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AutoZone (AZO)
NYSE:AZO
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AutoZone (AZO) AI Stock Analysis

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AZO

AutoZone

(NYSE:AZO)

Rating:78Outperform
Price Target:
$4,606.00
▲(10.19% Upside)
AutoZone's strong financial performance and technical momentum are the primary drivers of its score. The company's strategic expansion and robust sales growth further support its positive outlook. However, high leverage and valuation concerns, along with foreign exchange challenges, present risks that temper the overall score.
Positive Factors
International Expansion
AutoZone Inc's international expansion sees robust momentum with consistent growth trends across Mexico and Brazil.
Market Share
AutoZone Inc is gaining market share in the fragmented DIFM space by leveraging ongoing megahub rollout and improving parts availability.
Sales Growth
Strong sales growth is accompanied by temporary margin pressures.
Negative Factors
Currency Headwinds
Currency headwinds impacted financial results, posing a challenge for future earnings.
Financial Results
Foreign exchange and gross margin pressures are leading to negative revisions for AutoZone.
Gross Margin
Gross margin and SG&A/store uptick are seen as pinch points affecting current performance.

AutoZone (AZO) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

AutoZone Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAutoZone, Inc. retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company offers various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its products include A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, bearings, belts and hoses, calipers, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition and lighting products, mufflers, radiators, starters and alternators, thermostats, and water pumps, as well as tire repairs. In addition, the company offers maintenance products, such as antifreeze and windshield washer fluids; brake drums, rotors, shoes, and pads; brake and power steering fluids, and oil and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluids; oil, cabin, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paints and accessories; refrigerants and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wipers. Further, it provides air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, interior and exterior accessories, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax products, as well as towing services. Additionally, the company provides a sales program that offers commercial credit and delivery of parts and other products; sells automotive diagnostic and repair software under the ALLDATA brand through alldata.com and alldatadiy.com; and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through autozone.com. As of November 20, 2021, it operated 6,066 stores in the United States; 666 stores in Mexico; and 53 stores in Brazil. The company was founded in 1979 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee.
How the Company Makes MoneyAutoZone generates revenue primarily through the sale of automotive parts and accessories. The company has two main revenue streams: retail and commercial. The retail segment caters to DIY customers, where sales are driven by a wide selection of parts and accessories, coupled with customer service experiences like in-store diagnostics and advice. The commercial segment, on the other hand, focuses on professional mechanics and businesses, providing bulk sales, delivery services, and specialized accounts. AutoZone also benefits from its proprietary private-label products, which typically yield higher margins. Additionally, the company has established strategic partnerships with various suppliers and manufacturers, enhancing its supply chain and product offerings. Seasonal promotions, loyalty programs, and an expanding online presence further contribute to its earnings through increased customer engagement and sales.

AutoZone Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Average Sales Per Store
Average Sales Per Store
Indicates the average revenue generated per store, reflecting operational efficiency, customer demand, and the effectiveness of sales strategies.
Chart InsightsAutoZone's average sales per store show a consistent pattern of seasonal peaks, with notable spikes in September each year. Despite a recent dip in early 2025, the latest earnings call highlights strong domestic commercial sales growth and strategic investments in new stores and technology. This suggests potential for future sales increases, although foreign exchange headwinds and macroeconomic pressures could pose challenges. The company's focus on expanding parts availability and customer service may help mitigate these risks and drive sustained growth.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

AutoZone Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 27, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Sep 23, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong sales growth, particularly in the commercial and international segments, and expansion of MegaHubs. However, there were notable challenges, including a decline in earnings per share, foreign exchange headwinds, and increased operating expenses, resulting in some pressure on margins.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Commercial Sales Growth
Domestic commercial sales grew 10.7% for the quarter, marking the first double-digit growth since Q2 FY '23. Commercial transactions increased by 9.8% year-over-year on a same-store basis.
International Store Expansion
AutoZone opened 30 new international stores during the quarter, bringing the total to 979. Same-store sales internationally grew 8.1% on a constant currency basis.
Domestic Retail Growth
Domestic retail comp growth was over 3%, the best retail growth reported since the second quarter of FY '22. Total company same-store sales grew 5.4% on a constant currency basis.
MegaHub Expansion
AutoZone opened 8 MegaHubs this quarter, reaching a total of 119, with plans to open at least 10 more next quarter. These MegaHubs are growing much faster than the rest of the commercial business.
Strong Free Cash Flow and Share Repurchase
Generated $423 million in free cash flow and repurchased $250 million of stock in the quarter.
Negative Updates
Earnings Per Share Decline
Earnings per share decreased by 3.6% for the quarter. This was impacted by a $1.10 per share drag due to foreign exchange headwinds.
Foreign Exchange Headwinds
The stronger U.S. dollar resulted in a $89 million headwind to sales and a $27 million headwind to EBIT. International comp sales were negatively impacted by 17 points of currency headwind, resulting in an unadjusted negative 9.2% international comp.
Gross Margin Pressure
Gross margin decreased by 77 basis points to 52.7%, driven by higher commercial mix, domestic shrink, and new U.S. distribution center ramp-up costs.
Operating Expenses Increase
Operating expenses increased by 8.9%, with SG&A as a percentage of sales deleveraging by 108 basis points.
Company Guidance
During AutoZone’s 2025 Q3 earnings call, several key metrics and guidance details were highlighted. The company reported a 5.4% growth in total sales, reaching $4.5 billion, while domestic same-store sales improved by 5%, and international constant currency comps increased by 8.1%. The domestic commercial sales exhibited strong momentum, growing by 10.7%, marking a significant achievement as the first double-digit growth since Q2 FY '23. However, earnings per share decreased by 3.6%, impacted by a $1.10 per share drag due to foreign exchange headwinds. Despite these challenges, AutoZone opened 54 new domestic stores and 30 international stores, demonstrating commitment to expansion. The company remains optimistic about sustaining solid trends into Q4, driven by improved execution, strategic growth initiatives, and a robust customer service focus. AutoZone continues to invest in its strategic priorities, with a planned capital expenditure of $1.3 billion, emphasizing store growth and supply chain enhancements.

AutoZone Financial Statement Overview

Summary
AutoZone demonstrates strong revenue growth and profitability, with a robust gross profit margin and healthy net profit margin. However, the high leverage and declining free cash flow present potential risks, indicating a need for improved liquidity and debt management.
Income Statement
82
Very Positive
AutoZone shows robust revenue growth with a TTM increase in revenue of 2.22% compared to the previous year. The gross profit margin is strong at 52.94%, and the net profit margin is healthy at 13.56%. However, a slight decrease in EBIT margin from 20.49% to 19.63% indicates a need to control operational costs better. Overall, the company demonstrates consistent profitability and revenue growth.
Balance Sheet
68
Positive
The balance sheet reveals a high debt-to-equity ratio due to negative stockholders' equity, which poses a financial risk. However, the equity ratio is negative, reflecting high leverage. Despite these concerns, the company has been able to maintain profitability, suggesting effective use of leverage to generate returns.
Cash Flow
74
Positive
The cash flow statement indicates a decline in free cash flow by about 62.53% in the TTM, impacting liquidity. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio of 0.42 reflects adequate cash generation relative to profits. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.28, which is below optimal levels, suggesting room for improvement in cash management.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue18.90B18.49B17.46B16.25B14.63B12.63B
Gross Profit10.01B9.82B9.07B8.47B7.72B6.77B
EBITDA4.31B4.35B3.98B3.72B3.36B2.82B
Net Income2.56B2.66B2.53B2.43B2.17B1.73B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets18.62B17.18B15.99B15.28B14.52B14.42B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments268.63M298.17M277.05M264.38M1.17B1.75B
Total Debt12.19B12.37B10.93B9.30B8.23B8.31B
Total Liabilities22.60B21.93B20.34B18.81B16.31B15.30B
Stockholders Equity-3.97B-4.75B-4.35B-3.54B-1.80B-877.98M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow2.00B1.93B2.14B2.54B2.90B2.26B
Operating Cash Flow3.23B3.00B2.94B3.21B3.52B2.72B
Investing Cash Flow-1.29B-1.29B-876.18M-648.10M-601.78M-497.88M
Financing Cash Flow-1.94B-1.68B-2.06B-3.47B-3.50B-643.64M

AutoZone Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price4180.17
Price Trends
50DMA
3845.41
Positive
100DMA
3768.72
Positive
200DMA
3570.13
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
93.22
Negative
RSI
70.12
Negative
STOCH
89.22
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For AZO, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 4180.17 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 4046.92, above the 50-day MA of 3845.41, and above the 200-day MA of 3570.13, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 93.22 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 70.12 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 89.22 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for AZO.

AutoZone Risk Analysis

AutoZone disclosed 21 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. AutoZone reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

AutoZone Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$69.93B28.29-14.95%5.15%1.99%
76
Outperform
$5.00B22.3017.38%6.76%34.97%
72
Outperform
$19.30B23.9917.50%2.90%2.65%-32.91%
70
Neutral
$87.55B36.90-174.09%5.15%5.33%
69
Neutral
$8.10B11.6511.20%3.81%-3.02%-1.02%
61
Neutral
$17.75B12.56-5.49%3.02%1.43%-14.12%
48
Neutral
$3.61B59.62-24.78%1.65%-22.50%-35219.23%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
AZO
AutoZone
4,205.41
1,008.71
31.55%
AAP
Advance Auto Parts
60.77
15.25
33.50%
DORM
Dorman Products
163.56
52.39
47.13%
GPC
Genuine Parts Company
139.85
1.80
1.30%
LKQ
LKQ
32.08
-8.50
-20.95%
ORLY
O'Reilly Auto
104.05
28.14
37.07%

AutoZone Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
AutoZone Appoints Constantino Spas Montesinos to Board
Positive
May 28, 2025

On May 28, 2025, AutoZone announced the appointment of Constantino Spas Montesinos to its Board of Directors. Mr. Spas, who is the CEO of Proximity Americas and Mobility Division at FEMSA, brings extensive international and industry experience to AutoZone. His appointment is expected to enhance board discussions and drive exceptional performance for the company, which now has 11 board members.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Aug 19, 2025