Billionaire Carl Icahn Acquires Significant Stake in Monro (MNRO), Causing Share Prices to Soar
Icahn's Investment in Monro Muffler: Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has acquired a 14.8% stake in Monro Muffler, making him the largest individual shareholder, surpassing BlackRock Fund Advisors.
Stock Price Surge: Following the announcement of Icahn's investment, Monro's stock price increased by over 18%, despite the company facing challenges such as falling same-store sales and rising labor costs.
Icahn's History in the Auto Sector: This is not Icahn's first venture into the automotive industry; he previously owned Icahn Automotive before selling it last year, and his investment strategy often involves pushing for changes to improve company performance.
Analyst Ratings: Currently, only one analyst has rated Monro Muffler stock as a Hold with a price target of $16, indicating a potential downside risk of 11.4% from its current levels.
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- Sales Performance Overview: Monro, Inc. reported Q3 sales of $293.4 million, a 4% decline primarily due to the closure of 145 underperforming stores, yet a 1.2% increase in comparable store sales indicates business resilience.
- Gross Margin Improvement: The company achieved a 60 basis point year-over-year increase in gross margin to 34.9%, driven by lower material costs and optimized operating expenses, demonstrating effective cost control measures.
- Real Estate Disposition Progress: During the quarter, Monro exited 32 leases and sold 20 owned locations, generating proceeds of $17.3 million, with cumulative proceeds reaching $22.8 million, expected to support future cash flow.
- Digital Marketing Expansion: The company expanded its multichannel digital media plan to over 340 additional stores and added call center support to 114 more locations, enhancing customer experience and sales effectiveness, further boosting brand impact.
- Earnings Beat: Monro's Q3 2026 Non-GAAP EPS of $0.16 exceeded expectations by $0.02, indicating resilience in profitability despite challenging market conditions.
- Revenue Decline: The company reported revenue of $293.4 million, a 4.0% year-over-year decrease, missing market expectations by $1.79 million, which highlights ongoing sales pressures affecting overall performance.
- Comparable Sales Growth: Comparable store sales increased by 1.2% in the third quarter, suggesting improved sales performance at existing locations, which may contribute positively to future revenue recovery.
- Cash Flow and Credit Position: As of December 27, 2025, Monro generated operating cash flow of $48 million, with $424.9 million available under its credit facility and $4.9 million in cash, reflecting strong liquidity management amid operational challenges.
- Sales Performance Decline: Monro's Q3 sales reached $293.4 million, a 4% decrease year-over-year, primarily due to the closure of 145 underperforming stores, although comparable store sales increased by 1.2%, indicating heightened market competition.
- Gross Margin Improvement: The gross margin rose by 60 basis points to 34.9% year-over-year, driven by lower material costs and reduced occupancy costs, despite rising technician labor costs due to inflation, reflecting the company's efforts in cost control.
- Significant Reduction in Operating Expenses: Operating expenses for Q3 were $83.8 million, or 28.6% of sales, a notable decrease from $94.8 million in the prior year, primarily due to net gains from closed store dispositions and cost reductions, showcasing the company's operational optimization success.
- Substantial Net Income Growth: Net income for Q3 was $11.1 million, a 143.1% increase from $4.6 million in the same period last year, with diluted earnings per share rising from $0.15 to $0.35, indicating a significant enhancement in profitability amid challenges.
- Sales Performance Review: Monro's Q3 sales totaled $293.4 million, a 4% decline year-over-year primarily due to the closure of 145 underperforming stores, although comparable store sales increased by 1.2%, indicating resilience in continuing locations.
- Gross Margin Improvement: The gross margin expanded by 60 basis points year-over-year to 34.9% in Q3, driven by lower material costs and reduced occupancy costs as a percentage of sales, despite rising technician labor costs due to inflation, reflecting effective cost management.
- Operating Expense Optimization: Total operating expenses for Q3 were $83.8 million, or 28.6% of sales, significantly down from 31% in the prior year, primarily due to cost savings from closed stores and net gains from real estate dispositions, enhancing the company's financial flexibility.
- Net Income Growth: Net income for Q3 reached $11.1 million, a 143.1% increase from $4.6 million in the same period last year, with diluted earnings per share at $0.35, demonstrating a significant improvement in profitability amidst challenges.
- Earnings Release Schedule: Monro, Inc. is set to release its Q3 fiscal 2026 earnings on January 28, 2026, which is expected to provide critical financial data for assessing the company's performance.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on January 28, 2026, accessible by dialing 1-833-470-1428 with access code 539351, ensuring transparent communication with investors.
- Replay Availability: A replay of the earnings call will be available approximately two hours after the call until February 11, 2026, accessible by dialing 1-866-813-9403 with access code 693184, enhancing information accessibility for stakeholders.
- Company Background: Monro, Inc. is a leading automotive service and tire provider in the U.S., generating approximately $1.2 billion in sales in fiscal 2025, committed to delivering high-quality auto repair services, showcasing strong market competitiveness.









