O'Reilly Automotive repurchased 26.7M shares at $91.17 average in H1 2026
YTD buyback totaled $2.43B; company had $1.33B authorization remaining as of July 29, 2026.
What the filing says
O'Reilly Automotive reported year-to-date share repurchases totaling 26.7 million shares at an average price of $91.17 per share, for a total investment of $2.43 billion through the first six months of 2026. During the second quarter alone, the company repurchased 16.7 million shares at an average price of $90.40 per share for $1.51 billion. The company also paid $24.3 million in federal excise tax on the repurchased shares.
Subsequent to the end of the second quarter and through the release date of July 29, 2026, O'Reilly repurchased an additional 7.3 million shares at an average price of $86.81 per share for $632 million. As of the release date, the company reported approximately $1.33 billion remaining under its current share repurchase authorization.
Since the inception of its share repurchase program in January 2011 through July 29, 2026, O'Reilly has repurchased a cumulative total of 1.50 billion shares at an average price of $20.32 per share, representing a total aggregate investment of $30.42 billion. The company continues to execute repurchases as part of its capital allocation strategy, returning cash to shareholders while maintaining operational growth and store expansion.
During the first six months of 2026, the Company repurchased 26.7 million shares of its common stock, at an average price per share of $91.17, for a total investment of $2.43 billion. As of the date of this release, the Company had approximately $1.33 billion remaining under its current share repurchase authorization. — O REILLY AUTOMOTIVE INC 8-K filing · View on SEC EDGAR →
What this means
O'Reilly Automotive's H1 2026 buyback activity reflects continued capital return to shareholders, with 26.7 million shares retired at an average price of $91.17. The repurchase reduced weighted-average diluted shares outstanding from 858.4 million (H1 2025) to 835.7 million (H1 2026), contributing to the 13% year-over-year EPS growth reported for the six-month period. With $1.33 billion remaining under authorization and positive free cash flow of $1.48 billion for H1 2026, the company retains flexibility for continued repurchases while funding store expansion (110 net new stores opened YTD) and capital expenditures.
Frequently asked questions
- How much has O'Reilly spent on buybacks year-to-date in 2026?
- Through June 30, 2026, O'Reilly repurchased 26.7 million shares at an average price of $91.17 per share, investing $2.43 billion. An additional 7.3 million shares were repurchased between the end of Q2 and July 29, 2026, at $86.81 per share for $632 million, bringing total buyback investment to approximately $3.06 billion through the release date.
- What was the average price paid per share in O'Reilly's buybacks?
- For H1 2026, O'Reilly paid an average of $91.17 per share. In Q2 alone, the average price was $90.40. Post-quarter through July 29, the company paid $86.81 per share, reflecting slight downward price movement in the interim period.
- How much authorization does O'Reilly have remaining?
- As of July 29, 2026, O'Reilly had approximately $1.33 billion remaining under its current share repurchase authorization. Since inception in January 2011, the company has repurchased 1.50 billion shares at an average price of $20.32 for a total of $30.42 billion.
- Did the buyback program reduce share count and boost EPS?
- Yes. Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding fell from 858.4 million in H1 2025 to 835.7 million in H1 2026, a reduction of about 22.7 million shares. Diluted EPS increased 13% to $1.58 in H1 2026 versus $1.40 in H1 2025, benefiting from both operational growth and the lower share count.
- What mechanism does O'Reilly use to repurchase shares?
- The filing references a share repurchase program but does not explicitly specify the execution mechanism (e.g., Rule 10b-18, 10b5-1 plan). Historically, large retailers like O'Reilly typically use open-market purchases under Rule 10b-18 guidelines or pre-established trading plans.
- How does the buyback fit into O'Reilly's capital allocation strategy?
- O'Reilly is balancing share repurchases with significant store expansion (225–235 net new stores planned for 2026) and capital investment. Year-to-date free cash flow was $1.48 billion, enabling the company to fund $2.43 billion in buybacks while also investing in growth and maintaining a 2.17x adjusted debt-to-EBITDAR ratio.