Untangled Web: Data show stock surge at O’Reilly Automotive since pandemic

Record Recap

Public records provide an unfiltered look into what’s coming to Springfield. For this edition, I’m taking a look at commercial building permits currently on file with the city. Check SBJ.net for future coverage.

The Glade
1051 S. Grant Ave.
Description: New 42-unit apartment development with two buildings along Grant Avenue Parkway

Angel Animal Hospital
2760 S. Kansas Expressway
Description: Conversion of an existing building into a veterinary clinic

Mercy Orthopedic
3050 E. Riverbluff Blvd., Ozark
Description: Foundation for emergency department addition

Five Below
2725 N. Kansas Expressway
Description: Interior improvements for new Five Below retail tenant

Dirty Dough Cookies
2515 S. Campbell Ave.
Description: Tenant infill for building that’s wrapping up construction

Sonic Drive-In
635 W. Commercial St.
Description: Drive-thru addition

Cox South
3801 S. National Ave.
Description: Renovation of existing dialysis space to provide additional support areas

Missouri Career Center
2900 E. Sunshine St.
Description: Building facade renovation

Data show stock surge at O’Reilly Automotive since pandemic

It's often written in financial reports about O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (Nasdaq: ORLY) that the company's stock is recession-proof. The idea is that during economic downturns, the DIY nature of the auto parts business tends to shine as consumers work on their existing vehicles and avoid new high-dollar purchases. More auto parts purchases bode well for ORLY stock.

The data from recent years since the COVID-19 pandemic struck bear that out, as ORLY stock has climbed steadily during that period.

Most recently, the Springfield-based company's shares crossed $1,000 for the first time on Nov. 14, according to online Nasdaq records.

Since hitting the $500 mark in early 2021, the ORLY stock price has since doubled.

It's almost been like clockwork, and as the person in the newsroom who often covers stock movement, I've had my work cut out for me.

To get a glimpse of just how fast the stock has risen since the height of the pandemic, I analyzed ORLY stock data to show benchmarks at each hundred-dollar gain.

Starting with $500 in March 2021, the stock reached $600 in July 2021, $700 in December 2021, $800 in October 2022, $900 in April 2023 and $1,000 in November 2023.

Prior to $500, the climb from $100 started in early 2013. And well before that, the stock was in the single digits and tens of dollars after its initial public offering on the Nasdaq in 1993.

The stock growth also came alongside record sales at the company.

O’Reilly Automotive in 2022 hit a record-high $14.4 billion in revenue, an 8% increase from $13.3 billion in 2021.

Before that, the company cleared $10 billion in sales for the first time in its more than 60-year-history in 2019.

This year through the third quarter, the most recent period on file, O’Reilly Automotive’s sales came in at nearly $12 billion, which was up from $10.8 billion during the same nine-month period in 2022. With another quarter to wrap up the year, the 2022 sales record could be toppled.

So, where does the stock go from here? Historically speaking over the past few years, the answer appears to be up.

OpenAI drama worthy of big screen

I bet they’ll make a movie about the recent drama at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. It makes sense that with artificial intelligence making waves in the technology landscape, the governance behind the scenes would be interesting as well.

In the span of a week last month, OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman was ousted from his role as CEO, joined Microsoft and then was rehired as OpenAI’s leader.

Reporting from CNN cited a “chaotic boardroom coup” that took place.

A timeline of events published Nov. 22 by Mashable indicates Altman came back after OpenAI faced what must have been some intense pressure from investors. On top of that, nearly all of OpenAI employees were threatening to jump ship.

With Altman back, a new initial board was installed. Former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor is serving as chair, and members so far include Larry Summers, former U.S. Treasury secretary, and Adam D’Angelo, CEO of Quora, according to media reports. Expect more big names to follow for what reportedly will be a nine-person board.

The reinstatement of Altman and installation of new board members could cement the leadership at what’s arguably the most well-known AI organization. OpenAI already has and will continue to shape AI, and this event is likely to go down in the history books.

The only thing left at this point is to cast the actor to play Altman in the film version of this real-life event. My pick is Andrew Garfield, but online favorites of Alex Karpovsky or Michael Cera would do nicely, as well.

Contact Geoff Pickle
Phone: 417-616-5856
Email: gpickle@sbj.net
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