8

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

For the fiscal year ended January 3, 2026

For the transition period from ________ to ________.

Commission file number 001-16797

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

4200 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27609

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(540) 362-4911

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Registration S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, July 12, 2025, the aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $1.9 billion, based on the last sales price on July 12, 2025, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.

As of February 9, 2025, the number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding was 60.1 million shares.

Documents Incorporated by Reference:

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held on May 20, 2026, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements herein are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are usually identifiable by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast, “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “position,” “possible,” “potential,” “probable,” “project,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” or similar language. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about the Company’s strategic initiatives, future business and financial performance, revenue, earnings, cash flow, liquidity, restructuring and asset optimization plans, financial objectives, including with respect to the Company's reorganized debt capital structure, operational plans and objectives, capital expenditures, organizational changes, cost reductions, expectations for macroeconomic conditions, marketing strategies, inflation, impairments, consumer behavior and preferences, labor costs and availability, supply chain and merchandising strategies and effects, technology investments, effective tax rates, regulatory changes and impacts, anticipated impacts of tariffs and other trade barriers, compliance with debt covenants, statements about the status of, and capacity and utilization under, the Company’s supply chain financing arrangements and statements about the Company’s future credit ratings and outlook as well as statements regarding underlying assumptions related thereto. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s views based on historical results, current information and assumptions related to future developments. Except as may be required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made herein. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. They include, among others, the Company’s ability to hire, train and retain qualified employees, the timing and implementation of strategic initiatives, risks associated with the Company’s restructuring and asset optimization plans, risks relating to incurrence of indebtedness and increased leverage, risks relating to the Company's credit ratings or perceived creditworthiness, deterioration of general macroeconomic conditions, geopolitical factors, including increased tariffs and trade restrictions, the highly competitive nature of the industry, demand for the Company’s products and services, risks relating to the impairment of assets, including intangible assets such as goodwill, access to financing on favorable terms, complexities in the Company’s inventory and supply chain, implementation and operation of information and technology systems, and challenges with transforming and growing its business. Please refer to “Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors” of this Annual Report for a description of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied by the forward-looking statements.

PART I

Item 1. Business.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company,” “Advance,” and similar terms refer to Advance Auto Parts, Inc., its subsidiaries and their respective operations on a consolidated basis. The Company’s fiscal year consists of 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Saturday closest to December 31st each year. The Company’s fiscal year ended January 3, 2026 (“2025”) included fifty-three weeks of operations. The Company’s previous two fiscal years ended on December 28, 2024 (“2024”) and December 30, 2023 (“2023”), respectively, each included fifty-two weeks of operations.

Overview

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and its subsidiaries is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, serving both professional installers (“professional”) and “do-it-yourself” (“DIY”) customers, as well as independently-owned operators. The Company’s stores offer a broad selection of brand names, original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) and owned brand automotive replacement parts, accessories, batteries and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars, vans, sport utility vehicles and light and heavy-duty trucks. As of January 3, 2026, the Company operated 4,305 stores primarily within the United States, with additional locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, as of January 3, 2026, we served 809 independently owned Carquest branded stores across the same geographic locations served by our stores in addition to Mexico and various Caribbean islands. Our stores operate primarily under the trade names “Advance Auto Parts” and “Carquest”.

The Company was founded in 1929 as Advance Stores Company, Incorporated, and operated as a retailer of general merchandise, including automotive parts, until the 1980s. During the 1980s, the Company began shifting its focus, specifically targeting the sale of automotive parts and accessories to DIY customers. The Company initiated the professional delivery program in 1996 and has served professional customers since 2000. The Company has grown significantly as a result of strategic acquisitions, new store openings and comparable store sales growth. Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 2001 in conjunction with the acquisition of Discount Auto Parts, Inc. In 2014, the Company acquired General Parts International, Inc., a privately-held company that was a leading distributor and supplier of original equipment and aftermarket automotive replacement products for professional markets operating under the Carquest and Worldpac trade names.

In November 2024, the Company completed the sale of the Worldpac business for net proceeds of approximately $1.44 billion after transaction costs, the final working capital adjustment recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 and excluding the impact of taxes. The transaction reflected a strategic shift in the Company’s business with increased focus on the Advance blended-box model. Refer to Note 19. Discontinued Operations, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report for further details.

On November 13, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a restructuring and asset optimization plan (“2024 Restructuring Plan”) designed to improve the Company’s profitability and growth potential and streamline its operations. The 2024 Restructuring Plan is supplemental to other ongoing initiatives, such as our distribution network optimization initiatives, to simplify the Company's business and improve profitable growth and entails, among other items, certain store and independent location closures as well as headcount reductions and organizational design changes to align the Company’s workforce to the expected needs of the Company's business. The Company completed its store footprint optimization with all intended store and independent location closures under the 2024 Restructuring Plan during the first quarter of 2025. Refer to Note 3. Restructuring, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report for further details.

During fiscal 2025, the Company continued executing its multi-year strategic plan to drive operational efficiencies, which focuses on merchandising excellence, supply chain transformation and store operations.

Stores

The key factors used in selecting sites and market locations in which the Company operates include population, demographics, traffic count, vehicle profile, number and strength of competitors’ stores and the cost of real estate. During 2025, 39 stores were opened and 522 were closed, resulting in a total of 4,305 stores as of January 3, 2026 compared with a total of

4,788 stores as of December 28, 2024. During fiscal year 2025, the Company completed the footprint optimization portion of its 2024 Restructuring Plan.

The Company serves its professional and DIY customers through a variety of channels ranging from traditional “brick and mortar” store locations to self-service e-commerce sites. The Company believes it is better able to meet its customers’ needs by operating under two trade names, which are as follows:

Advance Auto Parts — The Company’s 4,066 Advance Auto Parts stores, inclusive of 255 hubs and 33 market hubs, as of January 3, 2026, are generally located in freestanding buildings across 44 U.S. states and two U.S. territories, with a focus on both professional and DIY customers. The average size of an Advance Auto Parts location (including stores, hubs and market hubs) is approximately 8,100 square feet. These stores carry a wide variety of products serving aftermarket auto part needs for both domestic and import vehicles with product offerings of approximately 23,200 stock keeping units (“SKUs”), consisting of a custom mix of products based on each store’s market. Supplementing the Company’s stores’ inventory on-hand, less common SKUs are also available on a same-day or next-day basis from any of the larger hub stores or market hub locations.

Carquest — The Company’s 239 Carquest stores as of January 3, 2026, including 157 stores in Canada, are generally located in freestanding buildings with a primary focus on professional customers, but also serve DIY customers. The average size of a Carquest store is approximately 6,600 square feet. These stores carry a wide variety of products serving the aftermarket auto part needs for both domestic and import vehicles with a product offering of approximately 19,100 SKUs. As of January 3, 2026, 809 independently-owned stores operated under the Carquest name.

The Company serves the stores primarily from its executive office in Raleigh, NC.

Company Products

The Company offers a comprehensive portfolio of replacement parts, maintenance items, accessories and tools to support the full lifecycle of vehicles. With an expansive footprint and a wide assortment of products, the Company believes it is well-positioned to meet a broad range of customer needs in a highly fragmented industry. The following table shows some of the types of products that the Company sells by major category:

The Company provides customers with quality products that are often offered at a good, better or best recommendation, differentiated by price and quality. The Company accepts customer returns for many new, core and warranty products. Customer returns have historically been immaterial.

Customers

The Company’s professional customers primarily consist of customers for whom the Company delivers products to their places of business, including garages, service stations and auto dealerships. The Company’s professional sales represented approximately 50% of sales in each of fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023. The Company also serves 809 independently-owned Carquest stores with shipments directly from distribution centers. DIY customers are primarily served through the Company’s stores, but can also order online to pick up merchandise at a nearby store or have their purchases shipped directly to them. Except where prohibited, the Company also provides a variety of services at its stores free of charge to customers, including:

The Company also serves customers online at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com or on the Advance Mobile App. Professional customers can conveniently place their orders electronically, by phone, or in-store, and the Company delivers products to their places of business.

Supply Chain

The Company’s supply chain consists of a multi-echelon network of distribution centers, hubs and stores that enable the Company to provide same-day or next-day availability to customers. The Company is executing supply chain initiatives to drive efficiency, improve inventory availability and establish a scalable foundation to support merchandising precision and profitable growth. The redesign is intended to leverage current assets and operate fewer, more productive distribution centers that focus on replenishment and move more parts closer to the customer. To achieve this plan, the Company is in the process of converting certain distribution centers and stores into market hubs, and opening new market hubs. In addition to providing replenishment to nearby stores, market hubs enhance retail operations through improved parts availability. As of January 3, 2026, the Company operated 19 distribution centers, including 3 in Canada, ranging in size from approximately 70,000 to 943,000 square feet with total square footage of approximately 7.2 million. In addition, the Company also has one distribution center dedicated to reclamations. As of January 3, 2026, the Company also operated 33 market hub locations.

Merchandise, Marketing and Advertising

In 2025, the Company purchased merchandise from over 730 vendors. The Company’s purchasing strategy involves negotiating agreements with vendors to purchase merchandise over a specified period, along with other provisions, such as pricing, rebates, volume, and payment terms.

The Company aims to carry a broad selection of high quality and reputable brand name automotive parts and accessories that the Company believes will appeal to professional customers and also generate DIY customer traffic. Some of the Company’s brands include Bosch®, Castrol®, Dayco®, Denso®, Gates®, Meguiar’sTM, Mobil 1TM, Moog®, Monroe®, NGK®, Prestone®, Purolator® and Wagner®. In addition to these branded products, the Company stocks a wide selection of high-quality owned brand products with a goal of appealing to value-conscious customers, including our new oil and fluids brand, ARGOS®, launched in January 2026, designed to meet growing consumer demand for high-quality, affordable auto care products. Other categories of owned brand merchandise include batteries, brakes, chassis, ride control, engine management, filtration, chemicals and other parts under various owned brand names such as Carquest®, DieHard®, Driveworks® and Wearever®. For the DieHard® brand, the Company owns the right to sell batteries and to extend the DieHard® brand into other automotive and vehicular categories. The Company granted the seller an exclusive royalty-free, perpetual license to develop, market and sell DieHard® branded products in certain non-automotive categories.

The Company’s marketing and advertising programs are designed to drive brand awareness, consideration by consumers and omnichannel traffic by position in the aftermarket auto parts category. The Company strives to exceed its customers’ expectations end-to-end through a comprehensive online and in-store pick up experience, extensive parts assortment, quality brands, experienced parts professionals, professional programs that are designed to build loyalty with customers and the DIY customer loyalty program.

Seasonality

The Company’s business is somewhat seasonal in nature, with the highest sales usually occurring in the spring and summer months. In addition, the Company’s business can be affected by weather conditions. While unusually heavy precipitation tends to soften sales as elective maintenance is deferred during such periods, extremely hot or cold weather tends to cause automotive parts to fail at an accelerated rate which can lead to enhanced sales. The fourth quarter is generally the most volatile as weather and spending trade-offs typically influence professional and DIY sales.

Human Capital

As of January 3, 2026, the Company employed approximately 28,274 full-time team members and 25,733 part-time team members. The Company’s workforce consisted of 87.4% of team members employed in store-level operations, 8.5% in distribution centers and 4.1% in corporate offices. As of January 3, 2026, approximately 1.7% of team members were represented by labor unions.

Our human capital management strategy focuses on attracting, developing, and retaining the highest quality talent. We work to achieve these objectives by offering competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth and development.

Intellectual Property

The Company owns a number of trade names, service marks and trademarks, including “Advance Auto Parts®,” “Advance Same Day®,” "ARGOS®,” “Carquest®,” “CARQUEST Technical Institute®,” “DieHard®,” “DriverSide®,” “MotoLogic®,” “MotoShop®” and “TECH-NET Professional Auto Service®”, for use in connection with the automotive parts business. In addition, the Company owns and has registered a number of trademarks for its owned brands. The Company believes that these trade names, service marks and trademarks are important to the merchandising strategy. The Company does not know of any infringing uses that would materially affect the use of these trade names and trademarks and will actively defend and enforce them.

Competition

The Company operates in both the professional and DIY markets of the automotive aftermarket industry. The Company’s primary competitors are (i) both national and regional chains of automotive parts stores, including AutoZone, Inc., NAPA, O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. and Auto Plus (formerly Uni-Select USA, Inc.), (ii) internet-based retailers, (iii) discount stores and mass merchandisers that carry automotive products, (iv) wholesalers or jobbers stores, including those associated with national parts distributors or associations, (v) independently-owned stores and (vi) automobile dealers that supply parts. The Company believes that chains of automotive parts stores that, like the Company, have multiple locations in one or more markets, have competitive advantages in customer service, marketing, inventory selection, purchasing and distribution compared with independent retailers and jobbers that are not part of a chain or associated with other retailers or jobbers. The principal methods of competition in the business include brand recognition, customer service, product offerings, availability, quality, service with speed, price and store location.

Environmental and Other Regulatory Matters

The Company is subject to various federal, state and local laws and governmental regulations relating to the operation of the business, including those governing collection, transportation and recycling of automotive lead-acid batteries, used motor oil and other recyclable items and the ownership and operation of real property. The Company sells products containing hazardous materials as part of the business. In addition, customers may bring automotive lead-acid batteries, used motor oil or other

recyclable items onto the properties. The Company currently provides collection and recycling programs for used lead-acid batteries, used oil and other recyclable items at the majority of its stores as a service to its customers. Pursuant to agreements with third-party vendors, lead-acid batteries, used motor oil and other recyclable items are collected by team members, deposited onto pallets or into vendor supplied containers, and stored by the Company until collected by the third-party vendors for recycling or proper disposal. The terms of the contracts with third-party vendors require that they are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Company’s third-party vendors who arrange for the removal, disposal, treatment or other handling of hazardous or toxic substances may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation at any affected disposal, treatment or other site affected by such substances. Based on the Company’s experience, the Company does not believe that there are any material environmental costs associated with the current business practice of accepting lead-acid batteries, used oil and other recyclable items as these costs are borne by the respective third-party vendors.

The Company owns and leases real property. Under various environmental laws and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real property may be liable for the cost of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances on, under or in such property. These laws often impose joint and several liability and may be imposed without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the release of such hazardous or toxic substances. Other environmental laws and common law principles also could be used to impose liability for releases of hazardous materials into the environment or work place, and third parties may seek recovery from owners or operators of real properties for personal injury or property damage associated with exposure to released hazardous substances. From time to time, the Company receives notices from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state environmental authorities indicating that there may be contamination on properties that the Company owns, leases or operates or may have owned, leased or operated in the past or on adjacent properties for which the Company may be responsible. Compliance with these laws and regulations and clean-up of released hazardous substances have not had a material impact on operations to date.

The Company is also subject to numerous regulations including those related to labor and employment, discrimination, anti-bribery/anti-corruption, false claims, product quality and safety standards, data privacy, taxes, workplace safety, consumer protection and trade compliance. Compliance with any such laws and regulations has not had a material adverse effect on the operations to date. For more information, see the following disclosures in Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors, of this Annual Report.

Available Information

The Company’s internet address is www.AdvanceAutoParts.com. The Company’s website and the information contained therein or linked thereto are not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2025. The Company makes available free of charge through the Investor Relations website located at ir.advanceautoparts.com, the Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements, registration statements and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files such materials with, or furnishes them to the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. These materials may be obtained electronically by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

We routinely use our investor relations website, at ir.advanceautoparts.com, as a primary channel for disclosing key information to our investors. We may use our website as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor our investor relations website, in addition to following our press releases, filings with the SEC, public conference calls, presentations, and webcasts.

The references to our website addresses do not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on the websites, which should not be considered part of this Form 10-K.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

One should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below together with the other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including without limitation, the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Policies, of this Annual Report. The occurrence of any of the following risks could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and future prospects, which could in turn materially affect the price of the Company’s common stock.

Risks Related to the Company’s Operations and Strategy

If we are unable to successfully implement our business strategy, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected.

The Company recently undertook a comprehensive strategic and operational review to improve its performance of its business and create long-term value. This review resulted in, among other things, narrowed business priorities and initiatives aimed at improving core performance in key areas. The Company has made and expects to continue to make significant investments to improve its business, including through its 2024 Restructuring Plan and initiatives across merchandising, supply chain and store operations. If the Company is unable to implement these and other initiatives efficiently and effectively, the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected. The Company could also be adversely affected if it has not appropriately prioritized and balanced its initiatives or if the Company is unable to effectively manage change throughout the organization. Implementing strategic initiatives could disrupt or reduce the efficiency of the Company’s operations and may not provide the anticipated benefits, or may provide them on a delayed schedule or at a higher cost than expected. These risks increase when significant changes are undertaken and when multiple projects with interdependencies and shared human resources are pursued simultaneously.

Restructuring our operations is a significant undertaking and introduces risk to the continuity and results of the Company's operations.

In November 2024, the Company announced the 2024 Restructuring Plan to restructure its operations to improve profitability and growth potential and streamline the Company's operations. As of the January 3, 2026, the closures anticipated in connection with that plan are complete and their associated costs have been incurred. However, the Company expects to incur approximately $30 million to $40 million of additional restructuring charges through fiscal 2026, primarily related to costs associated with closed stores for the termination and exit of certain leases. The terms, scope and timing of any additional changes to our lease obligations, as well as any other effects on our landlord relationships or reputation with other real estate owners, are uncertain. The Company’s expectations for charges to be incurred and cash to be expended in connection with the restructuring activities are based on a number of assumptions, and the Company may experience unanticipated consequences, such as higher than anticipated lease termination and facility closure costs, asset impairment or other unforeseen expenses related to the restructuring.

The implementation of the Company’s restructuring efforts, including the reduction of the Company’s facilities and workforce, may not improve our operational and cost structure or result in greater efficiency of the Company’s organization; and the Company may not be able to support sustainable profitable growth following the Company’s restructuring actions. Failure to achieve or sustain the expected cost reductions and other benefits related to these restructuring initiatives could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

We are exposed to risks associated with past and potential divestitures, which may impact our ability to fully realize the anticipated benefits of those transactions.

The Company sold its Worldpac business in fiscal year 2024. Divestitures are complex transactions involving inherent risks, including the potential for distractions of management from the core remaining business of the Company and the occurrence of events that may impact our ability to fully realize the anticipated benefits of the divestitures. Transactions of this nature carry risks associated with variation from expectations, including with respect to provision of transition services, customary final

working capital settlements with the buyer and post-closing claims for liability. In January 2026, the Company and Worldpac agreed to a final net working capital adjustment that was $31 million in excess of the Company's original preliminary estimate of working capital, as defined in the agreement. see Note 19. Discontinued Operations, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report. Accordingly, there is no guarantee that we will fully realize the anticipated benefits of the Worldpac divestiture.

If we are unable to adequately design, implement, operate and maintain various information and technology systems, our ability to conduct business could be negatively impacted.

The Company is dependent on information and technology systems to facilitate the day-to-day operations of the business and to produce timely, accurate and reliable information on financial and operational results. The Company is in the process of designing, implementing and updating various information and technology systems, including replacing older legacy systems with successor systems, maintaining or enhancing legacy systems that are not being replaced, cloud migration and introducing new systems or functionality, including artificial intelligence. These initiatives will require significant investment of human and financial resources, and the Company may experience significant delays or errors, increased costs and other difficulties with these projects. Deficiencies in the design or implementation or maintenance of our systems could lead to inaccuracy, loss or corruption of data, disruption to the Company’s business operations or reputational harm. Failure to appropriately prioritize the upgrading or replacement of various technologies and systems could increase risks associated with aging technological infrastructure, including disruptions to operations that could negatively impact sales or damage customer relationships. In addition, the Company is utilizing data analytics and piloting the use of advance technological applications to support various business initiatives. Any inability on our part to properly capture or interpret data may impair our ability to successfully execute our business plans.

Furthermore, the Company is currently using and intends to use innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence, in its business. If we are not successful in our development, use and/or deployment of such advanced technologies, or if our competitors adopt and deploy such innovative technologies faster or more effectively and/or possess advantages with such technologies and capabilities for consumer-facing platforms or for internal operations, this could adversely affect the Company's competitive position, business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Use of innovative technologies carries inherent risk, and we intend to use artificial intelligence in connection with strategic business initiatives. Failures with respect to such use could result in us making important business decisions based on incorrect or biased information or assumptions, result in delays and increased costs or heighten our exposure to security risks. Furthermore, if our use of artificial intelligence becomes controversial or is inaccurate or ineffective, our reputation and competitive position could be adversely affected and we could be exposed to liabilities or regulatory scrutiny.

The efficacy of the Company’s supply chain is important to its business operations and ability to grow the Company’s business, and if the Company is unable to maintain adequate supply chain capacity or improve supply chain efficiency, it could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations and cash flows.

The Company’s strategy to improve supply chain efficiency includes conversion of distribution centers and stores into a network of market hubs to create economies of scale and enhance service levels for our customers through improved parts availability. The Company’s store inventories are primarily replenished by shipments from its network of distribution centers and market hubs. If the Company is unable to maintain adequate capacity in its supply chain network, or improve the efficiency of its supply chain, through the implementation of its market hub strategy or otherwise, the Company may experience higher inventory costs, lower inventory availability, slower delivery speed and ultimately a lower ability to meet consumer product needs and channel preferences. The Company plans to further invest in its distribution center infrastructure to help ensure safety, reliability and efficiency across its operations, which will require capital investments. The Company is also working to improve product lifecycle management and address slower-moving inventory in its network. The Company’s investments in supply chain may not provide the anticipated benefits, and experiencing sub-optimal inventory levels, inventory availability or increases in its costs could adversely affect its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

An unstable global economic and geopolitical landscape increases uncertainty about key areas of doing business internationally and may have a negative impact on our business.

During fiscal 2025, new global trade tariffs were imposed on imports to the U.S., including tariffs on imports from various countries from which the Company directly or indirectly imports and/or sources merchandise, including Canada, China and Mexico, among others. In response, several countries imposed, or threatened to impose, reciprocal tariffs on imports from the U.S. and other measures. Various modifications and delays to the U.S. tariffs have been announced and further changes are expected to be made in the future, which may include additional sector-based tariffs or other measures. Additionally, the current administration has directed various federal agencies to further evaluate key aspects of U.S. trade policy and there has been ongoing discussion and commentary regarding potential significant changes to U.S. trade policies, enforcement priorities, sanctions, treaties and tariffs. Significant uncertainty continues to exist about the future economic and political relationship between the U.S. and other countries. The ultimate impact of tariffs on the Company’s business will depend on several factors, including whether additional or incremental U.S. tariffs or other measures are announced, revised, or rescinded, to what extent other countries implement tariffs or other measures in response, and the overall magnitude and duration of these items. These developments, or the perception that any of them could occur, may have a material effect on global economic conditions, the stability of global financial markets, or global trade, and may impact the Company’s product cost, pricing, or competitive conditions, disrupt supply chains, impact the broader macroeconomic environment and consumer sentiment or otherwise negatively impact the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company’s reliance on suppliers, including freight carriers and other third parties in the Company’s global supply chain, subjects it to various risks and uncertainties which could adversely affect its financial results.

The Company sources the products it sells from a wide variety of domestic and international suppliers, and places significant reliance upon various third parties to transport, store and distribute those products to the Company’s distribution centers, stores and customers. The Company’s financial results depend on it securing acceptable terms with its suppliers for, among other things, the price of merchandise the Company purchases from them, funding for various forms of promotional programs, payment terms and provisions covering returns and factory warranties. To varying degrees, the Company’s suppliers may be able to leverage their competitive advantages - for example, their scale, financial strength, the strength of their brand with customers, their own stores or online channels or their relationships with other retailers - to the Company’s commercial disadvantage. Generally, the Company’s ability to negotiate favorable terms with its suppliers is more difficult with suppliers for whom the Company purchases represent a smaller proportion of their total revenues, consequently impacting the Company’s profitability from such vendor relationships. If the Company encounters any of these issues with its suppliers, its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely impacted.

In addition, the Company’s suppliers, including those within its global supply chain, are impacted by global conditions that in turn may impact the Company’s ability to source merchandise at competitive prices or timely supply product at levels adequate to meet consumer demand. For example, disruptions to the global supply chain resulting from lack of carrier capacity, labor shortages, geopolitical unrest, changes in foreign trade policies, port congestion and/or closures, amongst other factors, may negatively impact costs, inventory availability and operating results. If suppliers increase prices charged to the Company for products, including transportation and distribution, as a result of these or other factors such as tariffs, heightened trade compliance and sanctions enforcement, inflation or the cost of participating in vendor financing programs, it may negatively impact the Company’s results. If the Company experiences transitions or changeover with any of its significant vendors, or if its vendors experience financial difficulties or are otherwise unable to deliver merchandise to the Company on a timely basis, or at all, the Company could have product shortages in its stores that could adversely affect customers’ perceptions of the Company and cause the Company to lose customers and sales.

The Company's ability to maintain its stores and open locations in desirable places will impact its competitive positioning and results of operations, and failure to properly invest in stores could adversely affect its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company recently undertook the 2024 Restructuring Plan, pursuant to which it closed approximately 500 store locations and 200 independent store locations during the first quarter of 2025. Following the completion of the store footprint optimization portion of the 2024 Restructuring Plan, the Company had the highest or second highest market share by store count in approximately 75% of its markets. However, some of the Company's competitors are opening new stores at a significantly higher pace than the Company is currently opening new stores, threatening the Company's competitive position in certain markets. The Company intends to continue to open new stores in attractive markets as it improves its business. However, there is uncertainty about the profitability of newly opened locations, and newly opened stores may harm the profitability or comparable store sales of existing locations. The profitability of newly opened and existing locations’ will depend on the competition the Company faces as well as its ability to properly stock, market and price the products desired by customers in their markets. The actual number and format of any new locations to be opened and the success of the Company’s strategy will depend on a number of factors, including, among other things:

The Company competes with other retailers and businesses for suitable locations for its stores. Local land use and zoning regulations, environmental regulations and other regulatory requirements may impact its ability to find suitable locations and influence the cost of constructing, renovating and operating its stores. In addition, real estate, zoning, construction and other delays may adversely affect store openings and renovations and increase the Company’s costs. Further, changing local demographics at existing store locations may adversely affect revenue and profitability levels at those stores. The early termination or expiration of leases at existing store locations may adversely affect the Company if the renewal terms of those leases are unacceptable to it and the Company is forced to close or relocate stores. If the Company determines to close or relocate a store subject to a lease, the Company may remain obligated under the applicable lease for the balance of the lease term. In addition to potentially incurring costs related to lease obligations, the Company may also incur employee-related severance or other facility closure costs for stores that are closed or relocated.

Even if the Company is successful in opening new stores in desirable locations and on favorable terms, and with maintaining its existing locations, competitive intrusion associated with competitors' deployment of more resources or faster pace of store opening may contribute to sales erosion or otherwise negatively impact the Company's business.

Omnichannel growth in the Company’s business is complex and if the Company is unable to successfully maintain a relevant omnichannel experience for its customers, its sales and results of operations could be adversely impacted.

Omnichannel and e-commerce retail are competitive and evolving environments. Operating an e-commerce platform is a complex undertaking and exposes the Company to risks and difficulties frequently experienced by internet-based businesses, including risks related to the Company’s ability to attract and retain customers on a cost-effective basis and its ability to operate, support, expand and develop its internet operations, website, mobile applications and software and other related operational systems.

Enhancing the customer experience through omnichannel programs such as buy-online-pickup-in-store, new or expanded delivery options, the ability to shop through a mobile application or other similar programs depends in part on the effectiveness of the Company’s inventory management processes and systems, the effectiveness of its merchandising strategy and mix, its supply chain and distribution capabilities, and the timing and effectiveness of its marketing activities, particularly its promotions. Website or catalog downtime and other technology disruptions in its omnichannel business, including interruptions due to cyber-related issues, aging informational technology infrastructure or natural disasters, as well as supply and distribution delays and other related issues may negatively affect the Company’s operations. If the Company is not able to successfully operate or improve its e-commerce platform and omnichannel business, the Company may not be able to provide a relevant shopping experience or improve customer traffic, sales or margins, and the Company’s reputation, operations, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

The Company depends on the services of many qualified executives and team members, whom the Company may not be able to attract, develop and retain.

The Company’s success, to a significant extent, depends on the continued engagement, services and experience of its team members. The Company’s ability to attract, develop and retain an adequate number of qualified team members depends on factors such as employee morale, the Company’s reputation, competition from other employers, availability of qualified personnel, its ability to offer competitive compensation and benefit packages and its ability to maintain a safe working environment. Failure to recruit or retain qualified team members may impact the Company’s ability to serve its customers, increase its costs and impair its efficiency and ability to pursue growth opportunities. Additionally, turnover in executive or other key positions can disrupt progress in implementing business strategies, result in a loss of institutional knowledge, impair the Company’s ability to execute, distract other team members from their key areas of focus or otherwise negatively impact the Company’s business and results. If the Company is unable to attract and retain personnel with expertise in the required areas, there may be disruptions in its financial processes and reporting, or higher likelihood of control deficiencies or future material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting.

The Company operates in a competitive labor market and has been investing in key roles in its frontline organization, and there is a risk that increases in compensation could have an adverse effect on the Company’s profitability. Additionally, government regulated increases to employee hourly wage rates, along with the Company’s ability to implement corresponding adjustments within its labor model and wage rates, could have a negative impact on its profitability. Approximately 1.7% of the Company’s team members are represented by unions. If these team members, or if non-union team members, were to engage in a strike, work stoppage, or other slowdown, or if the terms and conditions in labor agreements were renegotiated, the Company could experience a disruption in its operations and higher ongoing labor costs.

The Company has established policies and procedures to help maintain the privacy and security of its customers, suppliers, and team members, as well as the security and functioning of its technology (business information, computer systems, website and other online offerings). In the event of a security breach or other cyber security incident, the Company could experience adverse operational effects or interruptions and/or become subject to legal or regulatory proceedings, any of which could result in substantial costs and damage to its reputation in the marketplace. To date the Company is not aware that it has experienced a material cyber security incident.

The nature of the Company’s business requires it to receive, retain and transmit certain personal information ("PI") about its customers, suppliers and team members. Some of this PI is managed by or shared with third-party service providers. The Company uses contractual provisions and certain third-party risk management processes to protect such PI and other confidential information and to help ensure that technology functions remain operational.

Despite these efforts, a compromise of the Company’s data security systems or those of businesses or third-party vendors it interacts with is possible. This could result in information being obtained by unauthorized persons, adverse operational effects, interruptions or other failures that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The Company develops, maintains and updates processes and systems to help reduce the likelihood of an occurrence.

Information Security controls are costly and require constant, ongoing attention as technologies change, privacy and information security regulations change, and efforts to overcome security measures by bad actors continue to become ever more sophisticated. The Company leverages a risk-based approach to selecting controls to reduce the likelihood of a failure.

The cost of complying with stricter and more numerous, complex state data privacy laws (such as the California Consumer Privacy Act), data collection and information security laws and standards is also significant to the Company. Such laws and standards increase the Company’s responsibility and liability in relation to personal data that it processes, and the Company may be required to put in place additional mechanisms ensuring compliance with privacy laws and regulations.

Additionally, since the Company does not control its third-party service providers and its ability to monitor their data security is limited, the Company cannot ensure the security measures they take will be sufficient to protect the Company’s data.

Despite the Company’s efforts, its security measures may be breached due to a cyber attack, computer malware viruses, exploitation of hardware and software vulnerabilities, team member error, malfeasance, fraudulent inducement (including so-called “social engineering” attacks and “phishing” scams) or other acts. The rapid evolution and increased adoption of artificial intelligence technologies may also heighten our cybersecurity risks by making cyber attacks more difficult to detect, contain, and mitigate.

The Company maintains insurance coverage that may, subject to policy terms and conditions, cover certain aspects of cyber risks, such insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover losses in any particular situation.

Any breach, damage to or interference with the Company’s equipment, its network, third-party providers, or unauthorized access could result in significant operational difficulties including legal and financial exposure and damage to the Company’s reputation that could potentially have an adverse effect on its business.

If the Company is unable to successfully integrate future acquisitions into its existing operations or implement joint ventures or other strategic relationships, it could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company may continue to make strategic acquisitions and enter into strategic relationships as an element of its strategy. Acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic relationships involve certain risks that could cause the Company’s growth and profitability to differ from its expectations. The success of these acquisitions and relationships depends on a number of factors, including but not limited to:

The Company is dependent on its suppliers to supply it with products that comply with safety and quality standards at competitive prices.

The Company is dependent on its vendors continuing to supply it with quality products on payment terms that are favorable to the Company. The current geopolitical environment, including tariffs, customs and trade and economic sanctions, may require us to change our supply chain or to source products from different regions, which could come with risks. If the Company’s merchandise offerings do not meet its customers’ expectations regarding safety, innovation and quality, the Company could experience lost sales, increased costs and exposure to legal and reputational risk. The Company’s suppliers are subject to applicable product safety laws, and the Company is dependent on them to ensure that the products the Company buys comply with all safety and quality standards. The Company also has established standards for product safety and quality and workplace standards that it requires all its suppliers to meet. The Company does not condone human trafficking, forced labor, child labor, harassment or abuse of any kind, and it expects its suppliers to operate within these same principles and legal requirements. The Company’s ability to find qualified suppliers who can supply products in a timely and efficient manner that meet the Company’s standards, timeline and other needs can be challenging. Events that give rise to actual, potential or perceived product safety concerns could expose the Company to government enforcement action and private litigation and result in costly product recalls and other liabilities. Suppliers may also fail to invest adequately in design, production or distribution facilities, may reduce their

customer incentives, advertising and promotional activities or change their pricing policies. To the extent the Company’s suppliers are subject to additional government regulation of their product design and/or manufacturing processes, or the imposition of new tariffs, the cost of the merchandise the Company purchases may rise. In addition, negative customer perceptions regarding the safety or quality of the products the Company sells could cause its customers to seek alternative sources for their needs, resulting in lost sales. In those circumstances, it may be difficult and costly for the Company to regain the confidence of the Company’s customers.

Because the Company is involved in litigation from time to time, and is subject to numerous laws and governmental regulations, the Company could incur substantial judgments, fines, legal fees and other costs.

The Company is sometimes the subject of complaints or litigation, which may include class action litigation from customers, team members or others for various actions. From time to time, the Company is involved in litigation involving claims related to, among other things, breach of contract, tortious conduct, employment, discrimination, breach of laws or regulations (including The Americans With Disabilities Act), payment of wages, exposure to asbestos or potentially hazardous products, real estate and product defects. The damages sought against the Company in some of these litigation proceedings are substantial. Although the Company maintains liability insurance for some litigation claims, if one or more of the claims were to greatly exceed the Company’s insurance coverage limits or if the Company’s insurance policies do not cover a claim, this could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. For instance, the Company is subject to a potential securities class action regarding past public disclosures (See Item 3. Legal Proceedings, of this Annual Report) and to numerous lawsuits alleging injury as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products (see Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report).

The Company is subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and governmental regulations relating to, among other things, environmental protection, product quality and safety standards, weights and measures, building and zoning requirements, labor and employment, discrimination, anti-bribery/anti-corruption, false claims, data privacy, income taxes and trade sanctions and compliance. Compliance with existing and future laws and regulations could increase the cost of doing business and adversely affect the Company’s results of operations. If the Company fails to comply with existing or future laws or regulations, the Company may be subject to governmental or judicial fines or sanctions while incurring substantial legal fees and costs as well as reputational risk. In addition, the Company’s capital and operating expenses could increase due to remediation measures that may be required if the Company is found to be noncompliant with any existing or future laws or regulations.

Business interruptions may negatively impact the Company’s store hours, operability of our computer systems and the availability and cost of merchandise, which may adversely impact our sales and profitability.

The Company is exposed to risks from hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, earthquakes, wildfires or other natural disasters, war or acts of terrorism, civil or geopolitical unrest, public health issues, epidemics or pandemics. These events or the threat of any of these incidents or others, may have a negative impact on the Company’s ability to obtain merchandise to sell in the Company’s stores, result in extended store closures and/or significant repair costs, impair customer demand, adversely impact team members health, safety and availability, or otherwise negatively impact the Company’s operations. Some of the Company’s merchandise is imported from other countries. If imported goods become difficult or impossible to import into the United States due to business interruption (including regulation of exporting or importing), and if the Company cannot obtain such merchandise from other sources at similar costs and without an adverse delay, sales and profit margins may be negatively affected.

In the event that commercial transportation, including the global shipping industry, is curtailed or substantially delayed, the business may be adversely impacted due to difficulty receiving merchandise from the Company’s suppliers and/or transporting it to the Company’s stores.

Terrorist attacks, warfare, geopolitical instability, or uncertainty or insurrection involving any oil producing country could result in an abrupt increase in the price of crude oil, gasoline and diesel fuel. Such price increases would increase the cost of doing business for the Company and the Company’s suppliers, and also negatively impact customers’ disposable income, causing an adverse impact on the Company’s business, sales, profit margins and results of operations.

The Company has extensive reliance on computer systems and the systems of business partners to manage data or inventory, process transactions and report results. These systems are subject to damage or interruption due to various reasons such as power outages, telecommunication failures, computer viruses, security breaches, malicious cyber attacks and catastrophic events or occasional system breakdowns related to ordinary use or wear and tear. If computer systems of the Company or its business partners fail, the Company may experience loss of critical data and interruptions or delays in the Company’s ability to process transactions and manage inventory. Any significant business interruptions may make it difficult or impossible to continue operations, and any disaster recovery or crisis management plans the Company may employ may not suffice in any particular situation to avoid a significant adverse impact to the business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our significant level of indebtedness or a deterioration in the global credit markets could limit the cash flow available for operations and could adversely affect our ability to service our debt or obtain additional financing.

We have a significant amount of indebtedness. Our significant level of indebtedness could restrict our operations and make it more difficult for us to satisfy our debt obligations. For example, our level of indebtedness could, among other things:

Furthermore, despite our current indebtedness levels, we may still incur significant additional indebtedness, which would increase the risks associated with our leverage. Although the indentures and asset-based loan revolving credit facility governing our indebtedness contain certain restrictive covenants, certain of such agreements restrict but do not completely prohibit us from incurring substantial additional indebtedness, including secured indebtedness, in the future. If new debt or other liabilities are added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify. Any failure to comply with the restrictive covenants in our debt instruments could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our debt, including the outstanding notes, and have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and operations.

Finally, conditions and events in the global credit markets could have a material adverse effect on our access to short- and long-term borrowings to finance our operations and the terms and cost of that debt. It is possible that one or more of the banks that provide us with financing may fail to honor the terms of our agreements or be financially unable to provide the unused credit as a result of significant deterioration in such bank’s financial condition. Any inability to obtain sufficient financing at cost-effective rates could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Risks Related to the Company’s Industry and the Business Environment

If overall demand for the products that the Company sells declines, the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows will suffer. Decreased demand could also negatively impact the Company’s stock price.

Overall demand for products the Company sells depends on many factors and may decrease due to any number of reasons, including:

The Company may be adversely affected by legal, regulatory or market responses regarding technological adaptation in the automotive industry.

Policy makers in the U.S. may enact legislative or regulatory proposals that would impose mandatory requirements on greenhouse gas emissions and encourage more rapid adoption of vehicles that minimize emissions. Such laws, if enacted, are likely to impact the Company’s business in a number of ways. For example, significant increases in fuel economy requirements, new federal or state restrictions on emissions of carbon dioxide or new federal or state incentive programs that may be imposed on vehicles and automobile fuels could adversely affect annual miles driven, purchases of used vehicles that are likely to have a higher need for maintenance and repair, or the relevancy of the products the Company sells to new vehicles coming into production. The Company may not be able to accurately predict, prepare for and respond to new kinds of technological innovations with respect to electric vehicles and other technologies that minimize emissions. Additionally, compliance with any new or more stringent laws or regulations, or stricter interpretations of existing laws, could require additional expenditures by the Company or its suppliers. The Company’s inability to appropriately respond to such changes, adapt the Company’s business to

meet evolving demands or innovate to remain competitive could adversely impact the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

If the Company is unable to compete successfully against other companies in the automotive aftermarket industry, the Company may lose customers and market share and the Company’s revenues may decline.

The sale of automotive parts, accessories and maintenance items is highly competitive and influenced by a number of factors, including name recognition, location, price, quality, product availability and customer relationships and service. The Company competes in both the professional and DIY categories of the automotive aftermarket industry, primarily with: (i) national and regional chains of automotive parts stores, (ii) internet-based retailers, (iii) discount stores and mass merchandisers that carry automotive products, (iv) wholesalers or jobbers stores, including those associated with national parts distributors or associations, (v) independently owned stores and (vi) automobile dealers that supply parts. These competitors and the level of competition vary by market. Some of the Company’s competitors may have greater resources than the Company and otherwise possess advantages over the Company in certain markets the Company shares, including with respect to the level of marketing activities, number of stores, store locations, store layouts or technologies (including the use of generative AI), operating histories, name recognition or reputation, established customer bases, vendor relationships, distribution network, product availability, employee staffing or expertise, prices and product warranties. Internet-based retailers may possess cost advantages over the Company due to lower overhead costs, time and travel savings and ability to price competitively. In order to compete favorably, the Company may need to increase availability, change inventory assortment, change store layouts, technologies or assets (including the use of generative AI), increase delivery speeds, incur higher shipping costs, lower prices, invest further in employees, any of which could adversely impact the Company’s financial results. Consolidation among the Company’s competitors could enhance their market share and financial position, provide them with the ability to achieve better purchasing terms and allow them to provide more competitive prices to customers for whom the Company competes.

In addition, the Company’s reputation is critical to the Company’s continued success. Customers are increasingly shopping, reading reviews and comparing products and prices online. If the Company fails to maintain high standards for, or receive negative publicity (whether through social media or traditional media channels) relating to, product safety and quality, as well as the Company’s integrity and reputation, the Company could lose customers due to competition. The products the Company sells are both third-party vendor brands and the Company’s owned brands. If the perceived quality or value of the brands the Company sells declines in the perception of its customers, the Company’s results of operations could be negatively affected.

Competition may require the Company to reduce its prices below the Company’s normal selling prices or increase the Company’s promotional spending, which could lower the Company’s revenue and profitability. Competitive disadvantages may also prevent the Company from introducing new product lines, require the Company to discontinue current product offerings, or change some of the Company’s current operating strategies. If the Company does not have the resources, expertise and consistent execution, or otherwise fail to develop successful strategies, to address these potential competitive disadvantages, the Company may lose customers and market share, the Company’s revenues and profit margins may decline and the Company may be less profitable or potentially unprofitable.

The Company’s inventory and ability to meet customer expectations may be adversely impacted by factors out of the Company’s control.

For the portion of the Company’s inventory manufactured and/or sourced outside the United States, geopolitical changes, macroeconomic and inflationary changes, changes in trade regulations or tariff rates, currency fluctuations, work stoppages, labor strikes, unionizing activity, port delays, shipping disruptions, civil unrest, natural disasters, pandemics and other factors beyond the Company’s control may increase the cost of items the Company purchases, lead to lengthy delays in acquiring products or create shortages that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s sales and profitability. In addition, unanticipated changes in consumer preferences or any unforeseen hurdles in meeting the Company’s customers’ needs for automotive products (particularly parts availability) in a timely manner could undermine the Company’s business strategy.

Deterioration of general macroeconomic conditions, including unemployment, inflation or deflation, rising consumer debt levels, and/or high fuel and energy costs, could have a negative impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows due to impacts on the Company’s suppliers, customers and operating results.

The Company’s business depends on developing and maintaining close relationships with the Company’s suppliers and on the Company’s suppliers’ ability and willingness to sell quality products to the Company at favorable prices and terms. Many factors outside the Company’s control may harm these relationships and the ability or willingness of these suppliers to sell the Company products on favorable terms. Such factors include a general decline in the economy and economic conditions and prolonged recessionary conditions. These events could negatively affect the Company’s suppliers’ operations and make it difficult for them to obtain the credit lines or loans necessary to finance their operations in the short-term or long-term and meet the Company’s product requirements. Financial or operational difficulties that some of the Company’s suppliers may face could also increase the cost of the products the Company purchases from them or the Company’s ability to source products from them. The Company might not be able to pass its increased costs on to its customers. If the Company’s suppliers fail to develop new products, the Company may not be able to meet the demands of the Company’s customers and results of operations could be negatively affected.

In addition, the trend towards consolidation among automotive parts suppliers as well as the off-shoring of manufacturing capacity to foreign countries may disrupt or end the Company’s relationship with certain suppliers, and could lead to less competition and result in higher prices. The Company could also be negatively impacted by suppliers who might experience bankruptcies, work stoppages, labor strikes, changes in foreign or domestic trade policies, changes in tariff rates or other interruptions to or difficulties in the manufacture or supply of the products we purchase from them.

Deterioration in macroeconomic conditions, inflationary pressures or an increase in fuel costs or proposed or additional tariffs may have a negative impact on the Company’s customers’ net worth, financial resources, disposable income or willingness or ability to pay for accessories, maintenance or repairs for their vehicles, resulting in lower sales. An increase in fuel costs may also reduce the overall number of miles driven by the Company’s customers, resulting in fewer parts failures and a reduced need for elective maintenance.

Rising energy prices also directly impact the Company’s operating and product costs, including the Company’s store, supply chain, professional delivery, utility and product acquisition costs.

Risks Related to the Company’s Common Stock and Financial Condition

The Company’s level of indebtedness, a downgrade in the Company’s credit ratings or a deterioration in global credit markets could limit the cash flow available for operations and could adversely affect the Company’s ability to service its debt or obtain additional financing.

The Company’s level of indebtedness could restrict the Company’s operations and make it more difficult for it to satisfy its debt obligations. For example, the Company’s level of indebtedness could, among other things:

The indentures governing the Company’s senior unsecured notes and credit agreement governing the Company’s credit facilities contain certain non-financial restrictive covenants and springing financial covenants. The Company’s failure to comply with those covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of its debt, including such notes.

In addition, the Company’s overall credit rating may be negatively impacted by the Company’s performance, deteriorating and uncertain credit markets or other factors that may or may not be within the Company’s control. Outstanding amounts under the Company's ABL Facility would accrue interest at a floating rate, which, at the Company’s election, can be either (i) SOFR plus an applicable margin or (ii) an alternative base rate plus an applicable margin. A negative impact on the Company’s credit ratings may result in higher interest rates and interest expense on any borrowings under the Company’s ABL Facility and less favorable terms on the Company’s other operating and financing arrangements, including additional debt the Company may issue or incur in the future. In addition, it could reduce the attractiveness of certain vendor payment programs whereby third-party institutions, also referred to as paying agents, finance arrangements to the Company’s vendors based on the Company’s credit rating, which could result in increased working capital requirements.

The Company currently holds a significant amount of cash and cash equivalents. The Company currently earns a significant amount of interest income on such amounts. Macroeconomic conditions, inflationary pressures and decisions made by the federal reserve and other monetary authorities may influence interest rates, result in future decreases in interest rates and result in lower interest income earned. As the Company's current long-term debt outstanding accrues interest based on fixed rates, decreases in interest rates would not result in lower interest expense on our long-term debt.

Conditions and events in the global credit market could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s access to short- and long-term borrowings to finance the Company’s operations and the terms and cost of that debt. It is possible that one or more of the banks that provide the Company with financing under its asset-based revolving credit facility (the "ABL Facility") may fail to honor the terms of the Company’s ABL Facility or be financially unable to provide the unused credit as a result of significant deterioration in such bank’s financial condition. An inability to obtain sufficient financing at cost-effective rates could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The market price of the Company’s common stock may be volatile and could expose us to securities class action litigation.

The stock market and the price of the Company’s common stock may be subject to wide fluctuations based upon general economic and market conditions in addition to the Company’s public perception and performance. Downturns in the stock market may cause the price of the Company’s common stock to decline. The market price of the Company’s stock may also be affected by the Company’s ability to meet analysts’ expectations or financial guidance that the Company provides to the investment community. Inability to accurately forecast the Company’s operational and financial performance could increase volatility in the Company’s stock. Failure to meet expectations set by the Company or its analysts, even slightly, could have an adverse effect on the price of the Company’s common stock. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against such a company. Such litigation could result in substantial costs and a diversion of the Company’s attention and resources, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business. For example, a potential securities class action regarding past public disclosures and a related derivative shareholder litigation suit have been filed against the Company following a period of significant decline in the Company’s stock price (See Item 3. Legal Proceedings, of this Annual Report).

The amount and frequency of the Company’s share repurchases and dividend payments may fluctuate.

The amount, timing and execution of the Company’s share repurchase program may fluctuate based on the Company’s priorities for the use of cash for other purposes such as operational spending, capital spending, acquisitions or repayment or repurchase of debt. Changes in operational results, cash flows, tax laws and the Company’s share price could also impact the Company’s share repurchase program and other capital activities. The Company’s ABL Facility contains restrictions on the Company’s ability to increase its dividend to shareholders. Share repurchases are generally permitted under the ABL Facility; however, under certain circumstances, the Company's ability to repurchase shares may be limited or restricted. Additionally, decisions to return capital to stockholders, including through the Company’s repurchase program or the issuance of dividends on the Company’s common stock, remain subject to determination of the Company’s Board of Directors that any such activity is in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and is in compliance with all applicable laws and contractual obligations.

Item 2. Properties.

The following table summarizes the location, ownership status and total square footage of space utilized for distribution centers, principal corporate office and retail stores as of January 3, 2026:

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

Refer to discussion in Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report for information relating to legal proceedings.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AAP.”

As of February 9, 2026, there were 1,131 holders of record of common stock, which does not include the number of beneficial owners whose shares were represented by security position listings.

The following table sets forth information with respect to repurchases of the Company’s common stock for the fourth quarter ended January 3, 2026:

(1) All repurchases reported in this table relate to the withholding of shares upon the vesting of restricted stock units to settle income tax liabilities (“net settlement”). The aggregate cost of repurchasing shares in connection with the net settlement of shares issued as a result of the vesting of restricted stock units was $0.4 million, or an average price of $51.75 per share, during the thirteen weeks ended January 3, 2026.

(2) On February 8, 2022, the Board of Directors authorized an additional $1 billion to the existing share repurchase program. This authorization is incremental to the $1.7 billion that was previously authorized by the Board of Directors. Amendment No. 5 to the Company's 2021 Credit Agreement, which was terminated on August 12, 2025, and replaced by the ABL facility, generally prohibited open market share repurchases. Share repurchases are generally permitted under the Company's ABL facility, however, under certain circumstances, the Company's ability to repurchase shares may be restricted.

Stock Price Performance

The following graph shows a comparison of the cumulative total return on the Company’s common stock, the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Index and the S&P’s Retail Index. The graph assumes that the value of an investment in the Company’s common stock was $100.00 on January 2, 2021, and that any dividends have been reinvested. The comparison in the graph below is based solely on historical data and is not intended to forecast the possible future performance of the Company’s common stock.

COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC., S&P 500 INDEX AND S&P RETAIL INDEX

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes that appear elsewhere in this Annual Report. The Company’s discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those set forth under the section titled “Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors” of this Annual Report. The discussion of the Company’s financial condition and changes in the Company’s results of operations, liquidity and capital resources for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2024 (“2024”) compared with the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023 (“2023”) has been omitted from this Form 10-K, but are included in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 26, 2025. Amounts are presented in millions, except per share data, unless otherwise stated.

Management Overview

The Company's results from continuing operations for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2026 included the benefit of one additional week (the "53rd week") as compared to the fiscal year ended December 28, 2024, which contained 52 weeks. A high-level summary of the Company’s financial results and other highlights from 2025 includes:

Refer to “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” of this Annual Report for further details on the Company’s results.

Business and Risk Update

The Company continues to make progress on the various elements of its business plan, which is focused on improving the customer experience, margin expansion, and driving consistent execution for both professional and DIY customers. To achieve these improvements, the Company has undertaken planned strategic actions to help build a foundation for long-term success across the organization, which include:

In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, one of the Company’s vendors, a leading auto parts supplier for the automotive aftermarket industry, filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The vendor has secured short-term financing through a debtor-in-possession (“DIP”) loan, however, Chapter 11 proceedings carry inherent risks with respect to a company’s ability to continue operations and maintain adequate liquidity to satisfy current and future obligations. As a result of these events, the Company recorded a non-cash charge of $28 million to cost of sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, reflecting estimated future credit losses on certain vendor receivables due from the vendor. The estimate was developed utilizing a probability weighted cash-flow model adjusted for risks associated with credit risk deterioration for companies that enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The Company may continue to source some products from the vendor, but such purchases are not material to the Company.

In early fiscal 2025, new global trade tariffs were imposed on imports to the U.S., including additional tariffs on various countries from which the Company directly or indirectly imports and/or sources merchandise, including Canada, China and Mexico, among others. Since the initial announcement in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, various modifications and delays to the U.S. tariffs have been announced and further changes are expected to be made in the future, which may include additional sector-based tariffs or other measures. In response to the tariffs, certain of our suppliers have increased prices. However, the impact of such increases to-date has not been material to the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations, in-part as a result of certain price increases being passed-through to our customers.

On November 1, 2024, the Company completed the sale of the Worldpac business for net proceeds of approximately $1.44 billion (excluding the impact of taxes) after transaction costs and application of the final working capital adjustment recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. On November 13, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the 2024 Restructuring Plan which is designed to improve the Company’s profitability and growth potential and streamline its operations. This plan is supplemental to other ongoing initiatives to simplify the Company's business and improve profitable growth and included, among other items, certain store and independent location closures, streamlining product assortment and headcount reductions and organizational design changes to align the Company’s workforce to the expected needs of the Company's business. The Company is also pursuing efficiencies in procurement, pricing and professional and outside services, in addition to operational efficiencies. Refer to "Liquidity and Capital Resources" herein and Note 3. Restructuring, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report for further details.

Industry Update

Operating within the automotive aftermarket industry, the Company is influenced by a number of general macroeconomic factors, many of which are similar to those affecting the overall retail industry. In addition to the “Business and Risk Update” section included within this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, these factors include, but are not limited to:

While these factors tend to fluctuate, the Company remains confident in the long-term growth prospects for the automotive parts industry.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth certain of the Company’s operating data from continuing operations expressed as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated:

(1) Represents favorable (unfavorable) year over year change

(2) Cost of sales in fiscal 2024 includes $431 million of inventory-related charges attributable to the location closures and streamlining product assortment resulting from the 2024 Restructuring Plan.

Note: Table amounts may not foot due to rounding.

Net Sales

For the fifty-three weeks ended January 3, 2026, net sales decreased 5.4% and comparable store sales increased 0.8% compared with the fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2024. The decline in net sales as compared with the prior period, was due to lower sales as a result of store closures executed under the 2024 Restructuring Plan, partially offset by the impact of the 53rd week.

Comparable store sales for the fourth quarter and year ended January 3, 2026 excludes net sales for the 53rd week. For example, our comparable sales results for 2025 compares weeks 1 through 52 in fiscal 2025, to the 52-week period reported for fiscal 2024. The Company calculates comparable store sales based on the change in store sales starting once a location has been open for approximately one year and by including e-commerce sales and excluding sales fulfilled by distribution centers to independently owned Carquest locations. The Company includes sales from relocated stores in comparable store sales from the original date of opening. Closed stores are not included in the comparable store sales calculation. Comparable store sales is intended only as supplemental information and is not a substitute for net sales presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

Gross Profit

For the fifty-three weeks ended January 3, 2026, and the fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2024, gross profit was $3.7 billion, or 43.4% of net sales, and $3.4 billion or 37.5% of net sales, respectively. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of net sales compared to the fifty-two weeks prior comparative period was due to $431 million of inventory-related charges and liquidation sales associated with the 2024 Restructuring Plan, which negatively impacted the comparative period, as well as more favorable product margins in fiscal 2025, driven by strategic sourcing and pricing initiatives and lower supply chain and other related costs. This was partially offset by lower-margin liquidation sales associated with the 2024 Restructuring Plan in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 and a $28 million non-cash charge for expected future credit losses related to vendor receivables due from a vendor that filed petitions for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 28 2025. Total gross profit dollars were also impacted year-over-year as a result of store closures during the year under our 2024 Restructuring Plan offset by favorability from the 53rd week.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Exclusive of Restructuring and Related Expenses

For the fifty-three weeks ended January 3, 2026, selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses, exclusive of restructuring and related expenses, were $3.6 billion, or 41.5% of net sales, compared with $3.8 billion, or 41.9% of net sales, for the fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2024. Overall SG&A expenses decreased for the fifty-three weeks ended January 3, 2026, as compared to the fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2024, as a result of store closures executed under the 2024 Restructuring Plan reducing overhead and operating costs, offset by higher medical, insurance and marketing costs. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales for the fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2024, benefited from a net gain on asset sales, see Note 9. Leases and Other Commitments, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report.

Restructuring and Related Expenses

For the fifty-three weeks ended January 3, 2026, restructuring and related expenses were $204 million or 2.4% of net sales, compared to $309 million, or 3.4% of net sales, for the fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2024. The decrease in expenses as compared to the same period in fiscal 2024, relates to the timing of the Company's 2024 Restructuring Plan which was announced during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. The expenses principally relate to lease terminations, professional services, severance and termination costs and other exit costs. The Company estimates that it will incur additional expenses of approximately $30 million to $40 million through fiscal 2026, substantially all of which is expected to be cash expenses, primarily composed of lease and termination costs associated with closed stores and distribution center leases. See Note 3. Restructuring, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report.

Interest Expense

For the fifty-three weeks ended January 3, 2026, interest expense increased as compared to the fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2024, due to an increase in the principal amount of interest bearing long-term debt in the third quarter of fiscal 2025. For further information see Note 7. Long-term Debt and Fair Value of Financial Instruments, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Liquidity and Capital Resources of this Annual Report.

Other Income, net

For the fifty-three weeks ended January 3, 2026, other income, net increased as compared to the fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2024, due to higher interest income earned from higher cash and cash equivalent balances held, driven by the proceeds received from the sale of the Worldpac business in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and the issuance of $1.95 billion in

Senior Unsecured Notes with net proceeds of $1.6 billion, after the redemption of the Company’s 5.90% Senior Notes due March 2026, in the third quarter of fiscal 2025. Other income, net also includes $9 million of recognized losses on extinguishments of debt and income recognized from the transition services (“TSA Services”) agreement with Worldpac that commenced in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. TSA Services and related income are expected to be negligible for fiscal 2026.

Provision for Income Taxes

For the fifty-three weeks ended January 3, 2026, the Company's provision for income taxes was a benefit of $159 million compared with a benefit of $181 million for the fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2024. The decrease in tax benefit for the fifty-three weeks ended January 3, 2026, was a result of a decrease in the loss before taxes from continuing operations, partially offset by a net discrete tax benefit in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 of $126 million, related to an internal legal entity restructuring event completed in the fiscal year treated as a taxable stock disposition for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Company recognized a capital loss deduction which was utilized against capital gain income. See Note 13. Income Taxes, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report.

Discontinued Operations

For the fifty-three weeks ended January 3, 2026, the Company recorded a loss of $24 million, net of taxes from discontinued operations, reflecting an adjustment to the previously recognized gain on divesture of Worldpac in fiscal 2024 after finalizing customary working capital adjustments.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, includes certain financial measures not derived in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted Operating income, Adjusted Net income (loss), Adjusted Cost of sales, Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share ("Adjusted EPS"), and Adjusted Selling, general and administrative ("Adjusted SG&A"), should not be used as a substitute for GAAP financial measures, or considered in isolation, for the purpose of analyzing operating performance, financial position or cash flows.

The Company has presented these non-GAAP financial measures as the Company believes that the presentation of the financial results that exclude (1) transformation expenses under the Company’s turnaround plans, inclusive of the Worldpac divestiture (2) other significant expenses and (3) nonrecurring tax expense are useful and indicative of the Company's base operations because the expenses vary from period to period in terms of size, nature and significance. The income tax impact of these non-GAAP adjustments is adjusted for using the estimated tax rate in effect for the respective non-GAAP adjustments. These measures assist in comparing the Company’s current operating results with past periods and with the operational performance of other companies in the industry. The disclosure of these measures allows investors to evaluate the Company’s performance using the same measures management uses in developing internal budgets and forecasts and in evaluating management’s compensation. Included below is a description of the expenses the Company has determined are not normal, recurring cash operating expenses necessary to operate the Company’s business and the rationale for why providing these measures is useful to investors as a supplement to the GAAP measures.

Transformation Expenses

Expenses incurred in connection with the Company's turnaround plan and specific transformative activities related to asset optimization that the Company does not view to be normal cash operating expenses. These expenses primarily include:

Other Expenses

Expenses incurred by the Company that are not viewed as normal cash operating expenses and vary from period to period in terms of size, nature, and significance. These expenses primarily include:

The following table includes a reconciliation of this information to the most comparable GAAP measures (in millions):

(1) Reflects a charge for expected future credit losses related to vendor receivables due from a vendor that filed petitions for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 28, 2025.

(2) Restructuring and other related expenses for the fifty-three weeks ended January 3, 2026 includes $38 million of nonrecurring services rendered by third party vendors assisting with the 2024 Restructuring Plan, $18 million of severance and other related costs, $7 million for reserves on independent loans and $25 million of other related expenses associated with location closures, including the transfer of assets. Restructuring and other related expenses for the fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2024 includes $25 million of incremental receivable reserves resulting from contract terminations with certain independents as part of the 2024 Restructuring Plan, $15 million of severance and other labor related costs as part of the 2024 Restructuring Plan, and $21 million of nonrecurring services rendered by third party vendors assisting with the 2024 Restructuring Plan.

(3) The Company recorded incremental accelerated depreciation and amortization for property and equipment and ROU assets of $60 million and impairment charges for ROU assets and property and equipment of $23 million, net of gains on sale, for the fifty-three weeks ended January 3, 2026. The Company recorded incremental accelerated depreciation and amortization for property and equipment and ROU assets of $171 million and impairment charges for ROU assets and property and equipment of $33 million, net of gains on sale, for the fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2024.

(4) The income tax impact of Non-GAAP adjustments is calculated using the estimated tax rate in effect for the respective Non-GAAP adjustments.

(5) Income tax (benefit) expenses included a discrete non-recurring tax benefit associated with capital loss deductions effectuated in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The benefit has been excluded from Non-GAAP results in order to provide a clearer understanding of ongoing Non-GAAP tax rate and after-tax earnings.

(6) Other professional service fees in fiscal 2024 were classified as restructuring and related expenses based on the underlying activity to which they are related.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

The Company’s principal sources of liquidity are cash and cash equivalents and borrowing availability under the ABL Facility. The Company’s primary cash requirements necessary to maintain the Company’s current operations include payroll and benefits, inventory purchases, contractual obligations, capital expenditures, payment of income taxes, funding of initiatives and other operational priorities, such as restructuring and asset optimization plans. In addition, cash is required to pay the Company’s dividends and to pay interest and principle on the Company’s long-term debt when due. The following table presents selected financial information related to the Company’s liquidity (in millions):

The increase in cash and cash equivalents in fiscal 2025 was primarily due to the issuance of $1.95 billion in Senior Unsecured Notes with net proceeds of $1.6 billion, after giving effect to the redemption of the Company’s 5.90% Senior Notes due 2026 with the proceeds and direct transaction and closing costs in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, offset by net cash used in operating activities of $46 million, primarily as a result of changes in net working capital, inclusive of cash payments made in the period related to the Company’s 2024 Restructuring Plan, $231 million used for purchases of property and equipment, net of proceeds from sales, and the payment of $60 million in dividends.

Historically, the Company has funded its cash requirements primarily through cash generated from operations, supplemented by proceeds raised through the issuance of long-term debt as needed. The Company believes that funds generated from the Company’s expected results of operations, available cash and cash equivalents and other sources of liquidity are expected to satisfy the Company's working and other capital requirements (as further detailed below) for at least the next 12 month and thereafter for the foreseeable future.

On November 13, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the 2024 Restructuring Plan which is designed to improve the Company’s profitability and growth potential and streamline its operations. This plan contemplated the closure of approximately 500 stores, approximately 200 independent locations and four distribution centers by mid-2025, as well as headcount reductions. The Company completed the closure of all of these locations during the first quarter of 2025. As a result of the 2024 Restructuring Plan, the Company incurred $159 million and $680 million of restructuring expenses in 2025 and 2024, respectively. Certain expenses, primarily related to closed store and closed distribution center leases are expected to continue into fiscal year 2026.

As further described in Note 17. Supplier Finance Programs, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report, certain of the Company's suppliers may elect at their own discretion to participate in certain supplier finance programs to obtain enhanced receivables options. Bank participation and Company utilization of those programs may vary based on a number of factors, including the Company's credit ratings. If bank participation is insufficient to cover planned utilization, whether due to declines in the Company's credit rating or otherwise, the Company may experience shorter payable terms for inventory than anticipated, which could materially impact its cash flows, capital resources and capital allocation decisions.

Capital Expenditures

The Company’s primary capital requirements have been the funding of the Company’s investments in information technology, supply chain, e-commerce, new greenfield store and distribution center sites and enhancements and/or major renovation projects of existing stores. The Company leases approximately 80% of the Company’s stores.

The Company’s capital expenditures were $252 million in 2025, an increase of $71 million from 2024, driven by increased capital spending for store renovations.

The Company’s future capital requirements will depend in large part on the timing or number of the investments the Company makes in information technology and supply chain network initiatives and existing stores and new store development

(leased and owned locations) within a given year. In 2026, the Company currently anticipates that the Company’s capital expenditures related to such investments will be approximately $300 million, reflecting continued investment in store infrastructure upgrades and the growth of our store and market hub footprint, but this amount may vary depending on business conditions and other factors.

Analysis of Cash Flows

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company completed the sale of Worldpac. As a result, the Company classified the results of operations and cash flows of Worldpac as discontinued operations in its consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows for prior periods presented. The Company’s cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities were as follows (in millions):

Operating Activities

In fiscal 2025, cash flows from operating activities decreased $187 million to negative $46 million. The net decrease in cash flows provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to working capital changes driven by a reduction in accounts payable and cash payments for restructuring and related expenses, partially offset by accounts receivable collections. Refer to “Results of Operations” for further details on the Company’s results.

Investing Activities

In fiscal 2025, cash flows used in investing activities increased $72 million to $239 million compared with fiscal 2024. This increase was attributable to increased capital spend related to store renovations.

Financing Activities

In fiscal 2025, cash flows provided by financing activities increased by $1.6 billion to $1.5 billion compared with fiscal 2024. The net increase in cash provided by financing activities was attributable to the issuances of senior unsecured notes in 2025 partially offset by the redemption of the 5.90% 2026 Notes.

The Company’s Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend since 2006. Any payments of dividends in the future will be at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon the Company’s results of operations, cash flows, capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by the Company’s Board of Directors. Similar to the 2021 Credit Agreement, the Company’s new ABL Facility, as detailed further below, has certain restrictions that may limit the Company’s ability to increase the amount of the Company’s cash dividends above its current levels.

Restructuring Activities

On November 13, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the 2024 Restructuring Plan which is designed to improve the Company’s profitability and growth potential and streamline its operations. As a result of the 2024 Restructuring Plan, the Company incurred $159 million and $680 million of restructuring expenses in fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024, respectively. Substantially all of the costs under the restructuring plans have been incurred as of January 3, 2026. The Company estimates that it will incur additional expenses of approximately $30 million to $40 million through fiscal 2026, substantially all of which is expected to be cash expenses, primarily composed of lease and termination costs associated with closed stores and closed

distribution center leases. This represents a material decrease in both cash and non-cash expenses as compared to the activity in fiscal 2025. See Note 3. Restructuring, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report.

Long-Term Debt

As of January 3, 2026 and December 28, 2024, the Company had outstanding principal of long-term debt totaling $3.5 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively. On August 4, 2025, the Company issued (i) $975 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.000% Senior Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”) and (ii) $975 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.375% Senior Notes due 2033 (collectively, the “2025 Senior Unsecured Notes”) in a private transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). Net proceeds from the issuance of the 2025 Senior Unsecured Noted were approximately $1.9 billion after direct transaction and closing costs.

As of January 3, 2026 and December 28, 2024, the Company's outstanding principal amount of long-term debt consisted of the following:

Future interest payable based on the contractual maturities for the Company's long-term debt was $1.1 billion as of January 3, 2026.

Following the closing of the issuance of the 2025 Senior Unsecured Notes, the Company utilized a portion of the net proceeds to redeem in full its outstanding $300 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.90% Senior Notes due 2026 and recorded a loss of $3 million on redemption in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 associated with this extinguishment. The remaining proceeds from the issuance are available for general corporate purposes, and as further discussed under "Credit Facilities" below, as of January 3, 2026, approximately $2.3 billion of cash and cash equivalents, was designated as qualified cash and is subject to customary springing control agreements, as described in the ABL Facility Agreement.

For further details related to terms and activity for the Company's long term debt see Note 7. Long-term Debt and Fair Value of Financial Instruments, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report.

Credit Facilities

On August 12, 2025, the Company’s $1 billion revolving credit facility comprising the 2021 Credit Agreement was terminated and replaced by the new ABL Facility. The ABL Facility provides for a five-year senior secured first lien asset-based revolving credit facility of up to $1 billion with an uncommitted accordion feature that provides for additional credit extensions up to $500 million.

As of January 3, 2026, the Company had no outstanding borrowings, $896 million of borrowing availability and $104 million letters of credit outstanding under the ABL Facility. As of December 28, 2024, the Company had no outstanding borrowings, $1 billion of borrowing availability and no letters of credit outstanding under the 2021 Credit Agreement. The Company was in compliance with its covenants related to the ABL Facility as of January 3, 2026. In accordance with the ABL Facility, the Company is required to hold cash and cash equivalents in designated accounts with lenders, referred to as Qualified Cash Accounts as defined in the ABL Facility. As of January 3, 2026, $2.3 billion was designated as Qualified Cash.

As of December 28, 2024, the Company had $91 million of bilateral letters of credit issued separately from the 2021 Credit Agreement, none of which were drawn upon. These bilateral letters of credit generally have a term of one year or less and

primarily serve as collateral for the Company’s self-insurance policies. As of January 3, 2026, the Company had no bilateral letters of credit issued separately from the ABL Agreement.

For further details, see Note 7. Long-term Debt and Fair Value of Financial Instruments, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report.

Share Repurchase Program

In August 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program. Under the program, the Company is able to periodically repurchase shares of common stock at market prices through open market purchases effected through a broker dealer and in privately negotiated transactions. The Board of Directors is able to increase or otherwise modify, renew, suspend or terminate the share repurchase program without prior notice. In February 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized an additional $1.0 billion toward the Company’s share repurchase program, an increase to the $1.7 billion that had previously been authorized under the program.

During fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024, the Company did not purchase any shares of its common stock under the share repurchase program. Amendment No. 5 to the 2021 Credit Agreement, which was terminated on August 12, 2025 and replaced by the ABL Facility, generally prohibited open market share repurchases. As of January 3, 2026 the Company had $0.9 billion remaining available for repurchases of shares under the share repurchase program. Share repurchases are generally permitted under the Company's ABL Facility; however, under certain circumstances, the Company's ability to repurchase shares may be restricted.

Other Contractual and Off Balance Sheet Obligations

The Company enters into operating leases for certain store locations, distribution centers, office spaces, equipment and vehicles. The Company’s property leases generally contain renewal and escalation clauses and other concessions. These provisions are considered in the Company’s calculation of the Company’s minimum lease payments that are recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the applicable lease term. Any lease payments that are based upon an existing index or rate are included in the Company’s minimum lease payment calculations. As of January 3, 2026, the Company’s operating lease obligations were $2.6 billion, of which $0.5 billion falls due within the next 12 months. Refer to Note 9. Leases and Other Commitments, included in this Annual Report in Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

As part of the Company’s normal operations, the Company enters into purchase commitments primarily for the purchase of goods or services that are enforceable, legally binding and specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. As of January 3, 2026, other than for expected material uses of cash and cash equivalents discussed above within this section "Liquidity and Capital Resources", the Company does not consider it to be reasonably likely that such purchase commitments entered into will have a material current or future effect on the Company's financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, cash requirements or capital resource, as such commitments are entered into as part of the Company's normal operations and are reflected in the results of operations and trending discussions within Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of this Annual Report.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingent amounts. We base our estimates on historical and anticipated results and trends and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, including assumptions as to future events. By their nature, estimates are inherently subject to a degree of uncertainty. Although we believe that our estimates and the assumptions supporting our assessments are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from our estimates.

In addition to our critical accounting policies and estimates below, refer to Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies, included in this Annual Report in Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. If the impact of changes in our critical accounting estimates is material or considered necessary to understand our financial condition or results of operations for the periods presented, then such information is disclosed within Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of this Annual Report.

Vendor Incentives

The Company receives incentives in the form of reductions to amounts owed and/or payments from vendors related to volume rebates and other promotional considerations. Advertising allowances provided as a reimbursement of specific, incremental and identifiable costs incurred to promote a vendor’s products are included as an offset to SG&A when the cost is incurred. Volume rebates and allowances that do not meet the requirements for offsetting in SG&A are initially recorded as a reduction to inventory, as volume rebates and allowances are earned based on inventory purchases, and subsequently recorded as a reduction to cost of sales as the inventory is sold.

Certain of the Company’s vendor agreements contain purchase volume incentives that provide for increased funding when graduated purchase volumes are met, which is subject to uncertainty and require estimation. Amounts accrued throughout the year could be impacted if actual purchase volumes differ from projected annual purchase volumes. In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, one of the Company’s vendors, a leading auto parts supplier for the automotive aftermarket industry, filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. As a result, the Company recorded a non-cash charge of $28 million to cost of sales, within the consolidated statement of operations, reflecting estimated future credit losses on certain vendor receivables due from the vendor. Historically, the change in the Company’s reserve for receivables related to vendor funding has not been significant.

Self-Insurance Reserves

The Company’s self-insurance reserves consist of the estimated exposure for claims filed, claims incurred but not yet reported and projected future claims, and are established using actuarial methods followed in the insurance industry and the Company’s historical claims experience. Specific factors include, but are not limited to, assumptions about health care costs, the severity of accidents, the incidence of illness and the average size of claims. Generally, claims for automobile and general liability and workers’ compensation take several years to settle. The Company classifies the portion of the Company’s self-insurance reserves that is not expected to be settled within one year in other long-term liabilities. Our self-insurance reserve estimate totaled $156 million and $141 million as of January 3, 2026, and December 28, 2024, respectively.

Further, while the Company does not expect the amounts ultimately paid to differ significantly from the Company’s estimates, the Company’s self-insurance reserves and corresponding expense classification within cost of sales and SG&A could be affected if future claim experience differs significantly from historical trends and actuarial assumptions. A 10% change in the Company’s self-insurance liabilities at January 3, 2026 would result in a change in expense of approximately $16 million for 2025.

Excess and Obsolete Inventory Reserves

The Company’s excess and obsolete inventory reserve assessment includes analyzing the Company’s inventory at the SKU level by assessing each SKU quantity based on years on hand, the stage within the product lifecycle the SKU is assigned and sales history. From this data analysis, the Company’s excess and obsolete inventory is identified, analyzed and compared against the Company’s reserve. Additionally, from time to time, specific SKUs may be identified as excess and/or obsolete for which a reserve will be recognized.

The Company classifies each product into a product lifecycle category: introduction, expansion, saturation, reduction and disposition. This assessment is routinely performed and includes, but is not limited to, the analysis of anticipated, historical and actual demand; and changes in customer preferences, which are subject to uncertainty and requires estimation. Although we believe these estimates are reasonable, any significant changes in customer demand or customer preferences that are less favorable than our previous estimates may require additional inventory write-downs and would be reflected in cost of sales, resulting in a negative impact to our gross margin in that period. Our excess and obsolete inventory reserve totaled $68 million and $302 million as of January 3, 2026, and December 28, 2024, respectively. The reserve as of January 3, 2026, and December 28, 2024

included $18 million and $256 million, respectively, related to impairments of inventory as a result of the 2024 Restructuring Plan.

Restructuring and Related Expenses

The Company records restructuring and transformation activities when management commits to and approves a restructuring plan. The components of a restructuring plan require significant management judgments and estimates that would materially impact reported performance if different assumptions were used and have significant uncertainty in measurements. Impairment of inventory is recognized when the cost of inventory exceeds its net realizable value. There are significant assumptions required by management to estimate the net realizable value associated with inventory located at the stores and distribution centers to be closed, including the anticipated sell through rate and estimated sales proceeds less costs to sell. Asset impairment charges associated with operating lease ROU assets are recognized when the ROU carrying value exceeds its fair value. There are significant assumptions required by management to estimate the fair value of ROU assets, including the market rental rates and discount rates utilized in the discounted cash flow model. Severance and retention costs associated with workforce reductions are recognized at the time of communication to employees, unless future service is required, in which case the costs are recognized ratably over the future service period. Employee termination benefits are recognized as a liability when it is probable that a liability exists, and the amount is reasonably estimable. Other exit-related costs, including non-recurring professional fees, are recognized as incurred. Restructuring expenses are recognized in cost of sales or selling, general and administrative expenses within the consolidated statements of operations and related liabilities are recorded within accounts payable and accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company periodically evaluates and, if necessary, adjusts its estimates based on currently available information. Restructuring and related expenses were $204 million, $309 million and $16 million in fiscal 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Refer to Note 3. Restructuring, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report for additional detail.

New Accounting Pronouncements

For a description of recently adopted and issued accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects, if any, on the consolidated financial statements, see “Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements” in Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

This information is included in Item 15. Financial Statement Schedules, Exhibits., of this Annual Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company as defined in Rule 13(a) - 15(f) under the Exchange Act. Management’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide “reasonable assurance” regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. Management’s internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that its receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors; and (3) provide “reasonable assurance” regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of its assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

As of January 3, 2026, management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and our principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective to accomplish their objectives at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter ended January 3, 2026 that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect its internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act.

Attestation Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm

Management’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 3, 2026 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, who also audited the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended January 3, 2026, as stated in their report included herein, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of January 3, 2026.

Item 9B. Other Information.

During the fourth quarter of 2025, no Rule 10b5-1 or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements were adopted, modified or terminated by the Company’s officers or directors as each term is defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.

Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.

Not applicable.

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

For a discussion of the Company’s directors, executive officers and corporate governance, see the information set forth in the sections and subsections entitled “Proposal No. 1 - Election of Directors,” “Corporate Governance,” “Additional Information Regarding Executive Compensation - Information Concerning the Company’s Executive Officers,” “Audit Committee Report,” and “Additional Information Regarding Executive Compensation - Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports,” “Code of Ethics and Business Conduct” and “Code of Ethics for Finance Professionals” in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year ended January 3, 2026 (the “2026 Proxy Statement”), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

See the information set forth in the sections entitled “Compensation Committee Report,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Compensation Program Risk Assessment,” “Additional Information Regarding Executive Compensation” and “Director Compensation” in the 2026 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

See the information set forth in the subsections entitled “Equity Compensation Plan Information” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the 2026 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

See the information set forth in the subsections entitled “Corporate Governance - Related Party Transactions” and “Board Independence and Structure” in the 2026 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

See the information set forth in the subsection entitled “2025 and 2024 Audit Fees” in the 2026 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

PART IV

Item 15. Financial Statement Schedules, Exhibits.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of January 3, 2026 and December 28, 2024, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 3, 2026, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 3, 2026 and December 28, 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 3, 2026, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of January 3, 2026, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 13, 2026, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Vendor Incentives — Refer to Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Company receives incentives in the form of reductions in amounts owed to and/or payments due from vendors related to volume rebates and other promotions. Volume rebates and vendor promotional allowances are earned based on inventory purchases and initially recorded as a reduction to inventory, except for allowances provided as reimbursement of specific, incremental, and identifiable costs incurred to promote a vendor’s products that are offset in selling, general and administrative expenses. The deferred amounts are recorded as a reduction in cost of sales as the inventory is sold.

While many of these incentives are under long-term agreements in excess of one year, others are negotiated on an annual basis or shorter. Accordingly, auditing vendor incentives was challenging due to the extent of audit effort required to evaluate whether the vendor incentives were recorded in accordance with the terms of the vendor agreements.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to whether the vendor incentives were recorded in accordance with the terms of the vendor agreements included the following, among others:

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Charlotte, North Carolina

February 13, 2026

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2002.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Advance Auto Parts and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of January 3, 2026, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 3, 2026, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended January 3, 2026, of the Company and our report dated February 13, 2026, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Deloitte & Touche LLP

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Charlotte, North Carolina

February 13, 2026

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in millions, except per share data)

The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in millions, except per share data)