Advance Auto Parts Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results; Updates Full Year 2026 Guidance

By Business Wire | November 05, 2026, 5:30 AM

Comparable Sales Trends Improved Sequentially During Q3 2026; Turned Positive In the Final Four Weeks

FY 2026 Free Cash Flow Guidance Raised To Approx. $150 Million; Over $400 Million Growth Year-over-Year

RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--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, announced its financial results for the third quarter ended October 10, 2026.

"Our comparable sales performance improved as the quarter progressed. Main Street Pro outperformed throughout the quarter while DIY trends improved compared to the softer trends experienced during the summer. I thank the team for their hard work and commitment to serving our customers," said Shane O'Kelly, president and chief executive officer. "Sales declined in the low-single-digit range during the first eight weeks before turning positive in the final four weeks, supported by improved transaction volumes. The Pro channel led performance in Q3, with low-single-digit sales growth including stronger Main Street Pro growth. The DIY channel declined in the low-single-digit range for the quarter, with trends recovering from negative mid-single-digit levels at the start of the quarter. Despite the volatile demand environment and industry cost pressures, we delivered an adjusted operating margin of 4.5% in Q3 and generated over $100 million of free cash flow year-to-date. We believe that our strategic initiatives are starting to gain traction and we remain focused on delivering sustainable, profitable growth over the long term."

Third Quarter 2026 Results ⁽¹⁾

Third quarter 2026 net sales totaled $2,012 million, compared with $2,036 million in the third quarter of the prior year. Comparable store sales for the third quarter 2026 decreased 1.2%.

The Company's third quarter 2026 gross profit was $897 million, or 44.6% of net sales compared with $881 million, or 43.3% in the third quarter of 2025. Adjusted gross profit was $899 million, or 44.7% of net sales in the third quarter of 2026 compared with $913 million, or 44.8% in the third quarter of 2025. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of net sales compared to the third quarter of 2025 was primarily driven by changes in product and channel sales mix compared to last year and supply chain expense deleverage.

The Company's third quarter 2026 selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $850 million, or 42.2% of net sales compared with $859 million, or 42.2% of net sales in the third quarter of 2025. Adjusted SG&A expenses were $808 million, or 40.2% of net sales in the third quarter of 2026 compared with $823 million, or 40.4% of net sales in the third quarter of 2025. The decrease in SG&A as a percentage of net sales compared to the third quarter of 2025 was primarily driven by a reduction in expenses compared to last year, supported by disciplined expense management.

The Company's third quarter 2026 operating income was $47 million, or 2.3% of net sales, compared with $22 million, or 1.1% of net sales in the third quarter of 2025. Adjusted operating income was $91 million or 4.5% of net sales in the third quarter of 2026, compared with $90 million or 4.4% of net sales in the third quarter of 2025.

The Company's third quarter 2026 diluted earnings per share was $0.25, compared with loss of $0.02 in the third quarter of 2025. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.79 in the third quarter of 2026, compared with $0.92 in the third quarter of 2025.

___________________________

⁽¹⁾ The Company calculates comparable store sales based on the change in store sales starting once a location has been open for approximately one year and by including e-commerce sales and excluding sales fulfilled by distribution centers to independently owned Carquest locations. The Company includes sales from relocated stores in comparable store sales from the original date of opening. Closed stores are not included in the comparable store sales calculation. Comparable store sales is intended only as supplemental information and is not a substitute for Net sales presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").

Capital Allocation

On October 26, 2026, the Company declared a regular cash dividend of $0.25 per share to be paid on January 22, 2027 to all common stockholders of record as of January 8, 2027.

Full Year 2026 Guidance⁽¹⁾

The Company has revised its full year 2026 guidance to reflect year-to-date financial performance and updated operating assumptions for the fourth quarter of 2026.

	As of November 5, 2026						Prior Guidance
($ in millions, except per share data)	Low			High			Low			High
Net sales	Approx.$8,500						$	8,485		$	8,575
Comparable store sales (52 weeks)⁽²⁾	Approx. 1.00%							1.00	%		2.00	%
Adjusted operating income margin		4.00	%		4.30	%		3.80	%		4.50	%
Adjusted diluted EPS⁽³⁾	$	2.75		$	3.10		$	2.60		$	3.30
Capital expenditures	Approx. $300						Approx. $300
Free cash flow	Approx. $150						Approx. $100

Store growth
New store openings	30 - 35						30 - 35
Market hub openings	15 - 20						15 - 20

⁽¹⁾		Adjusted operating income margin, Adjusted diluted EPS and Free cash flow are Non-GAAP measures. For a better understanding of the Company's Non-GAAP adjustments, refer to the reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures in the accompanying financial tables. The Company is not able to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking Non-GAAP measures presented herein because it is unable to predict with reasonable accuracy the value of certain adjustments and as a result, the comparable GAAP measures are unavailable without unreasonable efforts.
⁽²⁾		Comparable store sales for fiscal 2026 is calculated based on an adjusted fiscal 2025 baseline to account for the 53rd week. The Company calculates comparable store sales based on the change in store sales starting once a location has been open for approximately one year and by including e-commerce sales and excluding sales fulfilled by distribution centers to independently owned Carquest locations. The Company includes sales from relocated stores in comparable store sales from the original date of opening. Comparable store sales is intended only as supplemental information and is not a substitute for Net sales presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
⁽³⁾		Includes pre-tax interest expense of approximately $210 million and pre-tax interest income of approximately $105 million.

Investor Conference Call

The Company will detail its results for the third quarter and full year 2026 via a webcast scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The webcast will be accessible via the Investor Relations page of the Company's website (ir.AdvanceAutoParts.com).

To join by phone, please pre-register online for dial-in and passcode information. While registration is open through the live call, the Company suggests registering a minimum 10 minutes before the start of the call. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company's Investor Relations website for one year.

About Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers. As of October 10, 2026, Advance operated 4,325 stores primarily within the United States, with additional locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Company also served 787 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to various Caribbean islands. Additional information about Advance, including employment opportunities, customer services, and online shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.

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,” “target,” “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, future business and financial performance, revenue, earnings, cash flow, liquidity, restructuring and asset optimization plans, financial objectives, debt capital structure, operational plans and objectives, capital expenditures, organizational changes, cost reductions, expectations for macroeconomic conditions, marketing strategies, inflation, impairments, consumer behavior and preferences, labor costs and availability, supply chain and merchandising strategies and effects, technology investments, effective tax rates, regulatory changes and impacts, anticipated impacts of tariffs and other trade barriers, tariff refunds, compliance with debt covenants, statements about the status of, and capacity and utilization under, the Company’s supply chain financing arrangements and statements about the Company’s future credit ratings and outlook 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, the Company’s ability to hire, train and retain qualified employees, the timing and implementation of strategic initiatives, risks associated with the Company’s restructuring and asset optimization plans, risks relating to incurrence of indebtedness and increased leverage, risks relating to the Company's credit ratings or perceived creditworthiness, the Company's ability to complete store openings, deterioration of general macroeconomic conditions, geopolitical factors, including tariffs, petroleum supply and prices, and trade restrictions, the highly competitive nature of the industry, demand for the Company’s products and services, risks relating to the impairment of assets, including intangible assets such as goodwill, access to financing on favorable terms, complexities in the Company’s inventory and supply chain, implementation and operation of information and technology systems and innovative technologies, and challenges with transforming and growing its business. Please refer to "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), as updated by the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC, 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.

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in millions), (unaudited)⁽¹⁾

Assets	October 10, 2026		January 3, 2026
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,085	$	3,123
Receivables, net		404		380
Inventories, net		3,789		3,646
Other current assets		128		141
Total current assets		7,406		7,290
Property and equipment, net		1,285		1,269
Operating lease right-of-use assets		2,100		2,157
Goodwill		599		600
Other intangible assets, net		398		400
Other assets		133		110
Total assets	$	11,921	$	11,826
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	3,065	$	2,977
Accrued expenses		714		756
Current portion of long-term debt		349		-
Other current liabilities		416		443
Total current liabilities		4,544		4,176
Long-term debt		3,039		3,412
Operating lease liabilities		1,795		1,812
Deferred income taxes		179		142
Other long-term liabilities		104		86
Total liabilities		9,661		9,628
Total stockholders' equity		2,260		2,198
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	11,921	$	11,826

⁽¹⁾

This condensed consolidated balance sheet has been prepared on a basis consistent with the Company's previously prepared balance sheets filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), but does not include the footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in millions, except per share data), (unaudited)⁽¹⁾

	Twelve Weeks Ended						Forty Weeks Ended
	October 10, 2026			October 4, 2025			October 10, 2026			October 4, 2025
Net sales	$	2,012		$	2,036		$	6,626		$	6,628
Cost of sales		1,115			1,155			3,625			3,764
Gross profit		897			881			3,001			2,864
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of restructuring expenses		808			826			2,699			2,771
Restructuring and related expenses		42			33			84			180
Selling, general and administrative expenses		850			859			2,783			2,951
Operating income (loss)		47			22			218			(87	)
Other, net:
Interest expense		(46	)		(40	)		(160	)		(86	)
Other income, net		23			16			76			61
Total other, net		(23	)		(24	)		(84	)		(25	)
Income (loss) before income tax expense		24			(2	)		134			(112	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		9			(1	)		40			(150	)
Net income (loss)	$	15		$	(1	)	$	94		$	38

Basic earnings (loss) per common share	$	0.25		$	(0.02	)	$	1.56		$	0.63
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding		60.4			60.0			60.3			59.9

Diluted earnings (loss) per common share	$	0.25		$	(0.02	)	$	1.54		$	0.63
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding		60.9			60.0			60.9			60.5

⁽¹⁾

These condensed consolidated statements of operations have been prepared on a basis consistent with the Company's previously prepared statements of operations filed with the SEC, but does not include the footnotes required by GAAP.

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in millions), (unaudited)⁽¹⁾

	Forty Weeks Ended
	October 10, 2026			October 4, 2025
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	94		$	38
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		188			214
Share-based compensation		29			29
Loss on sale and impairment of long-lived assets		41			23
Expected future credit losses, net		12			50
Provision for deferred income taxes		38			(27	)
Other, net		22			14
Net change in:
Receivables, net		(36	)		46
Inventories, net		(152	)		(75	)
Operating lease right-of-use assets		19			41
Other assets		(15	)		(57	)
Accounts payable		94			(270	)
Accrued expenses		14			(37	)
Operating lease liabilities		(56	)		(108	)
Other liabilities		19			1
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		311			(118	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment		(202	)		(159	)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment		2			22
Other, net		(9	)		—
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations		(209	)		(137	)
Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations		(55	)		—
Net cash used in investing activities		(264	)		(137	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid		(45	)		(45	)
Repayment of long-term debt		(29	)		(300	)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		—			1,950
Debt issuance costs		—			(42	)
Other, net		(8	)		(4	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(82	)		1,559

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(3	)		1

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(38	)		1,305
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		3,123			1,869
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	3,085		$	3,174

⁽¹⁾

This condensed consolidated statement of cash flows has been prepared on a basis consistent with the Company's previously prepared statements of cash flows filed with the SEC, but does not include the footnotes required by GAAP.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses certain Non-GAAP financial measures described below to supplement the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP and to understand and evaluate the Company's core operating performance. These Non-GAAP financial measures, which may be different than similarly titled measures used by other companies, are presented as the Company believes that such Non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about our financial performance, enhance the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to important metrics used by management for financial and operational decision-making. The Company is presenting these Non-GAAP metrics to provide investors insight to the information used by our management to evaluate our business and financial performance. The Company believes that these measures provide investors increased comparability of our core financial performance over multiple periods with other companies in our industry. The Company's Non-GAAP financial measures include Adjusted Gross Profit, Adjusted Gross Profit Margin, Adjusted Selling, General and Administrative expense (“Adjusted SG&A”), Adjusted SG&A Margin, Adjusted Operating Income (loss), Adjusted Operating Income (loss) Margin, Adjusted Net Income (loss), Adjusted Diluted Earnings (loss) Per Share (“Adjusted Diluted EPS”), Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDAR ("Net Leverage Ratio"), and should not be used as a substitute for GAAP financial measures, or considered in isolation, for the purpose of analyzing operating performance, financial position or cash flows.

The Company has presented these Non-GAAP financial measures as the Company believes that the presentation of the financial results that exclude the categories of expenses and income listed below provide useful and indicative information about the performance of the Company's base operations because the expenses and income vary from period to period in terms of size, nature and significance. The Company also adjusts for the income tax impact of these Non-GAAP adjustments using the estimated tax rate in effect for the respective Non-GAAP adjustments. Included below is a description of the categories of expenses and income that the Company has determined are not normal, recurring cash operating expenses necessary to operate the Company’s business.

Restructuring and other related expenses: Expenses directly incurred relating to announced restructuring initiatives. These expenses include severance expense, retention bonuses, incremental reserves related to the collectibility of receivables (inclusive of notes receivable) and third-party professional services expenses incurred for services provided in assisting in the development and execution of the plan(s). These expenses also include certain costs related to the distribution network optimization plan for the conversion of the stores and distribution centers to market hubs, including realized losses on liquidated inventory, temporary labor, nonrecurring professional service fees and team member severance.
Impairments and write-down of assets: Expenses relating to the impairment of certain assets, including operating lease right-of-use ("ROU") assets, property and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets. These expenses also include incremental depreciation as a result of accelerating long-lived assets over a shorter useful life, ROU asset amortization after store closure, and incremental lease abandonment expenses as a result of accelerating ROU asset amortization for leases the Company expects to exit before the end of the contractual term, net of gains on lease terminations.
Other items: Expenses primarily relating to nonrecurring services rendered by third-party vendors engaged to perform strategic business review and transformational activities, expense incurred related to acquisitions and divestitures including third-party transaction related expenses, transition services agreement expenses and income, and certain other expenses not viewed as normal cash operating expenses. In fiscal 2025, these expenses also included a non-cash charge related to expected future credit losses on vendor receivables due from a vendor that filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Other items also include certain tax items, both expenses and benefits, that are unrelated to the fiscal year in which they are recorded and are excluded in order to provide a clearer understanding of the Company’s ongoing Non-GAAP tax rate and after-tax earnings.

Reconciliation of GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Results:

	Twelve Weeks Ended October 10, 2026
	GAAP Results			GAAP Margin⁽¹⁾			Restructuring and Other Related Expenses⁽²⁾			Impairments and Write- downs of assets⁽³⁾			Other Items		Non- GAAP Adjusted Results			Non-GAAP Adjusted Margin⁽¹⁾
Net sales	$	2,012					$	-		$	-		$	-	$	2,012
Cost of sales		1,115						2			-			-		1,113
Gross Profit		897			44.6	%		2			-			-		899			44.7	%
Selling, general and administrative		850			42.2	%		4			38			-		808			40.2	%
Operating income		47			2.3	%		6			38			-		91			4.5	%
Other, net		(23	)					-			-			-		(23	)
Income tax expense (benefit)⁽⁴⁾		9						(2	)		(9	)		-		20
Net Income	$	15					$	4		$	29		$	-	$	48

Diluted earnings per share	$	0.25													$	0.79
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding		60.9														60.9

⁽¹⁾ These GAAP and Non-GAAP measures are calculated as a percentage of net sales.

⁽²⁾ Restructuring and other related expenses includes expenses associated with location closures.

⁽³⁾ The Company recorded incremental accelerated depreciation and amortization for property and equipment and ROU assets of $2 million and impairment charges for property and equipment and ROU assets of $36 million, net of gains on sale.

⁽⁴⁾ The income tax impact of Non-GAAP adjustments is calculated using the estimated tax rate in effect for the respective Non-GAAP adjustments.

	Twelve Weeks Ended October 4, 2025
	GAAP Results			GAAP Margin⁽¹⁾			Restructuring and Other Related Expenses			Impairments and Write-downs of assets			Other Items			Non-GAAP Adjusted Results			Non-GAAP Adjusted Margin⁽¹⁾
Net sales	$	2,036					$	-		$	-		$	-		$	2,036
Cost of sales		1,155						4			-			28			1,123
Gross Profit		881			43.3	%		4			-			28			913			44.8	%
Selling, general and administrative		859			42.2	%		13			18			5			823			40.4	%
Operating income		22			1.1	%		17			18			33			90			4.4	%
Other, net		(24	)					-			-			8			(16	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		(1	)					(4	)		(5	)		(10	)		18
Net Income	$	(1	)				$	13		$	13		$	31		$	56

Diluted earnings per share	$	(0.02	)													$	0.92
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding		60.0															60.9

Contacts

Investor Relations Contact:
Lavesh Hemnani
E: invrelations@advance-auto.com

Media Contact:
Nicole Ducouer
E: AAPcommunications@advance-auto.com

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Advance Auto Parts Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results; Updates Full Year 2026 Guidance

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