Advance Auto Parts AAP Q1 2026 Earnings Transcript
Key takeaways
- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Ryan Grimsland
- Shane O?Kelly: Thank you, Lavesh, and good morning, everyone.
- The DIY channel also delivered positive low single-digit growth, reversing the softness experienced last quarter.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Ryan Grimsland
Shane O?Kelly: Thank you, Lavesh, and good morning, everyone. I want to begin by thanking our frontline team for their hard work, which delivered a solid start to 2026. Comparable sales grew by 3.5% in the first quarter, marking our strongest quarter of growth in 5 years. Based on market indicators, we believe our results were closely aligned to broader market trends, reflecting meaningful progress over the last 2 years. The Pro channel was the primary driver of sales with consistent monthly growth in the mid-single-digit range. Performance in the Pro channel was driven by our strategic focus on the Main Street Pro, where the sales growth remains stronger.
The DIY channel also delivered positive low single-digit growth, reversing the softness experienced last quarter. Our Q1 performance reflects continued improvement in parts availability and comer service, which is helping us respond to favorable industry dynamics. We continue to execute initiatives firmly rooted in the fundamentals of selling auto parts as we aim to stabilize market share in the near term while positioning ourselves for share gain in the future. The team also delivered healthy profitability in the first quarter. Adjusted operating margin expanded by over 400 basis points to 3.8%. This progress was partly fueled by effective merchandising execution and product margin expansion.