Core Insights - AutoZone, Inc. operates as a retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories, with a market cap of $64.1 billion [1] - The company has shown strong stock performance, gaining 24.3% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 11% increase [2] - AZO's performance is also superior to the SPDR S&P Retail ETF, which has declined by 1.8% over the same period [3] Financial Performance - In Q4, AutoZone reported an EPS of $48.71, which missed Wall Street expectations of $50.52, while revenue of $6.24 billion exceeded forecasts of $6.22 billion [5] - For the fiscal year ending in August 2026, analysts project a 4.5% growth in EPS to $151.32 on a diluted basis [5] Market Position and Strategy - The company's strong performance is attributed to effective execution in retail and commercial channels, with commercial sales outpacing retail growth [4] - AutoZone has gained market share and expanded internationally in Mexico and Brazil, despite facing margin pressures from tariffs and a non-cash LIFO charge [4] - Management remains optimistic about long-term growth, focusing on investments in stores, inventory, and technology [4] Analyst Consensus - Among 28 analysts covering AutoZone, the consensus rating is a "Strong Buy," with 22 "Strong Buy" ratings, two "Moderate Buys," three "Holds," and one "Strong Sell" [6]

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) announced it will hold its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the J.R. Hyde III Store Support Center in Memphis, Tennessee. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. (ET). Additionally, this event will be webcast and can be accessed at AutoZone’s website at www.autozone.com and by clicking on Investor Relations. About AutoZone: As of August 30, 2025, the Company had 6,627 stores in the U.S., 883 in Mexico a ...

Core Insights - AutoZone is a leading retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States, competing with major players like Advance Auto Parts and O'Reilly Automotive [1] - The company is set to release its quarterly earnings on December 9, 2025, with analysts estimating earnings per share (EPS) of $32.33 and projected revenue of approximately $4.64 billion [2][6] - Wall Street analysts suggest that AutoZone may represent a good investment opportunity, which can significantly influence stock price movements [3][6] Financial Metrics - AutoZone's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is approximately 25.78, indicating the market's valuation of its earnings [4][6] - The price-to-sales ratio stands at about 3.41, reflecting the market's valuation of its revenue [4][6] - The enterprise value to sales ratio is around 4.04, and the enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio is approximately 24.55, providing insights into the company's valuation relative to sales and cash flow [5] - AutoZone's earnings yield is about 3.88%, offering a perspective on the return on investment [5]

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO), the leading retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the Americas, will release results for its first quarter ended Saturday, November 22, 2025, before market open on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. Additionally, the Company will host a one-hour conference call on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m. (ET), to discuss the results of the quarter. This call is being webcast and can be acces ...

Core Insights - AutoZone, Inc. is a leading retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts with a market cap of $64 billion, serving both DIY customers and professional repair shops [1] - The company is expected to report fiscal Q1 earnings for 2026 soon, with analysts predicting a profit of $32.27 per share, slightly down from $32.52 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - AutoZone has missed Wall Street's bottom-line estimates for the last four quarters, with its previous quarter's earnings of $48.71 per share falling short by 3.6% [2] Financial Performance - For fiscal 2026, analysts forecast AutoZone's profit to be $153.38 per share, a 5.9% increase from $144.87 per share in fiscal 2025, with an expected 18.1% growth to $181.18 in fiscal 2027 [3] - The company's adjusted net sales for the last quarter reached $6.2 billion, a 6.9% year-over-year increase, exceeding analyst expectations [5] - Same-store sales increased by 5.1% year-over-year on a constant currency basis, with domestic sales rising by 4.8% and international sales growing by 7.2% [5] Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings - AutoZone's shares have surged 21.8% over the past 52 weeks, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 18.4% return and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund's 19.6% increase [4] - Wall Street analysts maintain a "Strong Buy" rating for AutoZone, with 22 out of 28 analysts recommending "Strong Buy," and a mean price target of $4,539.75, indicating a 19% potential upside [6]

Group 1 - Constellation Brands (STZ) has been added to the Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) List due to an 8.7% downward revision in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - China Mengniu Dairy (CIADY) is also on the Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) List, with an almost 8.6% downward revision in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - AutoZone (AZO), a leading specialty retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the U.S., has seen an almost 8.4% downward revision in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [2]

Core Viewpoint - AutoZone, Inc. is positioned for growth due to strong DIY and commercial business performance, alongside its omni-channel strategies, despite concerns regarding its balance sheet and rising interest rates [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - AutoZone has achieved record sales for 36 consecutive years, with fiscal 2025 revenues reaching $18.9 billion, a 2.4% increase year over year [2][8] - The company anticipates continued growth in fiscal 2026, driven by strong performance in DIY and commercial sectors, as well as improved parts availability [2] - In fiscal 2025, AutoZone's gross margin, operating profit, and earnings per share were impacted by a noncash $80 million LIFO accounting charge [8] Group 2: Expansion and Market Strategy - AutoZone is expanding its market penetration through the rollout of mega hubs, with 133 mega hub locations established by the end of fiscal 2025, aiming for over 200 in total [3] - The company plans to open 25-30 additional mega hub locations in the next fiscal year and is focusing on international growth, particularly in Mexico and Brazil, with a target of up to 500 store openings annually by 2028 [3] - The omni-channel strategy, including e-commerce initiatives like next-day shipping and in-store pickups, is enhancing customer engagement and driving traffic to its online platform [4] Group 3: Capital Allocation and Share Buyback - AutoZone executed a robust share repurchase program, buying back $1.5 billion in shares during fiscal 2025, with over $632.3 million remaining under repurchase authorization [5][8] - The company has repurchased more than 100% of its outstanding shares since 1998, reflecting a disciplined capital allocation approach [5] Group 4: Challenges and Concerns - AutoZone's capital expenditures in fiscal 2025 were approximately $1.4 billion, with similar spending expected in fiscal 2026, primarily for technology improvements and store expansion [6] - The company's total debt-to-capital ratio is 1.81, significantly higher than the industry average of 0.92, indicating high leverage [7] - Interest expenses rose by 2.7% year over year to $148 million in fiscal 2025, with projections for further increases in fiscal 2026 [7]

Core Insights - AutoZone reported earnings per share (EPS) of $48.71, which was below the estimated $50.52, and revenue of approximately $6.24 billion, slightly missing the estimated $6.25 billion [2][6] - The company's gross profit margin decreased to 51.5%, impacted by a non-cash LIFO charge of $80 million, although higher merchandise margins partially offset this decline [3][6] - Total same-store sales increased by 5.1%, with domestic same-store sales rising by 4.8%, supported by stable sales and store expansion [4] Financial Performance - AutoZone's market capitalization is $71 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 26.92 and a price-to-sales ratio of about 3.65 [5] - The enterprise value to sales ratio is around 4.28, and the earnings yield is about 3.71% [5] - The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of approximately -3.07, indicating a higher level of debt compared to its equity, and a current ratio of approximately 0.84 [5] Operational Insights - Operating expenses increased to 32.4% of sales, up from 31.6% last year, driven by investments in growth initiatives [3] - Margin pressures are a concern due to increased inventory shrink, a higher proportion of commercial sales, and costs related to new distribution center startups [4]

Group 1 - Brown Advisory's "Global Leaders Strategy" aims to deliver strong long-term performance by investing in a focused portfolio of companies that solve customer problems and provide good returns for shareholders, outperforming its benchmark in Q2 2025 due to strong investment selection in Information Technology and Industrials [1] - AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) is highlighted as a key stock, with a one-month return of -1.42% and a 52-week gain of 35.38%, closing at $4,121 per share on September 22, 2025, with a market capitalization of $68.939 billion [2] - AutoZone is experiencing strong sales growth across its DIY and DIFM customer segments, benefiting from industry recovery and driving market share growth through investments in inventory expansion and distribution centers [3] Group 2 - AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 65 hedge fund portfolios holding the stock at the end of Q2 2025, a decrease from 67 in the previous quarter [4] - While AutoZone is recognized for its potential, certain AI stocks are suggested to offer greater upside potential and less downside risk [4] - Additional insights on AutoZone can be found in Macquarie Core Equity Fund's views and other hedge fund investor letters [5]

Group 1 - Macquarie Asset Management's "Macquarie Core Equity Fund" reported a return of 11.94% in Q2 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 Index which rose by 10.94% [1] - The strong performance of the equity market was attributed to reduced concerns over potential tariffs from President Trump, leading to a pause in tariff implementation [1] - The fund's relative performance was primarily driven by sector selection (80%) and individual security selection (20%) [1] Group 2 - AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) had a one-month return of 0.54% and a 52-week gain of 36.82%, with a market capitalization of $69.137 billion as of September 18, 2025 [2] - Despite its defensive nature, AutoZone's shares lagged behind the benchmark returns during the quarter as investors shifted towards more offensive securities [3] - AutoZone was held by 65 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q2 2025, a decrease from 67 in the previous quarter, indicating a slight decline in popularity among hedge funds [3]