ADVANCE AUTO PARTS INC
Item 1. Business.
Unless the context otherwise requires, “Advance,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and similar terms refer to Advance Auto Parts, Inc., its subsidiaries and their respective operations on a consolidated basis. Our fiscal year consists of 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Saturday closest to December 31st of each year. Our fiscal year ended December 28, 2019 (“2019”), fiscal year ended December 29, 2018 (“2018”) and fiscal year ended December 30, 2017 (“2017”) included 52 weeks of operations.
Overview
We are a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, serving both professional installers (“Professional”), and “do-it-yourself” (“DIY”), customers as well as independently owned operators. Our stores and branches offer a broad selection of brand name, original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) and private label automotive replacement parts, accessories, batteries and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars, vans, sport utility vehicles and light and heavy duty trucks. As of December 28, 2019, we operated 4,877 total stores and 160 branches primarily under the trade names “Advance Auto Parts,” “Autopart International,” “Carquest” and “Worldpac.”
We were founded in 1929 as Advance Stores Company, Incorporated and operated as a retailer of general merchandise until the 1980s. During the 1980s, we began targeting the sale of automotive parts and accessories to DIY customers. We initiated our Professional delivery program in 1996 and have steadily increased our sales to Professional customers since 2000. We have grown significantly as a result of comparable store sales growth, new store openings and strategic acquisitions. Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 2001 in conjunction with the acquisition of Discount Auto Parts, Inc. In 2014, we acquired General Parts International, Inc. (“GPI”), a privately held company that was a leading distributor and supplier of original equipment and aftermarket automotive replacement products for Professional markets operating under the Carquest and Worldpac trade names.
Stores and Branches
Through our integrated operating approach, we serve our Professional and DIY customers through a variety of channels ranging from traditional “brick and mortar” store locations to self-service e-commerce sites. We believe we are better able to meet our customers’ needs by operating under several trade names, which are as follows:
Advance Auto Parts - Our 4,313 stores as of December 28, 2019 are generally located in freestanding buildings with a focus on both Professional and DIY customers. The average size of an Advance Auto Parts store is approximately 7,600 square feet. These stores carry a wide variety of products serving aftermarket auto part needs for both domestic and import vehicles. Our Advance Auto Parts stores carry a product offering of approximately 21,000 stock keeping units (“SKUs”), generally consisting of a custom mix of product based on each store’s respective market. Supplementing the inventory on-hand at our stores, additional less common SKUs are available in many of our larger stores (known as “HUB” stores). These additional SKUs are typically available on a same-day or next-day basis.
Autopart International - Our 180 stores as of December 28, 2019 operate primarily in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States with a focus on Professional customers. These stores specialize in imported aftermarket and private label branded auto parts. Autopart International stores offer approximately 45,000 SKUs.
Carquest - Our 384 stores as of December 28, 2019, including 144 stores in Canada, are generally located in freestanding buildings with a primary focus on Professional customers, but also serve DIY customers. The average size of a Carquest store is approximately 7,300 square feet. These stores carry a wide variety of products serving the aftermarket auto part needs for both domestic and import vehicles with a product offering of approximately 18,000 SKUs. As of December 28, 2019, Carquest also served 1,253 independently owned stores that operate under the “Carquest” name.
Worldpac - Our 160 branches as of December 28, 2019 principally serve Professional customers utilizing an efficient and sophisticated on-line ordering and fulfillment system. Worldpac branches are generally larger than our other store locations averaging approximately 25,700 square feet in size. Worldpac specializes in imported, OEM parts. Worldpac’s complete product offering includes over 185,000 SKUs for import and domestic vehicle carlines.
As part of our transformation efforts, we have consolidated 5 Autopart International (“AI”) stores into the Worldpac format. Under our strategic business plan, we plan to continue integrating the operations of AI and Worldpac.
Our Products
The following table shows some of the types of products that we sell by major category of items:
We provide our customers with quality products that are often offered at a good, better or best recommendation differentiated by price and quality. We accept customer returns for many new, core and warranty products.
Our Customers
Our Professional customers consist primarily of customers for whom we deliver product from our store or branch locations to their places of business, including garages, service stations and auto dealers. Our Professional sales represented approximately 60% of our sales in 2019 and 58% of our sales in 2018 and 2017. We also serve 1,253 independently owned Carquest stores with shipments directly from our distribution centers. Our DIY customers are primarily served through our stores, but can also order online to pick up merchandise at a conveniently located store or have their purchases shipped directly to them. Except where prohibited, we also provide a variety of services at our stores free of charge to our customers, including:
•
Battery and wiper installation;
•
Check engine light scanning;
•
Electrical system testing, including batteries, starters and alternators;
•
“How-To” video clinics;
•
Oil and battery recycling; and
•
Loaner tool programs.
We also serve our customers online at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com. Our Professional customers can conveniently place their orders electronically, including through MyAdvance.com, by phone, or in-store and we deliver product from our store or branch locations to their places of business.
Store Development
The key factors used in selecting sites and market locations in which we operate include population, demographics, traffic count, vehicle profile, number and strength of competitors’ stores and the cost of real estate. As of December 28, 2019, 4,872 stores and branches were located in 49 U.S. states and 2 U.S. territories and 165 stores and branches were located in 9 Canadian provinces.
We serve our stores and branches primarily from our principal corporate offices in Raleigh, NC and Roanoke, VA. We also maintain store support centers in Newark, CA and Norton, MA.
Supply Chain
Our supply chain consists of a network of distribution centers, HUBs, stores and branches that enable us to provide same-day or next-day availability to our customers. As of December 28, 2019, we operated 50 distribution centers, ranging in size from approximately 51,000 to 943,000 square feet with total square footage of approximately 11.4 million. In 2019, we closed distribution centers in Columbia, SC and Armonk, NY.
Merchandise, Marketing and Advertising
In 2019, we purchased merchandise from over 1,100 vendors, with no single vendor accounting for more than 10% of purchases. Our purchasing strategy involves negotiating agreements to purchase merchandise over a specified period of time along with other provisions, including pricing, volume and payment terms.
Our merchandising strategy is to carry a broad selection of high quality and reputable brand name automotive parts and accessories that we believe will appeal to our Professional customers and also generate DIY customer traffic. Some of our brands include Bosch®, Castrol®, Dayco®, Denso®, Gates®, Moog®, Monroe®, NGK®, Prestone®, Purolator®, Trico® and Wagner®. In addition to these branded products, we stock a wide selection of high-quality private label products with a goal of appealing to value-conscious customers. These lines of merchandise include chemicals, interior automotive accessories, batteries and parts under various private label names such as Autocraft®, Autopart International®, Driveworks®, Tough One® and Wearever® as well as the Carquest® brand.
On December 23, 2019, we purchased the DieHard® brand for a cash purchase price of $200.0 million. This purchase gives us the right to sell DieHard® batteries and enables us to extend the DieHard® brand into other automotive and vehicular categories. We granted the seller an exclusive royalty-free, perpetual license to develop, market, and sell DieHard® branded products in certain non-automotive categories.
Our marketing and advertising program is designed to drive brand awareness, consideration by consumers and omni-channel traffic by positioning Advance Auto Parts as the leader in parts availability, in-store parts and project expertise within the aftermarket auto parts category. We strive to exceed our customers’ expectations end-to-end through a comprehensive online and in-store pick up experience, extensive parts assortment, experienced parts professionals, Professional programs that are designed to build loyalty with our customers and our DIY customer loyalty program, Speed Perks 2.0. Our DIY campaign was developed around a multi-channel communications plan that brings together radio, television, direct marketing, social media, sponsorships, store events and Speed Perks 2.0.
Seasonality
Our business is somewhat seasonal in nature, with the highest sales usually occurring in the spring and summer months. In addition, our business can be affected by weather conditions. While unusually heavy precipitation tends to soften sales as elective maintenance is deferred during such periods, extremely hot or cold weather tends to enhance sales by causing automotive parts to fail at an accelerated rate. Our fourth quarter is generally our most volatile as weather and spending trade-offs typically influence our Professional and DIY sales.
Team Members
As of December 28, 2019, we employed approximately 39,000 full-time Team Members and approximately 28,000 part-time Team Members. Our workforce consisted of 83% of our Team Members employed in store-level operations, 13% employed in distribution and 4% employed in our corporate offices. As of December 28, 2019, less than 1% of our Team Members were represented by labor unions.
Intellectual Property
We own a number of trade names, service marks and trademarks, including “Advance Auto Parts®,” “Autopart International®,” “Carquest®,” “CARQUEST Technical Institute®,” “DieHard®,” “DriverSide®,” “MotoLogic®,” “MotoShop®,” “Worldpac®,” “speedDIAL®” and “TECH-NET Professional Auto Service®” for use in connection with the automotive parts business. In addition, we own and have registered a number of trademarks for our private label brands. We believe that these trade names, service marks and trademarks are important to our merchandising strategy. We do not know of any infringing uses that would materially affect the use of these trade names and marks and we actively defend and enforce them.
Competition
We operate in both the Professional and DIY markets of the automotive aftermarket industry. Our primary competitors are (i) both national and regional chains of automotive parts stores, including AutoZone, Inc., NAPA, O’Reilly Automotive, Inc., The Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack and Auto Plus (formerly Uni-Select USA, Inc.), (ii) internet-based retailers, (iii) discount stores and mass merchandisers that carry automotive products, (iv) wholesalers or jobbers stores, including those associated with national parts distributors or associations, (v) independently owned stores and (vi) automobile dealers that supply parts. We believe that chains of automotive parts stores that, like us, have multiple locations in one or more markets, have competitive advantages in customer service, marketing, inventory selection, purchasing and distribution as compared to independent retailers and jobbers that are not part of a chain or associated with other retailers or jobbers. The principal methods of competition in our business include customer service, product offerings, availability, quality, price and store location.
Environmental Matters
We are subject to various federal, state and local laws and governmental regulations relating to the operation of our business, including those governing collection, transportation and recycling of automotive lead-acid batteries, used motor oil and other recyclable items and ownership and operation of real property. We sell products containing hazardous materials as part of our business. In addition, our customers may bring automotive lead-acid batteries, used motor oil or other recyclable items onto our properties. We currently provide collection and recycling programs for used lead-acid batteries, used oil and other recyclable items at a majority of our stores as a service to our customers. Pursuant to agreements with third-party vendors, lead-acid batteries, used motor oil and other recyclable items are collected by our Team Members, deposited onto pallets or into vendor supplied containers and stored by us until collected by the third party vendors for recycling or proper disposal. The terms of our contracts with third party vendors require that they are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Our third-party vendors who arrange for the removal, disposal, treatment or other handling of hazardous or toxic substances may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation at any affected disposal, treatment or other site affected by such substances. Based on our experience, we do not believe that there are any material environmental costs associated with the current business practice of accepting lead-acid batteries, used oil and other recyclable items as these costs are borne by the respective third-party vendors.
We own and lease real property. Under various environmental laws and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real property may be liable for the cost of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances on, under or in such property. These laws often impose joint and several liability and may be imposed without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the release of such hazardous or toxic substances. Other environmental laws and common law principles also could be used to impose liability for releases of hazardous materials into the environment or work place, and third parties may seek recovery from owners or operators of real properties for personal injury or property damage associated with exposure to released hazardous substances. From time to time, we receive notices from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state environmental authorities indicating that there may be contamination on properties we own, lease or operate or may have owned, leased or operated in the past or on adjacent properties for which we may be responsible. Compliance with these laws and regulations and clean-up of released hazardous substances have not had a material impact on our operations to date.
Available Information
Our Internet address is www.AdvanceAutoParts.com. Our website and the information contained therein or linked thereto are not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2019. We make available free of charge through our Internet website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements, registration statements and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish them to the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. These materials may be obtained electronically by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below together with the other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including without limitation our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and “Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Critical Accounting Policies.” The occurrence of any of the following risks could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and future prospects, which could in turn materially affect the price of our common stock.
If overall demand for the products we sell declines, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows will suffer. Decreased demand could also negatively impact our stock price.
Overall demand for products sold by our stores depends on many factors and may decrease due to any number of reasons, including:
•
a decrease in the total number of vehicles on the road or in the number of annual miles driven or significant increase in the use of ridesharing services, because fewer vehicles means less maintenance and repairs, and lower vehicle mileage, which decreases the need for maintenance and repair;
•
the economy, because during periods of declining economic conditions and rising interest rates, consumers may reduce their discretionary spending by deferring vehicle maintenance or repair and new car purchases, which may impact the number of cars requiring repair in the future;
•
the weather, because milder weather conditions may lower the failure rates of automobile parts while extended periods of rain and winter precipitation may cause our customers to defer elective maintenance and repair of their vehicles;
•
the average duration of vehicle manufacturer warranties and average age of vehicles being driven, because newer cars typically require fewer repairs and will be repaired by the manufacturers’ dealer networks using dealer parts pursuant to warranties (which have gradually increased in duration and/or mileage expiration over the recent past), while vehicles that are seven years old and older are generally no longer covered under manufacturers’ warranties and tend to need more maintenance and repair than newer vehicles;
•
an increase in internet-based retailers, because potentially favorable prices and ease of use of purchasing parts via other websites on the internet may decrease the need for customers to visit and purchase their aftermarket parts from our physical stores and may cause fewer customers to order aftermarket parts on our website;
•
technological advances, such as battery electric vehicles, and the increase in quality of vehicles manufactured, because vehicles that need less frequent maintenance or have lower part failure rates will require less frequent repairs using aftermarket parts and, in the case of battery electric vehicles, do not require oil changes; and
•
the refusal of vehicle manufacturers to make available diagnostic, repair and maintenance information to the automotive aftermarket industry that our Professional and DIY customers require to diagnose, repair and maintain their vehicles, because this may force consumers to have a majority of diagnostic work, repairs and maintenance performed by the vehicle manufacturers’ dealer networks.
If we are unable to compete successfully against other companies in the automotive aftermarket industry we may lose customers and our revenues may decline.
The sale of automotive parts, accessories and maintenance items is highly competitive and influenced by a number of factors, including name recognition, location, price, quality, product availability and customer service. We compete in both the Professional and DIY categories of the automotive aftermarket industry, primarily with: (i) national and regional chains of automotive parts stores, (ii) internet-based retailers, (iii) discount stores and mass merchandisers that carry automotive products, (iv) wholesalers or jobbers stores, including those associated with national parts distributors or associations (v) independently owned stores and (vi) automobile dealers that supply parts. These competitors and the level of competition vary by market. Some of our competitors may possess advantages over us in certain markets we share, including with respect to the level of marketing activities, number of stores, store locations, store layouts, operating histories, name recognition, established customer bases, vendor relationships, prices and product warranties. Internet-based retailers may possess cost advantages over us due to lower overhead costs, time and travel savings and ability to price competitively. In order to compete favorably, we may need to increase delivery speeds and incur higher shipping costs. Consolidation among our competitors could enhance their market share and financial position, provide them with the ability to achieve better purchasing terms and allow them to provide more competitive prices to customers for whom we compete.
In addition, our reputation is critical to our continued success. Customers are increasingly shopping, reading reviews and comparing products and prices on-line. If we fail to maintain high standards for, or receive negative publicity (whether through social media or traditional media channels) relating to, product safety and quality or our integrity and reputation, we could lose customers to our competition. The product we sell is branded both in brands of our vendors and in our owned private label brands. If the perceived quality or value of the brands we sell declines in the eyes of our customers, our results of operations could be negatively affected.
Competition may require us to reduce our prices below our normal selling prices or increase our promotional spending, which could lower our revenue and profitability. Competitive disadvantages may also prevent us from introducing new product lines, require us to discontinue current product offerings, or change some of our current operating strategies. If we do not have the resources, expertise and consistent execution, or otherwise fail to develop successful strategies, to address these potential competitive disadvantages, we may lose customers, our revenues and profit margins may decline and we may be less profitable or potentially unprofitable.
If we are unable to successfully implement our business strategy, including increasing sales to Professional and DIY customers, expanding our margins and increasing our return on invested capital, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected.
We have identified several initiatives as part of our business strategy to increase sales to both Professional and DIY customers and expand our margins in order to increase our earnings and cash flows. We are currently making and expect to continue to make significant investments to pursue our strategic initiatives. If we are unable to implement our strategic initiatives efficiently and effectively, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected. We could also be adversely affected if we have not appropriately prioritized and balanced our initiatives or if we are unable to effectively manage change throughout our organization. Implementing strategic initiatives could disrupt or reduce the efficiency of our operations and may not provide the anticipated benefits, or may provide them on a delayed schedule or at a higher cost. These risks increase when significant changes are undertaken.
Our inventory and ability to meet customer expectations may be adversely impacted by factors out of our control.
For that portion of our inventory manufactured and/or sourced outside the United States, geopolitical changes, changes in trade regulations or tariff rates, currency fluctuations, work stoppages, labor strikes, port delays, civil unrest, natural disasters, pandemics and other factors beyond our control may increase the cost of items we purchase or create shortages that could have a material adverse effect on our sales and profitability. In addition, unanticipated changes in consumer preferences or any unforeseen hurdles to meeting our customers’ needs for automotive products (particularly parts availability) in a timely manner could undermine our business strategy.
If we are unable to successfully implement our growth strategy, keep existing store locations or open new locations in desirable places on favorable terms, it could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We intend to continue to expand the markets we serve as part of our growth strategy, which may include opening new stores or branches, as well as expansion of our online business. We may also grow our business through strategic acquisitions. We do not know whether the implementation of our growth strategy will be successful. As we expand our market presence through various means, it becomes more critical that we have consistent and effective execution across all of our Company’s locations and brands. We are unsure whether we will be able to open and operate new locations on a timely or sufficiently profitable basis, or that opening new locations in markets we already serve will not harm the profitability or comparable store sales of existing locations. The newly opened and existing locations’ profitability will depend on the competition we face as well as our ability to properly stock, market and price the products desired by customers in these markets. The actual number and format of any new locations to be opened and the success of our growth strategy will depend on a number of factors, including, among other things:
•the availability of desirable locations;
•the negotiation of acceptable lease or purchase terms for new locations;
•the availability of financial resources, including access to capital at cost-effective interest rates;
•our ability to expand our on-line offerings and sales; and
•our ability to manage the expansion and to hire, train and retain qualified Team Members.
We compete with other retailers and businesses for suitable locations for our stores. Local land use and zoning regulations, environmental regulations and other regulatory requirements may impact our ability to find suitable locations and influence the cost of constructing, renovating and operating our stores. In addition, real estate, zoning, construction and other delays may adversely affect store openings and renovations and increase our costs. Further, changing local demographics at existing store locations may adversely affect revenue and profitability levels at those stores. The termination or expiration of leases at existing store locations may adversely affect us if the renewal terms of those leases are unacceptable to us and we are forced to close or relocate stores. If we determine to close or relocate a store subject to a lease, we may remain obligated under the applicable lease for the balance of the lease term. In addition to potentially incurring costs related to lease obligations, we may also incur severance or other facility closure costs for stores that are closed or relocated.
Omni-channel growth in our business is complex and if we are unable to successfully maintain a relevant omni-channel experience for our customers, our sales and results of operations could adversely be impacted.
Our business has become increasingly omni-channel as we strive to deliver a seamless shopping experience to our customers through both online and in-store shopping experiences. Operating an e-commerce platform is a complex undertaking and exposes us to risks and difficulties frequently experienced by internet-based businesses, including risks related to our ability to attract and retain customers on a cost-effective basis and our ability to operate, support, expand, and develop our internet operations, website, mobile applications and software and other related operational systems. Continuing to improve our e-commerce platform involves substantial investment of capital and resources, increasing supply chain and distribution capabilities, attracting, developing and retaining qualified personnel with relevant subject matter expertise and effectively managing and improving the customer experience. Omni-channel and e-commerce retail are competitive and evolving environments. Insufficient, untimely or inadequately prioritized or ineffectively implemented investments could significantly impact our profitability and growth and affect our ability to attract new customers, as well as maintain our existing ones.
Enhancing the customer experience through omni-channel programs such as buy-online-pickup-in-store, new or expanded delivery options, the ability to shop through a mobile application or other similar programs depends in part on the effectiveness of our inventory management processes and systems, the effectiveness of our merchandising strategy and mix, our supply chain and distribution capabilities, and the timing and effectiveness of our marketing activities, particularly our promotions. Costs associated with implementing omni-channel initiatives may be higher than expected, and the initiatives may not result in increased sales, including same store sales, customer traffic, customer loyalty or other anticipated results. Additionally, declining customer store traffic and migration of sales from brick and mortar stores to digital platforms could lead to store closures, restructuring and other costs that could adversely impact our results of operations and cash flows. Website downtime and other technology disruptions in our e-commerce platform, including due to cyber-related issues or natural disasters, and supply and distribution delays and other related issues may affect the successful operation of our e-commerce platform. If we are not able to successfully operate or improve our e-commerce platform and omni-channel business, we may not be able to provide a relevant shopping experience or improve customer traffic, sales or margins, and our reputation, operations, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
If we are unable to successfully integrate future acquisitions into our existing operations or implement joint ventures or other strategic relationships, it could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We expect to continue to make strategic acquisitions and enter into strategic relationships as an element of our growth strategy. Acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic relationships involve certain risks that could cause our growth and profitability to differ from our expectations. The success of these acquisitions and relationships depends on a number of factors, including among other things:
•
our ability to continue to identify and acquire suitable targets or strategic partners, or to acquire additional companies or enter into strategic relationships, at favorable prices and/or with favorable terms;
•
our ability to obtain the full benefits envisioned by strategic transactions or relationships;
•
the risk that management’s attention may be distracted;
•
our ability to attract and retain key personnel;
•
our ability to successfully integrate the operations and systems of the acquired companies, and to achieve the strategic, operational, financial or other anticipated synergies of the acquisition or other transaction or relationship;
•
the performance our of our strategic partners;
•
we may incur significant transaction or integration costs that may not be offset by the synergies or other benefits achieved in the near term, or at all;
•
we may become subject to additional operational risks, such as those associated with doing business internationally or expanding operations into new territories, geographies or channels; and
•
we may assume or become subject to loss contingencies, known or unknown, of acquired companies, which could relate to past, present or future facts, events, circumstances or occurrences.
If we experience difficulties implementing various information systems, including our new enterprise resource planning system (“ERP”), our ability to conduct or business could be negatively impacted.
We are dependent on information systems to facilitate the day-to-day operations of the business and to produce timely, accurate and reliable information on financial and operational results. We are in process of implementing various information systems, including a new ERP. These implementations will require significant investment of human and financial resources, and we may experience significant delays, increased costs and other difficulties with these projects. Any significant disruption or deficiency in the design and implementation of these information systems could adversely affect our ability to process orders, ship product, send invoices and track payments, fulfill contractual obligations or otherwise operate our business. While we have invested meaningful resources in planning, project management and training, additional and serious implementation issues may arise as we integrate onto these new information systems that may disrupt our operations and negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
If we are unable to maintain adequate supply chain capacity and improve supply chain efficiency, we will not be able to expand our business, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our store inventories are primarily replenished by shipments from our network of distribution centers, warehouses and HUB stores. As we expand our market presence, we will need to increase the efficiency and maintain adequate capacity of our supply chain network in order to achieve the business goal of reducing inventory costs while improving availability and movement of goods throughout our supply chain to meet consumer product needs and channel preferences. We continue to streamline and optimize our supply chain network and systems and cannot be assured of our ability to increase the productivity and efficiency of our overall supply chain network to desired levels. If we fail to effectively utilize our existing supply chain or if our investments in our supply chain do not provide the anticipated benefits, we could experience sub-optimal inventory levels or increases in our costs, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We are dependent on our suppliers to supply us with products that comply with safety and quality standards at competitive prices.
We are dependent on our vendors continuing to supply us quality products on payment terms that are favorable to us. If our merchandise offerings do not meet our customers’ expectations regarding safety and quality, we could experience lost sales, increased costs and exposure to legal and reputational risk. All of our suppliers must comply with applicable product safety laws, and we are dependent on them to ensure that the products we buy comply with all safety and quality standards. Events that give rise to actual, potential or perceived product safety concerns could expose us to government enforcement action and private litigation and result in costly product recalls and other liabilities. To the extent our suppliers are subject to additional government regulation of their product design and/or manufacturing processes, the cost of the merchandise we purchase may rise. In addition, negative customer perceptions regarding the safety or quality of the products we sell could cause our customers to seek alternative sources for their needs, resulting in lost sales. In those circumstances, it may be difficult and costly for us to regain the confidence of our customers.
Our reliance on suppliers subjects us to various risks and uncertainties which could affect our financial results.
We source the products we sell from a wide variety of domestic and international suppliers. Our financial results depend on us securing acceptable terms with our suppliers for, among other things, the price of merchandise we purchase from them, funding for various forms of promotional programs, payment terms and terms covering returns and factory warranties. To varying degrees, our suppliers may be able to leverage their competitive advantages - for example, their financial strength, the strength of their brand with customers, their own stores or online channels or their relationships with other retailers - to our commercial disadvantage. Generally, our ability to negotiate favorable terms with our suppliers is more difficult with suppliers for whom our purchases represent a smaller proportion of their total revenues, consequently impacting our profitability from such vendor relationships. We have established standards for product safety and quality and workplace standards that we require all our suppliers to meet. We do not condone human trafficking, forced labor, child labor, harassment or abuse of any kind, and we expect our suppliers to operate within these same principles. Our ability to find qualified suppliers who can supply products in a timely and efficient manner that meet our standards can be challenging. Suppliers may also fail to invest adequately in design, production or distribution facilities, may reduce their customer incentives, advertising and promotional activities or change their pricing policies. If we encounter any of these issues with our suppliers, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely impacted.
Deterioration of general macro-economic conditions, including unemployment, inflation or deflation, consumer debt levels, high fuel and energy costs, could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows due to impacts on our suppliers, customers and operating costs.
Our business depends on developing and maintaining close relationships with our suppliers and on our suppliers’ ability and willingness to sell quality products to us at favorable prices and terms. Many factors outside our control may harm these relationships and the ability or willingness of these suppliers to sell us products on favorable terms. Such factors include a general decline in the economy and economic conditions and prolonged recessionary conditions. These events could negatively affect our suppliers’ operations and make it difficult for them to obtain the credit lines or loans necessary to finance their operations in the short-term or long-term and meet our product requirements. Financial or operational difficulties that some of our suppliers may face could also increase the cost of the products we purchase from them or our ability to source product from them. We might not be able to pass our increased costs onto our customers. If our suppliers fail to develop new products we may not be able to meet the demands of our customers and our results of operations could be negatively affected.
In addition, the trend towards consolidation among automotive parts suppliers as well as the off-shoring of manufacturing capacity to foreign countries may disrupt or end our relationship with some suppliers, and could lead to less competition and result in higher prices. We could also be negatively impacted by suppliers who might experience bankruptcies, work stoppages, labor strikes, changes in foreign or domestic trade policies, changes in tariff rates or other interruptions to or difficulties in the manufacture or supply of the products we purchase from them.
Deterioration in macro-economic conditions or an increase in fuel costs or proposed or additional tariffs may have a negative impact on our customers’ net worth, financial resources, disposable income or willingness or ability to pay for accessories, maintenance or repair for their vehicles, resulting in lower sales in our stores. An increase in fuel costs may also reduce the overall number of miles driven by our customers resulting in fewer parts failures and a reduced need for elective maintenance.
Rising energy prices also directly impact our operating and product costs, including our store, supply chain, Professional delivery, utility and product acquisition costs.
We depend on the services of many qualified executives and other Team Members, whom we may not be able to attract, develop and retain.
Our success depends to a significant extent on the continued services and experience of our executives and other Team Members. We may not be able to retain our current executives and other key Team Members or attract and retain additional qualified executives and Team Members who may be needed in the future. We must also continue to motivate employees and keep them focused on our strategies and goals. Our ability to maintain an adequate number of qualified Team Members depends on factors such as employee morale, our reputation, unemployment rates, competition from other employers, availability of qualified personnel and our ability to offer appropriate compensation and benefit packages. We also believe our future success will depend in part upon our ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel for whom the market is highly competitive, particularly for individuals with certain types of technical skills. Failure to recruit or retain qualified employees may impair our efficiency and effectiveness and our ability to pursue growth opportunities. Additionally, turnover in executive or other key positions can disrupt progress in implementing business strategies, result in a loss of institutional knowledge, cause other Team Members to take on substantially more responsibility, resulting in greater workload demands and diverting attention away from key areas of the business, or otherwise negatively impact our growth prospects or future operating results.
We operate in a competitive labor market and there is a risk that market increases in compensation could have an adverse effect on our profitability. Market increases to employee hourly wage rates, along with our ability to implement corresponding adjustments within our labor model and wage rates, could have a significant impact to the profitability of our business. In addition, less than one percent of our Team Members are represented by unions. If these Team Members were to engage in a strike, work stoppage, or other slowdown, or if the terms and conditions in labor agreements were renegotiated, we could experience a disruption in our operations and higher ongoing labor costs. If we fail or are unable to maintain competitive compensation, our customer service and execution levels could suffer by reason of a declining quality of our workforce, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The market price of our common stock may be volatile and could expose us to securities class action litigation.
The stock market and the price of our common stock may be subject to wide fluctuations based upon general economic and market conditions. Downturns in the stock market may cause the price of our common stock to decline. The market price of our stock may also be affected by our ability to meet analysts’ expectations. Failure to meet such expectations, even slightly, could have an adverse effect on the price of our common stock. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against such a company. For example, in February 2018, following a significant decline in the price of our common stock, a putative class action was commenced against us (see Item 3 “Legal Proceedings” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K). Such litigation could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our attention and resources, which could have an adverse effect on our business.
The amount and frequency of our share repurchases and dividend payments may fluctuate.
The amount, timing and execution of our share repurchase program may fluctuate based on our priorities for the use of cash for other purposes such as operational spending, capital spending, acquisitions or repayment of debt. Changes in cash flows, tax laws and our share price could also impact our share repurchase program and other capital activities. Additionally, decisions to return capital to shareholders, including through our repurchase program or the issuance of dividends on our common stock, remain subject to determination of our Board of Directors that any such activity is in the best interests of our shareholders and is in compliance with all applicable laws and contractual obligations.
Our level of indebtedness, a downgrade in our credit ratings or a deterioration in global credit markets could limit the cash flow available for operations and could adversely affect our ability to service our debt or obtain additional financing.
Our level of indebtedness could restrict our operations and make it more difficult for us to satisfy our debt obligations. For example, our level of indebtedness could, among other things:
•
affect our liquidity by limiting our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital;
•
limit our ability to obtain financing for capital expenditures and acquisitions or make any available financing more costly;
•
require us to dedicate all or a substantial portion of our cash flow to service our debt, which would reduce funds available for other business purposes, such as capital expenditures, dividends or acquisitions;
•
limit our flexibility in planning for or reacting to changes in the markets in which we compete;
•
place us at a competitive disadvantage relative to our competitors who may have less indebtedness;
•
render us more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions; and
•
make it more difficult for us to satisfy our financial obligations.
The indenture governing our notes and credit agreement governing our credit facilities contain financial and other restrictive covenants. Our failure to comply with those covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our debt, including such notes.
In addition, our overall credit rating may be negatively impacted by deteriorating and uncertain credit markets or other factors that may or may not be within our control. The interest rates on our publicly issued debt and revolving credit facility are linked directly to our credit ratings. Accordingly, any negative impact on our credit ratings would likely result in higher interest rates and interest expense on any borrowings under our revolving credit facility or future issuances of public debt and less favorable terms on other operating and financing arrangements. In addition, it could reduce the attractiveness of certain vendor payment programs whereby third-party institutions finance arrangements to our vendors based on our credit rating, which could result in increased working capital requirements.
Conditions and events in the global credit market could have a material adverse effect on our access to short and long-term borrowings to finance our operations and the terms and cost of that debt. It is possible that one or more of the banks that provide us with financing under our revolving credit facility may fail to honor the terms of our existing credit facility or be financially unable to provide the unused credit as a result of significant deterioration in such bank’s financial condition. An inability to obtain sufficient financing at cost-effective rates could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Because we are involved in litigation from time to time, and are subject to numerous laws and governmental regulations, we could incur substantial judgments, fines, legal fees and other costs.
We are sometimes the subject of complaints or litigation, which may include class action litigation from customers, Team Members or others for various actions. From time to time, we are involved in litigation involving claims related to, among other things, breach of contract, tortious conduct, employment, discrimination, breach of laws or regulations (including The Americans With Disabilities Act), payment of wages, exposure to asbestos or potentially hazardous product, real estate and product defects. The damages sought against us in some of these litigation proceedings are substantial. Although we maintain liability insurance for some litigation claims, if one or more of the claims were to greatly exceed our insurance coverage limits or if our insurance policies do not cover a claim, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. For instance, we are currently subject to a putative securities class action regarding past public disclosures (see Item 3, "Legal Proceedings" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K) and to numerous lawsuits alleging injury as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products (see Note 13, Contingencies, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein).
We are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and governmental regulations relating to, among other things, environmental protection, product quality and safety standards, building and zoning requirements, labor and employment, discrimination, anti-bribery/anti-corruption, data privacy and income taxes. Compliance with existing and future laws and regulations could increase the cost of doing business and adversely affect our results of operations. If we fail to comply with existing or future laws or regulations, we may be subject to governmental or judicial fines or sanctions, while incurring substantial legal fees and costs, as well as reputational risk. In addition, our capital and operating expenses could increase due to remediation measures that may be required if we are found to be noncompliant with any existing or future laws or regulations.
We work diligently to maintain the privacy and security of our customer, supplier, Team Member and business information and the functioning of our computer systems, website and other on-line offerings. In the event of a security breach or other cyber security incident, we could experience adverse operational effects or interruptions and/or become subject to legal or regulatory proceedings, any of which could lead to damage to our reputation in the marketplace and substantial costs.
The nature of our business requires us to receive, retain and transmit certain personally identifiable information about our customers, suppliers and Team Members, some of which is entrusted to third-party service providers. While we have taken and continue to undertake significant steps to protect such personally identifiable information and other confidential information and to protect the functioning of our computer systems, website and other online offerings, a compromise of our data security systems or those of businesses we interact with could result in information related to our customers, suppliers, Team Members or business being obtained by unauthorized persons or adverse operational effects or interruptions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We develop, maintain and update processes and systems in an effort to try to prevent this from occurring, but these actions are costly and require constant, ongoing attention as technologies change, privacy and information security regulations change, and efforts to overcome security measures by bad actors continue to become ever more sophisticated.
Despite our efforts, our security measures may be breached in the future due to a cyber-attack, computer malware viruses, exploitation of hardware and software vulnerabilities, Team Member error, malfeasance, fraudulent inducement (including so-called “social engineering” attacks and “phishing” scams) or other acts. While we have experienced threats to our data and systems, including phishing attacks, to date we are not aware that we have experienced a material cyber-security breach that has in any manner hindered our operational capabilities. Unauthorized parties may in the future obtain access to our data or the data of our customers, suppliers or Team Members or may otherwise cause damage to or interfere with our equipment, our data and/or our network including our supply chain. While the Company maintains insurance coverage that may, subject to policy terms and conditions, cover certain aspects of cyber risks, such insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover losses in any particular situation. Any breach, damage to or interference with our equipment or our network, or unauthorized access in the future could result in significant operational difficulties including legal and financial exposure and damage to our reputation that could potentially have an adverse effect on our business. While we also seek to obtain assurances that others we interact with will protect confidential information, there is always the risk that the confidentiality or accessibility of data held or utilized by others may be compromised. If a compromise of our data security or function of our computer systems or website were to occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition and possibly subject us to additional legal, regulatory and operating costs and damage our reputation in the marketplace.
Business interruptions may negatively impact our store hours, operability of our computer systems and the availability and cost of merchandise, which may adversely impact our sales and profitability.
Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or other natural disasters, war or acts of terrorism, public health issues or pandemics or the threat of any of these calamities or others, may have a negative impact on our ability to obtain merchandise to sell in our stores, result in certain of our stores being closed for an extended period of time, negatively affect the lives of our customers or Team Members, or otherwise negatively impact our operations. Some of our merchandise is imported from other countries. If imported goods become difficult or impossible to import into the United States due to business interruption (including regulation of exporting or importing), and if we cannot obtain such merchandise from other sources at similar costs and without an adverse delay, our sales and profit margins may be negatively affected.
In the event that commercial transportation, including the global shipping industry, is curtailed or substantially delayed, our business may be adversely impacted as we may have difficulty receiving merchandise from our suppliers and/or transporting it to our stores.
Terrorist attacks, war in the Middle East, geopolitical unrest or uncertainty or insurrection involving any oil producing country could result in an abrupt increase in the price of crude oil, gasoline and diesel fuel. Such price increases would increase the cost of doing business for us and our suppliers, and also negatively impact our customers’ disposable income, causing an adverse impact on our business, sales, profit margins and results of operations.
We rely extensively on our computer systems and the systems of our business partners to manage inventory, process transactions and report results. These systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, telecommunication failures, computer viruses, security breaches and catastrophic events or occasional system breakdowns related to ordinary use or wear and tear. If our computer systems or those of our business partners fail we may experience loss of critical data and interruptions or delays in our ability to process transactions and manage inventory. Any significant business interruptions may make it difficult or impossible to continue operations, and any disaster recovery or crisis management plans we may employ may not suffice in any particular situation to avoid a significant adverse impact to our business, financial condition and our results of operations.
We may be affected by global climate change or by legal, regulatory, or market responses to such change.
The concern over climate change has led to legislative and regulatory initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions (“GHG”). For example, proposals that would impose mandatory requirements related to GHG continue to be considered by policy makers in the United States and elsewhere. Laws enacted to reduce GHG that directly or indirectly affect our suppliers (through an increase in their cost of production) or our business (through an impact on our inventory availability, cost of sales, operations or demand for the products we sell) could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Changes in automotive technology and compliance with any new or more stringent laws or regulations, or stricter interpretations of existing laws, could require additional expenditures by us or our suppliers all of which could adversely impact the demand for our products and our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2. Properties.
The following table summarizes the location, ownership status and total square footage of space utilized for distribution centers, principal corporate offices and retail stores and branches at the end of 2019:
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
On February 6, 2018, a putative class action on behalf of purchasers of our securities who purchased or otherwise acquired their securities between November 14, 2016 and August 15, 2017, inclusive (the “Class Period”), was commenced against us and certain of our current and former officers in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants failed to disclose material adverse facts about our financial well-being, business relationships, and prospects during the alleged Class Period in violation of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. On February 7, 2020 the court granted in part and denied in part our motion to dismiss. The surviving claims will now be subject to discovery. We strongly dispute the allegations of the complaint and intend to defend the case vigorously.
Refer to discussion in Note 13, Contingencies, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for information relating to additional legal proceedings.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “AAP.”
At February 14, 2020, there were 561 holders of record of our common stock, which does not include the number of beneficial owners whose shares were represented by security position listings.
Our share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $400.0 million in common stock was authorized by our Board of Directors on August 7, 2019. On November 8, 2019 our Board of Directors authorized $700 million as an addition to the existing share repurchase program. The following table sets forth information with respect to repurchases of our common stock for the fourth quarter ended December 28, 2019:
(1)
The aggregate cost of repurchasing shares in connection with the net settlement of shares issued as a result of the vesting of restricted stock units was $1.3 million, or an average price of $163.53 per share, during the twelve weeks ended December 28, 2019.
Stock Price Performance
The following graph shows a comparison of the cumulative total return on our common stock, the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Index and the Standard & Poor’s Retail Index. The graph assumes that the value of an investment in our common stock and in each such index was $100 on January 3, 2015, and that any dividends have been reinvested. The comparison in the graph below is based solely on historical data and is not intended to forecast the possible future performance of our common stock.
COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC., S&P 500 INDEX
AND S&P RETAIL INDEX
Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data.
The following table sets forth our selected historical consolidated statements of operations, balance sheets and other operating data. Included in this table are key metrics and operating results used to measure our financial progress. The selected historical consolidated financial and other data (excluding the Selected Store Data and Performance Measures) as of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 and for the years ended December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this report. The historical consolidated financial and other data as of December 30, 2017, December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016 and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 (“2016”) and January 2, 2016 (“2015”) have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes that have not been included in this report. You should read this data along with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this report.
(1)
Net income for 2018 and 2017 includes an income tax benefit of $5.7 million and $143.8 million related to the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) that was signed into law on December 22, 2017. Refer to discussion in Note 12, Income Taxes, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for further information.
(2)
Effective December 30, 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which resulted in the recording of lease assets and lease liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 28, 2019, total assets includes Operating lease right-of-use assets of $2.4 billion. Refer to discussion in Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, and Note 8, Leases and Other Commitments, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for further information.
(3)
Comparable store sales include net sales from our stores, branches and e-commerce websites. Sales to independently owned Carquest branded stores are excluded from our comparable store sales. The change in store sales is calculated based on the change in net sales starting once a store or branch has been open for 13 complete accounting periods (each period represents four weeks). Relocations are included in comparable store sales from the original date of opening. Acquired stores are included in our comparable store sales once the stores have completed 13 complete accounting periods following the acquisition date (approximately one year).
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated historical financial statements and the notes to those statements that appear elsewhere in this report. Our discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those set forth under the section entitled “Risk Factors” elsewhere in this report.
Management Overview
Net sales increased 1.3% in 2019, which was primarily driven by an increase in comparable store sales. We experienced our strongest sales growth in our Midwest, Central and West regions. In addition, our Professional business improved as we continued to open additional branches.
Our diluted earnings per share (“Diluted EPS”) in 2019 was $6.84 compared to $5.73 in 2018. When adjusted for the following non-operational items, our adjusted diluted earnings per share (“Adjusted EPS”) in 2019 was $8.19 compared to $7.13 during 2018:
Refer to “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for further details of our comparable adjustments and the usefulness of such measures to investors.
A high-level summary of our financial results and other highlights from 2019 includes:
•
Net sales during 2019 were $9,709.0 million, an increase of 1.3% as compared to 2018, which primarily related to a comparable store sales growth of 1.1%, primarily due to growth in our Professional business and product mix.
•
Operating income for 2019 was $677.2 million, an increase of $72.9 million from 2018. As a percentage of total sales, operating income was 7.0%, an increase of 67 basis points as compared to 2018, due to continued focus on expense management, as evidenced by improvements in labor related costs and insurance claims costs due to our continued focus on Team Member safety. Partially offsetting these improvements, we incurred an increase in expenses related to information technology as we focus on digital capabilities and integrate our technology platforms across the enterprise.
•
Inventories as of December 28, 2019 increased $69.6 million, or 1.6%, as compared to 2018. This increase was due to higher purchases to ensure future replenishment capabilities throughout our supply chain and the additional branches we opened in 2019.
•
We generated cash flow from operations of $866.9 million during 2019, an increase of 6.9% compared to 2018, primarily due to an increase in Net income, which was partially offset by a decrease in working capital.
Refer to “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” for further details on our results.
Business Update
We continue to make progress on the various elements of our strategic business plan, which is focused on improving the customer experience and driving consistent execution for both Professional and “do-it-yourself” (“DIY”) customers. To achieve these improvements, we have undertaken planned strategic initiatives to help build a foundation for long-term success across the organization, which include:
•
Development of a demand-based assortment, leveraging purchase and search history from our common catalog, versus our existing push-down supply approach. This technology is a first step in moving from a supply-driven to a demand-driven assortment.
•
Advancement towards optimizing our footprint by market to drive share, repurposing our in-market store and asset base and optimizing our distribution centers.
•
Continued roll-out of our new Speed Perks 2.0 program to improve customer loyalty and traffic.
•
Progress in the development of a more efficient end-to-end supply chain to deliver our broad assortment.
•
Enhancement of our DIY omni-channel business, including our eCommerce performance, continued success of the roll-out of our partnership with Walmart.com and the purchase of the DieHard® brand.
•
Continued focus on branch openings and expansion of our independent Carquest network to drive Professional growth.
Industry Update
Operating within the automotive aftermarket industry, we are influenced by a number of general macroeconomic factors, many of which are similar to those affecting the overall retail industry. These factors include, but are not limited to:
•
Fuel costs
•
Unemployment rates
•
Consumer confidence
•
Competition
•
Changes in new car sales
•
Miles driven
•
Vehicle manufacturer warranties
•
Average age of vehicles in operation
•
Economic and political uncertainty
•
Deferral of elective automotive maintenance and improvements in new car quality
While these factors tend to fluctuate, we remain confident in the long-term growth prospects for the automotive parts industry.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth certain of our operating data expressed as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated.
Note: Table amounts may not foot due to rounding.
2019 Compared to 2018
Net Sales
Net sales for 2019 were $9,709.0 million, an increase of $128.4 million, or 1.3%, from Net sales in 2018. This increase was primarily due to our comparable store sales growth of 1.1%. Our growth in both Net sales and comparable store sales was driven by improvements in our Professional business and increased sales in several product categories, including parts and batteries and accessories and chemicals.
Gross Profit
Gross profit for 2019 was $4,254.7 million, or 43.8% of net sales, as compared to $4,219.4 million, or 44.0% of net sales, in 2018, a decrease of 22 basis points. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of net sales was primarily the result of the impact of the launch of our enhanced loyalty program initiatives during 2019, as well as unfavorable adjustments needed to state our inventories at last in, first out. We made an out-of-period correction in 2019, which increased Cost of sales by $13.0 million, related to received not invoiced inventory. These reductions in margin were partially offset by operational productivity relating to our ability to leverage our supply chain and continued improvements in inventory management driven by our Cross Banner Replenishment initiative.
As a result of changes in our last in, first out (“LIFO”) reserve, an expense of $101.3 million, a credit of $39.8 million and an expense of $2.7 million were included in Cost of Sales in 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”)
SG&A for 2019 was $3,577.6 million, or 36.8% of net sales, as compared to $3,615.1 million, or 37.7% of net sales, for 2018, a decrease of 89 basis points. This decrease as a percentage of net sales was primarily due to our continued focus on expense management, as evidenced by a reduction in labor related costs and insurance and claims costs due to our continued focus on Team Member safety. Partially offsetting these improvements, we incurred additional expenses related to information technology as we focus on digital capabilities and integrate our technology platforms across the enterprise and increases in minimum wages and planned merit increases.
Interest expense
Interest expense for 2019 was $39.9 million, a decrease of $16.7 million when compared to 2018. This decrease was primarily due to the early redemption of our 2020 senior unsecured notes. Refer to “Liquidity and Capital Resources” for further details.
Other income, net
Other income, net for 2019 was $0.5 million, a decrease of $7.1 million when compared to 2018. This decrease was primarily due to incurred charges relating to a make-whole provision and debt issuance costs of $10.1 million and $0.7 million resulting from the early redemption of our 5.75% senior unsecured notes due 2020 (“2020 Notes”).
Provision for income taxes
Our Provision for income taxes for 2019 was $150.9 million, as compared to $131.4 million for 2018, an increase of $19.4 million primarily due to an increase in taxable income. Our effective tax rate was 23.7% for 2019 and 2018. While our effective tax rate remained essentially flat from 2019 to 2018, we recognized non-recurring benefits in both years. During 2019, we recognized a benefit relating to a release of a valuation allowance that was previously established against the deferred tax asset related to our federal foreign tax credit carryforward. During 2018, we identified a change in estimate to amounts previously estimated in 2017 for the remeasurement of the net deferred tax liability and nonrecurring repatriation tax on accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries that resulted in a net tax benefit of $5.7 million.
2018 Compared to 2017
A discussion of changes in our results of operations in 2018 compared to 2017 has been omitted from this Form10-K, but may be found in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018, filed with the SEC on February 19, 2019, which is available free of
charge on the SECs website at www.sec.gov and at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com, by clicking “Investor Relations” located at the bottom of the home page, and is incorporated by reference herein.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” includes certain financial measures not derived in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS, should not be used as a substitute for GAAP financial measures, or considered in isolation, for the purpose of analyzing our operating performance, financial position or cash flows. We have presented these non-GAAP financial measures as we believe that the presentation of our financial results that exclude (1) transformation expenses under our strategic business plan; (2) non-operational expenses associated with the integration of GPI and store closure and consolidation; (3) non-cash amortization related to the acquired GPI intangible assets; (4) other non-recurring adjustments; and (5) nonrecurring impact of the Act, is useful and indicative of our base operations because the expenses vary from period to period in terms of size, nature and significance and/or relate to the integration of GPI and store closure and consolidation activity in excess of historical levels. These measures assist in comparing our current operating results with past periods and with the operational performance of other companies in our industry. The disclosure of these measures allows investors to evaluate our performance using the same measures management uses in developing internal budgets and forecasts and in evaluating management’s compensation. Included below is a description of the expenses we have determined are not normal, recurring cash operating expenses necessary to operate our business and the rationale for why providing these measures is useful to investors as a supplement to the GAAP measures.
Transformation Expenses - We expect to recognize a significant amount of transformation expenses over the next several years in connection with our business plan that involves a holistic and integrated transformation of the entire Company. These expenses will include, but not be limited to, restructuring costs, store closure costs and third-party professional services and other significant costs to integrate and streamline our operating structure across the enterprise. We are focused on several areas throughout Advance, such as supply chain and information technology.
GPI Integration and Store Closure and Consolidation Expenses - Our multi-year plan to integrate the operations of GPI that we acquired in 2014 with Advance, substantially ended in 2018. Due to the size of this acquisition, we considered these expenses to be outside of our base business. We believed providing additional information in the form of non-GAAP measures that excluded these costs was beneficial to the users of our financial statements in evaluating the operating performance of our base business and our sustainability once the integration was complete. In addition to integration expenses, we incurred store closure and consolidation expenses that consisted of expenses associated with our plans to convert and consolidate the Carquest stores acquired from GPI. While periodic store closures are common, these closures represented a significant program outside of our typical market evaluation process. We believe it was useful to provide additional non-GAAP measures that excluded these costs to provide investors greater comparability of our base business and core operating performance.
GPI Amortization of Acquired Intangible Assets - As part of our acquisition of GPI, we obtained various intangible assets, including customer relationships, non-compete contracts and favorable leases agreements, which we expect to be subject to amortization through 2025.
U.S. Tax Reform - On December 22, 2017, the Act was signed into law. The Act amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by, among other things, permanently lowering the corporate tax rate to 21% from the existing maximum rate of 35%, implementing a territorial tax system and imposing a one-time repatriation tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. During 2018, and in conjunction with the completion of our 2017 U.S. income tax return, we identified a change in estimate, in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, to amounts previously estimated for the remeasurement of the net deferred tax liability and nonrecurring repatriation tax on accumulated earnings foreign subsidiaries. Our analysis under Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 is complete.
We have included a reconciliation of this information to the most comparable GAAP measures in the following table.
(1)
During 2019, we made an out-of-period correction, which increased Cost of sales by $13.0 million, related to received not invoiced inventory.
(2)
During 2019, we incurred charges relating to a make-whole provision and debt issuance costs of $10.1 million and $0.7 million resulting from the early redemption of our 2020 Notes. For further information, see Note 6, Long-term Debt and Fair Value of Financial Instruments, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, included elsewhere in this report.
(3)
The income tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments is calculated using the estimated tax rate in effect for the respective non-GAAP adjustments.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
Our primary cash requirements necessary to maintain our current operations include payroll and benefits, inventory purchases, contractual obligations, capital expenditures, payment of income taxes and funding of initiatives under our strategic business plan. In addition, we may use available funds for acquisitions, to repay borrowings under our credit agreement, to periodically repurchase shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase programs and for the payment of quarterly cash dividends. Historically, we have funded these requirements primarily through cash generated from operations, supplemented by borrowings under our credit facilities and debt securities as needed. We believe funds generated from our expected results of operations, available cash and cash equivalents, and available borrowing capacity under our credit facility will be sufficient to fund our primary obligations for the next year.
Capital Expenditures
Our primary capital requirements have been the funding of our investments in supply chain and information technology, e-commerce and maintenance of existing stores and branches. We lease approximately 84% of our stores and branches.
Our capital expenditures were $270.1 million in 2019, an increase of $76.4 million from 2018. This increase in capital expenditures related to several information technology projects, including our Finance enterprise resource planning system, as well as investments in supply chain and store improvements.
Our future capital requirements will depend in large part on the timing or number of the investments we make in information technology and supply chain network initiatives and existing stores and new store development (leased and owned locations) within a given year. In 2020, we anticipate that our capital expenditures related to such investments will range from $275 million to $325 million, but may vary with business conditions.
Analysis of Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities:
Operating Activities
For 2019, net cash provided by operating activities increased $55.9 million to $866.9 million. The net increase in operating cash flows compared to the prior year was primarily driven by an increase in Net income, which was partially offset by a decrease in working capital. Refer to “Results of Operations” for further details on our results.
For 2018, net cash provided by operating activities increased $210.2 million to $811.0 million. The net increase in operating cash flows compared to the prior year was primarily driven by our focus on working capital management, including an increase in Accounts payable, partially offset by increases in Receivables, net and Inventories.
Investing Activities
For 2019, net cash used in investing activities increased by $271.1 million to $462.9 million compared to 2018. The increase in cash used in investing activities was primarily driven by an increase in capital expenditures related to several IT projects, including our Finance enterprise resource planning system, as well as investments in supply chain, e-commerce and store improvements. In addition, on December 23, 2019, we purchased the DieHard® brand for a cash purchase price of $200.0 million. This purchase gives us the right to sell DieHard® batteries and enables us to extend the DieHard® brand into other automotive and vehicular categories.
For 2018, net cash used in investing activities increased by $13.2 million to $191.8 million compared to 2017. The increase in cash used in investing activities was primarily driven by an increase in capital expenditures related to several information technology projects, including our Finance enterprise resource planning system, as well as investments in supply chain, e-commerce and store improvements.
Financing Activities
For 2019, net cash used in financing activities increased by $618.2 million to $882.2 million compared to 2018. This increase was primarily a result of returning cash to shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends, as well as on February 28, 2019, we redeemed all $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 2020 Notes. We incurred charges relating to a make-whole provision and debt issuance costs of $10.1 million and $0.7 million resulting from the early redemption of our 2020 Notes.
For 2018, net cash used in financing activities increased by $249.0 million to $263.9 million compared to 2017. This increase was primarily a result of returning cash to shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends.
Our Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend since 2006. Any payments of dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our results of operations, cash flows, capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. On February 12, 2020, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share to be paid on April 3, 2020 to all common shareholders of record as of March 20, 2020.
Long-Term Debt
As of December 28, 2019, we had no outstanding borrowings under our credit agreement, our borrowing availability was $1.0 billion and we had a credit rating from Standard & Poor’s of BBB- and from Moody’s Investor Service of Baa2. The current outlooks by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s are both stable. The current pricing grid used to determine our borrowing rate under our revolving credit facility is based on our credit ratings. If these credit ratings decline, our interest rate on outstanding balances may increase and our access to additional financing on favorable terms may become more limited. In addition, it could reduce the attractiveness of certain vendor payment programs whereby third-party institutions finance arrangements to our vendors based on our credit rating, which could result in increased working capital requirements. Conversely, if these credit ratings improve, our interest rate may decrease.
On February 28, 2019, we redeemed all $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 2020 Notes that were issued in April 2010 at 99.587% of the principal amount. We incurred charges relating to a make-whole provision and debt issuance costs of $10.1 million and $0.7 million resulting from the early redemption of our 2020 Notes, which are included in Other (expense) income, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Share Repurchases
On August 7, 2019, our Board of Directors authorized a $400.0 million share repurchase program to replace the previous $600.0 million share repurchase program that was authorized by our Board of Directors in August 2018, which had $49.1 million remaining at the time of its replacement. On November 8, 2019, our Board of Directors authorized $700.0 million as an addition to the existing share repurchase program.
During 2019 and in connection with our share repurchase programs, we repurchased 3.4 million shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $487.4 million. We had $890.8 million remaining under our stock repurchase program as of December 28, 2019.
Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements
As of December 28, 2019, other than as disclosed in Note 6, Long-term Debt and Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Note 8, Leases and Other Commitments, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein, we had no other off-balance-sheet arrangements. We include other off-balance-sheet arrangements in our Contractual Obligations table including interest payments on our senior unsecured notes, revolving credit facility and letters of credit outstanding.
Contractual Obligations
In addition to our senior unsecured notes and revolving credit facility, we utilize operating leases as another source of financing. The amounts payable under these operating leases are included in our Contractual Obligations table. Our future contractual obligations related to long-term debt, operating leases and other contractual obligations as of December 28, 2019 were as follows:
Note: For additional information refer to Note 6, Long-term Debt and Fair Value of Financial Instruments; Note 8, Lease and other Commitments; Note 12, Income Taxes; Note 13, Contingencies; and Note 14, Benefit Plans, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.
(1)
Long-term debt represents the principal amount of our senior unsecured notes, which become due in 2022 and 2023.
(2)
We lease certain store locations, distribution centers, office space, equipment and vehicles. Our property leases generally contain renewal and escalation clauses and other concessions. These provisions are considered in our calculation of our minimum lease payments that are recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the applicable lease term. Any lease payments that are based upon an existing index or rate are included in our minimum lease payment calculations.
(3)
Includes the long-term portion of deferred income taxes and other liabilities, including self-insurance reserves for which no contractual payment schedule exists. As we expect the payments to occur beyond 12 months from December 28, 2019, the related balances have not been reflected in the “Payments Due by Period” section of the table.
(4)
Purchase commitments include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable, legally binding and specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. Included in the table above is the lesser of the remaining obligation or the cancellation penalty under the agreement.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations are based on these financial statements. The preparation of these financial statements requires the application of accounting policies in addition to certain estimates and judgments by our management. Our estimates and judgments are based on currently available information, historical results and other assumptions we believe are reasonable. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.
The preparation of our financial statements included the following significant estimates and exercise of judgment.
Vendor Incentives
We receive incentives in the form of reductions to amounts owed and/or payments from vendors related to volume rebates and other promotional considerations. Many of these incentives are under agreements with terms in excess of one year, while others are negotiated on an annual basis or less. Volume rebates and vendor promotional allowances are earned based on inventory purchases and initially recorded as a reduction to inventory, except for amounts that are offset in SG&A when circumstances exist as described below. These deferred amounts are recorded as a reduction to cost of sales as the inventory is sold.
Vendor promotional allowances provided as a reimbursement of specific, incremental and identifiable costs incurred to promote a vendor’s products are included as an offset to SG&A when the cost is incurred if the fair value of that benefit can be reasonably estimated. Certain of our vendor agreements contain purchase volume incentives that provide for increased funding when graduated purchase volumes are met. Amounts accrued throughout the year could be impacted if actual purchase volumes differ from projected annual purchase volumes.
Similarly, we recognize other promotional incentives earned under long-term agreements as a reduction to cost of sales. However, these incentives are recognized based on the cumulative net purchases as a percentage of total estimated net purchases over the life of the agreement. Short-term incentives with terms less than one year are generally recognized as a reduction to cost of sales over the duration of the agreements.
Amounts received or receivable from vendors that are not yet earned are reflected as deferred revenue. Our estimate of the portion of deferred revenue that will be realized within one year of the balance sheet date is included in Other current liabilities. Earned amounts that are receivable from vendors are included in Receivables, net except for that portion expected to be received after one year, which is included in Other assets, net. We regularly review the receivables from vendors to ensure they are able to meet their obligations. Historically, the change in our reserve for receivables related to vendor funding has not been significant.
Self-Insurance Reserves
Our self-insurance reserves consist of the estimated exposure for claims filed, claims incurred but not yet reported and projected future claims, and are established using actuarial methods followed in the insurance industry and our historical claims experience. Specific factors include, but are not limited to, assumptions about health care costs, the severity of accidents and the incidence of illness and the average size of claims. Generally, claims for automobile and general liability and workers’ compensation take several years to settle. We classify the portion of our self-insurance reserves that is not expected to be settled within one year in long-term liabilities.
While we do not expect the amounts ultimately paid to differ significantly from our estimates, our self-insurance reserves and corresponding SG&A could be affected if future claim experience differs significantly from historical trends and actuarial assumptions. A 10% change in our self-insurance liabilities at December 28, 2019 would result in a change in expense of approximately $15.1 million for 2019.
New Accounting Pronouncements
For a description of recently adopted and issued accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects, if any, on our consolidated financial statements, see “Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements” in Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks.
We are subject to interest rate risk to the extent we borrow against our revolving credit facility as it is based, at our option, on adjusted LIBOR, plus a margin, or an alternate base rate, plus a margin. As of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, we had no borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility.
Our financial assets that are exposed to credit risk consist primarily of trade accounts receivable and vendor receivables. We are exposed to normal credit risk from customers. Our concentration of credit risk is limited because our customer base consists of a large number of customers with relatively small balances, which allows the credit risk to be spread across a broad base. We have not historically had significant credit losses.
We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations for the portion of our inventory purchases denominated in foreign currencies. We believe that the price volatility relating to foreign currency exchange rates is partially mitigated by our ability to adjust selling prices. During 2019, 2018 and 2017, foreign currency transactions did not significantly impact net income.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
See financial statements included in Item 15 “Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules” of this annual report.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) are our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Internal controls over financial reporting, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error and the override of controls. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only “reasonable assurance” with respect to the reliability of financial reporting and financial statement preparation and presentation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness may vary over time.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management evaluated, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 28, 2019. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to accomplish their objectives at the reasonable assurance level.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13(a) - 15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide “reasonable assurance” regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (3) provide “reasonable assurance” regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
As of December 28, 2019, management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, management has determined that our internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2019 is effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended December 28, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Attestation Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm
Our internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2019 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, which also audited our Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 28, 2019, as stated in their report included herein, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2019.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
For a discussion of our directors, executive officers and corporate governance, see the information set forth in the sections entitled “Proposal No. 1 - Election of Directors,” “Corporate Governance,” “Meetings and Committees of the Board,” “Information Concerning Our Executive Officers,” “Audit Committee Report,” and “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports,” “Code of Ethics and Business Conduct” and “Code of Ethics for Finance Professionals” in our proxy statement for the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the year ended December 28, 2019 (the “2020 Proxy Statement”), which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
See the information set forth in the sections entitled “Meetings and Committees of the Board,” “Compensation Committee Report,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Additional Information Regarding Executive Compensation” and “Director Compensation” in the 2020 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
See the information set forth in the sections entitled “Equity Compensation Plan Information” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the 2020 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
See the information set forth in the sections entitled “Corporate Governance-Related Party Transactions,” “Corporate Governance-Director Independence” and “Meetings and Committees of the Board” in the 2020 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
See the information set forth in the section entitled “2019 and 2018 Audit Fees” in the 2020 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 28, 2019, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 28, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 18, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, effective December 30, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-12, Leases (Topic 842), using the alternative transition method provided in ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Vendor Incentives - Refer to Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company receives incentives in the form of reductions in amounts owed to and/or payments due from vendors related to volume rebates and other promotions. Volume rebates and vendor promotional allowances are earned based on inventory purchases and initially recorded as a reduction to inventory, except for allowances provided as reimbursement of specific, incremental and identifiable costs incurred to promote a vendor’s products that are offset in selling, general and administrative expenses. The deferred amounts are recorded as a reduction in cost of sales as the inventory is sold. Total deferred vendor incentives included as a reduction of inventories were $173.8 million as of December 28, 2019.
The Company purchases inventory from a significant number of vendors, with no single vendor accounting for more than 10% of purchases. While many of these incentives are under long-term agreements in excess of one year, others are negotiated on an annual basis or shorter. Accordingly, auditing vendor incentives was challenging due to the extent of audit effort required to evaluate whether the vendor incentives were recorded in accordance with the terms of the vendor agreements.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to whether the vendor incentives were recorded in accordance with the terms of the vendor agreements included the following, among others:
•
We tested the effectiveness of controls over the process that ensures that all vendor agreements are communicated to accounting.
•
We tested the effectiveness of controls over the recording of vendor incentives as a reduction in inventories, and subsequently as a reduction in cost of sales as the related inventory was sold.
•
We selected a sample of vendor incentives earned during the year and deferred at year-end and recalculated, using the terms of the vendor agreement, both the amount recorded as deferred vendor incentives as a reduction in inventories and the amount recognized in earnings as a reduction in cost of sales.
•
We selected a sample of vendors from the Company’s inventory purchases made during the year and from vendor incentives recorded as a reduction in cost of sales and confirmed directly with the vendor that the agreement obtained from the Company and used in the determination of deferred vendor incentives as a reduction in cost of sales was the most recent between the parties.
•
We tested the amount of the deferred vendor incentives recorded as a reduction in cost of sales by developing an expectation of the amount based on the historical amounts recorded as a percentage of total cost of sales and compared our expectation to the amount recorded.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina
February 18, 2020
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2002.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 28, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 28, 2019, of the Company and our report dated February 18, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule and included an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-12, Leases (Topic 842), using the alternative transition method provided in ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina
February 18, 2020
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per share data)
The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands)
The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
1.
Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation:
Description of Business
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and subsidiaries is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, serving both professional installers (“Professional”) and “do-it-yourself” (“DIY”) customers. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared by us and include the accounts of Advance Auto Parts, Inc., including, its wholly owned subsidiaries, Advance Stores Company, Incorporated (“Advance Stores”) and Neuse River Insurance Company, Inc., and their subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “Advance,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).
As of December 28, 2019, our operations are comprised of 4,877 stores and 160 branches primarily within the United States, with additional locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our stores operate primarily under the trade names “Advance Auto Parts,” “Carquest” and “Autopart International,” and our branches operate under the “Worldpac” trade name. In addition, we served 1,253 independently owned Carquest branded stores across the same geographic locations served by our stores and branches in addition to Mexico, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin Islands.
Accounting Period
Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest the end of December. All references herein for the years “2019,” “2018” and “2017” represent the fiscal years ended December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, which were all 52 weeks.
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Advance and its wholly owned subsidiaries prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain amounts in the prior years’ consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity and statements of cash flows have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
During 2019, we made an out-of-period correction, which increased Cost of sales by $13.0 million, related to received not invoiced inventory.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
2.
Significant Accounting Policies:
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash in banks and money market funds with original maturities of three months or less. Also, included in cash equivalents are credit card and debit card receivables from banks, which generally settle in less than four business days.
Inventory
Our inventory consists primarily of parts, batteries, accessories and other products used on vehicles that have reasonably long shelf lives and is stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost of our merchandise inventory is primarily determined using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method. Under the LIFO method, our cost of sales reflects the costs of the most recently purchased inventories, while the inventory carrying balance represents the costs relating to prices paid in 2019 and prior years. We regularly review inventory quantities on-hand, consider whether we may have excess inventory based on our current approach for managing slower moving inventory and adjust the carrying value as necessary.
Vendor Incentives
We receive incentives in the form of reductions to amounts owed to and/or payments from vendors related to volume rebates and other promotional considerations. Many of these incentives are under long-term agreements in excess of one year, while others are negotiated on an annual basis or shorter. Advertising allowances provided as a reimbursement of specific, incremental and identifiable costs incurred to promote a vendor’s products are included as an offset to selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) when the cost is incurred. Volume rebates and allowances that do not meet the requirements for offsetting in SG&A are recorded as a reduction to inventory as they are earned based on inventory purchases. Total deferred vendor incentives recorded as a reduction of Inventories were $173.8 million and $164.1 million as of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018.
We recognize other promotional incentives earned under long-term agreements not specifically related to volume of purchases as a reduction to cost of sales. However, these incentives are not deferred as a reduction of inventory and are recognized based on the cumulative net purchases as a percentage of total estimated net purchases over the life of the agreement. Short-term incentives with terms less than one year are generally recognized as a reduction to cost of sales over the duration of the agreements. Amounts received or receivable from vendors that are not yet earned are reflected as deferred revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged directly to expense when incurred; major improvements are capitalized. When items are sold or retired, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the account balances, with any gain or loss reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.
Depreciation of land improvements, buildings, furniture, fixtures and equipment and vehicles is provided over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets using the straight-line method. Depreciation of building and leasehold improvements is provided over the shorter of the original useful lives of the respective assets or the term of the lease using the straight-line method.
Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
We perform our evaluation for the impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for our reporting units annually as of the first day of the fourth quarter, or when indications of potential impairment exist. These indicators would include a significant change in operating performance, the business climate, legal factors, competition, or a planned sale or disposition of a significant portion of the business, among other factors. We assess qualitative factors such as current company performance and overall economic factors to determine if it is more-likely-than-not that the goodwill might be impaired and whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. In the quantitative goodwill test, we compare the carrying value of a reporting unit to its fair value. If the fair value of the reporting unit is lower than its carrying amount, goodwill is written down for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value. Our indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment at the asset group level. Indefinite-lived intangibles are evaluated by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to the future discounted cash flows that the asset is expected to generate. If the fair value based on the future discounted cash flows exceeds the carrying value, we conclude that no intangible asset impairment has occurred. If the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds the fair value, we recognize an impairment loss.
We have five operating segments, defined as “Northern Division,” “Southern Division,” “Carquest Canada,” “Independents” and “Worldpac.” As each operating segment represents a reporting unit, goodwill is assigned to each reporting unit.
Valuation of Long-Lived Assets
We evaluate the recoverability of our long-lived assets, including finite-lived intangible assets, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset might not be recoverable and exceeds its fair value. When such an event occurs, we estimate the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the long-lived asset or asset group and its eventual disposition. These impairment evaluations involve estimates of asset useful lives and future cash flows. If the undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset and the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized. When an impairment loss is recognized, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its estimated fair value based on quoted market prices or other valuation techniques (e.g., discounted cash flow analysis).
Self-Insurance
We are self-insured for general and automobile liability, workers’ compensation and health care claims of its employees, or Team Members, while maintaining stop-loss coverage with third-party insurers to limit its total liability exposure. Expenses associated with these liabilities are calculated for (i) claims filed, (ii) claims incurred but not yet reported and (iii) projected future claims using actuarial methods followed in the insurance industry as well as our historical claims experience. We include the current and long-term portions of its self-insurance reserves in Accrued expenses and Other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Warranty Liabilities
The warranty obligation on the majority of merchandise sold by us with a manufacturer’s warranty is the responsibility of our vendors. However, we have an obligation to provide customers replacement of certain merchandise at no cost or merchandise at a prorated cost if under a warranty and not covered by the manufacturer. As of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, our warranty liability primarily consisted of batteries with warranty coverage sold by us. We estimate our warranty obligation at the time of sale based on the historical return experience, sales level and cost of the respective product sold. To the extent vendors provide upfront allowances in lieu of accepting the obligation for warranty claims and the allowance is in excess of the related warranty expense, the excess is recorded as a reduction to cost of sales.
Leases
We lease certain store locations, distribution centers, office spaces, equipment and vehicles. We recognize lease expense on a straight-line basis over the initial term of the lease unless external economic factors exist such that renewals are reasonably certain. In those instances, the renewal period would be included in the lease term to determine the period in which to recognize the lease expense. Most leases require us to pay taxes, maintenance, insurance and other certain costs applicable to the leased premises.
Leases for periods through December 29, 2018 were reported under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 840, Leases (Topic 840) (“ASC 840”), including the disclosure requirements. Under ASC 840, differences between the calculated rent expense and cash payments were recorded as a liability within the Accrued expenses and Other long-term liabilities captions in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, based on the terms of the lease.
Effective December 30, 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), using the alternative transition method provided in ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements. Using the alternative transition method, we applied the transition requirements at the effective date of ASU 2016-02 with the impact of initially applying ASU 2016-02 recognized as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings in the first quarter of 2019.
We elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard. In addition, as a practical expedient relating to our store locations, distribution centers, office spaces and vehicle leases, we elected not to separate lease components from nonlease components.
The adoption of ASU 2016-02 resulted in the recording of operating lease assets and lease liabilities of $2.4 billion as of December 30, 2018. At the date of adoption, there was a difference between the operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities recorded that included an adjustment to retained earnings, net of a $7.9 million deferred tax impact, which primarily resulted from the impairment of operating lease right-of-use assets. For 2019, the adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated statements of operations and condensed consolidated statements of cash flows as substantially all of our leases are operating in nature.
Fair Value Measurements
A three-level valuation hierarchy, based upon observable and unobservable inputs, is used for fair value measurements. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect market assumptions based on the best evidence available. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy: Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets; Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-derived valuations whose significant inputs are observable; and Level 3 - Instruments whose significant inputs are unobservable. Financial instruments are transferred in and/or out of Level 1, 2 or 3 at the beginning of the accounting period in which there is a change in the valuation inputs.
Closed Facility Liabilities and Exit Activities
We review the operating performance of our existing store locations and close or relocate certain stores identified as underperforming. For periods through December 29, 2018, and in accordance with ASC 420, Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations, expenses accrued pertaining to closed facility exit activities are included in our closed facility liabilities, within Accrued expenses and Other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, and recognized in Cost of sales or SG&A in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations at the time of facility closure. As of December 29, 2018, the closed facility liabilities, which comprised of the present value of the remaining lease obligations and management’s estimate of future costs of insurance, property tax and common area maintenance expenses, reduced by the present value of estimated revenues from subleases and lease buyouts, were $42.3 million. As a result of our transition to ASU 2016-02 on December 30, 2018, our lease liabilities for closed facilities are included within the lease liability recorded in Other current liabilities and Noncurrent operating lease liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, and the operating lease right-of-use assets recorded upon transition was recorded net of the previously recorded closed facility lease obligation.
Employees receiving severance benefits as the result of a store closing or other restructuring activity are required to render service until they are terminated in order to receive benefits. Severance benefits are recognized over the related service period. Other restructuring costs, including costs to relocate employees, are recognized in the period in which the liability is incurred.
Share-Based Payments
We provide share-based compensation to our eligible Team Members and Board of Directors. We are required to exercise judgment and make estimates when determining the (i) fair value of each award granted and (ii) projected number of awards expected to vest. We calculate the fair value of all share-based awards at the date of grant and use the straight-line method to amortize this fair value as compensation cost over the requisite service period.
Revenues
Revenue for periods through December 30, 2017 was reported under ASC 605, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605). We recognized revenue at the time the sale is made, at which time our walk-in customers took immediate possession of the merchandise or same-day delivery was made to our Professional delivery customers, which included certain independently owned store locations. For e-commerce sales, revenue was recognized either at the time of pick-up at one of our store locations or at the time of shipment depending on the customer’s order designation. Sales were recorded net of discounts, sales incentives and rebates, sales taxes and estimated returns and allowances. We estimated the reduction to sales and cost of sales for returns based on current sales levels and our historical return experience.
Effective December 31, 2017, we adopted ASC 606, Revenue From Contracts With Customers (Topic 606) (“ASC 606”). The results of applying Topic 606 using the modified retrospective approach were insignificant and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, business process, controls or systems.
ASC 606 defines a performance obligation as a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is considered the unit of account. The majority of our contracts have one single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual goods is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts and is, therefore, not distinct. Discounts and incentives are treated as separate performance obligations. We allocate the contract’s transaction price to each of these performance obligations separately using explicitly stated amounts or our best estimate using historical data. Additionally, we estimate and record gift card breakage as redemptions occur.
In accordance with ASC 606 revenue is recognized at the time the sale is made, at which time our walk-in customers take immediate possession of the merchandise or same-day delivery is made to our Professional delivery customers, which include certain independently-owned store locations. Payment terms are established for our Professional delivery customers based on pre-established credit requirements. Payment terms vary depending on the customer and generally range from 1 to 30 days. Based on the nature of receivables, no significant financing components exist. For e-commerce sales, revenue is recognized either at the time of pick-up at one of our store locations or at the time of shipment depending on the customer's order designation. Sales are recorded net of discounts, sales incentives and rebates, sales taxes and estimated returns and allowances. We estimate the reduction to Net sales and Cost of sales for returns based on current sales levels and our historical return experience.
We provide assurance type warranty coverage primarily on batteries, brakes and struts whereby we are required to provide replacement product at no cost or a reduced cost for a set period of time.
The following table summarizes financial information for each of our product groups.
Receivables, net consist primarily of receivables from Professional customers. We grant credit to certain Professional customers who meet our pre-established credit requirements. Accounts receivable is stated at net realizable value. We regularly review accounts receivable balances and maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. We consider the following factors when determining if collection is reasonably assured: customer creditworthiness, past transaction history with the customer, current economic and industry trends and changes in customer payment terms. We control credit risk through credit approvals, credit limits and accounts receivable and credit monitoring procedures.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales includes actual product cost, warranty costs, vendor incentives, cash discounts on payments to vendors, costs associated with operating our distribution network, including payroll and benefits costs, occupancy costs and depreciation, in-bound freight-related costs from our vendors, impairment of inventory resulting from store closures and costs associated with moving merchandise inventories from our distribution centers to stores, branch locations and customers.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
SG&A includes payroll and benefits costs for store and corporate Team Members, occupancy costs of store and corporate facilities, depreciation and amortization related to store and corporate assets, share-based compensation expense, advertising, self-insurance, costs of consolidating, converting or closing facilities, including early termination of lease obligations, severance and impairment charges, professional services and costs associated with our Professional delivery program, including payroll and benefit costs, and transportation expenses associated with moving merchandise inventories from stores and branches to customer locations.
Advertising Costs
We expense advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense, net of qualifying vendor promotional funds, was $117.3 million, $120.9 million and $102.8 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017. Vendor promotional funds, which reduced advertising expense, amounted to $45.7 million and $26.9 million and $33.3 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Foreign Currency Translation
The assets and liabilities of our foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates, and revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated at average exchange rates for the year. Resulting translation adjustments are reflected as a separate component in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Losses from foreign currency transactions, which are included in Other income, net, were $1.7 million, 5.0 million and $4.0 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Income Taxes
We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred income taxes reflect the net income tax effect of temporary differences between the basis of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and for income tax reporting purposes. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period of the enactment date.
We recognize tax benefits and/or tax liabilities for uncertain income tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step requires us to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts as we must determine the probability of various possible outcomes.
We reevaluate these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis or when new information becomes available to management. The reevaluations are based on many factors, including but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, successfully settled issues under audit, expirations due to statutes of limitations and new federal or state audit activity. Any change in either our recognition or measurement could result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an increase to the tax accrual.
Earnings per Share
Basic earnings per share of common stock has been computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by including the effect of dilutive securities. Diluted earnings per share of common stock reflects the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding, outstanding deferred stock units and the impact of outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights (collectively “share-based awards”). Share-based awards containing performance conditions are included in the dilution impact as those conditions are met.
Segment Information
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which discrete financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. Our CODM, the Chief Executive Officer, reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis, accompanied by information about our five operating segments, for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance.
We have one reportable segment as the five operating segments are aggregated due primarily to the economic and operational similarities of each operating segment as the stores and branches have similar characteristics, including the nature of the products and services, customer base and the methods used to distribute products and provide service to its customers.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires the Company to measure and recognize expected credit losses for financial assets held and not accounted for at fair value through net income. In November 2018, April 2019 and May 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses and ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief, which provided additional implementation guidance on the previously issued ASU. The previously mentioned ASUs are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We expect the adoption of this new standard to have an insignificant impact on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting for income taxes. This ASU will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2020. We expect the adoption of this new standard to have an insignificant impact on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
3.
Inventories:
We used the LIFO method of accounting for approximately 89% of Inventories at December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018. As a result of changes in the LIFO reserve, we recorded an increase to Cost of sales of $101.3 million in 2019, a decrease to Cost of sales of $39.8 million in 2018 and an increase to cost of sales of $2.7 million in 2017.
Purchasing and warehousing costs included in Inventories as of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, were $476.3 million and $435.2 million.
Inventory balances were as follows:
4.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets:
Goodwill
At December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, the carrying amount of Goodwill in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets was $992.2 million and $990.2 million. The change in goodwill during 2019 and 2018 was $2.0 million and $4.1 million related to foreign currency translation.
Intangible Assets Other Than Goodwill
On December 23, 2019, we purchased the DieHard® brand for a cash purchase price of $200.0 million, exclusive of $1.5 million of capitalizable transaction costs. This purchase gives us the right to sell DieHard® batteries and enables us to extend the DieHard® brand into other automotive and vehicular categories. We granted the seller an exclusive royalty-free, perpetual license to develop, market, and sell DieHard® branded products in non-automotive categories. We accounted for this transaction as a purchase of an indefinite-lived intangible asset, which is included within the Brands, trademarks and tradenames category below, and is not subject to amortization.
Amortization expense was $31.7 million, $40.7 million and $47.4 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017. A summary of the composition of the gross carrying amounts and accumulated amortization of acquired intangible assets are presented in the following table:
(1)
As a result of our adoption of ASU 2016-02 on December 30, 2018, favorable lease assets were derecognized through an opening adjustment to Operating lease right-of-use assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
Future Amortization Expense
The table below shows expected amortization expense for the next five years and thereafter for acquired intangible assets recorded as of December 28, 2019:
5.
Receivables, net:
Receivables, net consist of the following:
6.
Long-term Debt and Fair Value of Financial Instruments:
Long-term debt consists of the following:
Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities
The fair value of our senior unsecured notes was determined using Level 2 inputs based on quoted market prices. We believe the carrying value of its other long-term debt approximates fair value. The carrying amounts of our cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values due to the relatively short-term nature of these instruments.
Bank Debt
On January 31, 2017, we entered into a new credit agreement that provides a $1.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the “2017 Credit Agreement”) with Advance Stores, as Borrower, the lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent and replaces a prior credit agreement entered into in 2013. The 2017 Credit Agreement provides for the issuance of letters of credit with a sublimit of $200.0 million. We may request that the total revolving commitment be increased by an amount not exceeding $250.0 million during the term of the 2017 Credit Agreement. Voluntary prepayments and voluntary reductions of the revolving loan balance, if any, are permitted in whole or in part, at our option, in minimum principal amounts as specified in the 2017 Credit Agreement. The 2017 Credit Agreement terminates in January 2022; however, we may request one or two one-year extensions of the termination date prior to the first or second anniversary of the closing date.
On January 31, 2018, we entered into Amendment No. 1 to the 2017 Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”), among Advance Stores, as Borrower, the lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., Administrative Agent. The Amendment: (i) provided for LIBOR replacement rates in the event that LIBOR is unavailable in the future; (ii) modified the definitions of the financial covenants (and the testing level relating thereto) with respect to a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum coverage ratio that we are required to comply with; and (iii) extended the termination date of the 2017 Credit Agreement from January 31, 2022 until January 31, 2023. We have the option to make one additional written request of the lenders to extend the termination date then in effect for one additional year.
On January 10, 2019, we entered into Amendment No. 2 to the 2017 Credit Agreement (the “ Second Amendment”), among Advance Stores Company, Incorporated, as Borrower, Advance Auto Parts, Inc., as Parent, the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders parties thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent. The Second Amendment: (i) added a new definition of "Insurance Subsidiary" to the 2017 Credit Agreement meaning each wholly owned subsidiary of Parent that is maintained as a special purpose self-insurance subsidiary and any of its subsidiaries; (ii) provided that an Insurance Subsidiary does not serve as a Guarantor of the 2017 Credit Agreement; and (iii) provided that Insurance Subsidiaries are permitted to incur intercompany indebtedness. Insurance Subsidiaries will not be required to serve as Guarantors of the Parent's senior unsecured notes so long as they are not guarantors of the 2017 Credit Agreement.
As of December 28, 2019, we had no outstanding borrowings under 2017 Credit Agreement and borrowing availability was $1.0 billion. Under the 2017 Credit Agreement, we had no letters of credit outstanding as of December 28, 2019.
Interest on any borrowings on the revolver will be based at our option, on an adjusted LIBOR, plus a margin, or an alternate base rate, plus a margin. After an initial interest period, we may elect to convert a particular borrowing to a different type. The initial margins per annum for the revolving loan are 1.10% for the adjusted LIBOR and 0.10% for alternate base rate borrowings. A facility fee of 0.15% per annum is charged on the total revolving facility commitment, payable quarterly in arrears. Under the terms of the 2017 Credit Agreement, the interest rate spread and facility fee are based on our credit rating. The interest rate spread ranges from 0.91% to 1.50% for adjusted LIBOR borrowings and 0.00% to 0.50% for alternate base rate borrowings.
The 2017 Credit Agreement contains customary covenants restricting the ability of: (a) Advance Stores and its subsidiaries to, among other things, (i) create, incur or assume additional debt (only with respect to subsidiaries of Advance Stores), (ii) incur liens, (iii) guarantee obligations, and (iv) change the nature of its business conducted by itself and its subsidiaries; (b) Advance, Advance Stores and their subsidiaries to, among other things (i) enter into certain hedging arrangements, (ii) enter into restrictive agreements limiting their ability to incur liens on any of their property or assets, pay distributions, repay loans, or guarantee indebtedness of their subsidiaries; and (c) Advance, among other things, to change the holding company status of Advance. Advance Stores is required to comply with financial covenants with respect to a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum coverage ratio. The 2017 Credit Agreement also provides for customary events of default, including non-payment defaults, covenant defaults and cross-defaults of Advance Stores’ other material indebtedness. We were in compliance with our financial covenants with respect to the 2017 Credit Agreement as of December 28, 2019.
As of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, we had $111.6 million and $100.5 million of bilateral letters of credit issued separately from the 2017 Credit Agreement, none of which were drawn upon. These bilateral letters of credit generally have a term of one year or less and primarily serve as collateral for our self-insurance policies.
Senior Unsecured Notes
Our 4.50% senior unsecured notes were issued in December 2013 at 99.69% of the principal amount of $450.0 million and are due December 1, 2023 (the “2023 Notes”). The 2023 Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.50% per year payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year. Our 4.50% senior unsecured notes were issued in January 2012 at 99.968% of the principal amount of $300.0 million and are due January 15, 2022 (the “2022 Notes”). The 2022 Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.50% per year payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. Our 5.75% senior unsecured notes were issued in April 2010 at 99.587% of the principal amount of $300.0 million and were due May 1, 2020 (the “2020 Notes” or collectively with the 2023 Notes and the 2022 Notes, “the Notes”). The 2020 Notes carried interest at a rate of 5.75% per year payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. On February 28, 2019, we redeemed all $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 2020 Notes that were issued in April 2010 at 99.587% of the principal amount. We incurred charges relating to a make-whole provision and debt issuance costs of $10.1 million and $0.7 million resulting from the early redemption of our 2020 Notes, which are included in Other (expense) income, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. Advance served as the issuer of the Notes with certain of Advance’s domestic subsidiaries currently serving as subsidiary guarantors. The terms of the Notes are governed by an indenture (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) among Advance, the subsidiary guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
We may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time or from time to time, at the redemption price described in the Indenture. In addition, in the event of a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the Indenture for the Notes), we will be required to offer to repurchase the Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date. The Notes are currently fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsubordinated and unsecured basis by each of the subsidiary guarantors. We will be permitted to release guarantees without the consent of holders of the Notes under the circumstances described in the Indenture: (i) upon the release of the guarantee of our other debt that resulted in the affected subsidiary becoming a guarantor of this debt; (ii) upon the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the stock or assets of the subsidiary guarantor; or (iii) upon our exercise of our legal or covenant defeasance option.
The Indenture contains customary provisions for events of default including for: (i) failure to pay principal or interest when due and payable; (ii) failure to comply with covenants or agreements in the Indenture or the Notes and failure to cure or obtain a waiver of such default upon notice; (iii) a default under any debt for money borrowed by us or any of our subsidiaries that results in acceleration of the maturity of such debt, or failure to pay any such debt within any applicable grace period after final stated maturity, in an aggregate amount greater than $25.0 million without such debt having been discharged or acceleration having been rescinded or annulled within 10 days after receipt by us of notice of the default by the Trustee or holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding; and (iv) events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting us and certain of its subsidiaries. In the case of an event of default, the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest may be accelerated. The Indenture also contains covenants limiting the ability of us and our subsidiaries to incur debt secured by liens and to enter into sale and lease-back transactions.
Future Payments
As of December 28, 2019, the aggregate future annual maturities of long-term debt instruments are as follows:
Debt Guarantees
We are a guarantor of loans made by banks to various independently owned Carquest-branded stores that are customers of ours totaling $26.4 million as of December 28, 2019. These loans are collateralized by security agreements on merchandise inventory and other assets of the borrowers. The approximate value of the inventory collateralized by these agreements is $50.3 million as of December 28, 2019. We believe that the likelihood of performance under these guarantees is remote.
7.
Property and Equipment:
Property and equipment consists of the following:
Depreciation expense relating to Property and equipment was $206.7 million, $201.6 million and $206.9 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017. We capitalized $29.1 million, $13.0 million and $11.2 million incurred for the development of internal use computer software during 2019, 2018 and 2017. These costs are currently classified in the Construction in progress category above, but once placed into service within the Furniture, fixtures equipment category, these costs will be depreciated on the straight-line method over 3 to 10 years.
In 2019, 2018 and 2017, we recognized impairment losses of $2.3 million, $13.4 million and $13.3 million, primarily on store and corporate assets.
8.
Leases and Other Commitments:
Leases
Substantially all of our leases are for facilities and vehicles. The initial term for facilities are typically 5 years to 10 years, with renewal options at 5 year intervals, with the exercise of lease renewal options at our sole discretion. Our vehicle and equipment leases are typically 3 years to 5 years. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.
Operating lease liabilities consist of the following:
The current portion of operating lease liabilities is included in Other current liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Total lease cost is included in Cost of sales and SG&A in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations and is recorded net of immaterial sublease income. Total lease cost is comprised of the following:
The future maturity of lease liabilities are as follows:
Operating lease payments include $139.5 million related to options to extend lease terms that are reasonably certain of being exercised and exclude $147.7 million of legally binding lease payments for leases signed, but not yet commenced.
The weighted-average remaining lease term and weighted-average discount rate for our operating leases are 7.18 years and 4.0% as of December 28, 2019. We calculated the weighted-average discount rates using incremental borrowing rates, which equal the rates of interest that we would pay to borrow funds on a fully collateralized basis over a similar term.
Other information relating to our lease liabilities is as follows:
As previously disclosed in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under the previous lease accounting standard, future minimum lease payments due under non-cancelable operating leases were as follows:
As previously disclosed in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under the previous lease accounting standard, our net rent expense was as follows:
Other Commitments
We have entered into certain arrangements which require the future purchase of goods or services. Our obligations primarily consist of payments for the purchase of hardware, software and maintenance. As of December 28, 2019, future payments amount to $66.2 million and are not accrued in our consolidated balance sheet.
9.
Accrued Expenses:
Accrued expenses consist of the following:
The following table presents changes in our warranty reserves:
10.
Share Repurchase Program:
Our share repurchase program allows us to repurchase our common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time. On August 7, 2019, our Board of Directors authorized a $400.0 million share repurchase program. This new authorization replaced the previous $600.0 million share repurchase program that was authorized by our Board of Directors on August 8, 2018, which had $49.1 million remaining at the time of its replacement. On November 8, 2019, our Board of Directors authorized $700.0 million as an addition to the existing share repurchase program.
During 2019, we repurchased 3.4 million shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $487.4 million, or an average price of $144.23 per share, in connection with our share repurchase program. We had $890.8 million remaining under our share repurchase program as of December 28, 2019. During 2018, we repurchased 1.7 million shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $272.8 million, or an average price of $163.17 per share, under our share repurchase program.
11.
Earnings per Share:
The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share is as follows:
(1)
For the fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2019, 115 thousand restricted stock units (“RSUs”) were excluded from the diluted calculation as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. For the fifty-two weeks ended December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, these anti-dilutive RSUs were insignificant.
12.
Income Taxes:
U.S. Tax Reform
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was signed into law. The Act amended the Internal Revenue Code by, among other things, permanently lowering the corporate tax rate to 21% from the existing maximum rate of 35%, implementing a territorial tax system and imposing a transition tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. We are required to remeasure deferred income tax assets and liabilities in the reporting period of enactment. The remeasurement of our net deferred income tax liability resulted in a $155.1 million income tax benefit in 2017. In 2017, we also recorded an estimated charge of $11.3 million to income tax expense primarily for the nonrecurring repatriation tax on accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries and it is our intention to bring back the accumulated foreign earnings held as cash in the near term. Prospectively, any future foreign earnings will be utilized to grow and support our foreign operations and will be treated as being indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S.
During 2018, in conjunction with the completion of our 2017 U.S. income tax return, we identified a change in estimate to amounts previously estimated in 2017 for the remeasurement of the net deferred tax liability and nonrecurring repatriation tax on accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries that resulted in a net tax benefit of $5.7 million. Our analysis under Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 was completed in 2018.
Provision for Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes consists of the following:
The provision for income taxes differed from the amount computed by applying the federal statutory income tax rate due to:
Deferred Income Tax Assets (Liabilities)
Temporary differences that give rise to significant deferred income tax assets (liabilities) are as follows:
As of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, our net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards comprised of state NOLs of $159.4 million and $195.0 million. These NOLs may be used to reduce future taxable income and expire periodically through 2037. Due to uncertainties related to the realization of these NOLs in certain jurisdictions, as well as other credits available to us, we have recorded a valuation allowance of $3.6 million and $8.7 million as of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018. The amount of deferred income tax assets realizable, however, could change in the future if projections of future taxable income change.
We have not recorded deferred taxes when earnings from foreign operations are considered to be indefinitely invested outside of the U.S. As of December 28, 2019, these accumulated net earnings generated by our foreign operations were approximately $24.5 million, which did not include earnings deemed to be repatriated as part of the Act. It is not practicable to determine the income tax liability that would be payable if such earnings were repatriated.
Unrecognized Tax Benefits
The following table summarizes the activity of our gross unrecognized tax benefits:
As of December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, the entire amount of unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would reduce our annual effective tax rate. During 2019, we recorded expenses relating to income tax-related interest and penalties of $1.6 million due to uncertain tax positions included in Provision for income taxes in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. During 2018, we recorded a gain relating to income tax-related interest and penalties of $0.9 million due to uncertain tax positions included in Provision for income taxes in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. During 2017, we recorded expenses relating to income tax-related interest and penalties of $1.7 million due to uncertain tax positions included in Provision for income taxes in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. As of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, we recorded a liability for potential interest of $4.9 million and $3.3 million and for potential penalties of $0.1 million and $0.1 million. We did not provide for any penalties associated with tax contingencies unless considered probable of assessment. We do not expect our unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the next 12 months. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2015.
13.
Contingencies:
We are currently and from time to time subject to litigation, claims and other disputes, including legal and regulatory proceedings, arising in the normal course of business. We record a loss contingency liability when a loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Although the final outcome of these legal matters cannot be determined, based on the facts presently known, it is management’s opinion that the final outcome of any pending matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Our Western Auto subsidiary, together with other defendants (including Advance and other of its subsidiaries), has been named as a defendant in lawsuits alleging injury as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products. The plaintiffs have alleged that certain products contained asbestos and were manufactured, distributed and/or sold by the various defendants. Many of the cases pending against us are in the early stages of litigation. While the damages claimed against the defendants in some of these proceedings are substantial, we believe many of these claims are at least partially covered by insurance and historically asbestos claims against us have been inconsistent in fact patterns alleged and immaterial. We do not believe the cases currently pending will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
14.
Benefit Plans:
401(k) Plan
We maintain a defined contribution benefit plan, which covers substantially all Team Members after one year of service and who have attained the age of 21. The plan allows for Team Member salary deferrals, which are matched at our discretion. Company contributions to these plans were $17.9 million, $15.0 million and $14.2 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Deferred Compensation
We maintain a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for certain Team Members. This plan provides for a minimum and maximum deferral percentage of the Team Member’s base salary and bonus, as determined by the Retirement Plan Committee. We established and maintained a deferred compensation liability for this plan. As of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, these liabilities were $15.0 million and $12.2 million.
15.
Share-Based Compensation:
Overview
We grant share-based compensation awards to our Team Members and members of our Board of Directors as provided for under our 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2014 LTIP”), which was approved by our shareholders on May 14, 2014. In 2019, 2018 and 2017, we granted share-based compensation in the form of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) or deferred stock units (“DSUs”). No share-based compensation was granted in the form of stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) in 2019, 2018 and 2017. Our grants, which have three methods of measuring fair value, generally include a time-based service, a performance-based or a market-based portion, which collectively represent the target award.
As of December 28, 2019, the aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding and exercisable time-based and performance-based SARs was insignificant. In 2019, 2018 and 2017, all related activity related to SARs, including grants, exercises and forfeitures, was insignificant.
At December 28, 2019, there were 4.9 million shares of common stock available for future issuance under the 2014 LTIP based on management’s current estimate of the probable vesting outcome for performance-based awards. We issue new shares of common stock upon exercise of SARs. Shares forfeited and shares withheld for payment of taxes due become available for reissuance and are included in availability. Availability also includes shares that became available for reissuance in connection with the exercise of SARs.
Restricted Stock Units
For time-based RSUs, the fair value of each award was determined based on the market price of our common stock on the date of grant. Time-based RSUs generally vest over a three-year period in equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. During the vesting period, holders of RSUs are entitled to receive dividend equivalents, but are not entitled to voting rights.
For performance-based RSUs, the fair value of each award was determined based on the market price of our common stock on the date of grant. Performance-based awards generally may vest following a three-year period subject to our achievement of certain financial goals as specified in the grant agreements. Depending on our results during the three-year performance period, the actual number of awards vesting at the end of the period generally ranges from 0% to 200% of the performance award. Performance-based RSUs generally do not have dividend equivalent rights and do not have voting rights until the shares are earned and issued following the applicable performance period. The number of performance-based awards outstanding is based on the number of awards that we believed were probable of vesting at December 28, 2019. Performance-based RSU’s granted during 2019 are presented as grants in the table at their respective target levels. The change in units based on performance represents the change in the number of granted awards expected to vest based on the updated probability assessment as of December 28, 2019. Compensation expense for performance-based awards of $7.8 million, $5.4 million, and $13.6 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, was determined based on management’s estimate of the probable vesting outcome.
For market-based RSUs, the fair value of each award was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The model uses multiple input variables that determined the probability of satisfying the market condition requirements as follows:
(1)
The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury constant maturity interest rate having term consistent with the vesting period of the award.
(2)
Expected volatility is determined based on historical volatility over a matching look-back period and is consistent with the correlation coefficients between our stock prices and our peer group.
Additionally, we estimated a liquidity discount of 10.5% using the Chaffe Protective Put Method to adjust the fair value for the post-vest restrictions. Market-based RSU’s vesting depends on our relative total shareholder return among a designated group of peer companies during a three-year period and will be subject to a one-year holding period after vesting.
The following table summarizes activity for time-based, performance-based and market-based RSUs in 2019:
The following table summarizes certain information concerning activity for time-based, performance-based and market-based RSUs:
As of December 28, 2019, the maximum potential payout under our currently outstanding performance-based and market-based RSUs were 289 thousand and 146 thousand units.
Other Considerations
Total income tax benefit related to share-based compensation expense for 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $9.4 million, $6.8 million and $15.3 million.
As of December 28, 2019, there was $59.8 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to all share-based awards that was expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 years.
Deferred Stock Units (“DSUs”)
We grant share-based awards annually to our Board of Directors in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders. These awards are granted in the form of DSUs as provided for in the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Deferred Stock Unit Plan for Non-Employee Directors and Selected Executives (“DSU Plan”). Each DSU is equivalent to one share of our common stock and will be distributed in common shares after the director’s service on the Board ends. DSUs granted vest over a one year service period. Additionally, the DSU Plan provides for the deferral of compensation earned in the form of (i) an annual retainer for directors, and (ii) wages for certain highly compensated Team Members. These DSUs are settled in common stock with the participants at a future date, or over a specified time period, as elected by the participants in accordance with the DSU Plan.
We granted 12 thousand DSUs in 2019. The weighted average fair value of DSUs granted during 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $156.47, $127.14, and $125.34. The DSUs are awarded at a price equal to the market price of our underlying common stock on the date of the grant. For 2019, 2018 and 2017, we recognized $1.9 million, $1.9 million and $1.5 million of share-based compensation expense for these DSU grants.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
We also offer an employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”). Under the ESPP, eligible Team Members may elect salary deferrals to purchase our common stock at a discount of 10% from its fair market value on the date of purchase. There are annual limitations on the amounts a Team Member may elect of either $25 thousand per Team Member or 10% of compensation, whichever is less. As of December 28, 2019, there were 1.0 million shares available to be issued under the ESPP.
16.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, consisted of the following:
17.
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements:
Certain 100% wholly owned domestic subsidiaries of Advance, including its Material Subsidiaries (as defined in the 2017 Credit Agreement) serve as guarantors of Advance’s senior unsecured notes (“Guarantor Subsidiaries”). The subsidiary guarantees related to Advance’s senior unsecured notes are full and unconditional, joint and several and there are no restrictions on the ability of Advance to obtain funds from its Guarantor Subsidiaries. Certain of Advance’s wholly owned subsidiaries, including all of its foreign subsidiaries and captive insurance subsidiary, do not serve as guarantors of Advance’s senior unsecured notes (“Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”).
Set forth below are condensed consolidating financial statements presenting the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of (i) Advance, (ii) the Guarantor Subsidiaries, (iii) the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries, and (iv) the eliminations necessary to arrive at consolidated information for Advance. Investments in subsidiaries of Advance are presented under the equity method. The statement of operations eliminations relate primarily to the sale of inventory from a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to a Guarantor Subsidiary. The balance sheet eliminations relate primarily to the elimination of intercompany receivables and payables and subsidiary investment accounts.
The following tables present condensed consolidating balance sheets, condensed consolidating statements of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows, and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements herein.
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
As of December 28, 2019
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
As of December 29, 2018
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 28, 2019
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 29, 2018
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 30, 2017
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
For the Year Ended December 28, 2019
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
For the Year Ended December 29, 2018
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
For the Year Ended December 30, 2017
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended December 28, 2019
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended December 29, 2018
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended December 30, 2017
18.
Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited):
The following table summarizes quarterly financial data for 2019 and 2018:
Quarterly and year-to-date computations of amounts are made independently. Therefore, the sum of amounts for the quarters may not be equal the amounts for the year.
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(in thousands)
(1)
Accounts written off during the period. These amounts did not impact our statement of operations for any year presented.
Other valuation and qualifying accounts have not been reported in this schedule because they are either not applicable or because the information has been included elsewhere in this report.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.
None.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
Dated:
February 18, 2020
By:
/s/ Jeffrey W. Shepherd
Jeffrey W. Shepherd
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Thomas R. Greco
President and Chief Executive Officer and Director
February 18, 2020
Thomas R. Greco
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Jeffrey W. Shepherd
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
February 18, 2020
Jeffrey W. Shepherd
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Andrew E. Page
Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
February 18, 2020
Andrew E. Page
(Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Jeffrey C. Smith
Chairman and Director
February 18, 2020
Jeffrey C. Smith
/s/ John F. Bergstrom
Director
February 18, 2020
John F. Bergstrom
/s/ Brad W. Buss
Director
February 18, 2020
Brad W. Buss
/s/ John F. Ferraro
Director
February 18, 2020
John F. Ferraro
Director
Adriana Karaboutis
/s/ Eugene I. Lee, Jr.
Director
February 18, 2020
Eugene I. Lee, Jr.
/s/ Nigel Travis
Director
February 18, 2020
Nigel Travis
/s/ Douglas A. Pertz
Director
February 18, 2020
Douglas A. Pertz
/s/ Jeffrey J. Jones II
Director
February 18, 2020
Jeffrey J. Jones II
/s/ Sharon L. McCollam
Director
February 18, 2020
Sharon L. McCollam