O'Reilly Automotive was founded in 1957 in Springfield, Missouri, by Charles F. O'Reilly and his son Chub. From the start it sold to both walk-in customers and local mechanics, the dual-market approach it still uses.
The distribution network
Regional distribution centers restock stores overnight, and larger hub stores supply nearby stores during the day. That layered inventory lets O'Reilly get uncommon parts to a customer quickly, which is what repair shops value most.
The professional business
About 49% of 2025 sales came from professional customers such as repair shops and fleets. In Q2 2026 professional comparable sales grew about 10%, outpacing DIY.
E-commerce competition
Online sellers compete on price for planned purchases, but a mechanic with a car on the lift or a driver with a dead battery needs the part today. Local inventory and counter expertise keep most of that demand in stores.
Buybacks instead of dividends
O'Reilly pays no dividend. It repurchased about $30.4 billion of its stock from January 2011 through July 29, 2026, shrinking its share count and lifting earnings per share.