Why Shares of AutoZone Suddenly Plunged

Core Viewpoint - AutoZone's fiscal first-quarter results disappointed Wall Street, leading to a significant drop in its stock price, making it the worst performer in the S&P 500 index [1] Financial Performance - Revenue for the quarter increased by 8.2% year-over-year, reaching $4.6 billion [2] - Diluted earnings per share were reported at $31.04, which was below last year's figure and also lower than the consensus analyst estimate of $32.71 [2] - Same-store sales growth was reported at 5.5%, slightly below the expected 5.6% [3] Expansion Plans - The company opened 53 net new stores during the quarter, including 12 in Mexico and two in Brazil, with plans for aggressive expansion throughout the fiscal year [5] - AutoZone currently operates a total of 7,710 stores across the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil [5] Market Position - The company is well-positioned to benefit from a growing automotive aftermarket, projected to reach $576 billion in the U.S. and $2.3 billion globally this year [6]