Advance Auto Parts Reports Record First Quarter 2021 Results

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended April 24, 2021.

"In the first quarter of 2021, we delivered record-breaking sales growth across our business, as both DIY and professional customers turned to Advance for their automotive needs amid a strong industry backdrop," said Tom Greco, president and chief executive officer. "I want to thank all our team members and independent partners for their relentless focus on execution during the quarter. In addition to the positive macro environment, our significant investments in both the business and our team over the past several years led to an improved customer experience and margin expansion. We delivered comparable store sales growth in the first quarter of 24.7% and adjusted operating income margin expansion of 478 basis points. Robust consumer demand, on-going cost control and operational improvements helped enable both gross margin and SG&A expense leverage, resulting in an all-time high for quarterly adjusted diluted EPS.

"Our commitment and actions to protect the financial strength of the business during the pandemic resulted in first quarter free cash flow of $259 million. In addition, we returned $204 million to our shareholders through the combination of share repurchases and our quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share. Based on the health of our balance sheet and the confidence in our continued cash generation, our board recently approved an additional $1 billion share repurchase authorization and a significant increase in our quarterly cash dividend. We're committed to a balanced approach in returning cash to shareholders and our recent actions are a testament to that commitment. Building on the strength of our brands and our diversified digital and physical asset base, we remain focused on the execution of the long-term strategy we discussed in April to drive total shareholder returns for years to come."

Q1 2021 Highlights ⁽¹⁾

• Net sales increased 23.4% to $3.3 billion
• Comparable store sales ⁽²⁾ increased 24.7%; On a two-year stack, Comparable store sales increased 15.4%
• Operating income increased 221.5% to $252.1 million; Operating income margin expanded 466 basis points to 7.6%
• Adjusted operating income ⁽²⁾ increased 164.0% to $298.8 million; Adjusted operating income margin ⁽²⁾ expanded 478 basis points to 9.0%
• Diluted EPS increased 346.0% to $2.81; Adjusted Diluted EPS ⁽²⁾ increased 234.0% to $3.34
• Operating cash flow increased to $329.9 million from $10.9 million; Free cash flow ⁽²⁾ increased to $259.0 million from $(72.1) million
• Returned approximately $203.5 million to shareholders through the combination of share repurchases and the company’s quarterly cash dividend

First Quarter 2021 Operating Results

Net sales for the first quarter of 2021 were $3.3 billion, a 23.4% increase versus the first quarter of the prior year. Comparable store sales for the first quarter of 2021 increased 24.7%.

Adjusted gross profit increased 26.0% to $1.5 billion. Adjusted gross profit margin was 44.8% of Net sales in the first quarter of 2021, a 91 basis point increase from the first quarter of 2020, driven by an increase in net sales, improvements in supply chain leverage, pricing actions, channel mix as well as material cost optimization. These improvements were slightly offset by unfavorable inventory related costs, product mix and headwinds associated with shrink and defectives. The company's GAAP Gross profit margin increased to 44.6% from 43.5% in the first quarter of 2020.

Adjusted SG&A increased $121.9 million to $1.2 billion. Adjusted SG&A was 35.8% of Net sales in the first quarter of 2021, which improved 387 basis points as compared to the first quarter of 2020. The improvement was driven by fixed cost leverage primarily related to payroll and rent as well as lower insurance and claims related expenses from the company's continued efforts on safety. The savings were partially offset by an increase in field bonus, marketing investments as well as an increase in third-party and service contracts related to IT transformational plans. The company's GAAP SG&A was 37.0% of Net sales in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 40.6% in the first quarter of 2020.

The company's Adjusted operating income was $298.8 million in the first quarter of 2021, including approximately $16 million in COVID-19 related expenses, compared to $113.2 million in the first quarter of the prior year. Adjusted operating income margin of 9.0% of Net sales in the first quarter of 2021 increased 478 basis points for the first quarter for 2021 compared to the first quarter of the prior year. On a GAAP basis, the company's Operating income was $252.1 million, or 7.6% of Net sales, an increase of 466 basis points compared to the first quarter of 2020.

The company's effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2021 was 24.3%, compared to 27.6% in the first quarter of the prior year. The company's Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.34 for the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 234.0% compared to the first quarter of the prior year. On a GAAP basis, the company's Diluted EPS increased 346.0% to $2.81.

Year to date Operating cash flow was $329.9 million through the first quarter of 2021 versus $10.9 million in the same period of the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by the increased cash generated from operations and other working capital improvements. Free cash flow through the first quarter of 2021 was $259.0 million.

Capital Allocation

On April 19, 2021, the company's Board of Directors approved an additional share repurchase authorization of $1.0 billion. During the first quarter of 2021, the company repurchased approximately 1.1 million shares of its common stock for an aggregate amount of approximately $170.4 million, or an average price of $157.84 per share. At the end of the first quarter of 2021, the company had approximately $1.3 billion remaining under the share repurchase program.

On April 19, 2021 the company's Board of Directors declared a regular cash dividend of $1.00 per share to be paid on July 2, 2021 to all common stockholders of record as of June 18, 2021.

Updated 2021 Full Year Guidance

"We continue to see top-line sales strength in the early weeks of the second quarter of 2021," said Jeff Shepherd, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "Through the first four weeks of Q2, our comp sales continue to trend in the mid-teens and on a two-year stack are comparable with our Q1 2021 increase of 15.4%. While we're still anticipating significant volatility throughout the balance of this year due to macro-economic factors, we're again updating our full year guidance to reflect this continued top-line momentum."

Investor Conference Call

The company will host a webcast to discuss its results for the first quarter of 2021 and other business updates scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. The webcast will be accessible via the Investor Relations page of the company's website (www.AdvanceAutoParts.com).

To join by phone, please pre-register online for dial-in and passcode information. Upon registering, participants will receive a confirmation with call details and a registrant ID. While registration is open through the live call, the company suggests registering a day in advance or at minimum 10 minutes before the start of the call. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Advance 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 April 24, 2021, Advance operated 4,793 stores and 178 Worldpac branches in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company also serves 1,285 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico, Grand Cayman, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements herein are "forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are usually identifiable by words such as "anticipate,” "believe,” "could,” "estimate,” "expect,” "forecast,” "guidance," "intend,” "likely,” "may,” "plan,” "position,” "possible,” "potential,” "probable,” "project,” "should,” "strategy,” "will,” or similar language. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about the company's strategic initiatives, operational plans and objectives, expectations for economic recovery and future business and financial performance, as well as statements regarding underlying assumptions related thereto. Forward-looking statements reflect the company's views based on historical results, current information and assumptions related to future developments. Except as may be required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made herein. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. They include, among others, factors related to the timing and implementation of strategic initiatives, the highly competitive nature of the company's industry, demand for the company's products and services, complexities in its inventory and supply chain, challenges with transforming and growing its business and factors related to the current global pandemic. Please refer to "Item 1A. Risk Factors.” of the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied by the forward-looking statements

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The company's financial results include certain financial measures not derived in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP”). Non-GAAP financial measures should not be used as a substitute for GAAP financial measures, or considered in isolation, for the purpose of analyzing the company's operating performance, financial position or cash flows. The company has presented these non-GAAP financial measures as it believes that the presentation of its financial results that exclude (1) LIFO impacts; (2) transformation expenses under the company's strategic business plan; (3) non-cash amortization related to the acquired General Parts International, Inc. ("GPI”) intangible assets; and (4) other non-recurring adjustments is useful and indicative of the company's base operations because the expenses vary from period to period in terms of size, nature and significance and/or relate to store closure and consolidation activity in excess of historical levels. These measures assist in comparing the company's current operating results with past periods and with the operational performance of other companies in its industry. The disclosure of these measures allows investors to evaluate the company's performance using the same measures management uses in developing internal budgets and forecasts and in evaluating management’s compensation. Included below is a description of the expenses that the company has determined are not normal, recurring cash operating expenses necessary to operate its business and the rationale for why providing these measures is useful to investors as a supplement to the GAAP measures.

LIFO impacts — Beginning in the first quarter of 2021, to assist in comparing the company's current operating results with the operational performance of other companies in the industry, the impact of LIFO on the company's results of operations is a reconciling item to arrive at non-GAAP financial measures.

Transformation expenses — Costs incurred in connection with the company's business plan that focuses on specific transformative activities that relate to the integration and streamlining of its operating structure across the enterprise, that the company does not view to be normal cash operating expenses. These expenses include, but not be limited to the following:

• Restructuring costs - Costs primarily relating to the early termination of lease obligations, asset impairment charges, other facility closure costs and team member severance in connection with our voluntary retirement program and continued optimization of our organization.
• Third-party professional services - Costs primarily relating to services rendered by vendors for assisting the company with the development of various information technology and supply chain projects in connection with the company's enterprise integration initiatives.
• Other significant costs - Costs primarily relating to accelerated depreciation of various legacy information technology and supply chain systems in connection with the company's enterprise integration initiatives and temporary off-site workspace for project teams who are primarily working on the development of specific transformative activities that relate to the integration and streamlining of the company's operating structure across the enterprise.

GPI amortization of acquired intangible assets — As part of the company's acquisition of GPI, the company obtained various intangible assets, including customer relationships, non-compete contracts and favorable lease agreements, which they expect to be subject to amortization through 2025.

NOTE: Adjusted gross profit, Adjusted gross profit margin (calculated by dividing Adjusted gross profit by Net sales), Adjusted SG&A, Adjusted SG&A as a percentage of Net sales, Adjusted operating income and Adjusted operating income margin (calculated by dividing Adjusted operating income by Net sales) are non-GAAP measures. Management believes these non-GAAP measures are important metrics in assessing the overall performance of the business and utilizes these metrics in its ongoing reporting. On that basis, management believes it is useful to provide these metrics to investors and prospective investors to evaluate the company’s operating performance across periods adjusting for these items (refer to the reconciliations of non-GAAP adjustments above). These non-GAAP measures might not be calculated in the same manner as, and thus might not be comparable to, similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Non-GAAP measures should not be used by investors or third parties as the sole basis for formulating investment decisions, as they may exclude a number of important cash and non-cash recurring items.

NOTE: Management uses Free cash flow as a measure of its liquidity and believes it is a useful indicator to investors or potential investors of the company's ability to implement growth strategies and service debt. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure and should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, information contained in the company's condensed consolidated statement of cash flows as a measure of liquidity.

NOTE: Management believes its Adjusted Debt to Adjusted EBITDAR ratio ("leverage ratio”) is a key financial metric for debt securities, as reviewed by rating agencies, and believes its debt levels are best analyzed using this measure. The company’s goal is to maintain an investment grade rating. The company's credit rating directly impacts the interest rates on borrowings under its existing credit facility and could impact the company's ability to obtain additional funding. If the company was unable to maintain its investment grade rating this could negatively impact future performance and limit growth opportunities. Similar measures are utilized in the calculation of the financial covenants and ratios contained in the company's financing arrangements. The leverage ratio calculated by the company is a non-GAAP measure and should not be considered a substitute for debt to net earnings, net earnings or debt as determined in accordance with GAAP. The company adjusts the calculation to remove rent expense and to add back the company’s existing operating lease liabilities related to their right-of-use assets to provide a more meaningful comparison with the company’s peers and to account for differences in debt structures and leasing arrangements. The company’s calculation of its leverage ratio might not be calculated in the same manner as, and thus might not be comparable to, similarly titled measures by other companies.

Store Information

During the sixteen weeks ended April 24, 2021, 9 stores and branches were opened and 14 were closed or consolidated, resulting in a total of 4,971 stores and branches as of April 24, 2021, compared to a total of 4,976 stores and branches as of January 2, 2021.

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