O’Reilly Auto directors sell shares, stock hits 52-week high

Days ahead of a new 52-week high for O’Reilly Automotive Inc. (Nasdaq: ORLY), two directors sold millions of dollars worth of company shares.

Trading was led by board Chairman David O’Reilly, who on June 20 sold 77,496 at a value of $22 million, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

That same day, board member Charlie O’Reilly sold 19,250 shares for $5.5 million, according to a separate SEC filing.

The Springfield-based auto parts retailer’s shares hit a 52-week high of $290.35 on June 22. Its shares were trading this morning at $281.12 as of 8:37 a.m. O’Reilly Automotive’s 52-week low is $169.43.

The new stock high follows reports that O’Reilly Automotive’s bottom line would benefit from aggressive store openings. In the first quarter, the company opened 78 stores, compared with 60 in the same quarter of 2017.