AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) reported its Q4 results, with EPS of $40.51 coming in better than the Street estimate of $38.51. Revenue was $5.3 billion, beating the Street estimate of $5.15 billion.
Analysts at Oppenheimer look upon continued solid sales and EPS expansion at AutoZone, even against decidedly challenging year-on-year comparisons, as suggestive of underlying fundamental strength at the company, and across the aftermarket auto parts space.
Comp sales expanded a better-than-expected 6% (vs. Street estimate of 3%), which offset softer gross margins (down 70 bps, to 51.5%), modestly below expectations.
The company did not provide financial guidance but did outline trends impacting gross margins in H1/23, in a commentary that somewhat unnerved investors throughout the day.