AutoZone 2Q Profit Climbs 13%, Surpasses Street's View
AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) beat the Street on Tuesday by posting a 13% rise in fiscal second-quarter net income thanks in part to a healthy same-store sales jump of nearly 6%.
The largest U.S. auto-parts retailer said it earned $166.9 million, or $4.15 a share, last quarter, compared with a profit of $148.1 million, or $3.34 a share, a year earlier. Analysts had called for EPS of $4.04.
Memphis-based AutoZone said its sales climbed 8.6% to $1.8 billion, compared with the Street’s view of $1.78 billion.
Same-store sales gained 5.9%. Gross margins expanded to 51.3% from 50.9%.
AutoZone said this past quarter marked its 13th straight quarter of 20%-plus EPS growth.
“We remain committed to our disciplined approach of growing operating earnings while efficiently utilizing our capital,” CEO Bill Rhodes said in a statement.
Shares of AutoZone, which have rallied more than 12% so far this year, rose 2.43% to $375.00 ahead of the opening bell.