Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers, announced its financial results for the second quarter ended July 13, 2024.

“Our team delivered positive comparable sales growth while navigating a challenging demand environment during the second quarter. I would like to thank the team for their hard work and dedication to serving our customers,” said Shane O’Kelly, president and chief executive officer.

“We continue to make progress on our decisive actions with an increased focus on the Advance blended box. This morning, we announced the sale of Worldpac for $1.5 billion. This transaction is a critical milestone in our turnaround as it enables us to strengthen our balance sheet and streamline our focus.

“The next chapter of our strategic and operational review will now focus on the remaining Advance business, with the goal of improving our sales trajectory and the productivity of all our assets to deliver stronger returns for our shareholders.”

Second Quarter 2024 Results ^(1,2)

Second quarter 2024 net sales totaled $2.7 billion, which was flat compared with the second quarter of the prior year. Comparable store sales increased 0.4%.

The company’s gross profit decreased 2.3% to $1.1 billion. Gross profit margin was 41.5% compared with 42.5% in the second quarter of the prior year. This was primarily due to the company’s strategic pricing investments and higher product costs.

SG&A expenses were $1.0 billion, or 38.9% of net sales compared with 37.8% in the second quarter of 2023. This increase was primarily due to wage investments in frontline team members and an increase in professional fees, including costs associated with the implementation of the company’s strategic plan and the remediation of the company’s previously-disclosed material weaknesses. This was partially offset by a reduction in marketing expenses.

The company’s operating income was $71.8 million, or 2.7% of net sales compared with 4.7% in the second quarter of 2023.

The company’s effective tax rate was 27.5%, compared with 26.4% in the second quarter of 2023. The company’s diluted EPS was $0.75, compared with $1.32 in the second quarter of 2023.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $87.8 million through the second quarter of 2024 versus $167.1 million of cash used in operating activities in the same period of the prior year.

Free cash flow through the second quarter of 2024 was an outflow of $4.6 million compared with an outflow of $312.0 million in the same period of the prior year.

Capital Allocation

On August 7, 2024, the company declared a regular cash dividend of $0.25 per share to be paid on October 25, 2024, to all common stockholders of record as of October 11, 2024.

_______________________________

⁽¹⁾ All comparisons are based on the same time period in the prior year. The company calculates comparable store sales based on the change in store or branch sales starting once a location has been open for approximately one year and by including e-commerce sales and excluding sales fulfilled by distribution centers to independently owned Carquest locations. Acquired stores are included in the company’s comparable store sales one year after acquisition. The company includes sales from relocated stores in comparable store sales from the original date of opening.

⁽²⁾ As reported in the company’s fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings release, the company corrected non-material errors in certain previously reported financials. All comparisons are based on the corrected historical results as presented in the company’s prior earnings release dated February 29, 2024.

Investor Conference Call

The company will detail its results for the second quarter ended July 13, 2024, via a webcast scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, August 22, 2024. The webcast will be accessible via the Investor Relations page of the company’s website ( ir.AdvanceAutoParts.com ).

To join by phone, please pre-register onlinefor dial-in and passcode information. Upon registering, participants will receive a confirmation with call details and a registrant ID. While registration is open through the live call, the company suggests registering a day in advance or at minimum 10 minutes before the start of the call. A replay of the conference call will be available on the company’s Investor Relations website for one year.