Short Interest in O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:ORLY) Grows By 1,590.8%

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:ORLY - Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 14,840,000 shares, a growth of 1,590.8% from the May 15th total of 877,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,510,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.3 days. Approximately 26.1% of the company's stock are sold short.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on ORLY. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of O'Reilly Automotive from $96.67 to $100.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of O'Reilly Automotive in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of O'Reilly Automotive from $95.00 to $103.33 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of O'Reilly Automotive from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. Finally, DA Davidson raised their price target on shares of O'Reilly Automotive from $101.67 to $106.67 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $94.30.

O'Reilly Automotive Trading Down 1.3%

Shares of NASDAQ:ORLY traded down $1.14 during trading on Friday, hitting $89.91. 4,020,258 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,592,848. The stock has a market cap of $5.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.60. O'Reilly Automotive has a fifty-two week low of $66.94 and a fifty-two week high of $97.22. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $91.37 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $87.83.

O'Reilly Automotive (NASDAQ:ORLY - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The specialty retailer reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.66 by ($0.04). O'Reilly Automotive had a net margin of 14.28% and a negative return on equity of 166.88%. The business had revenue of $4.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.18 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.61 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that O'Reilly Automotive will post 43.94 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at O'Reilly Automotive

In other news, Director John Raymond Murphy sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.93, for a total value of $275,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 4,560 shares in the company, valued at $419,216. This trade represents a 39.68% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Najera Jose A. Montellano sold 285 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.13, for a total transaction of $25,686.29. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 33,285 shares of company stock worth $3,022,386. 1.01% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of O'Reilly Automotive

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ORLY. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC lifted its position in shares of O'Reilly Automotive by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 64 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $76,000 after buying an additional 8 shares during the last quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC increased its holdings in O'Reilly Automotive by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 210 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $301,000 after purchasing an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Adero Partners LLC increased its holdings in O'Reilly Automotive by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Adero Partners LLC now owns 425 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $609,000 after purchasing an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in O'Reilly Automotive by 3.5% in the 1st quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 239 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $342,000 after purchasing an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lindbrook Capital LLC increased its holdings in O'Reilly Automotive by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 313 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $448,000 after purchasing an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. 85.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

O'Reilly Automotive Company Profile

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer and supplier of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment, and accessories in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. The company provides new and remanufactured automotive hard parts and maintenance items, such as alternators, batteries, brake system components, belts, chassis parts, driveline parts, engine parts, fuel pumps, hoses, starters, temperature control, water pumps, antifreeze, appearance products, engine additives, filters, fluids, lighting products, and oil and wiper blades; and accessories, including floor mats, seat covers, and truck accessories.