beckham, O’Reilly’s CEO

Margins and operating costs

  • Gross margin held at 51.4%: Gross profit rose 8% to $2.52 billion, or 51.4% of sales, the same share as a year earlier. First-half gross margin was 51.5%, against 51.4%. Source
  • SG&A and operating income both grew 8%: SG&A rose 8% to $1.53 billion, or 31.3% of sales against 31.2%. Operating income rose 8% to $986 million, unchanged at 20.2% of sales. Source
  • Net margin fell to 14.6%: Net income rose 7% to $715 million, or 14.6% of sales against 14.8%. Interest expense rose to $69.9 million from $57.3 million. Source
  • First-half net income up 9%: First-half net income rose 9% to $1.32 billion, or 14.0% of sales against 13.9%. First-half operating income was 19.3% of sales, against 19.1%. Source

Store network and expansion

  • 110 net new stores this year: Year-to-date, 110 net new stores opened across North America. In the second quarter, 46 domestic and 5 Mexico stores opened, with no closures. Source
  • Store count rose to 6,695: Total stores were 6,695 at June 30, 2026, against 6,483 a year earlier, across 48 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada. Source
  • Sales per store rose: Sales per weighted-average store were $733 thousand for the quarter, against $698 thousand a year earlier. Source

“We remain committed to taking market share by providing unsurpassed levels of service to our customers, supported by best-in-class parts availability.”

Brad Beckham, O’Reilly’s CEO

Capital, cash and share repurchases

  • $1.51 billion repurchased in quarter: In the second quarter the Company repurchased 16.7 million shares at an average $90.40. First-half repurchases totalled 26.7 million shares for $2.43 billion. Source
  • Buybacks continued after quarter-end: Through the release date, the Company bought 7.3 million more shares for $632 million, at an average of $86.81 per share. Source
  • About $1.33 billion authorization left: About $1.33 billion remained under the current authorization, against $1.14 billion at the prior release. Cumulative repurchases since 2011 total $30.42 billion. Source
  • Operating cash flow and free cash flow rose: First-half net cash provided by operating activities was $2.0 billion. Second-quarter free cash flow was $693 million, against $449 million a year earlier. Source
  • Long-term debt rose to $7.01 billion: Long-term debt was $7.01 billion at June 30, 2026, against $5.82 billion a year earlier. First-half debt issuance was $847 million and principal repaid was $500 million. Source

Balance sheet and inventory

  • Inventory per store rose: Average inventory per store was $892 thousand, against $833 thousand a year earlier. Inventory turnover was 1.6 in both periods. Source
  • Payables covered 123.7% of inventory: Accounts payable to inventory was 123.7% at June 30, 2026, against 127.0% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted debt to EBITDAR at 2.17: Adjusted debt to EBITDAR was 2.17 for the twelve months to June 30, 2026, against 2.06 a year earlier. Source

Strategy and management view

  • Full-year guidance raised on demand: Management raised full-year comparable store sales guidance to 4% to 6%. It cited confidence in underlying industry demand drivers and Team focus on customer service. Source
  • Dual market strategy and share focus: Management said it remains committed to taking market share through service levels and best-in-class parts availability, across both dual markets. Source
  • Team credited for quarter: Management thanked Team O’Reilly for its work. Total employment was 95,822 in the quarter, against 92,810 a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Store openings target for 2026: Management said it is on track for 225 to 235 net new store openings in 2026, with 110 net new stores opened year to date. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable store sales Source6.0% second quarter; 7.0% first six months
Gross margin Source51.4% of sales, second quarter
Inventory Source$892 thousand average per store
Store openings and closings Source110 net new year to date; 6,695 total stores

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it is on track for its 2026 net new store openings goal, with 110 opened year to date. 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.