Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒
Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended February 11, 2023, or
☐
Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from _______ to ________.
Commission file number 1-10714
AUTOZONE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada
62-1482048
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
123 South Front Street, Memphis, Tennessee
38103
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(901) 495-6500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of Each Exchange on which Registered
Common Stock ($0.01 par value)
AZO
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter periods that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☒
Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value – 18,397,705 shares outstanding as of March 10, 2023.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
3
Item 1.
Financial Statements
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
4
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
5
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
6
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
7
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
16
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
17
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
27
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
28
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5.
Other Information
Item 6.
Exhibits
SIGNATURES
30
2
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.Financial Statements.
(Unaudited)
February 11,
August 27,
(in thousands)
2023
2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
301,286
264,380
Accounts receivable
484,767
504,886
Merchandise inventories
5,731,255
5,638,004
Other current assets
277,497
220,714
Total current assets
6,794,805
6,627,984
Property and equipment:
Property and equipment
9,723,855
9,453,171
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(4,487,726)
(4,282,752)
5,236,129
5,170,419
Operating lease right-of-use assets
2,943,844
2,918,817
Goodwill
302,645
Deferred income taxes
59,814
52,047
Other long-term assets
207,905
203,131
3,514,208
3,476,640
Total assets
15,545,142
15,275,043
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
7,321,551
7,301,347
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
275,269
243,407
Accrued expenses and other
933,735
1,008,701
Income taxes payable
84,063
34,938
Total current liabilities
8,614,618
8,588,393
Long-term debt
7,042,302
6,122,092
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion
2,854,227
2,837,973
536,102
533,884
Other long-term liabilities
682,063
731,614
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ deficit:
Preferred stock, authorized 1,000 shares; no shares issued
—
Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 200,000 shares; 18,786 shares issued and 18,467 shares outstanding as of February 11, 2023; 20,732 shares issued and 19,126 shares outstanding as of August 27, 2022
188
207
Additional paid-in capital
1,324,258
1,354,252
Retained deficit
(4,471,842)
(1,330,067)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(269,312)
(300,536)
Treasury stock, at cost
(767,462)
(3,262,769)
Total stockholders’ deficit
(4,184,170)
(3,538,913)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Twelve Weeks Ended
Twenty-Four Weeks Ended
February 12,
(in thousands, except per share data)
Net sales
3,690,982
3,369,750
7,676,049
7,038,653
Cost of sales, including warehouse and delivery expenses
1,760,979
1,584,524
3,751,424
3,328,267
Gross profit
1,930,003
1,785,226
3,924,625
3,710,386
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses
1,260,026
1,158,466
2,531,615
2,329,141
Operating profit
669,977
626,760
1,393,010
1,381,245
Interest expense, net
65,609
42,471
123,332
85,755
Income before income taxes
604,368
584,289
1,269,678
1,295,490
Income tax expense
127,824
112,534
253,816
268,500
Net income
476,544
471,755
1,015,862
1,026,990
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share
18,705
20,513
18,856
20,750
Effect of dilutive stock equivalents
632
645
635
633
Weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share
19,337
21,158
19,491
21,383
Basic earnings per share
25.48
23.00
53.87
49.49
Diluted earnings per share
24.64
22.30
52.12
48.03
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments
22,060
14,315
25,395
(2,251)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable debt securities, net of taxes
548
(870)
(123)
(1,300)
Net derivative activities, net of taxes
5,345
719
5,952
1,374
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
27,953
14,164
31,224
(2,177)
Comprehensive income
504,497
485,919
1,047,086
1,024,813
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment
222,964
199,282
Other non-cash charges
91,000
Amortization of debt origination fees
3,922
5,373
(4,697)
40,983
Share-based compensation expense
42,379
30,738
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
22,273
(27,385)
(161,546)
(393,459)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
(111,311)
278,833
Income taxes
87,400
12,774
Other, net
(60,185)
(34,383)
Net cash provided by operating activities
1,148,061
1,139,746
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures
(259,234)
(208,143)
Purchase of marketable debt securities
(14,000)
(22,632)
Proceeds from sale of marketable debt securities
3,450
13,908
Investment in tax credit equity investments
(12,070)
(20,656)
Proceeds from disposal of capital assets and other, net
11,846
26,210
Net cash used in investing activities
(270,008)
(211,313)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from commercial paper
227,600
1,068,100
Proceeds from issuance of debt
1,000,000
Repayment of debt
(300,000)
(500,000)
Net proceeds from sale of common stock
72,758
66,457
Purchase of treasury stock
(1,799,997)
(2,459,995)
Repayment of principal portion of finance lease liabilities
(40,572)
(31,100)
(4,510)
(3,362)
Net cash used in financing activities
(844,721)
(1,859,900)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
3,574
(445)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
36,906
(931,912)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
1,171,335
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
239,423
Twelve Weeks Ended February 11, 2023
Accumulated
Common
Additional
Other
Shares
Paid-in
Retained
Comprehensive
Treasury
Issued
Stock
Capital
Deficit
Loss
Total
Balance at November 19, 2022
20,794
208
1,412,650
(790,749)
(297,265)
(4,162,767)
(3,837,923)
Total other comprehensive income
Retirement of treasury shares
(2,051)
(20)
(143,440)
(4,157,637)
4,301,097
Purchase of 372 shares of treasury stock
(905,792)
Issuance of common stock under stock options and stock purchase plans
43
31,929
23,119
Balance at February 11, 2023
18,786
Twelve Weeks Ended February 12, 2022
Earnings
(Deficit)
Balance at November 20, 2021
23,057
231
1,499,557
135,406
(324,327)
(3,435,617)
(2,124,750)
(2,484)
(25)
(294,894)
(3,337,892)
3,632,811
Purchase of 783 shares of treasury stock
(1,559,998)
77
45,356
15,996
Balance at February 12, 2022
20,650
206
1,266,015
(2,730,731)
(310,163)
(1,362,804)
(3,137,477)
Twenty-Four Weeks Ended February 11, 2023
Balance at August 27, 2022
20,732
Purchase of 764 shares of treasury stock
(1,805,790)
105
1
72,757
40,689
Twenty-Four Weeks Ended February 12, 2022
Balance at August 28, 2021
23,007
230
1,465,669
(419,829)
(307,986)
(2,535,620)
(1,797,536)
Total other comprehensive loss
Purchase of 1,298 shares of treasury stock
127
66,456
28,784
Note A – General
The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and are presented in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) rules and regulations. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, including normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the AutoZone, Inc. (“AutoZone” or the “Company”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2022.
Operating results for the twelve and twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending August 26, 2023. Each of the first three quarters of AutoZone’s fiscal year consists of 12 weeks, and the fourth quarter consists of 16 or 17 weeks. The fourth quarters of fiscal 2023 and 2022 each have 16 weeks.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2021-10, Government Assistance (Topic 832) – Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance, which requires annual disclosures for entities receiving governmental assistance to provide more transparency. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company adopted this ASU with its first quarter ended November 19, 2022 on a prospective basis. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-04, Liabilities – Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50). This ASU requires buyers in a supplier finance program to disclose sufficient qualitative and quantitative information about the program to allow a reader of the financial statements to understand the program’s nature, activity during the period, changes from period to period and the program’s potential magnitude. This ASU is effective for all companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those years, and requires retrospective adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt this standard beginning with its first quarter ending November 18, 2023. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact the adoption will have on the Company’s disclosures.
R
Note B – Share-Based Payments
AutoZone maintains several equity incentive plans, which provide equity-based compensation to non-employee directors and eligible employees for their service to AutoZone, its subsidiaries or affiliates. The Company recognizes compensation expense for share-based payments based on the fair value of the awards at the grant date. Share-based payments include stock option grants, restricted stock grants, restricted stock unit grants, stock appreciation rights, discounts on shares sold to employees under share purchase plans and other awards. Additionally, directors’ fees are paid in restricted stock units with value equivalent to the value of shares of common stock as of the grant date. The change in fair value of liability-based stock awards is also recognized in share-based compensation expense.
Stock Options:
The Company made stock option grants for 157,870 shares during the twenty-four week period ended February 11, 2023 and granted options to purchase 164,262 shares during the comparable prior year period. The Company grants options to
purchase common stock to certain of its employees under its equity incentive plans at prices equal to the market value of the stock on the date of grant. The fair value of each option is amortized into compensation expense on a straight-line basis between the grant date for the award and each vesting date.
The weighted average fair value of the stock option awards granted during the twenty-four week periods ended February 11, 2023 and February 12, 2022, using the Black-Scholes-Merton multiple-option pricing valuation model, was $760.98 and $463.09 per share, respectively, using the following weighted average key assumptions:
Expected price volatility
29
%
Risk-free interest rate
3.8
1.1
Weighted average expected lives (in years)
5.4
5.6
Forfeiture rate
10
Dividend yield
0
During the twenty-four week period ended February 11, 2023, and the comparable prior year period, 96,080 and 123,216 stock options were exercised at a weighted average exercise price of $709.98 and $584.81, respectively.
As of February 11, 2023, total unrecognized share-based expense related to stock options, net of estimated forfeitures, was approximately $137.7 million, before income taxes, which we expect to recognize over an estimated weighted average period of 3.3 years.
Restricted Stock Units:
Restricted stock unit awards are valued at the market price of a share of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. Grants of employee restricted stock units vest ratably on an annual basis over a four-year service period and are payable in shares of common stock on the vesting date. Compensation expense for grants of employee restricted stock units is recognized on a straight-line basis over the four-year service period, less estimated forfeitures, which are consistent with stock option forfeiture assumptions. Grants of non-employee director restricted stock units are made and expensed on January 1 of each year, as they vest immediately.
As of February 11, 2023, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to nonvested restricted stock unit awards, net of estimated forfeitures, was approximately $11.7 million, before income taxes, which we expect to recognize over an estimated weighted average period of 2.8 years.
Transactions related to restricted stock units for the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023 were as follows:
Weighted-
Number
Average Grant
of Shares
Date Fair Value
Nonvested at August 27, 2022
12,731
1,223.61
Granted
3,584
2,267.40
Vested
(6,635)
1,276.65
Forfeited
(1,054)
1,555.01
Nonvested at February 11, 2023
8,626
1,576.00
Total share-based compensation expense (a component of Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses) for the twelve and twenty-four week periods ended February 11, 2023, was $23.4 million and $42.4 million, respectively. For the comparable prior year periods, total share-based compensation expense was $16.4 million and $30.7 million, respectively.
8
For the twelve and twenty-four week periods ended February 11, 2023, 156,925 and 122,072, respectively, stock options were excluded from the diluted earnings per share computation because they would have been anti-dilutive. For the comparable prior year periods, 162,955 and 128,399, respectively, anti-dilutive stock options were excluded from the dilutive earnings per share computation.
See AutoZone’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2022 and other filings with the SEC, for a discussion regarding the methodology used in developing AutoZone’s assumptions to determine the fair value of the option awards and a description of AutoZone’s Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Incentive Award Plan, the AutoZone, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Award Plan and the Director Compensation Program.
Note C – Fair Value Measurements
The Company defines fair value as the price received to transfer an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, the Company uses the fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy, as defined below, gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are set forth below:
Level 1 inputs—unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company can access at the measurement date.
Level 2 inputs—inputs other than quoted market prices included within Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for the asset or liability.
Level 3 inputs—unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are based on the Company’s own assumptions as there is little, if any, observable activity in identical assets or liabilities.
Marketable Debt Securities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The Company’s marketable debt securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:
February 11, 2023
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Fair Value
62,455
49,925
10,558
60,483
112,380
122,938
August 27, 2022
49,659
109
49,768
57,301
5,476
62,777
106,960
5,585
112,545
At February 11, 2023, the fair value measurement amounts for assets and liabilities recorded in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of short-term marketable debt securities, which are included within Other current assets, and long-term marketable debt securities, which are included in Other long-term assets. The Company’s marketable debt securities are typically valued at the closing price in the principal active market as of the last business day of the quarter or through the use of other market inputs relating to the securities, including benchmark yields and reported trades. The fair values of the marketable debt securities, by asset class, are described in “Note D – Marketable Debt Securities.”
9
Financial Instruments not Recognized at Fair Value
The Company has financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other current assets and accounts payable. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments approximate fair value because of their short maturities. A discussion of the carrying values and fair values of the Company’s debt is included in “Note G – Financing.”
Note D – Marketable Debt Securities
Marketable debt securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of income taxes, recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss until realized, and any credit risk related losses are recognized in net income in the period incurred. The Company’s basis for determining the cost of a security sold is the “Specific Identification Model.”
The Company’s available-for-sale marketable debt securities consisted of the following:
Amortized
Gross
Cost
Unrealized
Fair
Basis
Gains
Losses
Value
Corporate debt securities
12,789
(289)
12,500
Government bonds
90,877
(2,101)
88,777
Mortgage-backed securities
4,005
(267)
3,738
Asset-backed securities and other
18,206
(284)
17,923
125,877
(2,941)
15,293
(298)
14,996
88,903
(1,963)
86,940
4,600
(243)
4,357
6,531
(279)
6,252
115,327
(2,783)
The debt securities held at February 11, 2023, had effective maturities ranging from less than one year to approximately three years. Securities maturing in less than one year totaled $62.5 million and $49.7 million at February 11, 2023 and August 27, 2022, respectively. Securities maturing between one and three years totaled $60.5 million and $62.8 million at February 11, 2023 and August 27, 2022, respectively. At February 11, 2023, the Company held 70 securities that are in an unrealized loss position of approximately $2.9 million. In evaluating whether a credit loss exists for the securities, the Company considers factors such as the severity of the loss position, the credit worthiness of the investee, the term to maturity and the intent and ability to hold the investments until maturity or until recovery of fair value. An allowance for credit losses was deemed unnecessary given consideration of the factors above.
Included above in total available-for-sale marketable debt securities are $103.7 million of marketable debt securities transferred by the Company’s insurance captive to a trust account to secure its obligations to an insurance company related to future workers’ compensation and casualty losses.
Note E – Derivative Financial Instruments
During the second quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company entered into two treasury rate locks designated as cash flow hedges used to manage our exposure to interest rate volatility associated with anticipated debt financing, each with a notional amount of $250 million. The treasury rate locks had fixed rates of 3.45% and 3.38% benchmarked based on the 5-year and the 10-year U.S. treasury notes, respectively. These locks expired on January 27, 2023 and resulted in gains of $1.9 million and $2.9 million, respectively, which have been deferred in Accumulated other comprehensive loss and will be reclassified to Interest expense over the life of the underlying debt. The hedges remained highly effective until they expired, and no ineffectiveness was recognized in earnings.
At February 11, 2023, the Company had $12.2 million recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to realized losses associated with terminated interest rate swap and treasury rate lock derivatives, which were designated as hedging instruments. Net losses are amortized into Interest expense over the remaining life of the associated debt. During the twelve and twenty-four week periods ended February 11, 2023, the Company reclassified $741 thousand and $1.5 million, respectively, of net losses from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Interest expense. During the comparable prior year periods, $911 thousand and $1.8 million, respectively, were reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Interest expense. The Company expects to reclassify $2.3 million of net losses from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Interest expense over the next 12 months.
Note F – Merchandise Inventories
Merchandise inventories include related purchasing, storage and handling costs. Inventory cost has been determined using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value for domestic inventories and the weighted average cost method stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value for Mexico and Brazil inventories. The Company’s policy is not to write up inventory in excess of replacement cost. Due to recent price inflation on the Company’s merchandise purchases, primarily driven by increased freight costs, the Company’s LIFO credit reserve balance was $106.0 million at February 11, 2023, and $15.0 million at August 27, 2022. Increases to the Company’s LIFO credit reserve balance are recorded as a non-cash charge to cost of sales.
Note G – Financing
The Company’s debt consisted of the following:
2.875% Senior Notes due January 2023, effective interest rate 3.21%
300,000
3.125% Senior Notes due July 2023, effective interest rate 3.26%
500,000
3.125% Senior Notes due April 2024, effective interest rate 3.32%
3.250% Senior Notes due April 2025, effective interest rate 3.36%
400,000
3.625% Senior Notes due April 2025, effective interest rate 3.78%
3.125% Senior Notes due April 2026, effective interest rate 3.28%
3.750% Senior Notes due June 2027, effective interest rate 3.83%
600,000
4.500% Senior Notes due February 2028, effective interest rate 4.43%
450,000
3.750% Senior Notes due April 2029, effective interest rate 3.86%
4.000% Senior Notes due April 2030, effective interest rate 4.09%
750,000
1.650% Senior Notes due January 2031, effective interest rate 2.19%
4.750% Senior Notes due August 2032, effective interest rate 4.76%
4.750% Senior Notes due February 2033, effective interest rate 4.70%
550,000
Commercial paper, weighted average interest rate 4.68% and 2.43% at February 11, 2023 and August 27, 2022, respectively
831,000
603,400
Total debt before discounts and debt issuance costs
7,081,000
6,153,400
Less: Discounts and debt issuance costs
38,698
31,308
Long-term Debt
11
On November 15, 2021, the Company amended and restated its existing revolving credit facility (as amended from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company’s borrowing capacity was increased from $2.0 billion to $2.25 billion and the maximum borrowing under the Revolving Credit Agreement may, at the Company’s option, subject to lenders approval, be increased from $2.25 billion to $3.25 billion. On November 15, 2022, the Company amended the Revolving Credit Agreement, extending the termination date by one year. As amended, the Revolving Credit Agreement will terminate, and all amounts borrowed will be due and payable on November 15, 2027, but AutoZone may make one additional request to extend the termination date for an additional period of one year. Revolving borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement may be base rate loans, Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) loans, or a combination of both, at AutoZone’s election. The Revolving Credit Agreement includes (i) a $75 million sublimit for swingline loans, (ii) a $50 million individual issuer letter of credit sublimit and (iii) a $250 million aggregate sublimit for all letters of credit.
Under the Company’s Revolving Credit Agreement, covenants include restrictions on liens, a maximum debt to earnings ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a change of control provision that may require acceleration of the repayment obligations under certain circumstances.
As of February 11, 2023, the Company had no outstanding borrowings and $1.8 million of outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Agreement.
The Company also maintains a letter of credit facility that allows it to request the participating bank to issue letters of credit on its behalf up to an aggregate amount of $25 million. The letter of credit facility is in addition to the letters of credit that may be issued under the Revolving Credit Agreement. As of February 11, 2023, the Company had $25.0 million in letters of credit outstanding under the letter of credit facility, which expires in June 2025.
In addition to the outstanding letters of credit issued under the committed facilities discussed above, the Company had $107.2 million in letters of credit outstanding as of February 11, 2023. These letters of credit have various maturity dates and were issued on an uncommitted basis.
As of February 11, 2023, the commercial paper borrowings and the $500 million 3.125% Senior Notes due July 2023 were classified as long-term in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as the Company currently has the ability and intent to refinance them on a long-term basis through available capacity under its Revolving Credit Agreement. As of February 11, 2023, the Company had $2.2 billion of availability under its Revolving Credit Agreement, without giving effect to commercial paper borrowings, which would allow it to replace these short-term obligations with a long-term financing facility.
On January 17, 2023, the Company repaid its outstanding $300 million 2.875% Senior Notes due January 2023.
On January 27, 2023, the Company issued $450 million in 4.500% Senior Notes due February 2028 and $550 million in 4.750% Senior Notes due February 2033. Proceeds from the debt issuance were used to repay a portion of the Company’s outstanding commercial paper borrowings and for other general corporate purposes.
The Senior Notes contain a provision that repayment may be accelerated if the Company experiences both a change of control (as defined in the agreements) and a rating event (as defined in the agreements). The Company’s borrowings under its Senior Notes contain minimal covenants, primarily restrictions on liens. All of the repayment obligations under its borrowing arrangements may be accelerated and come due prior to the scheduled payment date if covenants are breached or an event of default occurs. Interest for the Senior Notes is paid on a semi-annual basis.
The fair value of the Company’s debt was estimated at $6.7 billion as of February 11, 2023, and $5.9 billion as of August 27, 2022, based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates available to the Company for debt of the same terms (Level 2). Such fair value is less than the carrying value of debt by $298.4 million and $182.8 million at February 11, 2023 and August 27, 2022, respectively, which reflects their face amount, adjusted for any unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts.
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As of February 11, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all covenants and expects to remain in compliance with all covenants under its borrowing arrangements.
Note H – Stock Repurchase Program
From January 1, 1998 to February 11, 2023, the Company has repurchased a total of 153.3 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $31.9 billion, including 764.3 thousand shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $1.8 billion (inclusive of excise tax of $5.8 million) during the twenty-four week period ended February 11, 2023. The excise tax is assessed at one percent of the fair market value of net stock repurchases after December 31, 2022.
On October 4, 2022, the Board voted to authorize the repurchase of an additional $2.5 billion of the Company’s common stock in connection with its ongoing share repurchase program, which raised the total value of shares authorized to be repurchased to $33.7 billion. Considering the cumulative repurchases as of February 11, 2023, the Company had $1.8 billion remaining under the Board’s authorization to repurchase its common stock.
During the twenty-four week period ended February 11, 2023, the Company retired 2.1 million shares of treasury stock which had been previously repurchased under the Company’s share repurchase program. The retirement increased Retained deficit by $4.2 billion and decreased Additional paid-in capital by $143.4 million. During the comparable prior year period, the Company retired 2.5 million shares of treasury stock, which increased Retained deficit by $3.3 billion and decreased Additional paid-in capital by $294.9 million.
Subsequent to February 11, 2023 and through March 10, 2023, the Company has repurchased 83.5 thousand shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $210.0 million.
Note I – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated other comprehensive loss includes foreign currency translation adjustments, activity for interest rate swaps and treasury rate locks that qualified as cash flow hedges and unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale marketable debt securities.
Changes in Accumulated other comprehensive loss for the twelve week periods ended February 11, 2023 and February 12, 2022 consisted of the following:
Net
Foreign
Currency and
Gain (Loss)
Other(1)
on Securities
Derivatives
(276,855)
(2,842)
(17,568)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications(2)(3)
4,781
27,389
Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss(3)
564
(254,795)
(2,294)
(12,223)
(304,204)
159
(20,282)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications(2)(3)
13,445
(289,889)
(711)
(19,563)
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Changes in Accumulated other comprehensive loss for the twenty-four week periods ended February 11, 2023 and February 12, 2022 consisted of the following:
(280,190)
(2,171)
(18,175)
30,053
1,171
(287,638)
589
(20,937)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications(2)(3)
(3,551)
Note J – Litigation
The Company is involved in various legal proceedings incidental to the conduct of its business, including, but not limited to, several lawsuits containing class-action allegations in which the plaintiffs are current and former hourly and salaried employees who allege various wage and hour violations and unlawful termination practices. While the resolution of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not currently believe that, either individually or in the aggregate, these matters will result in liabilities material to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets or Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Note K – Segment Reporting
The Company’s operating segments (Domestic Auto Parts, Mexico and Brazil) are aggregated as one reportable segment: Auto Parts Stores. The criteria the Company used to identify the reportable segment are primarily the nature of the products the Company sells and the operating results that are regularly reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision maker to make decisions about the resources to be allocated to the business units and to assess performance. The accounting policies of the Company’s reportable segment are the same as those described in “Note A – Significant Accounting Policies” in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2022.
The Auto Parts Stores segment is a retailer and distributor of automotive parts and accessories through the Company’s 7,014 stores in the U.S., Mexico and Brazil. Each store carries an extensive product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories and non-automotive products.
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The Other category reflects business activities of two operating segments that are not separately reportable due to the materiality of these operating segments. The operating segments include ALLDATA, which produces, sells and maintains automotive diagnostic, repair and shop management software used in the automotive repair industry and E-commerce, which includes direct sales to customers through www.autozone.com for sales that are not fulfilled by local stores.
The Company evaluates its reportable segment primarily on the basis of net sales and segment profit, which is defined as gross profit. Segment results for the periods presented were as follows:
Net Sales
Auto Parts Stores
3,623,110
3,306,223
7,539,017
6,911,730
67,872
63,527
137,032
126,923
Segment Profit
1,888,480
1,747,236
3,842,208
3,634,689
41,523
37,990
82,417
75,697
(1,260,026)
(1,158,466)
(2,531,615)
(2,329,141)
(65,609)
(42,471)
(123,332)
(85,755)
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
AutoZone, Inc.
Results of Review of Interim Financial Statements
We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of AutoZone, Inc. (the Company) as of February 11, 2023, the related condensed consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income and stockholders’ deficit for the twelve week and twenty-four week periods ended February 11, 2023 and February 12, 2022, the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the twenty-four week periods ended February 11, 2023 and February 12, 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “condensed consolidated interim financial statements”). Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of August 27, 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes (not presented herein); and in our report dated October 24, 2022, we expressed an unqualified audit opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of August 27, 2022, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
Basis for Review Results
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the PCAOB. We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. A review of interim financial statements consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Memphis, Tennessee
March 17, 2023
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
In Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”), we provide a historical and prospective narrative of our general financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and certain other factors that may affect the future results of AutoZone, Inc. (“AutoZone” or the “Company”). The following MD&A discussion should be read in conjunction with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, related notes to those statements and other financial information, including forward-looking statements and risk factors, that appear elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2022 and other filings we make with the SEC.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements typically use words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “positioned,” “strategy,” “seek,” “may,” “could” and similar expressions. These are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors that we believe to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation: product demand, due to changes in fuel prices, miles driven or otherwise; energy prices; weather, including extreme temperatures, natural disasters and general weather conditions; competition; credit market conditions; cash flows; access to available and feasible financing; future stock repurchases; the impact of recessionary conditions; consumer debt levels; changes in laws or regulations; risks associated with self-insurance; war and the prospect of war, including terrorist activity; the impact of public health issues; inflation, including wage inflation; the ability to hire, train and retain qualified employees; construction delays; failure or interruption of our information technology systems; issues relating to the confidentiality, integrity or availability of information, including due to cyber-attacks; historic growth rate sustainability; downgrade of our credit ratings; damage to our reputation; challenges associated with international markets; origin and raw material costs of suppliers; inventory availability; disruption in our supply chain; impact of tariffs; impact of new accounting standards; our ability to execute our growth initiatives; and other business interruptions. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in more detail in the “Risk Factors” section contained in Item 1A under Part 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2022, and Part II, Item 1A, of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended November 19, 2022. These Risk Factors should be read carefully. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Events described above and in the “Risk Factors” could materially and adversely affect our business. However, it should be understood that it is not possible to identify or predict all such risks and other factors that could affect these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
We are the leading retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the Americas. We began operations in 1979 and at February 11, 2023, operated 6,226 stores in the U.S., 707 stores in Mexico and 81 stores in Brazil. Each store carries an extensive product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories and non-automotive products. At February 11, 2023, in 5,500 of our domestic stores, we had a commercial sales program that provides commercial credit and prompt delivery of parts and other products to local, regional and national repair garages, dealers, service stations and public sector accounts. We also have commercial programs in the majority of our stores in Mexico and Brazil. We sell the ALLDATA brand automotive diagnostic, repair and shop management software through www.alldata.com. Additionally, we sell automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories and non-automotive products through www.autozone.com, and our commercial customers can make purchases through www.autozonepro.com. We also provide product information on our Duralast branded products through www.duralastparts.com. We do not derive revenue from automotive repair or installation services. Our websites and the information contained therein or linked thereto are not intended to be incorporated into this report.
Operating results for the twelve and twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending August 26, 2023. Each of the first three quarters of our fiscal year consists of 12 weeks, and the fourth quarter consists of 16 or 17 weeks. The fourth quarters of fiscal 2023 and 2022 each have 16 weeks. Our business is somewhat seasonal in nature, with the highest sales generally occurring during the months of February through September, and the lowest sales generally occurring in the months of December and January.
Executive Summary
Net sales increased 9.5% for the quarter ended February 11, 2023 compared to the prior year period, which was driven by an increase in domestic same store sales (sales from stores open at least one year) of 5.3%. Domestic commercial sales increased 13.1%, which represents approximately 29.5% of our domestic auto parts sales. Operating profit increased 6.9% to $670.0 million compared to $626.8 million in the prior year period. Net income for the quarter increased 1.0% to $476.5 million compared to $471.8 million in the prior year period. Diluted earnings per share increased 10.5% to $24.64 per share from $22.30 per share in the prior year period.
The above results include a $10.0 million non-cash LIFO charge incurred for the quarter ended February 11, 2023. Adjusting for the non-cash LIFO charge, adjusted operating profit increased 8.5%, adjusted net income increased 2.6% and adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 12.3% compared to the prior year period. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of our operations. Refer to the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measure.
Our business is impacted by various factors within the economy that affect both our consumers and our industry, including but not limited to inflation, fuel costs, wage rates, supply chain disruptions, hiring and other economic conditions. Given the nature of these macroeconomic factors, we cannot predict whether or for how long certain trends will continue, nor can we predict to what degree these trends will impact us in the future.
During the second quarter of fiscal 2023, failure and maintenance related categories represented the largest portion of our sales mix at approximately 86% of total sales, which is consistent with the comparable prior year period. Failure related categories continue to be the largest portion of our sales mix. We did not experience any fundamental shifts in our category sales mix as compared to the previous year. Our sales mix can be impacted by weather over a short-term period. Over the long-term, we believe the impact of weather on our sales mix is not significant.
The two statistics we believe have the closest correlation to our market growth over the long-term are miles driven and the number of seven year old or older vehicles on the road. While over the long-term we have seen a close correlation between our net sales and the number of miles driven, we have also seen time frames of minimal correlation in sales performance and miles driven. During the periods of minimal correlation between net sales and miles driven, we believe net sales have been positively impacted by other factors, including macroeconomic factors and the number of seven year old or older vehicles on the road. The average age of the U.S. light vehicle fleet remains in our industry’s favor as the average age has exceeded 11 years since 2012, according to the latest data provided by the Auto Care Association. As of January 1, 2022, the average age of light vehicles on the road was 12.2 years. Since the beginning of the fiscal year and through December 2022 (latest publicly available information), miles driven in the U.S. were down 2.6% compared to the same period in the prior year.
Compared with Twelve Weeks Ended February 12, 2022
Net sales for the twelve weeks ended February 11, 2023 increased $321.2 million to $3.7 billion, or 9.5% over net sales of $3.4 billion for the comparable prior year period. Total auto parts sales increased by 9.6%, primarily driven by an increase in domestic same store sales of 5.3% and net sales of $75.5 million from new stores. Domestic commercial sales increased $110.7 million to $954.6 million, or 13.1%, over the comparable prior year period.
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Gross profit for the twelve weeks ended February 11, 2023 was $1.9 billion, compared with $1.8 billion during the comparable prior year period. Gross profit, as a percentage of sales, was 52.3% compared to 53.0% during the comparable prior year period. The decrease in gross margin was impacted by a 27 basis point ($10.0 million) non-cash LIFO charge driven primarily by rising freight costs, with the remaining decrease resulting primarily from supply chain costs and accelerated growth in our commercial business.
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses for the twelve weeks ended February 11, 2023 were $1.3 billion compared with $1.2 billion during the comparable prior year period. As a percentage of sales, these expenses were 34.1% compared with 34.4% during the comparable prior year period.
Net interest expense for the twelve weeks ended February 11, 2023, was $65.6 million compared with $42.5 million during the comparable prior year period. Average borrowings for the twelve weeks ended February 11, 2023 were $6.9 billion, compared with $5.6 billion for the comparable prior year period. Weighted average borrowing rates were 3.70% and 3.03% for the quarters ended February 11, 2023 and February 12, 2022, respectively.
Our effective income tax rate was 21.2% of pretax income for the twelve weeks ended February 11, 2023, and 19.3% for the comparable prior year period. The increase in the tax rate was primarily attributable to a decreased benefit from stock options exercised during the twelve weeks ended February 11, 2023. The benefit of stock options exercised for the twelve week period ended February 11, 2023 was $13.4 million compared to $23.4 million in the comparable prior year period.
Net income for the twelve weeks ended February 11, 2023 increased by $4.8 million to $476.5 million due to the factors set forth above, and diluted earnings per share increased by 10.5% to $24.64 from $22.30. Excluding the non-cash LIFO charge, adjusted net income increased 2.6% to $484.2 million, and adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 12.3% to $25.04. The impact on current quarter diluted earnings per share from stock repurchases since the end of the comparable prior year period was an increase of $0.42.
Compared with Twenty-Four Weeks Ended February 12, 2022
Net sales for the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023 increased $637.4 million to $7.7 billion, or 9.1% over net sales of $7.0 billion for the comparable prior year period. Total auto parts sales increased by 9.1%, primarily driven by an increase in domestic same store sales of 5.5% and net sales of $147.1 million from new stores. Domestic commercial sales increased $245.1 million to $2.0 billion, or 14.1%, over the comparable prior year period.
Gross profit for the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023 was $3.9 billion, compared with $3.7 billion during the comparable prior year period. Gross profit, as a percentage of sales, was 51.1% compared to 52.7% during the comparable prior year period. The decrease in gross margin was driven by a 119 basis point ($91.0 million) non-cash LIFO charge driven primarily by rising freight costs, with the remaining decrease resulting primarily from supply chain costs and accelerated growth in our commercial business.
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses for the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023, were $2.5 billion compared with $2.3 billion during the comparable prior year period. As a percentage of sales, these expenses were 33.0% compared with 33.1% during the comparable prior year period.
Net interest expense for the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023, was $123.3 million compared with $85.8 million during the comparable prior year period. Average borrowings for the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023 were $6.5 billion, compared with $5.4 billion for the comparable prior year period. Weighted average borrowing rates were 3.58% and 3.17% for the twenty-four week periods ended February 11, 2023 and February 12, 2022, respectively.
Our effective income tax rate was 20.0% of pretax income for the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023, and 20.7% for the comparable prior year period. The decrease in the tax rate was primarily attributable to an increased benefit from stock options exercised during the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023. The benefit of stock
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options exercised for the twenty-four weeks period ended February 11, 2023 was $43.1 million compared to $34.7 million in the comparable prior year period.
Net income for the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023 decreased by $11.1 million to $1.0 billion due to the factors set forth above, and diluted earnings per share increased by 8.5% to $52.12 from $48.03. Excluding the non-cash LIFO charge, adjusted net income increased 5.7% to $1.1 billion, and adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 16.0% to $55.70. The impact on current year to date diluted earnings per share from stock repurchases since the end of the comparable prior year period was an increase of $1.12.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The primary source of our liquidity is our cash flows realized through the sale of automotive parts, products and accessories. Our cash flow results benefitted from the quarter’s strong sales and continued progress on our initiatives. We believe that our cash generated from operating activities and available credit, supplemented with our long-term borrowings will provide ample liquidity to fund our operations while allowing us to make strategic investments to support long-term growth initiatives and return excess cash to shareholders in the form of share repurchases. As of February 11, 2023, we held $301.3 million of cash and cash equivalents, as well as $2.2 billion in undrawn capacity on our Revolving Credit Agreement, before giving effect to commercial paper borrowings. We believe our sources of liquidity will continue to be adequate to fund our operations and investments to grow our business, repay our debt as it becomes due and fund our share repurchases over the short-term and long-term. In addition, we believe we have the ability to obtain alternative sources of financing, if necessary. However, decreased demand for our products or changes in customer buying patterns would negatively impact our ability to generate cash from operating activities. Decreased demand or changes in buying patterns could also impact our ability to meet the debt covenants of our credit agreements and, therefore, negatively impact the funds available under our Revolving Credit Agreement. In the event our liquidity is insufficient, we may be required to limit our spending.
For each of the twenty-four week periods ended February 11, 2023 and February 12, 2022, our net cash flows from operating activities provided $1.1 billion.
Our net cash flows used in investing activities for the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023 were $270.0 million as compared with $211.3 million in the comparable prior year period. Capital expenditures for the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023 were $259.2 million compared to $208.1 million in the comparable prior year period. The increase in capital expenditures was primarily driven by our growth initiatives, including hub and mega hub expansion projects, new distribution centers and new stores. During the twenty-four week period ended February 11, 2023 and February 12, 2022, we opened 71 and 48 net new stores, respectively. Investing cash flows were impacted by our wholly owned captive, which purchased $14.0 million and sold $3.5 million in marketable debt securities during the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023. During the comparable prior year period, the captive purchased $22.6 million in marketable debt securities and sold $13.9 million.
Our net cash flows used in financing activities for the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023 were $844.7 million compared to $1.9 billion in the comparable prior year period. During the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023, we received $1.0 billion in debt issuances and repaid our $300 million 2.875% senior notes due January 2023. During the comparable prior year period, no debt was issued and we repaid our $500 million 3.700% Senior Notes due April 2022. Stock repurchases were $1.8 billion in the current twenty-four week period as compared with $2.5 billion in the comparable prior year period. The treasury stock repurchases were primarily funded by cash flows from operations. For the twenty-four week period ended February 11, 2023, our commercial paper activity resulted in $227.6 million in net proceeds from commercial paper compared to $1.1 billion commercial paper net proceeds in the comparable prior year period. Proceeds from the sale of common stock and exercises of stock options for the twenty-four weeks ended February 11, 2023 and February 12, 2022 provided $72.8 million and $66.5 million, respectively.
During fiscal 2023, we expect to increase the investment in our business as compared to fiscal 2022. Our investments are expected to be directed primarily to our supply chain initiatives, which includes expanded hub and mega hubs, as well as new distribution centers and new stores. The amount of investments in our new stores is impacted by different factors,
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including whether the building and land are purchased (requiring higher investment) or leased (generally lower investment) and whether such buildings are located in the U.S., Mexico or Brazil, or located in urban or rural areas.
In addition to the building and land costs, our new stores require working capital, predominantly for inventories. Historically, we have negotiated extended payment terms from suppliers, reducing the working capital required and resulting in a high accounts payable to inventory ratio. We plan to continue leveraging our inventory purchases; however, our ability to do so may be limited by our vendors’ capacity to factor their receivables from us. Certain vendors participate in arrangements with financial institutions whereby they factor their AutoZone receivables, allowing them to receive early payment from the financial institution on our invoices at a discounted rate. The terms of these agreements are between the vendor and the financial institution. Upon request from the vendor, we confirm to the vendor’s financial institution the balances owed to the vendor, the due date and agree to waive any right of offset to the confirmed balances. A downgrade in our credit or changes in the financial markets may limit the financial institutions’ willingness to participate in these arrangements, which may result in the vendor wanting to renegotiate payment terms. A reduction in payment terms would increase the working capital required to fund future inventory investments. Extended payment terms from our vendors have allowed us to continue our high accounts payable to inventory ratio. Accounts payable, as a percentage of gross inventory, was 127.7% at February 11, 2023, compared to 126.8% at February 12, 2022. The increase from the comparable prior year period was primarily due to recent price inflation.
Depending on the timing and magnitude of our future investments (either in the form of leased or purchased properties or acquisitions), we anticipate that we will rely primarily on internally generated funds and available borrowing capacity to support a majority of our capital expenditures, working capital requirements and stock repurchases. The balance may be funded through new borrowings. We anticipate that we will be able to obtain such financing based on our current credit ratings and favorable experiences in the debt markets in the past.
For the trailing four quarters ended February 11, 2023, our adjusted after-tax return on invested capital (“ROIC”), which is a non-GAAP measure, was 54.7% as compared to 49.4% for the comparable prior year period. Adjusted ROIC is calculated as after-tax operating profit (excluding rent charges) divided by invested capital (which includes a factor to capitalize operating leases). We use adjusted ROIC to evaluate whether we are effectively using our capital resources and believe it is an important indicator of our overall operating performance. Refer to the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for further details of our calculation.
Debt Facilities
On November 15, 2021, we amended and restated our existing revolving credit facility (as amended from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”) pursuant to which our borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Agreement was increased from $2.0 billion to $2.25 billion and the maximum borrowing under the Revolving Credit Agreement may, at our option, subject to lenders approval, be increased from $2.25 billion to $3.25 billion. On November 15, 2022, we amended the Revolving Credit Agreement, extending the termination date by one year. As amended, the Revolving Credit Agreement will terminate, and all amounts borrowed will be due and payable, on November 15, 2027, but we may make one additional request to extend the termination date for an additional period of one year. Revolving borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement may be base rate loans, Term SOFR loans, or a combination of both, at our election. The Revolving Credit Agreement includes (i) a $75 million sublimit for swingline loans, (ii) a $50 million individual issuer letter of credit sublimit and (iii) a $250 million aggregate sublimit for all letters of credit.
Under our Revolving Credit Agreement, covenants include restrictions on liens, a maximum debt to earnings ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a change of control provision that may require acceleration of the repayment obligations under certain circumstances.
As of February 11, 2023, we had no outstanding borrowings and $1.8 million of outstanding letters of credit under our Revolving Credit Agreement.
We also maintain a letter of credit facility that allows us to request the participating bank to issue letters of credit on our behalf up to an aggregate amount of $25 million. The letter of credit facility is in addition to the letters of credit that may
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be issued under the Revolving Credit Agreement. As of February 11, 2023, we had $25.0 million in letters of credit outstanding under the letter of credit facility, which expires in June 2025.
In addition to the outstanding letters of credit issued under the committed facilities discussed above, we had $107.2 million in letters of credit outstanding as of February 11, 2023. These letters of credit have various maturity dates and were issued on an uncommitted basis.
As of February 11, 2023, the $831.0 million commercial paper borrowings and the $500 million 3.125% Senior Notes due July 2023 were classified as long-term in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, as we have the current ability and intent to refinance them on a long-term basis through available capacity in our Revolving Credit Agreement. As of February 11, 2023, we had $2.2 billion of availability under our Revolving Credit Agreement, without giving effect to commercial paper borrowings, which would allow us to replace these short-term obligations with a long-term financing facility.
On January 17, 2023, we repaid the $300 million 2.875% Senior Notes due January 2023.
On January 27, 2023, we issued $450 million in 4.500% Senior Notes due February 2028 and $550 million in 4.750% Senior Notes due February 2033. Proceeds from the debt issuance were used to repay a portion of the outstanding commercial paper borrowings and for other general corporate purposes.
The Senior Notes contain a provision that repayment may be accelerated if we experience both a change of control (as defined in the agreements) and a rating event (as defined in the agreements). The Company’s borrowings under our Senior Notes contain minimal covenants, primarily restrictions on liens. All of the repayment obligations under its borrowing arrangements may be accelerated and come due prior to the applicable scheduled payment date if covenants are breached or an event of default occurs.
As of February 11, 2023, we were in compliance with all covenants and expect to remain in compliance with all covenants under our borrowing arrangements
Our adjusted debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, rent and share-based compensation expense (“EBITDAR”) ratio was 2.3:1 as of February 11, 2023 and was 2.0:1 as of February 12, 2022. We calculate adjusted debt as the sum of total debt, financing lease liabilities and rent times six; and we calculate adjusted EBITDAR by adding interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, rent, and share-based compensation expense to net income. Adjusted debt to EBITDAR is calculated on a trailing four quarter basis. We target our debt levels to a ratio of adjusted debt to EBITDAR in order to maintain our investment grade credit ratings. We believe this is important information for the management of our debt levels. We expect the ratio of adjusted debt to EBITDAR to return to pre-pandemic levels in the future, increasing debt levels. Once the target ratio is achieved, to the extent adjusted EBITDAR increases, we expect our debt levels to increase; conversely, if adjusted EBITDAR decreases, we would expect our debt levels to decrease. Refer to the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for further details of our calculation.
Stock Repurchases
From January 1, 1998 to February 11, 2023, we have repurchased a total of 153.3 million shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $31.9 billion, including 764.3 thousand shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $1.8 billion during the twenty-four week period ended February 11, 2023.
On October 4, 2022, the Board voted to authorize the repurchase of an additional $2.5 billion of our common stock in connection with our ongoing share repurchase program, which raised the total value of shares authorized to be repurchased to $33.7 billion. Considering the cumulative repurchases as of February 11, 2023, we had $1.8 billion remaining under the Board’s authorization to repurchase our common stock.
Subsequent to February 11, 2023 and through March 10, 2023, we have repurchased 83.5 thousand shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $210.0 million.
22
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Since our fiscal year end, we have canceled, issued and modified stand-by letters of credit that are primarily renewed on an annual basis to cover deductible payments to our casualty insurance carriers. Our total stand-by letters of credit commitment at February 11, 2023, was $133.9 million, compared with $130.5 million at August 27, 2022, and our total surety bonds commitment at February 11, 2023, was $45.9 million, compared with $46.0 million at August 27, 2022.
Financial Commitments
Except for the previously discussed Revolving Credit Agreement, the $550 million 4.750% Senior Notes due February 2023 and $450 million 4.500% Senior Notes due February 2028 debt issuances, and the $300 million 2.875% Senior Notes debt repayment, there were no significant changes to our contractual obligations as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2022.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations includes certain financial measures not derived in accordance with GAAP, including Adjusted operating profit, Adjusted net income, Adjusted diluted earnings per share, Adjusted After-Tax ROIC and Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be used as a substitute for GAAP financial measures, or considered in isolation, for the purpose of analyzing our operating performance, financial position or cash flows. However, we have presented non-GAAP financial measures, as we believe they provide additional information that is useful to investors. Additionally, our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to review and assess our underlying operating results and the Compensation Committee of the Board uses select measures to determine payments of performance-based compensation against pre-established targets.
Adjusted operating profit, Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share present our financial results excluding the non-cash LIFO charges, which vary from period to period, and assist in comparing our current operating results with past periods and with the operational performance of other companies in our industry. Adjusted After-Tax ROIC and Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR provide additional information for determining our optimal capital structure and are used to assist management in evaluating performance and in making appropriate business decisions to maximize stockholders’ value.
We have included reconciliations of this information to the most comparable GAAP measures in the following reconciliation tables.
23
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures: Adjusted operating profit, Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share
The following tables reconcile operating profit, net income, and diluted earnings per share to adjusted operating profit, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share, which are presented in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for the twelve and twenty-four week periods ended February 11, 2023 and February 12, 2022.
Operating profit (GAAP)
Cost of sales adjustment:
Non-cash LIFO charge
10,000
Adjusted operating profit (Non-GAAP)
679,977
1,484,010
Net income (GAAP)
Provision for income taxes on adjustment(1)
(2,339)
(21,176)
Adjusted net income (Non-GAAP)
484,205
1,085,686
Diluted earnings per share (GAAP)
Non-cash LIFO charge, net of tax
0.40
3.58
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (Non-GAAP)
25.04
55.70
24
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure: Adjusted After-Tax ROIC
The following tables calculate the percentages of adjusted ROIC for the trailing four quarters ended February 11, 2023 and February 12, 2022.
A
B
A-B=C
D
C+D
Fiscal Year
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Eight
Trailing Four
Ended
Weeks Ended
Quarters Ended
(in thousands, except percentage)
2,429,604
1,402,614
2,418,476
Adjustments:
Interest expense
191,638
105,883
229,215
Rent expense(1)
373,278
165,967
207,311
186,987
394,298
Tax effect(2)
(117,503)
(52,358)
(65,145)
(64,546)
(129,691)
Adjusted after-tax return
2,877,017
1,226,354
1,650,663
1,261,635
2,912,298
Average debt(3)
6,278,213
Average stockholders’ deficit(3)
(3,617,143)
Add: Rent x 6(1)
2,365,788
Average finance lease liabilities(3)
294,337
Invested capital
5,321,195
Adjusted after-tax ROIC
54.7
August 28,
February 13,
2021
2,170,314
788,379
1,381,935
2,408,925
195,337
92,191
103,146
188,901
345,380
156,937
188,443
354,410
(112,469)
(51,819)
(60,650)
(113,008)
2,598,562
985,688
1,612,874
2,839,228
5,433,252
Average stockholders' deficit(3)
(2,069,346)
2,126,460
255,497
5,745,863
49.4
25
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure: Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR
The following tables calculate the ratio of adjusted debt to EBITDAR for the trailing four quarters ended February 11, 2023 and February 12, 2022.
(in thousands, except ratio)
Add: Interest expense
649,487
380,987
634,803
EBIT
3,270,729
1,889,484
3,282,494
Add: Depreciation and amortization expense
442,223
242,941
465,905
Share-based expense
70,612
39,874
82,253
EBITDAR
4,156,842
1,777,232
2,379,610
1,845,340
4,224,950
Debt
Financing lease liabilities
290,858
Adjusted debt
9,698,948
Adjusted debt to EBITDAR
2.3
578,876
216,422
362,454
630,954
2,944,527
1,096,992
1,847,535
3,228,780
407,683
184,027
223,656
422,938
56,112
24,178
31,934
62,672
3,753,702
1,462,134
2,291,568
4,068,800
5,840,884
272,719
8,240,063
2.0
Trailing Four Quarters Ended
February 12, 2022
Total lease cost, per ASC 842
498,970
442,950
Less: Finance lease interest and amortization
(77,302)
(62,607)
Less: Variable operating lease components, related to insurance and common area maintenance
(27,370)
(25,933)
Rent expense
26
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note A of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our critical accounting policies are described in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2022. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies since the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2022.
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
At February 11, 2023, the only material changes to our instruments and positions that are sensitive to market risk since the disclosures in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2022 were the $450 million 4.500% Senior Notes due February 2028 and $550 million 4.750% Senior Notes due February 2033 debt issuances, the $300 million 2.875% Senior Notes debt repayment and the $227.6 million net increase in commercial paper.
The fair value of the Company’s debt was estimated at $6.7 billion as of February 11, 2023, and $5.9 billion as of August 27, 2022, based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates available to the Company for debt of the same terms (Level 2). Such fair value is less than the carrying value of debt by $298.4 million and $182.8 million at February 11, 2023 and August 27, 2022, respectively, which reflects their face amount, adjusted for any unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts. We had $831.0 million of variable rate debt outstanding at February 11, 2023 and $603.4 million in variable rate debt outstanding at August 27, 2022. At these borrowing levels for variable rate debt, a one percentage point increase in interest rates would have had an unfavorable annual impact on our pre-tax earnings and cash flows of $8.3 million in fiscal 2023. The primary interest rate exposure is based on the federal funds rate. We had outstanding fixed rate debt of $6.2 billion, net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $38.7 million at February 11, 2023 and $5.5 billion, net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $31.3 million at August 27, 2022. A one percentage point increase in interest rates would have reduced the fair value of our fixed rate debt by $213.8 million at February 11, 2023.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of February 11, 2023, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as amended. Based on that evaluation, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of February 11, 2023.
Changes in Internal Controls
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended February 11, 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
As of the date of this filing, there have been no additional material legal proceedings or material developments in the legal proceedings disclosed in Part 1, Item 3, of our Annual Report in Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 27, 2022.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
As of the date of this filing, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 27, 2022 and Part II, Item 1A, of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended November 19, 2022.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Shares of common stock repurchased by the Company during the quarter ended February 11, 2023 were as follows:
Issuer Repurchases of Equity Securities
Total Number of
Maximum Dollar
Shares Purchased as
Value that May Yet
Total Number
Average
Part of Publicly
Be Purchased Under
Price Paid
Announced Plans or
the Plans or
Period
Purchased
per Share
Programs
November 20, 2022 to December 17, 2022
53,243
2,498.78
2,524,537,469
December 18, 2022 to January 14, 2023
117,062
2,446.40
2,238,156,537
January 15, 2023 to February 11, 2023
201,806
2,410.08
1,751,788,248
372,111
2,434.20
During 1998, we announced a program permitting us to repurchase a portion of our outstanding shares not to exceed a dollar maximum established by our Board of Directors. This program was most recently amended by the Board on October 4, 2022 to authorize the repurchase of an additional $2.5 billion of our common stock. This brings the cumulative share repurchase authorization to $33.7 billion. All of the above repurchases were part of this program.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5. Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits
The following exhibits are being filed herewith:
Restated Articles of Incorporation of AutoZone, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 13, 1999.
3.1
3.2
Seventh Amended and Restated By-Laws of AutoZone, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 19, 2018.
4.1
Officers’ Certificate dated January 27, 2023, pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Indenture dated August 8, 2003, setting forth the terms of the 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 27, 2023.
4.2
Officers’ Certificate dated January 27, 2023, pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Indenture dated August 8, 2003, setting forth the terms of the 4.750% Senior Notes due 2033. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 27, 2023.
4.3
Form of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 27, 2023.
4.4
Form of 4.750% Senior Notes due 2033. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 27, 2023.
15.1
Letter Regarding Unaudited Interim Financial Statements.
31.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101. INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104
The cover page for the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 11, 2023, has been formatted in Inline XBRL.
*
Furnished herewith.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
By:
/s/ JAMERE JACKSON
Jamere Jackson
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
Finance and Store Development
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ J. SCOTT MURPHY
J. Scott Murphy
Vice President, Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Dated: March 17, 2023