AutoZone ve 4. fiskálním čtvrtletí zvýšila EPS o 15,1 % na 56,05 USD, čímž překonala odhad 54,54 USD. Tržby vzrostly o 5,6 % na 6,60 mld. USD, ale zaostaly za očekáváním.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for AutoZone (AZO - Free Report) . Shares have added about 11% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is AutoZone due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
AutoZone Q4 Earnings Beat EstimatesAutoZone reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings per share of $56.05, which increased 15.1% year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $54.54 by 2.8%. Gross margin expansion supported the profit increase.
Net sales rose 5.6% to $6.60 billion but missed the consensus mark of $6.69 billion by 1.4%. Total company same-store sales increased 1.5% on a constant-currency basis.
Same-Store Sales Show Mixed Regional TrendsDomestic same-store sales increased 1.6% in the 16-week quarter. International same-store sales advanced 10.7% on a reported basis, while constant-currency growth was 1.3%, reflecting the impact of currency movements.
Total company same-store sales rose 2.7% on a reported basis. Sales per average store increased to $830,000 from $823,000, while sales per average square foot remained at $122. Management said the selling environment was difficult during the first eight weeks, but sales strengthened over the final eight weeks.
Margin Gains Lift Quarterly ProfitabilityGross margin expanded 182 basis points year over year to 53.3%. The improvement included a 145-basis-point benefit from tariff refunds and a 105-basis-point favorable net non-cash LIFO impact, partly offset by a higher commercial sales mix. The quarter included a $15 million LIFO charge versus an $80 million charge a year earlier.
Operating expenses increased to 33.4% of sales from 32.4%, with deleverage primarily tied to growth initiatives. Operating profit rose 10.1% to $1.32 billion, while net income increased 11.3% to $931.59 million. Operating margin improved 81 basis points to 20%.
Commercial Business Maintains Solid MomentumDomestic commercial sales reached $1.91 billion, up 8.6% from the year-ago quarter. Average weekly sales per commercial program increased 2.7% to $18,700, showing continued growth in the professional customer channel.
The company ended the quarter with 6,443 domestic commercial programs, up 5.7% year over year. Commercial programs were available in 94% of domestic stores, supporting AutoZone’s push to expand service to repair shops and other professional customers.
Store Openings Expand Its Global FootprintAutoZone opened 175 stores during the quarter, including 97 in the United States, 68 in Mexico and 10 in Brazil. The global store count reached 8,031 at quarter-end compared with 7,657 a year earlier.
The domestic network ended with 6,863 stores, while Mexico and Brazil had 1,001 and 167 stores, respectively. Total company square footage reached 54.66 million square feet versus 51.82 million a year earlier. The company also opened 16 new Mega Hub stores in the United States.
Balance Sheet Reflects Growth InvestmentMerchandise inventories increased 10.1% year over year to $7.74 billion, primarily due to growth initiatives. Inventory per store rose 5% to $963,000, while net inventory per store was negative $107,000 compared with negative $131,000 a year earlier. Inventory turns eased to 1.3 times from 1.4 times.
Cash and cash equivalents stood at $326.12 million at fiscal year-end, while total debt was $9.08 billion. Fourth-quarter cash flow from operations totaled $1.18 billion, and capital spending was $498.77 million. Adjusted debt to EBITDAR remained at 2.5 times, while working capital was negative $1 billion.
Capital Returns Stay SubstantialAutoZone repurchased 223,000 shares during the quarter for $697.50 million at an average price of $3,125 per share. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding declined 3.3% year over year to 16.6 million. The company had $1.61 billion remaining under its share repurchase authorization at fiscal year-end.
Management expects sales in the United States, Mexico and Brazil to accelerate in fiscal 2027. The company plans to keep improving its inventory offering, delivery speed and customer service while pursuing domestic commercial, do-it-yourself and international growth.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates review.
VGM ScoresCurrently, AutoZone has a average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock has a score of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, AutoZone has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Společnost AutoZone má rating Zacks Rank #3 („držet“), protože konsenzuální odhad zisku na akcii (EPS) pro aktuální čtvrtletí za posledních 30 dní klesl o 4,2 % na 36,41 USD.
AutoZone (AZO - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Shares of this auto parts retailer have returned +2.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.4% change. The Zacks Automotive - Retail and Wholesale - Parts industry, to which AutoZone belongs, has lost 0.8% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
AutoZone is expected to post earnings of $36.41 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +17.3%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -4.2%.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $171.5 points to a change of +12.4% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -2.3%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $194.62 indicates a change of +13.5% from what AutoZone is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -2%.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, AutoZone is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
For AutoZone, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $4.95 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +7%. For the current and next fiscal years, $21.86 billion and $23.44 billion estimates indicate +7.5% and +7.2% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryAutoZone reported revenues of $6.59 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.6%. EPS of $56.05 for the same period compares with $48.71 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.69 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -1.38%. The EPS surprise was +2.77%.
Over the last four quarters, AutoZone surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates times over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
AutoZone is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about AutoZone. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its holdings in AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO – Free Report) by 10,859.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 9,206 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 9,122 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB owned about 0.06% of AutoZone worth $26,053,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Silverleafe Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in AutoZone by 0.4% in the third quarter. Silverleafe Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,979 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,431,000 after buying an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. Polaris Financial Partners bought a new position in shares of AutoZone during the third quarter worth about $569,000. CX Institutional grew its position in shares of AutoZone by 8,649.3% during the third quarter. CX Institutional now owns 20,036 shares of the company’s stock worth $56,702,000 after acquiring an additional 19,807 shares during the last quarter. Burkett Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AutoZone in the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, QRG Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 26,077.9% in the 2nd quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 49,738 shares of the company’s stock worth $158,960,000 after acquiring an additional 49,548 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 92.74% of the company’s stock.
AutoZone Price Performance Shares of NYSE:AZO opened at $2,798.29 on Monday. AutoZone, Inc. has a 12 month low of $2,756.13 and a 12 month high of $4,252.54. The stock has a market cap of $45.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.31, a PEG ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 0.40. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $2,964.72 and its 200 day moving average price is $3,160.31.
AutoZone (NYSE:AZO – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, September 22nd. The company reported $56.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.54 by $55.51. AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 90.08% and a net margin of 12.65%.The firm had revenue of $6.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.70 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $48.71 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that AutoZone, Inc. will post 172.12 EPS for the current year. AutoZone declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback program on Tuesday, June 16th that allows the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to buy up to 3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are generally a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.
Insider Buying and Selling at AutoZone In related news, VP Dennis LeRiche sold 1,455 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,100.00, for a total transaction of $4,510,500.00. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 441 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,367,100. The trade was a 76.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 2.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have issued reports on AZO shares. Truist Financial reduced their target price on shares of AutoZone from $3,817.00 to $3,648.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 23rd. Raymond James Financial cut their price target on AutoZone from $4,000.00 to $3,700.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Roth Capital decreased their price objective on AutoZone from $4,023.00 to $3,850.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Mizuho decreased their price objective on AutoZone from $3,200.00 to $3,000.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their target price on AutoZone from $3,500.00 to $3,400.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $3,710.36.
View Our Latest Research Report on AutoZone
AutoZone Profile (Free Report)
AutoZone, Inc is a specialty retailer of automotive replacement parts, accessories and maintenance products. The company serves do-it-yourself customers as well as professional automotive repair shops, offering products such as batteries, brakes, filters, engine components, tools, fluids and other vehicle parts.
In addition to its retail stores, AutoZone provides commercial sales and delivery services for professional repair businesses. The company also operates ALLDATA, which offers automotive diagnostic, repair and shop-management software and information services to repair professionals.
Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, AutoZone operates primarily in the United States, with additional stores and operations in Mexico and Brazil.
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Key Takeaways AutoZone's commercial sales rose 10.6% in fiscal 2026, aided by inventory and Hub expansion.AutoZone opened 374 stores in fiscal 2026 and plans about 400 new stores in fiscal 2027.AutoZone's gross margin fell to 52.3% as mix shifts and LIFO charges pressured results. AutoZone, Inc. (AZO - Free Report) is balancing growth investments with valuation and profitability considerations as the company expands its commercial business, store network and supply chain capabilities. The company’s growth initiatives support its long-term strategy, although margin pressure, consumer trends and leverage remain key factors for investors to monitor.
AutoZone Growth Drivers Support the Long ViewAutoZone’s domestic commercial business continues to be a key growth driver. Domestic commercial sales increased 10.6% in fiscal 2026, supported by improved inventory availability, Hub and Mega Hub expansion, faster delivery capabilities and the Duralast brand. The company ended fiscal 2026 with 6,443 domestic commercial programs. Its commercial programs were available in 94% of domestic stores.
Store expansion is another part of AutoZone’s growth strategy. The company opened 374 stores in fiscal 2026, the highest annual store opening level in its history, and ended the year with 8,031 locations globally. AutoZone plans to continue expanding its footprint, including additional Mega Hub locations designed to improve product availability and support both professional and DIY customers. The company had 172 Mega Hubs at fiscal year-end and plans to open more than 40 Mega Hubs in fiscal 2027. Management expects approximately 400 new stores in fiscal 2027.
International expansion also remains a long-term focus. AutoZone ended fiscal 2026 with 1,001 stores in Mexico and 167 stores in Brazil. Management expects international same-store sales growth in fiscal 2027 as investments in stores, inventory and supply chain capabilities continue.
AutoZone Faces Margin and Consumer RisksAutoZone’s faster-growing commercial business may create pressure on gross margins as the sales mix shifts. Gross margin declined 29 basis points in fiscal 2026 to 52.3%, partly reflecting inventory cost dynamics and LIFO charges. Management expects fiscal 2027 gross margins to be flat to up 25 basis points on a GAAP basis and anticipates approximately $85 million to $90 million of LIFO charges during the year.
Consumer trends in the DIY segment remain another consideration. Domestic DIY same-store sales declined 0.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, as higher inflation and lower customer traffic affected transactions. Management expects domestic same-store sales to be flat to up low single digits in fiscal 2027.
AutoZone’s Balance SheetAutoZone continues to generate substantial cash flow, providing funds for expansion and shareholder returns. The company generated approximately $1.8 billion in free cash flow during fiscal 2026 and repurchased $2 billion of stock during the year.
At the same time, AutoZone ended fiscal 2026 with $9.1 billion in debt. The company’s leveraged capital structure remains a factor as it balances store growth, capital spending and share repurchases. Management reported leverage of 2.5X EBITDAR at fiscal year-end.
AZO’s Valuation and EstimatesAutoZone trades at 16.45X forward 12-month EPS, below its five-year median multiple and the Zacks sub-industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AZO’s fiscal 2027 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 7.6% and 13.4%, respectively.
Our TakeAutoZone is a good business, and its valuation looks reasonable, but near-term risks limit the upside. Record store openings and double-digit commercial growth are real strengths. But margins are under pressure from mix shift and LIFO charges, and the outlook for flat to low-single-digit domestic same-store sales leaves little room for surprise. Leverage is also worth watching, with $9.1 billion in debt.
Current shareholders should hold the stock. New investors can wait for a better entry point.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderAZO currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Better-ranked players in the auto space include Honda (HMC - Free Report) , Oshkosh Corp. (OSK - Free Report) and PACCAR (PCAR - Free Report) . While Honda sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Oshkosh and PACCAR carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HMC’s fiscal 2027 and 2028 EPS implies year-over-year growth of 208% and 58%, respectively.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OSK’s 2026 and 2027 EPS implies year-over-year growth of 1% and 28%, respectively.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PCAR’s 2026 and 2027 EPS implies year-over-year growth of 18% and 22%, respectively.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
AutoZone ve 4. čtvrtletí zvýšila tržby o 5,6 % na 6,6 miliardy USD a zředěný zisk na akcii o 15,1 % na 56,05 USD. Za celý rok tržby vzrostly o 7,4 % na rekordních 20,3 miliardy USD.
AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) reported fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter sales growth of 5.6% to $6.6 billion, while diluted earnings per share rose 15.1% to $56.05. The company said its results included a $96 million benefit from tariff refunds and a $15 million non-cash LIFO charge.
For the full fiscal year, sales increased 7.4% to a record $20.3 billion and earnings per share grew 5.3% to $152.55. AutoZone opened 374 stores during the year, its highest annual total, including 175 locations in the fourth quarter.
“We continued to gain market share in a challenging macro environment,” President and Chief Executive Officer Phil Daniele said, pointing to improved customer service, store execution, inventory availability and investments in supply-chain capabilities. Comparable Sales Improve Late in the Quarter Total company same-store sales increased 1.5% on a constant-currency basis in the fourth quarter. Domestic comparable sales rose 1.6%, as an 8.6% increase in commercial sales offset a 0.6% decline in the do-it-yourself, or DIY, business. International comparable sales increased 1.3% on a constant-currency basis.
Daniele said domestic sales strengthened as the quarter progressed. Domestic comparable sales averaged approximately 1.4% growth during the first three months of the 16-week period before accelerating to 2.1% in August. Retail sales were negative over the first three months before becoming essentially flat in August.
The company attributed earlier-quarter weakness partly to milder temperatures in the Southeast and South Central markets, as well as lower customer traffic. Higher oil and gasoline prices also likely pressured traffic and sales, according to management. Hot-weather product categories performed better late in the quarter as temperatures increased.
DIY average ticket increased about 5%, supported by mid-single-digit same-SKU inflation, but traffic declines offset that gain. Chief Financial Officer Jamere Jackson said customers, particularly financially challenged DIY consumers, have shown signs of deferring purchases and trading down amid inflation. Management expects transaction trends to improve as inflation moderates.
For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, AutoZone expects same-store sales to be relatively flat, with average ticket remaining near the approximately 5% increase seen in the fourth quarter.
Commercial Business Remains a Growth Driver Domestic commercial sales, also known as DIFM sales, totaled $1.9 billion during the quarter and represented 34% of domestic auto-parts sales. For the full year, commercial sales were just under $5.8 billion and grew nearly 11%.
AutoZone said its commercial growth has been supported by greater inventory availability at satellite locations, improved hub and Mega Hub coverage, the Duralast brand, and efforts to improve delivery speed and professional-customer service.
Commercial programs increased by 87 net new locations during the quarter to 6,443. The commercial program was operating in 94% of domestic stores at year-end. AutoZone opened 39 Mega Hubs during fiscal 2026, ending the year with 172 Mega Hubs. The company expects to open more than 40 Mega Hubs in fiscal 2027 and is targeting about 300 over the next three years. Jackson said commercial programs connected to a Mega Hub network generate 16% more annual sales than the remainder of the company’s commercial programs. Mega Hubs generally carry more than 100,000 SKUs and supply expanded assortments to surrounding stores.
International Growth Continues Despite Mexico Softness AutoZone ended the quarter with 1,001 stores in Mexico and 167 in Brazil, for 1,168 international locations. The company opened 68 Mexican stores and 10 Brazilian stores during the quarter. Approximately 15% of AutoZone’s store base is now outside the United States.
While constant-currency international same-store sales rose 1.3%, reported international comparable sales increased 10.7% because of favorable exchange rates. The Mexican peso strengthened nearly 9% against the U.S. dollar year over year, providing a $70 million benefit to sales, a $21 million benefit to EBIT and an $0.87 benefit to quarterly earnings per share, Jackson said.
Management said Mexico has faced a softer macroeconomic environment, though sales improved during the final four weeks of the quarter. AutoZone expects international comparable sales to improve to low- to mid-single-digit constant-currency growth for fiscal 2027, with low-double-digit reported growth anticipated in the first quarter.
The company opened a relocated Monterrey distribution center that is nearly twice the size of its previous facility and broke ground on a new León, Mexico, distribution center expected to begin operating in late fiscal 2028.
Fiscal 2027 Outlook and Capital Plans AutoZone expects domestic same-store sales in fiscal 2027 to range from flat to low-single-digit growth, driven by approximately 4% ticket growth. The company expects total domestic commercial sales to grow at a high-single-digit to low-double-digit rate and international constant-currency comparable sales to rise at a low- to mid-single-digit pace.
The retailer plans to open about 400 stores globally in fiscal 2027, compared with 374 in fiscal 2026. It expects roughly 300 openings in the U.S., about 120 in Mexico and about 20 in Brazil. AutoZone reduced its fiscal 2028 global store-opening target to about 430 from approximately 500, largely because it plans to slow expansion in Brazil and concentrate more heavily on the U.S. and Mexico.
Capital expenditures are expected to be about $1.65 billion in fiscal 2027, primarily for new stores, hubs and Mega Hubs. Daniele said newer stores are performing slightly ahead of the company’s original sales and EBIT forecasts. AutoZone estimates an average new store generates roughly $1.7 million in first-year sales, rising to approximately $2.7 million by year six, with return on invested capital exceeding 20% by the end of the sixth year.
For fiscal 2027, the company expects gross margin to be flat to up 25 basis points on a GAAP basis. It forecasts $85 million to $90 million in LIFO charges, including approximately $40 million in the first quarter. AutoZone also expects SG&A per store to rise about 3% for the year, or approximately 8% in total.
AutoZone generated approximately $1.8 billion in free cash flow during fiscal 2026 and repurchased $2 billion of its shares during the year. At year-end, $1.6 billion remained available under its repurchase authorization.
About AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) AutoZone, Inc is a retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts, accessories, and maintenance products. The company serves do-it-yourself customers, professional service technicians, and commercial repair businesses through its stores, distribution network, and online platform.
Its product offerings include replacement parts such as batteries, brakes, engine components, and ignition products, along with tools, fluids, filters, and other automotive accessories. AutoZone also provides services such as parts lookup, diagnostic assistance, battery testing and charging, and loaner tools for eligible repairs.
Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, AutoZone operates primarily in the United States, with additional locations in Mexico and Brazil.
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
$2,796.85▼
$4,332.6819.88
$3,877.71
AutoZone NYSE: AZO is struggling with consumer headwinds, like every other retailer. However, its recent earnings results reflected the company’s strengths, including sustained growth, geographic expansion, robust cash flow, and capital returns.
Key investor takeaways from the report included outperformance and an improved outlook, enough to trigger a bottoming in the stock price.
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AutoZone’s stock price action is significant, as the company’s sell-off created a descending wedge pattern, which often indicates a bullish reversal.
In this case, the pattern was compounded by diverging MACD and stochastic, with stochastic deeply oversold and MACD momentum unwound to nearly zero.
In this scenario, the stock is set up not only to rebound but to sustain upward movement, needing only a trigger to get it moving. The trigger was the company's earnings results.
AutoZone Drives Growth and ProfitabilityAutoZone had a mixed quarter, with 5.6% growth below expectations and a 4.8% annual store count increase. However, the company produced growth, compounded it with positive comps, and drove significant profitability, which is what counts. Comps rose 1.5% systemwide, adjusted for foreign exchange, with domestic comps up 1.6% and international up 10.7% on a currency-neutral basis.
Margins were also good, even better than the revenue. While tariff refunds helped, margin gains also reflected organic improvement that carried through to the bottom line. Key details include low double-digit operating and net profit growth and nearly 15% earnings-per-share growth, amplified by share buybacks.
AutoZone is a cash-flow machine, allocating capital in a tiered manner: first on growth, second on balance sheet health, and third on buybacks. As a result, the company sustained its investment-grade credit ratings while expanding its store count in its fiscal 2026, increasing inventory to drive sales, and significantly reducing its share count. The share count fell by 2.2% during the period, a pace likely to continue into the coming year. Looking ahead, buybacks may accelerate year over year in the next quarter, given the low share prices and increased buyback activity in the latest quarter.
AutoZone Decoupled From Reality: 30% Upside AheadAutoZone’s analyst trends, including analyst reactions to the earnings results, reveal a market decoupled from reality. While trends have included price target reductions and a drop in the consensus price target relative to last year, the data remains bullish.
Current Price$2,891.00High Forecast$4,800.00Average Forecast$3,887.58Low Forecast$3,200.00AutoZone Stock Forecast Details
MarketBeat tracks 27 analysts with current ratings. No Sell ratings are logged, and the consensus is Moderate Buy with 77.7% Buy-side bias. The average price target, while moderated, indicates more than 30% upside from the late-September lows and, more importantly, deep value at the low end. AZO shares have fallen below the analysts’ lowest target, suggesting a quick move to $3,200 is possible.
Institutional activity suggests the downside is limited. The group owns more than 90% of the shares and bought on balance in the trailing 12 months, ramping activity in early Q3. A wide range of institutional buyers, from retirement funds to private capital to asset managers, will likely keep buying the dips.
AutoZone continues to face headwinds, and it is not an attention-grabbing stock with accelerating AI growth potential. The most likely outcome is a slow grind to higher levels, underpinned by performance and capital returns, with a retest of existing highs possible within the next 12 months.
AutoZone Has Risks, But the Market Is Mispricing Them in 2026Among AutoZone’s risks is the EV shift. EVs mean fewer replaceable parts, especially for aftermarket do-it-yourselfers, and are affecting sales. To counter it, AutoZone execs are shifting inventory to match demand for replacement parts, focusing on high-wear items like tires, suspension, and chassis parts, along with the usual low-voltage electrical components that power cabin electronics, sensors, and gauges. Charging and charging equipment are another avenue, as is leveraging the ALLDATA segment. It is a proprietary platform being upgraded and updated to include pertinent information for EV maintenance and repair, ensuring AutoZone’s network of independent repair shops remains dependent on it for information and solutions.
Investors often get AZO's model wrong. While balance sheet metrics often show low cash relative to accounts payable, AZO sells inventory before payments are due, mitigating the perceived cash flow crisis. At the same time, consumer headwinds impair near-term sales but keep consumers in their cars longer, sustaining the business long term and, in turn, its capacity for capital returns. Capital returns are consistent, reduce the count significantly each year, and keep earnings per share tracking higher, at an accelerated pace, regardless of business cycles. When business improves, buybacks improve along with it.
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AutoZone (AZO - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $56.05 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $54.54 per share. This compares to earnings of $48.71 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +2.77%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this auto parts retailer would post earnings of $36.18 per share when it actually produced earnings of $38.07, delivering a surprise of +5.22%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
AutoZone, which belongs to the Zacks Automotive - Retail and Wholesale - Parts industry, posted revenues of $6.59 billion for the quarter ended August 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.38%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $6.24 billion. The company has not been able to beat consensus revenue estimates over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
AutoZone shares have lost about 17.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 13.4%.
What's Next for AutoZone?While AutoZone has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for AutoZone was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $38.05 on $4.98 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $175.04 on $21.98 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Automotive - Retail and Wholesale - Parts is currently in the top 31% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the same industry, CarMax (KMX - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended August 2026. The results are expected to be released on September 29.
This used car dealership chain is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.66 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +3.1%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.3% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.
CarMax's revenues are expected to be $7.05 billion, up 6.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Analytici čekají, že AutoZone ve čtvrtletí vykáže zisk na akcii 54,97 USD a tržby 6,71 miliardy USD, což je meziročně o 12,9 % a 7,5 % více. Akcie za poslední měsíc klesly o 7,4 %.
Wall Street analysts expect AutoZone (AZO - Free Report) to post quarterly earnings of $54.97 per share in its upcoming report, which indicates a year-over-year increase of 12.9%. Revenues are expected to be $6.71 billion, up 7.5% from the year-ago quarter.
Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged. This demonstrates the covering analysts' collective reassessment of their initial projections during this period.
Prior to a company's earnings release, it is of utmost importance to factor in any revisions made to the earnings projections. These revisions serve as a critical gauge for predicting potential investor behaviors with respect to the stock. Empirical studies consistently reveal a strong link between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.
While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as indicators of quarterly business performance, exploring analysts' projections for specific key metrics can offer valuable insights.
Given this perspective, it's time to examine the average forecasts of specific AutoZone metrics that are routinely monitored and predicted by Wall Street analysts.
The consensus estimate for 'Net Sales- Domestic Commercial sales' stands at $1.95 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +10.6% year over year.
The consensus among analysts is that 'Same store sales - Domestic - YoY change' will reach 3.7%. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 4.8% in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts predict that the 'Total Same Store Sales (Constant Currency)' will reach 3.6%. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 5.1% in the same quarter of the previous year.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Square footage - Total' will reach 54495 thousands of square feet. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 51818 thousands of square feet in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts expect 'Square footage per store' to come in at 6.80 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 6.77 million in the same quarter last year.
Analysts' assessment points toward 'Total Auto-Zone Store' reaching 8,017 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 7,657 in the same quarter of the previous year.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Number of stores - Domestic' of 6,869 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 6,627 .
Analysts forecast 'Sales per average square foot' to reach $124.73 thousand. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $122.00 thousand in the same quarter last year.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Sales per average store' will likely reach $845.01 thousand. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $823.00 thousand.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Number of stores - Opened-Brazil' should come in at 13 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 6 in the same quarter of the previous year.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Number of stores - Opened-Mexico' should arrive at 45 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 45 .
The average prediction of analysts places 'Number of stores - Opened-Domestic' at 100 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 91 in the same quarter last year.
View all Key Company Metrics for AutoZone here>>>
Over the past month, shares of AutoZone have returned -7.4% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.9% change. Currently, AZO carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), suggesting that it may underperform the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
AutoZone za rok klesl o 26,9 % a je jen 4,3 % nad 52týdenním minimem, přesto ve 3. fiskálním čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2026 zvýšil tržby o 8,4 %. Firma zároveň rozšiřuje komerční byznys a MegaHubs.
AutoZone (AZO +1.01%) shares are trading around $3,027 on Aug. 25. That's down 26.9% over the past year and 20% over the past six months, and the stock is hovering just 4.3% above 52-week lows.
For a company that just posted its best quarterly sales growth in three years, that decline invites a question: Is the market seeing a problem that the numbers aren't showing yet, or is this simply a valuation reset for a stock that ran hot?
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What's weighing on the stock AutoZone's stock is down for a couple of sensible reasons.
Foot traffic from do-it-yourselfers has been soft lately due to tight consumer budgets. A weirdly cool, wet May killed demand for air conditioning parts right when summer heat usually kicks that category into gear. Recent quarters saw sharply higher revenue growth as inflation and tariff costs drove up unit prices. Now, AutoZone is guiding to lower top-line growth as the same extra-high sales are becoming the basis for tougher year-over-year comparisons.
Put those headwinds together, and it's easy to see why growth-focused investors got nervous even as headline sales rose 8.4% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, which ended May 9.
AutoZone vs. O'Reilly Here's the part that gets me excited, though: Look at AutoZone next to its biggest rival, O'Reilly (ORLY +0.76%). AutoZone trades at a forward P/E of 17.3 versus O'Reilly's 24.7, and O'Reilly's stock has barely budged this year. So this isn't some industrywide freakout; the market specifically discounted AutoZone.
Meanwhile, AutoZone's commercial business posted 10.4% sales growth last quarter. Management sees a serious growth opportunity in this segment, which accounted for just 29% of last quarter's total sales.
"We continue to gain share, and we have really low share on the commercial side of the business," CEO Philip Daniele said on the earnings call.
The MegaHub advantage The engine behind that effort is MegaHubs. AutoZone's largest stores are stocked with over 100,000 parts to restock nearby locations in a snap. The company has 156 of these hubs today, including 14 openings in Q3 alone. That's about halfway to the long-term target of roughly 300 MegaHubs.
On top of all that, the board just tacked on another $1.5 billion to the buyback authorization in June. That's about 3% of AutoZone's current market cap.
And here's a fun wildcard. AutoZone has never split its stock, which trades at more than $3,000 per share. A split wouldn't actually change anything that matters; you'd just own more shares worth proportionally less each, with the same total value.
But there's a practical case for it anyway. If your brokerage doesn't do fractional shares, a split gives you way more flexibility to buy exactly the amount you want instead of aligning your buys with that beefy share price. AutoZone hasn't signaled any plans here, but given how high the share price has climbed, it's the kind of move that wouldn't shock anyone.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Don't let the sliding chart scare you Sure, there are real things to watch: Inflation's cooling off, international sales are sluggish, and traffic needs to firm up. But a slowdown caused by weird weather and challenging year-ago comparisons isn't the same as a business losing its grip.
The MegaHub strategy makes sense, and I can't complain about the lower buy-in pricing. At the very least, I'd gladly buy AutoZone's stock before O'Reilly's right now.
Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new position in shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 104,870 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $335,157,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp owned 0.64% of AutoZone at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in AZO. Turning Point Benefit Group Inc. bought a new stake in AutoZone in the third quarter worth $25,000. Torren Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of AutoZone in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 100.0% in the 4th quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC now owns 8 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 4 shares during the last quarter. MCF Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 50.0% in the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 9 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 3 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bard Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of AutoZone during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.74% of the company’s stock.
AutoZone Price Performance AZO stock opened at $2,960.64 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $48.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.33. AutoZone, Inc. has a 12 month low of $2,902.20 and a 12 month high of $4,388.11. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $3,054.94 and its 200-day simple moving average is $3,332.00.
AutoZone (NYSE:AZO – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 26th. The company reported $38.07 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $36.22 by $1.85. AutoZone had a net margin of 12.40% and a negative return on equity of 80.35%. The company had revenue of $4.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.86 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $35.36 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that AutoZone, Inc. will post 150.39 earnings per share for the current year. AutoZone declared that its board has authorized a share buyback program on Tuesday, June 16th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to reacquire up to 3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts recently commented on the company. Raymond James Financial reiterated a “strong-buy” rating on shares of AutoZone in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on AutoZone from $4,300.00 to $3,850.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on AutoZone from $3,900.00 to $3,600.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $4,400.00 to $4,000.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Finally, Roth Capital lowered their target price on shares of AutoZone from $4,526.00 to $4,023.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, AutoZone currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $4,029.43.
Read Our Latest Analysis on AZO
Insider Activity at AutoZone In other AutoZone news, VP Dennis W. Leriche sold 1,455 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,100.00, for a total transaction of $4,510,500.00. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 441 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,367,100. This trade represents a 76.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Brian Hannasch bought 165 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 29th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $2,987.00 per share, with a total value of $492,855.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 1,219 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,641,153. This represents a 15.65% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. 2.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
AutoZone Company Profile (Free Report)
AutoZone, Inc (NYSE: AZO) is a retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, the company supplies a wide range of aftermarket components, maintenance items and accessories for passenger cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles. Its product assortment includes engine parts, electrical components, batteries, brakes, filters, fluids and interior and exterior accessories, supported by inventory management and logistics systems to serve retail customers and professional service providers.
AutoZone serves both do‑it‑yourself (DIY) consumers and commercial customers such as independent repair shops and service centers.
See Also Five stocks we like better than AutoZone Blueprint for a Boom: SEC Clears the Crypto Runway Ross Stores Just Flipped the Off-Price Retail Story After TJX’s Marmaxx Miss Advance Auto Parts Plunged, But Its Turnaround Is Still Working Is Palo Alto Networks Priced for Perfection Again as AI Security Demand Accelerates?
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Advisors Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 645 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,063,000.
Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in shares of AutoZone during the second quarter valued at approximately $3,938,566,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of AutoZone in the 4th quarter worth $939,205,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of AutoZone in the 2nd quarter valued at $572,885,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new stake in AutoZone during the 2nd quarter worth about $335,157,000. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 17.8% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 492,794 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,671,323,000 after purchasing an additional 74,555 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.74% of the company’s stock.
AutoZone Price Performance Shares of AZO opened at $2,960.64 on Friday. AutoZone, Inc. has a 12 month low of $2,902.20 and a 12 month high of $4,388.11. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $3,054.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $3,332.00. The stock has a market cap of $48.35 billion, a PE ratio of 20.36, a P/E/G ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.33.
AutoZone (NYSE:AZO – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 26th. The company reported $38.07 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $36.22 by $1.85. The company had revenue of $4.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.86 billion. AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 80.35% and a net margin of 12.40%.The company’s revenue was up 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $35.36 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that AutoZone, Inc. will post 150.39 earnings per share for the current year. AutoZone declared that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Tuesday, June 16th that allows the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to reacquire up to 3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.
Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, VP Dennis W. Leriche sold 1,455 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,100.00, for a total transaction of $4,510,500.00. Following the sale, the vice president owned 441 shares in the company, valued at $1,367,100. This represents a 76.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Brian Hannasch purchased 165 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 29th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $2,987.00 per share, for a total transaction of $492,855.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 1,219 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,641,153. The trade was a 15.65% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. 2.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $4,020.00 to $3,605.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on AutoZone from $4,345.00 to $4,096.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Mizuho reduced their price target on shares of AutoZone from $3,600.00 to $3,200.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Citigroup lowered their price objective on AutoZone from $4,300.00 to $3,700.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Finally, Truist Financial set a $3,700.00 target price on shares of AutoZone in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, AutoZone currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $4,029.43.
Get Our Latest Research Report on AZO
AutoZone Company Profile (Free Report)
AutoZone, Inc (NYSE: AZO) is a retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, the company supplies a wide range of aftermarket components, maintenance items and accessories for passenger cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles. Its product assortment includes engine parts, electrical components, batteries, brakes, filters, fluids and interior and exterior accessories, supported by inventory management and logistics systems to serve retail customers and professional service providers.
AutoZone serves both do‑it‑yourself (DIY) consumers and commercial customers such as independent repair shops and service centers.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than AutoZone Blueprint for a Boom: SEC Clears the Crypto Runway Ross Stores Just Flipped the Off-Price Retail Story After TJX’s Marmaxx Miss Advance Auto Parts Plunged, But Its Turnaround Is Still Working Is Palo Alto Networks Priced for Perfection Again as AI Security Demand Accelerates?
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BlackRock ve druhém čtvrtletí koupil nový podíl ve společnosti AutoZone: 1 232 366 akcií za zhruba 3 938 566 000 USD. Na konci období držel asi 7,55 % společnosti.
BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,232,366 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,938,566,000. BlackRock Inc. owned approximately 7.55% of AutoZone at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of AutoZone in the fourth quarter valued at $1,808,000. United Super Pty Ltd in its capacity as Trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund raised its holdings in AutoZone by 15.2% in the fourth quarter. United Super Pty Ltd in its capacity as Trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund now owns 14,224 shares of the company’s stock valued at $48,241,000 after acquiring an additional 1,882 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 67.1% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 3,941 shares of the company’s stock valued at $13,366,000 after purchasing an additional 1,582 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in AutoZone during the 4th quarter worth about $939,205,000. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its stake in AutoZone by 387.1% during the fourth quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 77,792 shares of the company’s stock worth $263,832,000 after purchasing an additional 61,821 shares during the last quarter. 92.74% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
AutoZone Trading Up 1.9% NYSE AZO opened at $3,077.21 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $50.25 billion, a PE ratio of 21.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.33. AutoZone, Inc. has a twelve month low of $2,902.20 and a twelve month high of $4,388.11. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $3,061.14 and its 200 day moving average price is $3,344.23.
AutoZone (NYSE:AZO – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 26th. The company reported $38.07 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $36.22 by $1.85. The firm had revenue of $4.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.86 billion. AutoZone had a net margin of 12.40% and a negative return on equity of 80.35%. AutoZone’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $35.36 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that AutoZone, Inc. will post 150.39 EPS for the current year. AutoZone announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, June 16th that allows the company to buyback $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to repurchase up to 3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally a sign that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.
Insider Activity In related news, Director Brian Hannasch purchased 165 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 29th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $2,987.00 per share, for a total transaction of $492,855.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 1,219 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,641,153. This trade represents a 15.65% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Dennis W. Leriche sold 1,455 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,100.00, for a total value of $4,510,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 441 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,367,100. This trade represents a 76.74% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders own 2.60% of the company’s stock.
Analyst Ratings Changes AZO has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $4,400.00 to $4,000.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Truist Financial set a $3,700.00 price objective on shares of AutoZone in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on AutoZone from $4,345.00 to $4,096.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. Roth Capital decreased their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $4,526.00 to $4,023.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered AutoZone from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, AutoZone has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $4,029.43.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on AutoZone
About AutoZone (Free Report)
AutoZone, Inc (NYSE: AZO) is a retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, the company supplies a wide range of aftermarket components, maintenance items and accessories for passenger cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles. Its product assortment includes engine parts, electrical components, batteries, brakes, filters, fluids and interior and exterior accessories, supported by inventory management and logistics systems to serve retail customers and professional service providers.
AutoZone serves both do‑it‑yourself (DIY) consumers and commercial customers such as independent repair shops and service centers.
Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than AutoZone The AI Boom Is Turning This Cable Maker Into a Stock to Watch A Star Investor Just Trimmed Amazon—Here’s What It means Wendy’s Deal Buzz May Give Fast-Food Investors a New Reason to Look Home Depot Analysts See a Path to $375 and Beyond Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AZO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO – Free Report).
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First Trust Advisors LP v prvním čtvrtletí snížil podíl v AutoZone o 68,3 % a prodal 4 110 akcií. Po prodeji držel 1 906 akcií v hodnotě 6,437 milionu USD.
First Trust Advisors LP decreased its holdings in AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO – Free Report) by 68.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 1,906 shares of the company’s stock after selling 4,110 shares during the quarter. First Trust Advisors LP’s holdings in AutoZone were worth $6,437,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Morgan Stanley boosted its stake in shares of AutoZone by 17.8% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 492,794 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,671,323,000 after acquiring an additional 74,555 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in shares of AutoZone by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 387,042 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,312,654,000 after purchasing an additional 7,390 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of AutoZone during the fourth quarter valued at $939,205,000. First Manhattan CO. LLC. lifted its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 2.7% during the fourth quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. now owns 261,314 shares of the company’s stock valued at $886,246,000 after purchasing an additional 6,765 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its position in shares of AutoZone by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 189,789 shares of the company’s stock valued at $814,240,000 after purchasing an additional 2,333 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 92.74% of the company’s stock.
AutoZone Stock Performance Shares of AZO opened at $3,024.42 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $49.39 billion, a PE ratio of 20.79, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.33. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $3,069.68 and its 200 day moving average price is $3,392.87. AutoZone, Inc. has a 52 week low of $2,902.20 and a 52 week high of $4,388.11.
AutoZone (NYSE:AZO – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 26th. The company reported $38.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $36.22 by $1.85. AutoZone had a net margin of 12.40% and a negative return on equity of 80.35%. The company had revenue of $4.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.86 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $35.36 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that AutoZone, Inc. will post 150.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
AutoZone announced that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Tuesday, June 16th that allows the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to purchase up to 3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually a sign that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have issued reports on AZO. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on AutoZone from $4,300.00 to $4,000.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. DA Davidson decreased their target price on shares of AutoZone from $4,300.00 to $3,750.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on shares of AutoZone from $3,900.00 to $3,600.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. BNP Paribas Exane cut their price target on shares of AutoZone from $4,478.00 to $3,979.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of AutoZone from $4,300.00 to $3,700.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $4,040.87.
Get Our Latest Report on AutoZone
Insider Transactions at AutoZone In other news, Director Brian Hannasch bought 165 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 29th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $2,987.00 per share, for a total transaction of $492,855.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 1,219 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,641,153. This trade represents a 15.65% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 2.60% of the company’s stock.
AutoZone Company Profile (Free Report)
AutoZone, Inc (NYSE: AZO) is a retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, the company supplies a wide range of aftermarket components, maintenance items and accessories for passenger cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles. Its product assortment includes engine parts, electrical components, batteries, brakes, filters, fluids and interior and exterior accessories, supported by inventory management and logistics systems to serve retail customers and professional service providers.
AutoZone serves both do‑it‑yourself (DIY) consumers and commercial customers such as independent repair shops and service centers.
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Akcie AutoZone (AZO) v poslední obchodní den klesly o 4,32 % na 3 006,57 USD, zatímco S&P 500 vzrostl o 1,66 %. Za poslední měsíc akcie odepsaly 2,36 %.
AutoZone (AZO - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $3,006.57, moving -4.32% from the previous trading session. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily gain of 1.66%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 1.19%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 2.78%.
Heading into today, shares of the auto parts retailer had lost 2.36% over the past month, lagging the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 0.61% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.49%.
The upcoming earnings release of AutoZone will be of great interest to investors. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $55.08, marking a 13.08% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year. At the same time, our most recent consensus estimate is projecting a revenue of $6.71 billion, reflecting a 7.52% rise from the equivalent quarter last year.
Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $150.39 per share and revenue of $20.48 billion, indicating changes of +3.81% and +8.13%, respectively, compared to the previous year.
Any recent changes to analyst estimates for AutoZone should also be noted by investors. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.08% lower. Currently, AutoZone is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Looking at its valuation, AutoZone is holding a Forward P/E ratio of 20.89. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 20.38.
Also, we should mention that AZO has a PEG ratio of 1.6. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. Automotive - Retail and Wholesale - Parts stocks are, on average, holding a PEG ratio of 1.8 based on yesterday's closing prices.
The Automotive - Retail and Wholesale - Parts industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 46, putting it in the top 19% of all 250+ industries.
The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Don't forget to use Zacks.com to keep track of all these stock-moving metrics, and others, in the upcoming trading sessions.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for AutoZone (AZO - Free Report) . Shares have added about 2% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is AutoZone due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for AutoZone, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
AutoZone Q3 Earnings Beat EstimatesAutoZone posted third-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended May 9, 2026) earnings per share of $38.07, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $36.18 by 5.2%. Earnings per share rose 7.7% from $35.36 a year ago.
The company’s net sales increased 8.4% year over year to $4.84 billion, but fell short of the consensus mark of $4.86 billion by about 0.5%. Domestic same-store sales increased 4.1% in the quarter, led by strong commercial momentum.
Sales Growth Accelerates on Commercial MomentumIn the reported quarter, domestic commercial sales totaled $1.4 billion, up from $1.27 billion in the year-ago period. Total sales represented the company’s largest year-over-year growth in more than three years, reflecting faster top-line momentum versus the first half of fiscal 2026. Total company same-store sales rose 3.9% on a constant-currency basis, supported by a 4.1% domestic comp and a 1.6% international comp on the same basis.
The mix of growth also leaned favorably. Domestic do-it-yourself sales rose 2.2% in the quarter, while domestic commercial sales increased 10.4%. The commercial outperformance was driven by better inventory availability at satellite stores, broader Hub and Mega-Hub coverage, and continued gains tied to service speed and delivery improvements.
Profitability Reflects LIFO and Mix PressureGross profit rose to $2.52 billion from $2.35 billion in the prior-year quarter. Gross profit margin was 52.2%, down 57 basis points from the year-ago period. A $20 million non-cash LIFO charge in the quarter, which contrasted with a $16 million LIFO credit in the prior-year quarter, weighed on the year-over-year margin comparison.
Operating profit increased 6.6% to $923.8 million. Operating expenses were 33.1% of sales versus 33.3% last year, indicating modest leverage despite the faster store growth cadence. Net income rose to $641.5 million from $608.4 million a year ago.
Store Growth Push Builds Scale Across RegionsAutoZone continued to add stores at a faster pace. During the quarter, it opened 82 new stores globally, including 57 in the United States, 20 in Mexico and five in Brazil. Total store count ended at 7,856, consisting of 6,766 in the United States, 933 in Mexico and 157 in Brazil.
The company continues to expand its commercial footprint. Mega-Hubs acted as a key driver of improved parts availability, as these locations typically carry a significantly broader SKU count and can lift both commercial and retail demand by shortening delivery times in local markets.
Capital Returns Remain a Key FeatureShare repurchases stayed sizable in the quarter. AutoZone bought back 164,000 shares for $586.3 million at an average price of $3,582 per share, ending the period with $0.8 billion remaining under its current authorization.
Liquidity remained solid alongside a leveraged balance sheet structure typical of the company’s capital strategy. Cash and cash equivalents were $253.7 million as of May 9, 2026, while total debt stood at $9.02 billion, down from $8.8 billion as of May 10, 2025. The company reported a leverage ratio of 2.5x EBITDAR.
Inventory Position Tracks Growth and InflationInventory continued to build as the company invests to support growth initiatives and new stores. Merchandise inventories rose 10.8% year over year to $7.56 billion. Inventory per store increased to $962,000 from $908,000 in the year-ago quarter.
Net inventory, defined as merchandise inventory less accounts payable, remained negative on a per-store basis. Net inventory per store was negative $107,000 compared with negative $142,000 last year, while accounts payable as a percentage of inventory was 111.1% compared with 115.6% a year ago.
Q4 Commentary Centers on Inflation and LIFOThe company expects inflation and ticket growth to moderate in the fourth quarter versus the third quarter, with commentary pointing to a mid-4% range for ticket trends as the company laps higher inflation from the prior year. It also expects a planned non-cash LIFO charge of approximately $30 million for the fourth quarter, which would pressure gross margin and earnings per share versus a more favorable prior-year LIFO comparison.
The company expects weather-related softness late in the quarter, affecting certain heat-driven categories, while reiterating confidence in summer performance given ongoing execution initiatives. Internationally, the company expects a softer macro environment in Mexico and Brazil, with expectations for constant-currency same-store sales in a range similar to the third quarter.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, estimates review have trended upward during the past month.
VGM ScoresCurrently, AutoZone has a average Growth Score of C, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with an A. However, the stock was allocated a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Interestingly, AutoZone has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
