SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Feb 25 (Reuters) - Auto parts retailer O'Reilly Automotive Inc. on Tuesday posted higher quarterly earnings, helped by a 5.2 percent increase in sales at stores open at least a year.
O'Reilly, which operates more than 900 stores mostly in the U.S. South and Midwest, said fourth-quarter net income rose to $18.7 million, or 35 cents a share, from $15.9 million, or 30 cents a share, in the same period a year ago.
Analysts expected O'Reilly to earn 35 cents a share on average, within a range of 34 cents to 35 cents, according to Thomson First Call.
Product sales climbed 13 percent to $314.2 million from $278.4 million the year before.
Shares of the company, which also said it expects to open 130 new stores in 2003, closed off 49 cents at $23.25 on the New York Stock Exchange.