Sales Performance - Fourth quarter sales increased by 264million,or74.10 billion from 3.83billionyear−over−year[3]−Fourthquartercomparablestoresalesgrewby4.4896 million, or 6%, to 16.71billionfrom15.81 billion year-over-year[8] - Total sales for the year ended December 31, 2024, reached 16,708,479,anincreaseof5.6515,812,250 in 2023[23] Profitability - Gross profit for the fourth quarter was 2.10billion,representing51.38.55 billion, or 51.2% of sales[3][8] - Net income for the fourth quarter decreased by 1millionto551 million, or 13.5% of sales, while full-year net income increased by 40million,or22.39 billion, or 14.3% of sales[5][9] - Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2024, was 8,554,489,representingagrossmarginof51.28,104,803 and a margin of 51.2% in 2023[23] - Net income for the year ended December 31, 2024, was 2,386,680,upfrom2,346,581 in 2023, reflecting a growth of 1.7%[25] - Earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2024, was 40.91,comparedto38.80 in 2023, indicating an increase of 5.7%[23] Store Expansion - The company opened 198 net new stores in 2024, meeting its expansion target[8] - The company opened 170 new stores in 2024, compared to 169 in 2023, indicating continued expansion efforts[28] - The ending domestic store count reached 6,265 in 2024, up from 6,095 in 2023, demonstrating successful market penetration[28] Financial Guidance - Full-year 2025 guidance includes total revenue of 17.4billionto17.7 billion and diluted earnings per share of 42.60to43.10[12] - The effective income tax rate for 2025 is projected to be 22.6%[12] Cash Flow and Assets - Net cash provided by operating activities for 2024 was 3.0billion[7]−NetcashprovidedbyoperatingactivitiesfortheyearendedDecember31,2024,was3,049,576, slightly up from 3,034,084in2023[25]−TotalassetsasofDecember31,2024,amountedto14,893,741, an increase of 7.34% from 13,872,995in2023[21]−Cashandcashequivalentsdecreasedto130,245 as of December 31, 2024, down from 279,132in2023,adeclineof53.48,283,505 as of December 31, 2024, from 7,661,353in2023,markingariseof8.1(1,370,961) as of December 31, 2024, from (1,739,278)in2023,indicatingareductionof21.1799,000 in 2024 from 757,000in2023,indicatinghigherstocklevels[27]−ThetotalleasecostperASC842for2024was543,495, up from 503,151in2023,showingincreasedleasingexpenses[27]−AdjusteddebttoEBITDARratioimprovedto1.99in2024from2.03in2023,indicatingbetterleveragemanagement[27]−FreecashflowfortheyearendedDecember31,2024,was1,987,808, slightly up from 1,987,720in2023[27]−Thecompanyreportedadepreciationandamortizationexpenseof461,892 for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $409,061 in 2023, reflecting an increase of 12.9%[25]