GPC

AutoZone, Inc. AZO posted third-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended May 9, 2026) earnings per share of $38.07, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $36.18 by 5.2%. Earnings per share rose 7.7% from $35.36 a year ago. The company’s net sales increased 8.4% year over year to $4.84 billion, but fell short of the consensus mark of $4.86 billion by about 0.5%. Domestic same-store sales increased 4.1% in the quarter, led by strong commercial momentum. AutoZone, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | AutoZone, Inc. Quote In the reported quarter, domestic commercial sales totaled $1.4 billion, up from $1.27 billion in the year-ago period. Total sales represented the company’s largest year-over-year growth in more than three years, reflecting faster top-line momentum versus the first half of fiscal 2026. Total company same-store sales rose 3.9% on a constant-currency basis, supported by a 4.1% domestic comp and a 1.6% international comp on the same basis.The mix of growth also leaned favorably. Domestic do-it-yourself sales rose 2.2% in the quarter, while domestic commercial sales increased 10.4%. The commercial outperformance was driven by better inventory availability at satellite stores, broader Hub and Mega-Hub coverage, and continued gains tied to service speed and delivery improvements. Gross profit rose to $2.52 billion from $2.35 billion in the prior-year quarter. Gross profit margin was 52.2%, down 57 basis points from the year-ago period. A $20 million non-cash LIFO charge in the quarter, which contrasted with a $16 million LIFO credit in the prior-year quarter, weighed on the year-over-year margin comparison.Operating profit increased 6.6% to $923.8 million. Operating expenses were 33.1% of sales versus 33.3% last year, indicating modest leverage despite the faster store growth cadence. Net income rose to $641.5 million from $608.4 million a year ago. AutoZone continued to add stores at a faster pace. During the quarter, it opened 82 new stores globally, including 57 in the United States, 20 in Mexico and five in Brazil. Total store count ended at 7,856, consisting of 6,766 in the United States, 933 in Mexico and 157 in Brazil. The company continues to expand its commercial footprint. Mega-Hubs acted as a key driver of improved parts availability, as these locations typically carry a significantly broader SKU count and can lift both commercial and retail dema...

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. AAP delivered adjusted earnings of 77 cents per share in the first quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 39 cents by 95.2%. The company had incurred an adjusted loss of 22 cents in the year-ago quarter.Net sales were $2.61 billion, which increased 1.2% year over year and came ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.56 billion by 2.1%. Comparable store sales increased 3.5% in the quarter, marking the strongest quarterly comp in five years. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Quote AAP’s top line reflected improving trends as the quarter progressed, supported by better parts availability and customer service. The Pro channel was the primary sales driver, with mid-single-digit comparable growth tied to its focus on “Main Street Pro,” while DIY posted low-single-digit growth. The company’s category strength was in brakes, undercar and engine management. Profitability improved sharply in the quarter. Gross profit was $1.18 billion, translating to a gross margin of 45.1% compared with 42.9% in the prior-year period. AAP attributed the margin expansion primarily to product margin gains supported by merchandising initiatives, alongside the benefit of cycling margin headwinds tied to its store optimization program that concluded in the first quarter of 2025.The company reported LIFO-related cost pressure during the quarter. Even with that headwind, the gross margin improvement was meaningful, setting up a stronger earnings flow-through versus last year. Operating performance swung notably year over year. Operating income was $69 million versus an operating loss of $131 million a year ago. Restructuring and related expenses fell to $32 million from $118 million in the year-ago quarter, reflecting the reduced burden from prior optimization actions.On an adjusted basis, operating income was $99 million, producing an adjusted operating margin of 3.8% versus an adjusted loss margin of 0.3% a year earlier. Adjusted SG&A expenses were 41.3% of sales, down from 43.2% in the prior-year quarter, aided by lapping expenses from closed stores and stronger sales performance. As of April 25, 2026, AAP had $2.96 billion in cash and cash equivalents, down from $3.12 billion as of Jan. 3, 2026. Inventories rose to $3.82 billion from $3.65 billion as of Jan, 3, 2026, reflecting higher inv...

Oshkosh Corporation OSK posted first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 85 cents per share, down 55.7% year over year. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04 by 18.53%. Revenues edged up 0.2% year over year to $2,318 million but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,324 million by 0.27%. Results were impacted by weaker profitability in the Access and Vocational segments, caused by an unfavorable sales mix, higher manufacturing overhead costs, and price-cost pressures. The company ended the quarter with a total backlog of $14.54 billion, highlighting strong demand visibility across its business. Oshkosh Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Oshkosh Corporation Quote While sales were essentially flat, OSK’s profitability weakened significantly from last year. Consolidated operating income dropped 53.2% year over year to $82 million, while operating margin narrowed to 3.5% from 7.6% a year ago. Adjusted operating income in the first quarter of 2026 fell 49.8% to $96.3 million, with adjusted operating margin declining to 4.2% from 8.3% in the prior-year quarter. The decline was mainly due to an unfavorable sales mix, higher manufacturing overhead costs, and lower sales volume. Better pricing and favorable currency impact helped offset some of the pressure on revenues. The quarter also included contract-related adjustments that affected sales figures. Oshkosh’s Access segment reported first-quarter 2026 sales of $943.4 million, down 1.4% year over year, as lower sales volume outweighed the benefit from favorable currency movement. Profitability also declined sharply, with adjusted operating income falling to $38.8 million (down 64% year over year) and adjusted operating margin dropping to 4.1% from 11.3% a year ago. The segment was hurt by an unfavorable sales mix and pricing pressures that weighed on profitability. Despite the near-term weakness, Access backlog rose 1.9% year over year to $1.84 billion at the end of the quarter, providing solid revenue visibility going forward. OSK’s Vocational segment reported first-quarter 2026 sales of $825 million, down 4.8% from the year-ago period, as weaker sales volume outweighed the gains from improved pricing. Adjusted operating income fell 26.9% year over year to $94.1 million, while adjusted operating margin declined to 11.4% from 14.9% a year earlier. Fire truck production improved yea...

Interested in W.W. Grainger, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better. W.W. Grainger posted a strong first quarter, with sales up 10.1% and adjusted for currency and timing up 12.2%, while diluted EPS rose 18.2% to $11.65. Management said improved MRO demand, pricing, and execution drove the outperformance. Both business segments grew: High-Touch Solutions saw sales rise 10.5% and margin improve, while Endless Assortment posted a 19.6% sales increase and a notable operating margin gain. Management pointed to broad-based demand across manufacturing, government and contractor customers. Grainger raised full-year 2026 guidance, now expecting daily organic constant-currency sales growth of 9.5% to 12% and EPS of $44.25 to $46.25. The company also lifted its dividend by 10% and flagged tariffs, fuel costs and private label inventory expenses as ongoing margin pressures. The Hidden Value in Genuine Parts Company’s Spin-Off Plan W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW) reported a stronger-than-expected start to fiscal 2026, with management citing improved MRO market demand, price realization and execution across both of its business segments. Chairman and CEO D.G. Macpherson said the company delivered “a strong quarter of profitable growth” despite tariff uncertainty and geopolitical risks. He said the broader maintenance, repair and operations market gained momentum through the quarter and that the strength appeared to continue into April. → Wells Fargo’s Comeback Is Real—But Not Risk-Free Fastenal : Growth Trends, Challenges & Key Investment Insights Total company sales rose 10.1% in the first quarter, or 12.2% on a daily organic constant currency basis. Operating margin was 16.7%, and diluted earnings per share rose 18.2% year over year to $11.65. Operating cash flow totaled $739 million, while Grainger returned $345 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Macpherson also noted that Grainger recently announced a 10% increase to its quarterly dividend, marking its 55th consecutive year of dividend increases. → Rocket Lab Posts Record Q1 Revenue, Raises Q2 Guidance Ex dividend date vs record date: What’s the difference? Senior Vice President and CFO Dee Merriwether said the High-Touch Solutions segment generated reported sales growth of 10.5%, or 10% on a daily constant currency basis. She said the sales growth reflected “roughly equal contributions from...

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company GT incurred an adjusted loss of 39 cents per share in the first quarter of 2026, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 49 cents. The company delivered a 19.72% earnings surprise, though the figure deteriorated from the year-ago quarter’s adjusted loss of 4 cents per share. Net sales were $3.88 billion, down 8.8% year over year but slightly above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.86 billion, representing a 0.49% revenue surprise. Tire unit volumes fell 11.6% to 34 million, reflecting weaker demand and lower shipments to customers. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Quote Total segment operating income fell to $95 million from $195 million a year ago due to weaker demand and higher costs. The company faced pressure from lower sales volumes and inflation-related expenses, though some of the impact was offset by price increases and better operational execution. The quarter was supported by a $46 million IEEPA tariff-related benefit and $107 million in savings from the Goodyear Forward program. Better pricing and product mix relative to raw material costs also helped, but these gains were not enough to fully offset the impact of weaker sales volumes and higher overall costs. GT’s Americas segment reported net sales of $2.06 billion, down 17.5% year over year, while tire unit volumes declined 17% to 15.3 million. Results were hurt by weaker consumer replacement demand, channel destocking, tougher competition and the planned reduction of lower-tier products. Segment operating income in the region fell to $37 million from $155 million a year ago, while margin narrowed to 1.8% from 6.2%. Profitability was hurt by weaker market conditions and higher costs, with savings from the Goodyear Forward program and pricing actions only partially offsetting the pressure. Goodyear’s EMEA business performed relatively better, with sales rising 6.7% year over year to $1.36 billion even though tire volumes fell 8.5% to 11.2 million units. Higher prices, a better product mix and favorable currency impact helped offset weak market demand and lower sales of lower-tier products. Segment operating income improved to $1 million from a loss of $5 million a year ago, lifting margin to 0.1% from negative 0.4%. The region also continued to gain market share in origina...

Solid 2025 results: Total sales rose to $24.3 billion (+3.5%), adjusted gross margin improved by 90 basis points, adjusted EBITDA was $2.0 billion (8.3% of sales), adjusted EPS $7.37, and cash from operations totaled $891 million with about $175 million in restructuring savings. Capital allocation and dividend: The company has “effectively doubled” historical capex (more than $450 million in 2025 for supply‑chain and tech), returned over $560 million in dividends, and announced a 2026 annualized dividend of $4.25 per share—a 3.2% increase and the 70th consecutive year of dividend hikes. Confirmed separation plan: GPC reaffirmed plans to split into two public companies (automotive/NAPA and industrial/Motion) to unlock value, targeting a tax‑free separation with $100–150 million incremental costs and completion in Q1 2027, with investor days planned in H2 2026. Interested in Genuine Parts Company? Here are five stocks we like better. Don’t Try to Catch These 3 Falling Knives Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC) used its 2026 annual shareholder meeting to highlight 2025 financial performance, discuss capital allocation priorities and board changes, and reiterate plans to separate its automotive and industrial businesses into two publicly traded companies. Chairman and CEO Will Stengel opened the meeting by describing the company as a global service provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts and value-added solutions. Stengel said the company, founded in 1928, serves about 100,000 customers through more than 10,800 locations across 17 countries, with approximately 74% of business in North America, 16% in Europe, and 10% in Australasia. → Roblox Stock Slides to New Low as Safety Changes Weigh on Outlook The Hidden Value in Genuine Parts Company’s Spin-Off Plan Stengel said the 2025 operating environment was “dynamic,” citing evolving trade policy, tariffs, interest rates, and “a cautious consumer.” He said the company’s focus on “controlling what we can control” and continued strategic investment helped it grow revenue by winning new business and expand gross margin for the third consecutive year. Stengel outlined several key financial metrics for 2025, including sales growth, margin performance, and cash generation. He said total sales were $24.3 billion, a 3.5% increase from 2024, while adjusted gross margin increased by 90 basis points, which he attributed to...

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. ORLY reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 72 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 69 cents by 4.18%. The bottom line increased from 62 cents in the prior-year quarter. The automotive parts retailer registered quarterly revenues of $4.56 billion, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.47 billion by 2.1%. The top line also rose 10.2% year over year. The quarter was driven by strong demand, with comparable store sales rising 8.1%. Growth in both the professional and DIY segments, along with careful cost control, supported the overall performance. The company opened 59 stores in the United States, Mexico and Canada in the first quarter. The total store count was 6,644 as of March 31, 2026. O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. Quote A key feature of the quarter was the continued weight of the professional service provider channel. Sales to professional customers were $2.29 billion, up from $2 billion a year ago, reflecting meaningful growth in the company’s higher-frequency commercial business. Do-it-yourself demand also contributed, with DIY sales of $2.19 billion versus $2.05 billion in the prior-year quarter. Other sales and adjustments were $79.6 million compared with $86.5 million last year, leaving the mix largely driven by the two core customer groups. O’Reilly translated the higher sales base into improved profit dollars. Gross profit increased to $2.35 billion, and gross margin held firm at 51.5% of sales versus 51.3% a year ago, indicating pricing and sourcing discipline despite a rising cost environment. Expense growth remained controlled relative to sales. Selling, general and administrative costs rose to $1.51 billion, but declined to 33% of sales from 33.4% last year. Operating income climbed to $841.6 million, with operating margin improving to 18.5% from 17.9%, underscoring a focus on productivity and prudent expense management. Cash generation was a standout. Net cash provided by operating activities was $1.03 billion in the quarter, up from $755.1 million in the year-ago period, supported by higher earnings and favorable working-capital movements. This strong cash generation supported an aggressive capital return program. Capital expenditures were $244.4 million, and free cash flow totaled $785.1 million. ORLY repurc...

Penske Automotive Group, Inc. PAG reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.05 per share, which declined 15.0% year over year but topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.91 by 4.8%. Total revenues of $7.86 billion dipped 1.1% from the year-ago quarter and missed the consensus mark of $7.95 billion by 1.1%. Despite softer revenues versus expectations, Penske’s Retail Automotive service and parts revenues rose 4.6% to $863.9 million, helping cushion a tougher comparison and challenging market conditions. Penske currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Penske Automotive Group, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Penske Automotive Group, Inc. Quote In Retail Automotive, total new units delivered fell 9.9% year over year to 50,036, while used units slipped 0.6% to 60,126. Total retail units declined 5% to 110,162, reflecting a tougher demand backdrop in key markets. Management cited U.S. weather-related disruptions early in the quarter, prior-year tariff-related pull-forward of retail sales, and softer U.S. electric-vehicle demand tied to regulatory easing and the expiration of tax credits as primary drags on new-vehicle volume. Even with lower new-vehicle volumes, the company posted higher used-vehicle revenues, which increased 7.3% year over year to $2.43 billion. New-vehicle revenues decreased 5.2% to $3.08 billion, while finance and insurance revenues were modestly lower at $202.3 million. On profitability per unit, retail automotive gross profit per new vehicle (excluding agency) was $4,783, down 4.6% from the year-ago level, and used-vehicle gross profit per unit was $2,076, down 2.0%. Notably, agency units rose 21.8% to 13,011, and agency gross profit per unit improved 7.1% to $2,805, adding a steadier profit stream alongside traditional retail sales. Retail Commercial Truck results were pressured by lower deliveries, with total new and used units down 24% year over year to 3,583. Segment revenues decreased 15.7% to $694.6 million, and earnings before taxes fell to $36.4 million from $45.1 million a year ago. Within the segment, service and parts provided relative stability. Service and parts revenues increased 4.6% to $232.2 million, and the segment’s total gross margin improved 140 basis points to 18.5%, even as gross profit per unit for new and used vehic...

The first-quarter reporting season for the Auto-Tires-Trucks space has kicked off, with a mixed start. So far, four S&P 500 players—Tesla, Genuine Parts, General Motors and PACCAR—have announced results. Tesla, General Motors and PACCAR managed to top earnings expectations, while Genuine Parts fell short. According to the April 22 Earnings Trends report, the broader auto sector is still expected to deliver solid growth. First-quarter 2025 earnings are projected to rise 10.9% year over year, with revenues likely to increase 3.4%. Many key auto players are scheduled to report their first-quarter 2026 results tomorrow. These include O’Reilly Automotive ORLY, Ford F, Lithia Motors LAD, Penske Automotive PAG and Carvana CVNA. Before we discuss how these companies are expected to fare this time, let’s take a look at the broader factors shaping the quarterly performance of the auto sector. The U.S. auto market lost some momentum in the first quarter of 2026, though the slowdown isn’t entirely surprising. A key factor has been tough comparisons with last year, when demand was temporarily boosted by buyers rushing purchases ahead of tariff hikes. That pull-forward effect has naturally weighed on current volumes. Affordability continues to be a major constraint. Elevated vehicle prices combined with high interest rates have discouraged many potential buyers, leading to weaker retail demand. On top of that, severe winter conditions and higher fuel costs added to consumer caution. Data from GlobalData shows retail vehicle sales fell 16% last month, while fleet demand proved relatively resilient, slipping just over 2%. Although the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) improved slightly from February levels, it still trailed last year’s pace. According to Cox Automotive, SAAR for the quarter came in at roughly 15.5 million units, down from about 16 million a year earlier. In short, the industry entered the year at a more moderate pace. High costs, lingering supply constraints and a normalization from last year’s demand surge have created a more challenging operating environment for automakers in the first quarter. Our proprietary model indicates that a company needs to have the right combination of two key ingredients — a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) — to increase the odds of an earnings beat. You can uncover the best stock...

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. ABG reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $5.37 per diluted share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.68 by 5.42%. The bottom line declined 21.3% year over year. Quarterly revenues of $4.11 billion dipped 0.9% from the year-ago period and came in 6.41% below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.4 billion. Despite the top-line miss, the quarter featured pockets of resilience, including used retail gross profit per unit of $1,847, up 16% from the prior-year quarter. Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. Quote On a GAAP basis, net income rose 42% year over year to $187.8 million, or $9.87 per diluted share, supported by a net gain on dealership divestitures of $125.8 million. Income before income taxes increased 43% to $250.6 million. Still, underlying profitability remained under pressure. While gross profit rose to $726.9 million and total gross margin improved slightly by 22 basis points to 17.7%, operating margin declined to 4.7% from 5.6% in the prior year, as expenses increased at a faster pace than gross profit. New-vehicle revenues declined 2% year over year to $2.1 billion, while total new-vehicle units sold fell 5% to 39,282. Within the mix, luxury unit sales increased 9% to 9,449, but domestic units dropped 17% to 9,229. The average selling price (ASP) was $53,480, up 4% year over year. On the used side, retail used-vehicle revenues decreased 2% to $1.06 billion as retail used units sold fell 6% to 33,202. Retail used-vehicle gross profit increased 9% to $61.3 million, while retail used gross margin improved 58 basis points to 5.8%. The average selling price (ASP) was $31,913, up 5% year over year. Revenues from the used vehicle wholesale business declined 6% to $146.8 million. Gross profit from the unit declined 40% to $5 million. Finance and insurance (F&I) revenues, net, slipped 4% to $179 million, but F&I profit per vehicle retailed held firm at $2,302, up 2% year over year. On a same-store basis, F&I PVR was $2,307, essentially flat versus the prior-year quarter. Parts and service revenues grew 7% year over year to $626.8 million, supported by higher customer pay and a steady service backdrop. Gross profit from parts and service rose 7% to $365.1 million. However, margins remained essentially unchanged, with parts and service gross marg...

Lithia Motors LAD posted first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $7.34 per share, down 4% from $7.66 a year ago. However, the bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.06 by 4%. Quarterly revenues rose 1% year over year to $9.27 billion but came in below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.36 billion by 0.9%. Operationally, Driveway Finance Corporation generated record originations of $840 million with an 18% penetration rate and an average FICO score of 750. Lithia Motors, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Lithia Motors, Inc. Quote The quarter’s top-line mix showed clear relative strength in used vehicles and aftersales. Used vehicle revenues increased 7.3% year over year to $3,489.4 million, while aftersales revenues rose 6.1% to $1,042.9 million. Same-store trends were consistent with that mix shift. Same-store used vehicle revenues increased 4.6% to $3,302.0 million, and same-store aftersales revenues advanced 3.8% to $992.1 million, reflecting steady service demand from Lithia’s growing installed base. Those gains helped offset softer new-vehicle demand. New vehicle revenues declined 4.4% to $4,379.4 million, and finance and insurance revenues slipped 1.3% to $359.7 million, leaving total revenues modestly higher. Same-store new vehicle revenues fell 7.1% year over year, while same-store revenues from finance and insurance fell 3.8%. Volume data reinforced the quarter’s revenue pattern. New vehicle unit sales decreased 4.7% year over year to 94,787 units, while used retail unit sales increased 2.6% to 110,151 units. Pricing moved in opposite directions. Average selling price for new vehicles (excluding agency) edged down 0.7% to $46,878, whereas the used retail average selling price climbed 4.7% to $28,464. That combination of higher used pricing and used volumes supported the period’s used revenue growth. Profitability across major lines was mixed, with aftersales continuing to stand out. Aftersales gross margin improved 150 basis points year over year to 58.9%, while total gross profit increased 0.8% to $1,421.7 million. By contrast, vehicle margins narrowed. New-vehicle gross margin fell 50 basis points to 5.9%, and used-vehicle gross margin decreased 40 basis points to 5.4%. Average gross profit per new vehicle declined 7.2% to $2,739, and used retail gross profit per unit slipped 4.6% to $1,688, signaling a tougher margin backdrop...

ATLANTA, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC), a leading global service provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts and value-added solutions, announced today its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of one dollar and six and one quarter cents ($1.0625) per share on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable on July 2, 2026 to shareholders of record on June 5, 2026. About Genuine Parts Company Established in 1928, Genuine Parts Company is a leading global service provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts and value-added solutions. Our Automotive Parts Group operates across North America, Europe and Australasia, while our Industrial Parts Group serves customers across North America and Australasia. We keep the world moving with a vast network of over 10,800 locations spanning 17 countries supported by more than 65,000 teammates. Learn more at genpt.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/genuine-parts-company-declares-regular-quarterly-dividend-302756256.html