10-KPeriod: FY2007

O REILLY AUTOMOTIVE INC Annual Report, Year Ended Dec 31, 2007

Filed March 3, 2008For Securities:ORLY

Summary

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.'s (ORLY) 2007 Form 10-K highlights a company in a competitive automotive aftermarket industry with a strong growth trajectory, primarily driven by new store openings and same-store sales increases. The company operates in the Central, Midwest, and Southern United States, with a significant concentration in Texas. Despite solid performance, ORLY faces various risks, including intense competition, potential challenges in achieving future growth targets, risks associated with acquisitions, sensitivity to regional economic and weather conditions, and reliance on key personnel. The company's stock price is subject to market volatility. Financially, ORLY reported strong sales growth and profitability, with strategic investments in infrastructure and store expansion. The company's liquidity appears sound, supported by operating cash flows and an available credit facility, indicating a stable financial position heading into 2008.

Key Highlights

  • 1Continued expansion with 190 net new stores opened in 2007, contributing to a 10.5% increase in sales ($2.52 billion).
  • 2Same-store sales increased by 3.7% in 2007, indicating steady performance in existing locations, though below historical trends due to macroeconomic factors.
  • 3Gross profit margin improved slightly to 44.4% in 2007 due to better product mix, lower acquisition costs, and distribution efficiencies.
  • 4Operating, Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses increased as a percentage of sales to 32.3% in 2007, primarily due to higher store salaries, advertising, and depreciation.
  • 5The company maintained a strong financial position with significant retained earnings and a healthy working capital, funded by operating activities and credit facilities.
  • 6No share repurchases were made in fiscal 2007, and the company has not paid cash dividends since 1992, reinvesting earnings into growth.
  • 7Key executive officers, including CEO Greg Henslee and COO Ted Wise, have extensive tenure with the company, highlighting experienced leadership.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary risks include intense competition within the automotive aftermarket, the company's ability to continue achieving its ambitious growth targets, potential integration challenges and unforeseen liabilities from acquisitions, sensitivity to regional economic and weather downturns, and reliance on key executive personnel. Stock price volatility is also a noted risk.

O'Reilly funds its expansion primarily through cash generated from operating activities. Additionally, they utilize their existing credit facility and potentially other borrowings to finance capital expenditures, which include opening new stores, relocating/remodeling existing ones, and investing in technology.

O'Reilly Automotive has not paid cash dividends since 1992 and does not anticipate paying them in the foreseeable future. The company also did not engage in any share repurchases during fiscal year 2007. This indicates a strategy focused on reinvesting earnings back into the business for growth and expansion.

The company utilizes sophisticated systems to monitor product life cycles and adjusts inventory volumes based on demand. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. While the risk of obsolescence for their product lines is considered minimal due to long application lifecycles, they maintain reserves for isolated instances where market value may be lower than recorded cost.