O'Reilly Automotive hits store milestone

Springfield-based auto parts retailer O’Reilly Automotive Inc. (Nasdaq: ORLY) has reached a milestone for a record number of stores.

The company today is hosting a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony for its 6,000th store, according to a news release. The shop is in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, near Muskogee.

“As we celebrate 65 years of O'Reilly Auto Parts and the opening of our 6,000th store location, we recognize that these achievements would not be possible without the unwavering dedication of our more than 84,000 team members," O'Reilly's Automotive CEO Greg Johnson said in the release. "With a new store opening every 2.5 days on average, team O'Reilly’s continued growth means the delivery of our unrivaled service to a broader customer base."

At the end of 2022, O'Reilly Automotive had 5,971 stores, according to past reporting. The company's sales last year topped $14 billion for the first time in company history.

ORLY shares on Feb. 17 hit a new 52-week high of $873.94 per share.

As shares have risen in recent weeks, O'Reilly Automotive has reported several filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission involving company executives selling shares.

The largest stock transaction reported to the SEC this week was from Doug Bragg, O'Reilly Automotive’s executive vice president of store operations and sales. The Feb. 21 filing shows that Bragg utilized SEC transaction code M, through which executives can buy awarded shares at set rates and sell them later at market prices. His net earnings from the trading were roughly $3.5 million, according to the SEC filing.