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Monro Muffler Brake (MNRO)
NASDAQ:MNRO

Monro Muffler (MNRO) AI Stock Analysis

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MNRO

Monro Muffler

(NASDAQ:MNRO)

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Neutral 51 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:51Neutral
Price Target:
$15.50
▲(1.31% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/13/26
The score is held back primarily by deteriorated profitability and very weak price momentum (well below key moving averages with bearish MACD). These negatives are partially offset by resilient cash flow, manageable leverage, a supportive valuation profile (P/E ~14 and ~7.2% yield), and earnings-call evidence of operational improvements despite near-term sales and cost headwinds.
Positive Factors
Consistent cash generation and FCF
Sustained positive operating and free cash flow provides durable internal funding for capex, dividends and restructuring costs. This cash generation reduces reliance on external financing, supports the dividend policy and gives management runway to execute the turnaround over the next several quarters.
Manageable leverage and credit availability
Leverage below parity and a large undrawn revolver give financial flexibility to absorb near-term profit volatility and fund strategic investments. Manageable debt levels lower refinancing risk and support continued dividend and capital allocation choices during recovery.
Operational improvements and rollout of marketing/CRM
Measurable gains—positive comps, margin expansion, leaner inventory and scaled marketing/CRM—reflect structural improvement in operating execution. These initiatives can sustainably lift same-store revenue and margins as digital customer acquisition and inventory efficiency scale across the footprint.
Negative Factors
Deteriorated profitability and margin compression
A sharp slide in profitability and compressed EBITDA margins weaken free cash flow durability and returns. If margins don't stabilize, the firm may face structural earnings shortfalls that constrain reinvestment, shareholder payouts and debt servicing over multiple quarters.
Strategic store closures reduce sales base
Planned closures remove underperforming revenue but permanently shrink the company’s sales base, potentially lowering scale benefits. The trade-off between short-term margin improvement and long-term top-line capacity creates execution risk in restoring growth and purchasing economies.
Rising technician labor and reinvestment costs; low cash on hand
Structural wage inflation and elevated reinvestment/consulting expenses pressure store-level margins. Combined with modest cash reserves, these cost trends increase reliance on credit availability and execution of efficiency programs to prevent prolonged margin erosion and balance-sheet strain.

Monro Muffler (MNRO) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Monro Muffler Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMonro, Inc. provides automotive undercar repair, and tire sales and services in the United States. It offers replacement tires and tire related services; routine maintenance services on passenger cars, light trucks, and vans; products and services for brakes; mufflers and exhaust systems; and steering, drive train, suspension, and wheel alignment. The company also provides automotive undercar repair services, including tire replacement sales, and tire related service. The company operates its stores under the brand names of Monro Auto Service and Tire Centers, Tire Choice Auto Service Centers, Mr. Tire Auto Service Centers, Car-X Tire & Auto, Tire Warehouse Tires for Less, Ken Towery's Tire & Auto Care, Mountain View Tire & Auto Service, Tire Barn Warehouse, and Free Service Tire & Auto Centers. As of March 26, 2022, it operated 1,304 company-operated stores, 76 Car-X franchised locations, seven wholesale locations, and three retread facilities in 32 states. The company was formerly known as Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. and changed its name to Monro, Inc. in August 2017. Monro, Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Rochester, New York.
How the Company Makes MoneyMonro primarily makes money by selling automotive services and products directly to customers through its company-operated retail service locations. Its major revenue streams include (1) service revenue from labor-based vehicle repair and maintenance work (e.g., diagnostics, brake work, exhaust, steering/suspension, and other mechanical repairs) and (2) product revenue from selling tires and automotive parts/consumables used in those services (e.g., tires, related undercar components, and maintenance items such as oil and filters), including the associated installation. Revenue is recognized when services are performed and products are sold to retail customers at its locations. Additional factors that support earnings include the scale benefits of operating a large store base (purchasing, distribution, and marketing efficiencies) and relationships with tire and parts suppliers that enable the company to source branded products for resale; specific partnership terms or supplier names are null.

Monro Muffler Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Number of Stores
Number of Stores
Chart Insights
Data provided by:The Fly

Monro Muffler Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 28, 2026
(Q3-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 14, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call communicated measurable operational progress — positive comps, gross margin expansion, inventory reductions, real estate monetization, expanded marketing and CRM rollout, and improved GAAP profitability and cash generation. Offsetting these positives are near‑term impacts from strategic store closures (driving a 4% sales decline), wage inflation increasing technician labor costs, increased marketing and consultant investments, and declines in certain adjusted financial metrics (adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS). Management framed the challenges as deliberate, strategic investments to drive long‑term improvement and reiterated expectations for full‑year comparable store sales growth and gross margin consistency with the prior year.
Q3-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Comparable Store Sales Growth
Comparable store sales for continuing locations increased 1.2% in the quarter (Oct -2%, Nov +4%, Dec +1%) marking the fourth consecutive quarter of positive comps and the first positive two‑year stack in over two years.
Gross Margin Expansion
Gross margin expanded 60 basis points year‑over‑year to 34.9%, driven primarily by 80 bps benefit from lower material costs and 30 bps benefit from lower occupancy as a percentage of sales (partially offset by 50 bps headwind from higher technician labor as a percentage of sales).
Profitability Improvement (GAAP)
Operating income increased to $18.6M (6.3% of sales) versus $10.0M (3.3% of sales) in the prior year. Net income rose to $11.1M and diluted EPS was $0.35, compared with $4.6M and $0.15 respectively in the prior year period.
Inventory Management Progress
System inventory reduced by over $7.0M in the quarter and total inventory is down approximately 16% since March (now more than $28.0M), indicating improved inventory efficiency.
Real Estate Dispositions Driving Cash Proceeds
During Q3 the company exited 32 leases and sold 20 owned locations generating $17.3M in proceeds, bringing fiscal year‑to‑date proceeds to $22.8M; YTD disposals and divestitures contributed materially to cash generation.
Marketing and CRM Rollout Expansion
Expanded multichannel digital marketing to ~340 additional store locations, extended call center support to 114 more stores (now over 830 stores served), and activated CRM campaigns to drive customer revisit and service activation.
Strong Cash Generation and Financial Flexibility
Generated $48.0M of cash from operations in the first nine months; ended Q3 with net bank debt of $40.0M, approximately $425.0M available on the credit facility, and cash & equivalents of ~$5.0M, supporting dividends and capital priorities.
Negative Updates
Total Sales Decline
Total sales decreased 4% to $293.4M in the quarter, primarily driven by the strategic closure of 145 underperforming stores which is expected to reduce sales by ~ $45.0M in fiscal 2026.
Adjusted Operating Metrics Declined
Adjusted operating income fell to $10.3M (3.5% of sales) from $11.7M (3.8% of sales) year‑over‑year, and adjusted diluted EPS declined to $0.16 from $0.19 in the prior year period.
Wage Inflation and Technician Labor Pressure
Technician labor costs increased by ~50 basis points as a percentage of sales due to wage inflation, partially offsetting gross margin gains and pressuring store-level margins.
Increased Investment and One‑time Costs
Q3 included $6.2M incremental marketing spend reinvested from closed store SG&A savings and $4.7M of consultant costs tied to the operational improvement plan, which weighed on adjusted results.
Regional Dispersion and Traffic Weakness
Customer traffic was down mid‑single digits in the quarter (offset by a mid‑single digit increase in average ticket); regional weakness was noted in the West while the Northeast was strongest.
Lower Adjusted EPS Despite GAAP EPS Gain
While GAAP EPS improved to $0.35 (driven in part by real estate gains), adjusted diluted EPS declined to $0.16 from $0.19, highlighting the impact of excluded items and investments on core profitability.
Limited Near‑term Cash on Hand
Cash and equivalents at quarter end were approximately $5.0M, which while supported by large credit availability (~$425.0M), represents modest on‑balance cash liquidity.
Company Guidance
Management guided that Monro expects to deliver year‑over‑year comparable store sales for fiscal 2026 and that the store optimization plan will reduce total sales by approximately $45,000,000 in FY2026; they expect full‑year gross margin to be consistent with fiscal 2025 (implying Q4 gross margin above prior year to achieve that), will partially offset baseline cost inflation and tariff‑related cost increases with benefits from store closures and operational improvements, and will reinvest SG&A savings into marketing to support top‑line growth. They reiterated capital and liquidity plans: capital expenditures of $25–$35 million, continued dividend funding, and an expectation to generate sufficient cash flow to fund priorities (cash from operations was $48.0 million in the first nine months); balance sheet metrics include net bank debt of ~$40.0 million, credit availability of ~ $425.0 million, and cash & equivalents of ~ $5.0 million. Additional operating progress cited that supports guidance included $22.8 million of real‑estate disposition proceeds YTD (including $17.3 million in Q3), 57 leases exited and 25 locations sold YTD, inventory down over $7.0 million in Q3 to more than $28.0 million (a ~16% reduction since March), and ongoing rollout of marketing, CRM and call‑center support across the store base.

Monro Muffler Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Overall fundamentals are mixed. The income statement is the key weakness (declining sales, sharp margin compression, and losses in 2025/TTM), while the balance sheet looks reasonably supported with manageable leverage. Cash flow is a relative strength with positive operating cash flow and free cash flow, but the cash-to-debt cushion has weakened, increasing execution risk if profitability doesn’t stabilize.
Income Statement
34
Negative
Profitability has deteriorated meaningfully. Revenue has been declining for several years (including down ~1% in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months)), and earnings swung from positive in 2022–2024 to a net loss in 2025 annual and a larger loss in TTM. Margins have compressed sharply: EBITDA margin fell from low-double-digits in 2023–2024 to ~5% in TTM, and operating profitability is now pressured, reducing overall earnings quality and resilience.
Balance Sheet
58
Neutral
Leverage looks manageable but not light. Debt sits below equity (debt-to-equity ~0.83 in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), improved versus prior years closer to ~0.93–1.03), and equity remains solid relative to total assets. The key weakness is returns: shareholder returns have turned negative in the most recent periods as losses emerged, which can become a balance-sheet risk if profitability doesn’t recover.
Cash Flow
64
Positive
Cash generation remains a relative bright spot. Despite net losses in 2025 annual and TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), the company is still producing positive operating cash flow and free cash flow, with TTM free cash flow higher than the prior annual period. That said, cash flow as a share of debt is modest in the latest period versus stronger coverage in earlier years, suggesting less cushion if operating conditions remain pressured.
BreakdownTTMMar 2025Mar 2024Mar 2023Mar 2022Mar 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.18B1.20B1.28B1.33B1.36B1.13B
Gross Profit409.67M417.64M452.10M456.18M481.84M395.19M
EBITDA64.80M82.38M144.09M156.79M183.09M149.73M
Net Income-12.52M-5.18M37.57M39.05M61.57M34.32M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.57B1.64B1.69B1.78B1.87B1.81B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments4.91M20.76M6.56M4.88M7.95M29.96M
Total Debt485.76M529.36M611.01M668.89M803.36M802.76M
Total Liabilities965.03M1.02B1.04B1.08B1.09B1.06B
Stockholders Equity604.94M620.76M656.77M694.92M782.91M749.68M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow49.63M105.55M99.72M176.03M145.93M133.18M
Operating Cash Flow77.14M131.91M125.20M215.02M173.76M184.91M
Investing Cash Flow5.62M-1.23M-1.96M26.55M-109.80M-66.26M
Financing Cash Flow-88.02M-116.48M-121.56M-244.63M-85.97M-434.16M

Monro Muffler Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price15.30
Price Trends
50DMA
20.21
Negative
100DMA
19.22
Negative
200DMA
17.45
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.25
Positive
RSI
18.62
Positive
STOCH
2.39
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MNRO, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 15.3 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 20.21, below the 50-day MA of 20.21, and below the 200-day MA of 17.45, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -1.25 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 18.62 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 2.39 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for MNRO.

Monro Muffler Risk Analysis

Monro Muffler disclosed 29 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Monro Muffler reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Monro Muffler Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
68
Neutral
$7.49B12.739.42%4.00%-3.71%-0.27%
65
Neutral
$3.10B18.5614.34%7.94%34.84%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
55
Neutral
$362.73M25.68-5.54%-3.20%-257.73%
53
Neutral
$806.33M10.2511.76%3.32%23.96%11.01%
51
Neutral
$459.45M14.01-2.06%5.50%-2.58%-179.55%
51
Neutral
$194.41M33.640.75%6.72%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MNRO
Monro Muffler
15.31
-0.49
-3.10%
DORM
Dorman Products
102.81
-23.93
-18.88%
LKQ
LKQ
29.34
-11.38
-27.95%
MPAA
Motorcar Parts Of America
10.12
-1.48
-12.76%
SMP
Standard Motor Products
36.41
11.08
43.77%
HLLY
Holley
3.01
0.56
22.86%

Monro Muffler Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyDividendsFinancial Disclosures
Monro Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend for Shareholders
Positive
Feb 13, 2026

On February 13, 2026, Monro, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.28 per share for the fourth quarter of its 2026 fiscal year, ending March 28, 2026. The dividend will be paid on March 10, 2026, to shareholders of record as of February 24, 2026, and applies to all outstanding common shares, including those tied to Class C Convertible Preferred Stock.

The dividend declaration underscores Monro’s continued commitment to returning capital to shareholders, signaling confidence in its cash generation and financial stability following approximately $1.2 billion in fiscal 2025 sales. The move may reassure investors about the company’s ongoing ability to fund shareholder distributions while maintaining its operations and growth strategy in the competitive automotive service and tire market.

The most recent analyst rating on (MNRO) stock is a Hold with a $21.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Monro Muffler stock, see the MNRO Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Mar 13, 2026