"While the S&P 500 rose 19% for the year, O'Reilly Automotive (ORLY) ended 2017 almost 14% below where it started. AutoZone (AZO) fell 10%, and Advance Auto Parts (AAP) tanked 41%."
"AutoZone is No. 1 in the number of stores with roughly 5,465 locations across the nation. But O'Reilly Automotive sports the fastest growing earnings, with a five-year annualized EPS growth rate of 21%. AutoZone has a 13% corresponding rate, Advance Auto Parts 5%, and Genuine Parts (GPC) 2%.
Morningstar analyst Zain Akbari says O'Reilly Automotive boasts the most fully realized dual-market approach. The DIFM market represents about 42% of sales for O'Reilly Automotive vs. 20% for AutoZone.
AutoZone is No. 1 in the $57 billion DIY market and is striving to grow its DIFM business. Advance Auto Part's commercial sales grew following its purchase of General Parts in 2014, but disruptions from the integration have weighed on its results.
Genuine Parts is the group's sales king with roughly $15.3 billion in 2016 revenue. However, only 53% of its net sales were from auto parts, the rest was from industrial, electrical and office products."
https://www.investors.com/research/industry-snapshot/autozone-oreilly-advance-auto-parts-see-road-to-recovery/