AutoZone Registers Strong First-Quarter Results

U.S. retail-wholesale auto parts chain AutoZone, Inc. reported strong first-quarter performance in virtually all key metrics. AutoZone reported net sales of $1.6 billion for its first quarter (12 weeks) ended November 21, 2009, an increase of 7.5% from the first quarter of fiscal 2009 (12 weeks). Domestic same-store sales, or sales for stores open at least one year, increased 5.6% for the quarter. Net income for the quarter increased $11.9 million, or 9.1%, over the same period last year to $143.3 million, while diluted earnings per share increased 26.4% to $2.82 per share from $2.23 per share in the year-ago quarter. All figures in U.S. dollars.