Advance Auto Remains Neutral - Analyst Blog
September 06 2011 - 1:09PM
Zacks
We reiterate
our Neutral recommendation on Advance Auto Parts
Inc. (AAP) which operates in the
U.S. automotive aftermarket industry and is primarily engaged in
selling replacement parts (excluding tires), accessories,
maintenance items, batteries and automotive fluids for cars and
light trucks. It is the second leading retailer catering to the DIY
and DIFM (or Commercial) customers.
Advance Auto
released its financial results on August 10, 2011 for the second
quarter of the year. The company reported a net income of $113.6
million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011, which was 12.6%
higher than $100.9 million in the year-ago quarter.
However, on
a per share basis, earnings improved 26% to $1.46 from $1.16 a year
ago due to a decline in average shares outstanding to 77.4 million
from 86.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011.
Sales
increased 4.4% to $1.48 billion, driven by a net addition of 130
stores during the past 12 months. Sales per store increased to
$1,700 from $1,638 a year ago. Gross profit climbed 2.9% year over
year to $735.8 million but gross margin reduced to 49.7% from 50.4%
in the prior-year quarter.
Advance
Auto’s profit has advanced through an aggressive store expansion
strategy in every quarter, enabling better availability of parts
for its customers. In the first half of 2011, it opened 65 stores.
The company has achieved increased DIY and DIFM sales by improving
availability of parts at its stores.
Advance Auto
reviewed its business strategies to drive sales, lower costs and
increase return on invested capital (ROIC). The company aims to
improve its supply chain and vendor terms.
It has
implemented an aggressive program to reduce the inventory of other
less-profitable products, which in turn will free up cash to
increase parts availability. The company is also directly sourcing
products from low-cost countries in an effort to improve
margins.
The company
also pursues an aggressive share repurchase policy. In the first
half of 2011, the company has repurchased 8.2 million shares at an
aggregate cost of $509.7 million. On August 9, 2011, the company’s
Board of Directors authorized a $300 million share repurchase
program, replacing the previous $500 million share repurchase
program, which had $112 million remaining.
However, a
sluggish economy and volatile gasoline prices are some of the
factors raising our concern about Advance Auto Parts’ performance
in the near term. The slow economy and uncertainty in the market
are forcing consumers to refrain from expenditures, such as
purchases of replacement parts, unless absolutely
necessary.
Intensifying
competition from automotive retailers such as
AutoZone
Inc.
(AZO),
O’Reilly Automotive
Inc. (ORLY) and
Pep
Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack (PBY) has also become a
concern.
Advance
Auto’s cash position has deteriorated. The company had cash and
cash equivalents of $68.8 million as of July 16, 2011, a marked
decrease from $160.8 million in the corresponding period a year
ago.
The shares
of Advance Auto maintain a Zacks#3 Rank that translates into a
short-term “Hold” rating.
ADVANCE AUTO PT (AAP): Free Stock Analysis Report
AUTOZONE INC (AZO): Free Stock Analysis Report
O REILLY AUTO (ORLY): Free Stock Analysis Report
PEP BOYS M M &J (PBY): Free Stock Analysis Report
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