AutoZone Q3 FY2026 earnings beat on domestic same-store sales

Net income for the 12-week 4th ended May 9, 2026, roseate 8.4% twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth to $4.84 billion, the institution said. On the apical line, the $4.86 cardinal statement among 8 Zacks-surveyed analysts went unmet, the Associated Press noted.

Domestic same-store income grew 4.1% successful the quarter, portion full institution same-store income roseate 3.9% connected a constant-currency basis. Both do-it-yourself and commercialized income grew domestically, President and CEO Phil Daniele said successful a statement. Operating nett climbed 6.6% to $923.8 million, pushing the company's operating borderline supra 19% for the quarter.

Gross nett arsenic a percent of income came successful astatine 52.2%, a alteration of 57 ground points versus the anterior year. The institution said the diminution was driven by a 77 ground constituent non-cash LIFO impact, partially offset by different gross borderline improvements. Operating expenses arsenic a percent of income fell to 33.1% from 33.3% a twelvemonth earlier, helped by income maturation and disbursal management.

International same-store income roseate 16.6% connected a reported ground but lone 1.6% successful changeless currency, arsenic operations successful Mexico and Brazil underperformed interior targets. "While planetary show has been beneath our plan, we judge our marketplace stock continues to turn arsenic we outpace our contention successful some planetary marketplaces," Daniele said successful a statement.

Globally, 82 nett caller locations came online successful the period, with the U.S. accounting for 57 of them, Mexico 20, and Brazil five, lifting the worldwide footprint to 7,856 stores. The institution said it expects to unfastened astir 355 to 365 stores for the afloat fiscal year.

Buyback enactment during the 4th totaled $586.3 million, covering 164,000 shares acquired astatine an mean outgo of $3,582 apiece. The institution had $804.2 cardinal remaining nether its existent repurchase authorization astatine the extremity of the quarter.

AutoZone's inventory roseate 10.8% twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth to $7.56 billion, driven by maturation initiatives and inflation, the institution said.