Is O’Reilly Auto Stock Underperforming the Dow?


O’Reilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY), headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, is a leading retailer and supplier of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment and accessories. With a market cap of $80.2 billion, the company sells its products to do-it-yourself customers, professional mechanics, and service technicians.

Companies valued at $10 billion or more are generally described as “large-cap stocks,” and ORLY fits that description perfectly, with its market cap exceeding that mark, indicating its size, influence, and dominance in the specialty retail industry. ORLY maintains an efficient distribution network. With more than 6,000 stores in the United States and Mexico, the O’Reilly brand is known for quality and reliability, leading to a loyal customer base.

Despite its considerable strength, ORLY is down 12.6% from its 52-week high of $108.72 on September 30. Over the past three months, ORLY stock has fallen 4.8%, underperforming the Dow Jones Industrial Average (%DOWI)’s 3% gain over the same time frame.

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www.barchart.com

ORLY shares are up 4.2% on a YTD basis, outperforming the DOWI’s 1.8% YTD gain. However, over the long term, the stock is up 3.8% over the past 52 weeks, dwarfing the DOWI’s 11.6% return over the past year.

Confirming the uptrend, ORLY has been trading above its 50-day moving average since late January, experiencing some reversals. However, the stock has been trading below its 200-day moving average since early December 2025, with some fluctuations.

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www.barchart.com

ORLY’s poor performance is due to rising self-insurance and health care costs, and cautious consumer behavior pressured the DIY segment, with steady pricing but persistent cost inflation driving higher SG&A costs and impacting profitability.

On February 4, ORLY reported Q4 results, and its shares closed up more than 4% in the following trading session. Its EPS of $0.71 missed Wall Street’s $0.72 expectation. The company’s revenue was $4.41 billion, which exceeded Wall Street’s forecast of $4.40 billion. ORLY expects full-year EPS of $3.10 to $3.20, and revenue of $18.7 billion to $19 billion.

ORLY’s rival, AutoZone Inc. (AZO) Shares have lagged the stock, with a 14.5% gain on a YTD basis and an 11.2% return over the past 52 weeks.

Wall Street analysts are bullish on ORLY’s prospects. The stock has a consensus “Strong Buy” rating from the 28 analysts that cover it, and an average price target of $108.04, suggesting a potential upside of 13.7% from current price levels.

As of the date of publication, Neha Panjwani had no position (either directly or indirectly) in any of the matters mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article are for informational purposes only. This article was originally published on Barchart.com

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