Advance Auto Parts (NYSE:AAP) is the second largest US retailer of automotive parts and accessories to do-it-yourself as well as a leader of the do-it-for-me automotive customer segment. Founded in 1929, the company operates 3,420 stores, the vast majority of which are in the United States and which have commercial delivery programs catered toward the independent garages and other commercial customers whose end-user do it for me (DIFM) customers seek maintenance from them.^[1] Like most companies in the do it yourself (DIY) segment, AAP targets demographic regions in which they estimate there to exist a large number of old vehicles, given these cars’ propensity for repairs and maintenance.

Operating in a mature and fragmented marketplace, AAP achieved growth in two ways: for its bread-and-butter DIY segment, AAP has opened new stores to fuel growth while the smaller DIFM segment, same store sales grew by double digits. In addition, AAP has been facing pressure in a consolidating auto parts manufacturer industry (related to the woes of the Big Three automakers), which in turn decreases the company's pricing power it enjoys as one of the largest auto parts retailers in the U.S. Finally, in the longer term, the company may see decreased demand in auto parts due to continually rising oil prices, which could decrease the mileage driven by American and thus decrease the demand for car repairs and maintenance.

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