ORLYConsumer CyclicalSpecialty Retail / Auto Parts·Sep 3, 2026·5 min read

[ORLY] O'Reilly Automotive Thesis 2026: Comparable Sales Positive as Expansion Continues

O'Reilly Automotive FY25 (Dec 31, 2025) at $17.78B revenue (+6.4%). NI $2.54B; EPS $2.97 (+10%). Comp store sales +4.7% (high end revised guide). Q4 +5.6% comps. GM 51.6% / op margin 19.5%. FY26 guide: comp +3-5%, capex $1.3-$1.4B, GM 51.5-52%, EPS $3.10-$3.20 (+6.1%), FCF $1.8-$2.1B.

O'Reilly 2025-26: Comp +4.7%, FY26 Comp Guide 3-5%

FY25 revenue $17.78B (+6.4%); Op income $3.46B (+6.4%); NI $2.54B (+6.3%); EPS $2.97 (+10%). Comp store sales +4.7% (high end of revised guide). Q4 comp +5.6%, EPS $0.71 (+13%). FY26 guide: comp +3-5%, capex $1.3-$1.4B, GM 51.5-52%, EPS $3.10-$3.20 (+6.1%), FCF $1.8-$2.1B.

Key takeaways

  • +4.7% comparable store sales — high end of revised guide. Q4 +5.6% comps with revenue $4.5B. Total sales +6.4% to $17.78B. Continues O'Reilly's multi-year above-market comp performance.
  • Operating margin held at 19.5% — flat YoY. Industry-leading margin at scale. Pricing power from professional installer customer base + DIY mix discipline + cost-to-serve advantage.
  • Q4 13% EPS growth on +5.6% comps + buyback shrink. $0.71 vs prior year $0.62. Capital return continues; FY25 buyback $-2.10B (consistent pace).
  • FY26 guide is a step-down on comps but stable on margin. Comp +3-5% (vs +4.7% FY25), GM 51.5-52% (vs 51.6% FY25), EPS $3.10-$3.20 (+6.1% midpoint). Capex stepping up to $1.3-$1.4B for store expansion.
  • 3,500+ store base with continued expansion. Mexico growth + new store cadence + acquisition optionality. The auto parts retail TAM remains large + fragmented; O'Reilly continues taking share from independents.

Business

O'Reilly Automotive is the #2 US auto parts retailer (behind AutoZone), with #1 share among professional installers (auto repair shops, fleet operators). 6,300+ stores in US + Mexico + Canada (mostly US).

Two customer channels:

  • DIY (Do-It-Yourself) (~55% of sales): Consumer drivers buying parts, oil, accessories, batteries, brakes, replacement components. Counter-business + walk-in retail.
  • DIFM (Do-It-For-Me) / Professional (~45% of sales, growing faster): Auto repair shops, mechanics, fleet operators. Higher transaction value + recurring relationship + same-day delivery from local stores.

Distribution model: regional distribution centers (~30) + ~6,300 stores + same-day / next-day delivery to professional customers. Inventory turns + freshness + part availability are the differentiators vs e-commerce + national pure-DIY competitors.

International: Mexico expansion (Mayasa Auto Parts subsidiary) + Canada operations.

FY25 financial performance

Metric (FY)202320242025
Revenue ($B)15.8116.7117.78
Gross profit ($B)8.108.559.17
Gross margin51.3%51.2%51.6%
Op income ($B)3.193.253.46
Op margin20.2%19.5%19.5%
EBITDA ($B)3.623.733.99
Net income ($B)2.352.392.54
Diluted EPS ($)2.692.712.97
Comp store sales+7.9%+2.8%+4.7%
FCF ($B)2.032.031.59
Capex ($B)-1.01-1.02-1.17
Total debt ($B)7.847.928.49
Buybacks ($B)-3.15-2.08-2.10
Stores~6,150~6,250~6,300

The earnings print:

  • Comp +4.7% — high end of revised guide. Q4 +5.6% suggests sustained momentum entering FY26.
  • GM held at 51.6% — pricing + product mix + distribution efficiency.
  • Op margin flat at 19.5% — SG&A discipline matched revenue growth.
  • EPS +10% on buyback shrink (~3% YoY).

FCF dipped to $1.59B from $2.03B FY24 — likely working capital build for FY26 inventory.

Capital allocation

  • Capex: $-1.17B FY25 (6.6% of revenue). Store + DC + technology. FY26 guide $1.3-$1.4B step up.
  • Dividends: zero. O'Reilly has historically not paid a regular dividend.
  • Buybacks: $-2.10B FY25 (consistent ~$2-3B/yr pace). Capital return is buyback-only.
  • Total debt: $8.49B (+$0.57B YoY). Modest expansion.
  • M&A: bolt-on tuck-ins; no major deals in cycle.

FY26 outlook (per Q4 2025 call, 2026-02-05)

FY26 guideRange
Comparable store sales+3% to +5%
Capex$1.3B-$1.4B
Gross margin51.5%-52.0%
Diluted EPS$3.10-$3.20 (midpoint +6.1%)
Free cash flow$1.8B-$2.1B

The +3-5% comp guide is conservative-to-pragmatic — marginally below FY25's 4.7% but above the 5-year average. Reflects:

  • Aging vehicle population (DIY tailwind)
  • Inflation in parts pricing (modest)
  • Continued share gains from independents
  • Mature market dynamics

EPS $3.10-$3.20 implies +6% growth — comp + minor operating leverage + buyback contribution. The conservative guide leaves room to beat.

Key risks

  • DIY consumer cyclicality: Recession would compress DIY discretionary spend (oil + accessories + maintenance deferrals).
  • Professional channel competition: Genuine Parts Co (NAPA) + Worldpac + Carquest + AutoZone all compete. Same-day delivery + relationship-based pricing.
  • EV vehicle mix shift: Long-term, EVs require fewer maintenance items (no oil change, brake regen, fewer wear parts). 5-10 year structural risk; near-term mild as ICE fleet still dominant.
  • Wage inflation: Store labor costs rising; pricing pass-through generally works but with lag.
  • Imports / tariffs: Auto parts supply chain heavily import-dependent; tariff regime affects COGS.
  • E-commerce: Amazon + RockAuto pure-online grow but not yet structural threat to professional channel.

Bottom line

ORLY FY25 is the steady compounder — comp +4.7%, GM held at 51.6%, op margin held at 19.5%, EPS +10%, $2.1B buyback. FY26 guide is +3-5% comp + $3.10-$3.20 EPS + $1.8-$2.1B FCF — conservative-to-pragmatic. The thesis works as long as professional channel compounding + DIY share gains continue + EV transition slow enough not to compress demand. Long-term the EV mix shift is the structural risk; near-term the model continues to deliver cash + margin + comp at unusual scale.

Citations

  • O'Reilly Automotive Inc. FY25 Form 10-K (filed February 2026, SEC EDGAR).
  • O'Reilly Q4 2025 earnings call, 2026-02-05 — Q4 comps +5.6% / FY +4.7% (high end of revised guide), Q4 EPS $0.71 (+13%), FY EPS $2.97 (+10%), FY26 guide (comp +3-5%, capex $1.3-$1.4B, GM 51.5-52%, EPS $3.10-$3.20, FCF $1.8-$2.1B).
  • Internal financial_statements view (consolidated annual + cash flow + capital return).
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