Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers, has reported a strong fourth quarter financial results and a record 2021.

The company announced its financial results for the fourth quarter (12 weeks) and full year (52 weeks) ended January 1, 2022. The company’s 2020 results in both the fourth quarter (13 weeks) and full year (53 weeks) include an additional week.

“Advance had a strong fourth quarter and delivered a record year in 2021 across all key metrics. We remained focused throughout the year on the execution of the strategy we outlined last April to deliver top quartile total shareholder return. Thanks to the dedication of our team members and Independent partners, our business is substantially stronger and better positioned today than it was prior to the pandemic,” said Tom Greco, president and chief executive officer.

Advance operates 4,706 stores and 266 Worldpac branches primarily within the United States, with additional locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company also served 1,317 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico and various Caribbean islands.

“We closed the year with a record $11.0 billion in net sales and approximately 159 basis points in adjusted operating income margin expansion relative to the comparative 52 weeks in 2020. We also returned a record $1.0 billion in cash to shareholders through share repurchases and quarterly cash dividends. In addition, we’ve now granted over 24,000 stock awards to frontline team members, valued at over $60 million upon grant since the inception of our Fuel the Frontline program. This investment creates an ownership culture that helps enable Advance to remain an employer of choice for the long-term.”

All figures in USD.

“As we begin 2022, we remain focused on the disciplined execution of our strategic plan. While we are still navigating uncertain times as it relates to macroeconomic factors, including significant inflation, the investments we’ve made in differentiating our business will continue to provide competitive advantage for Advance. We believe these investments, along with industry tailwinds, such as improvement in miles driven and an aging fleet will enable us to continue to drive profitable growth and total shareholder return.”

Advance Auto Parts Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Operating Results ^{(1, 2)}

Fourth quarter 2021 Net sales totaled $2.4 billion, a 1.3% increase compared with the fourth quarter of the prior year. Excluding sales from the additional week in the fourth quarter 2020, Net sales increased 8.6%. Comparable store sales growth for the fourth quarter 2021 was 8.2%. For full year 2021, Net sales of $11.0 billion increased 8.8% from full year 2020. On a comparative 52-week basis, Net sales increased 10.6%. Full year 2021 Comparable store sales growth was 10.7%.

Advance Auto Parts GAAP Gross profit margin decreased to 44.7% from 45.8% in the fourth quarter of the prior year. Adjusted gross profit increased 12.1% from the comparative 12 weeks in the fourth quarter of 2020 to $1.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021. Adjusted gross profit margin was 46.8% of Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2021, a 145 basis point increase from the comparative 12 weeks in the fourth quarter of 2020, primarily driven by improvements in category management including strategic pricing, inventory related and owned brand expansion. This was partially offset by ongoing inflationary costs, unfavorable channel mix and the lapping of shrink benefits in the fourth quarter of the prior year. GAAP Gross profit margin increased 47 basis points to 44.8% for full year 2021, while Adjusted gross profit margin for full year 2021 was 46.0%, a 175 basis point improvement from the comparative 52 weeks in the prior year.

The company’s GAAP SG&A for the fourth quarter of 2021 was 40.0% of Net sales compared with 39.4% for the prior year quarter. Adjusted SG&A increased 10.0% from the comparative 12 weeks in the fourth quarter of 2020 to $946.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. As a percentage of Net sales, Adjusted SG&A was 39.5% in the fourth quarter of 2021, which deleveraged 49 basis points from the comparative 12 weeks in the fourth quarter of 2020. This was primarily driven by higher labor related costs due to wage inflation, increased incentive compensation and start-up costs associated with our new store openings. These were partially offset by a year over year decrease in COVID-19 expenses. The company’s full year 2021 GAAP SG&A was 37.2% of Net sales compared with 36.9% for full year 2020. For full year 2021, Adjusted SG&A as a percentage of Net sales was 36.4%, a 16 basis point deleverage from the comparative 52 weeks in 2020.

On a GAAP basis, the company’s fourth quarter Operating income was $112.5 million, a decrease of 25.9% compared with the fourth quarter of the prior year. Fourth quarter 2021 Operating income margin was 4.7%, a 173 basis point decrease from the fourth quarter 2020. The company’s Adjusted operating income was $176.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 24.8% relative to the comparative 12 weeks in the fourth quarter of 2020. Fourth quarter 2021 Adjusted operating income margin increased to 7.4%, an improvement of 96 basis points from the comparative 12 weeks in the prior year. The company’s full year 2021 GAAP Operating income was $838.7 million, which was 7.6% of Net sales, and increased 21 basis points compared with full year 2020. Full year 2021 Adjusted operating income was $1.1 billion, an increase of 32.5% from the comparative 52 weeks in 2020. Full year 2021 Adjusted operating income margin increased to 9.6%, an improvement of 159 basis points from the comparative 52 weeks in 2020.

Advance Auto Parts’ effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2021 was 18.3%. On a GAAP basis, the company’s Diluted EPS decreased 21.2% to $1.30 in the fourth quarter of 2021. The company’s Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.07 in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 35.4% compared with the comparative 12 weeks in the same quarter of the prior year. The effective tax rate for full year 2021 was 23.6%. The company’s Diluted EPS on a GAAP basis increased 33.8% to $9.55 year over year. Full year 2021 Adjusted diluted EPS was $12.02, an increase of 47.9% from the comparative 52 weeks in 2020.

Operating cash flow was $1.1 billion for the full year 2021 versus $969.7 million for the full year 2020, an increase of 14.7%. Free cash flow for the full year 2021 was $822.6 million, an increase of 17.2% compared with full year 2020.

(1)		For comparative purposes, adjusted results for 2020 are provided on a 12- or 52-week basis; GAAP and Free cash flow results are as reported. Please refer to the company’s fourth quarter and full year adjusted results in the accompanying financial tables included herein.
(2)		Comparable store sales exclude sales to independently owned Carquest locations.

Capital Allocation

During 2021, Advance Auto Parts repurchased a total of 4.6 million shares of its common stock for an aggregate amount of $886.7 million, or an average price of $192.92 per share. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2021, the company had $545.5 million remaining under the share repurchase program. On February 8, 2022, the company’s Board of Directors authorized an additional $1.0 billion to the existing share repurchase program.

On February 14, 2022, the company’s Board of Directors declared a 50% increase to the company’s quarterly cash dividend to $1.50 per share to be paid on April 1, 2022 to shareholders of record as of March 18, 2022.

Full Year 2022 Guidance

“Today we are introducing our full year 2022 guidance,” said Jeff Shepherd, executive vice president and chief financial officer. “We believe that we are well positioned to deliver growth building off our record 2021 results and the ongoing execution of our strategic initiatives. We’re encouraged by the first four weeks of 2022 with comp sales trending above the top-end of our full year guidance range as the growth drivers of our industry remain positive. However our guide also takes into consideration macroeconomic uncertainty related to the acceleration of inflation across the economy and the impact it could have on our core customer.”

	2022
($ in millions, except per share data)	Low	High
Net sales	$11,200	$11,500
Comparable store sales	1.0 %	3.0%
Adjusted operating income margin (1)	10.0%	10.2%
Income tax rate	24.0 %	26.0%
Adjusted diluted EPS (1, 2)	$13.20	$13.75
Capital expenditures	$300	$ 350
Free cash flow (1)	Minimum $775
Share repurchases	$500	$ 700
New store and branch openings	125	150

(1)		For a better understanding of the company’s adjusted results, refer to the reconciliation of non-GAAP adjustments in the accompanying financial tables included herein. Because of the forward-looking nature of the 2022 non-GAAP financial measures, specific quantification of the amounts that would be required to reconcile these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are not available at this time.
(2)		Assumes weighted-average shares outstanding as of February 11, 2022, including 1.1 million shares repurchased subsequent to January 1, 2022 and excludes any future share repurchases made by the company.

Investor Conference Call

The company detailed its results for the fourth quarter and full year 2021 via a webcast scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. The webcast will be accessible via the Investor Relations page of the company’s website (ir.AdvanceAutoParts.com).

A replay of the conference call will be available on the company’s Investor Relations website for one year.

About Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers. As of January 1, 2022, Advance operated 4,706 stores and 266 Worldpac branches primarily within the United States, with additional locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company also served 1,317 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico and various Caribbean islands.

Additional information about Advance, including employment opportunities, customer services, and online shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.