O'Reilly Automotive stock: Q3 growth lifts 2026 outlook

O'Reilly Automotive reported record revenue and earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, in a release published on Wednesday, October 28. The company's investor release said sales increased 9% year over year to 5.12 billion US dollars.

The real-time quote of O'Reilly Automotive stock traded at 78.45 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 1:10 p.m. CET on Monday, November 2, 2026. The quote provides the latest intraday view while investors assess the retailer's updated targets.

Sales growth broadens the earnings base

Comparable-store sales rose 7.2% in the third quarter, building on growth of 5.6% in the same period a year earlier. Management said the increase reflected market-share gains in both major customer groups, with double-digit growth in the professional business and mid-single-digit growth among do-it-yourself customers.

Gross profit increased 10% to 2.68 billion US dollars, lifting gross margin to 52.4% from 51.9% a year earlier. Operating income rose 13% to 1.10 billion US dollars, while net income increased 8% to 786 million US dollars. Diluted earnings per share advanced 14% to 0.97 US dollars from 0.85 US dollars.

The company said the quarter included a 39 million US dollar benefit from tariff refunds. That one-time contribution supported the earnings comparison and is relevant when assessing how much of the profit increase came from underlying sales momentum.

Management raises full-year targets

O'Reilly raised its 2026 comparable-store sales outlook to a range of 5.5% to 6.5%, from 4.0% to 6.0% previously. The company also lifted its gross-margin target to 51.6% to 52.1% and its operating-income margin target to 19.5% to 20.0%.

Full-year revenue is now expected at 19.0 billion to 19.3 billion US dollars, with diluted earnings per share of 3.25 to 3.35 US dollars. O'Reilly raised its free-cash-flow outlook to 1.9 billion to 2.2 billion US dollars. The updated plan assumes 225 to 235 net new stores in 2026; 173 had been opened through the first nine months.

For investors, the raised outlook points to continued operating momentum, but the tariff refund means the quarterly margin and earnings figures should not be treated as a pure recurring run rate. The next focus will be whether comparable sales remain strong while margins normalize in the fourth quarter.

The S&P 500 provides the broader US equity backdrop for investors following the retailer.

More news and analyses on O'Reilly Automotive stock remain available as the company moves toward its fourth-quarter update.