O'Reilly's Strong Q3 Comps Offset by Margin Pressure, RBC Says

12:14 PM EDT, 10/30/2026 (MT Newswires) -- O'Reilly Automotive (ORLY) reported stronger-than-expected comparable-store sales in Q3, but weaker underlying incremental margins tempered the positive results, RBC Capital Markets said. O'Reilly Automotive (ORLY) reported stronger-than-expected comparable-store sales in Q3, but weaker underlying incremental margins tempered the positive picture, RBC Capital Markets said. Positives for the quarter included comparable-store sales growth of 7.2%, well above expectations, driven by the performance of its professional and do-it-yourself businesses, the analysts said in a Thursday note. The company also guided for roughly 4% growth in net new stores in 2027. On the downside, do-it-yourself transaction counts declined in the low single digits as consumers remained under pressure. Underlying gross margin also deleveraged, reflecting a greater petroleum-based product mix and pricing rate pressure, the analysts added. The investment firm raised its comparable-sales estimates for 2026 and 2027 but maintained its 2027 adjusted EPS estimate at $3.69. RBC maintained its $111 price target on the company's stock, with an outperform rating. Shares of O'Reilly Automotive were up nearly 1% in Friday afternoon trading. Price: 88.83, Change: +0.76, Percent Change: +0.86