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AutoZone (AZO)
NYSE:AZO

AutoZone (AZO) AI Stock Analysis

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AZO

AutoZone

(NYSE:AZO)

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Neutral 63 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:63Neutral
Price Target:
$3,613.00
▲(5.83% Upside)
AutoZone's overall stock score reflects a mix of strong financial performance and strategic growth initiatives, balanced by high leverage and technical weaknesses. The company's robust sales growth and international expansion are positive, but the high debt levels and bearish technical indicators present risks. The valuation suggests the stock may be overvalued, and the absence of a dividend yield limits its appeal to income investors.
Positive Factors
International Expansion
The expansion into international markets enhances AutoZone's growth potential and diversifies its revenue streams, reducing reliance on domestic sales.
Commercial Sales Growth
Strong growth in commercial sales indicates successful penetration into the professional market, supporting long-term revenue growth and market position.
Cash Flow Generation
Improved free cash flow generation enhances financial flexibility, enabling strategic investments and shareholder returns without compromising liquidity.
Negative Factors
High Debt Levels
High leverage can limit financial flexibility and increase risk, potentially affecting AutoZone's ability to invest in growth and weather economic downturns.
Earnings Per Share Decline
A decline in EPS, even if non-cash related, reflects potential challenges in maintaining profitability, impacting investor confidence and valuation.
Operating Expenses Increase
Rising operating expenses can pressure margins and profitability, necessitating careful cost management to sustain long-term financial health.

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

AutoZone Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAutoZone, Inc. is a leading retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, AutoZone operates over 6,000 stores across the country, catering to both do-it-yourself (DIY) customers and professional installers. The company offers a wide array of products, including automotive batteries, brake parts, filters, and engine components, as well as various tools and accessories, supporting customers in maintaining and repairing their vehicles.
How the Company Makes MoneyAutoZone primarily generates revenue through the sale of automotive parts, accessories, and maintenance supplies. The company's revenue model is built on two key segments: retail sales to individual consumers and commercial sales to professional mechanics and repair shops. Retail sales typically contribute the majority of the revenue, driven by the extensive range of products available in-store and online. The commercial segment, although smaller, has been growing steadily as AutoZone focuses on building relationships with local businesses through delivery services and dedicated sales representatives. Additionally, the company's online platform enhances convenience for customers, allowing for increased sales through e-commerce. AutoZone also benefits from a loyalty program that encourages repeat purchases. The company's strong supply chain and distribution network, along with strategic partnerships with suppliers and manufacturers, further contribute to its profitability.

AutoZone Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Store Count by Geography
Store Count by Geography
Shows the distribution of stores across different regions, highlighting market penetration, regional growth opportunities, and potential exposure to local economic conditions.
Chart InsightsAutoZone's store expansion strategy is robust, with a significant increase in both domestic and international locations. The U.S. store count shows consistent growth, while international expansion is accelerating, highlighted by record new store openings. The latest earnings call confirms this momentum, with plans for further expansion in FY '26, focusing on hub and mega hub stores. Despite financial challenges like currency headwinds and increased SG&A expenses, the strategic focus on store growth supports market share gains and positions AutoZone for continued success in both domestic and international markets.
Data provided by:The Fly

AutoZone Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Dec 09, 2025
(Q1-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 03, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong sales growth and store expansion, particularly in the international market. However, the company faced challenges with a decrease in earnings per share, increased operating expenses, and a decline in DIY traffic. Despite these challenges, the company's strategic investments in growth initiatives and positive foreign exchange impacts provide a balanced outlook.
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Sales Growth
Total sales grew 8.2% with a positive 4.7% total same-store sales on a constant currency basis.
Domestic Commercial Sales
Domestic commercial sales grew 14.5% for the quarter, showing an acceleration from the previous quarter.
International Store Expansion
Opened 53 stores globally, with a near-record growth for any first-quarter store openings in the company's history.
Foreign Exchange Impact
The strengthening of the peso against the US dollar resulted in a $37 million tailwind to sales and $11 million to EBIT.
Free Cash Flow
Generated $630 million in free cash flow, up from $565 million the previous year.
Negative Updates
Earnings Per Share Decline
Earnings per share decreased 4.6% due to a non-cash $98 million LIFO charge impacting margins and EPS.
DIY Traffic Decline
DIY traffic was down 3.4%, impacted by unfavorable weather comparisons and the absence of hurricane-related sales boosts.
Operating Expenses Increase
SG&A expenses were up 10.4%, with a per-store increase of 5.8% driven by investments in growth initiatives.
Gross Margin Reduction
Gross margin was down 203 basis points primarily due to the $98 million LIFO charge.
Company Guidance
During AutoZone, Inc.'s 2026 Q1 earnings call, the company reported a total sales growth of 8.2% and a decrease in earnings per share (EPS) by 4.6%, impacted by a noncash $98 million LIFO charge. Excluding this charge, EPS would have increased by 8.9%. The company achieved a 4.7% increase in total same-store sales on a constant currency basis, with domestic and international same-store sales growing by 4.8% and 3.7%, respectively. AutoZone opened 53 new stores globally this quarter, marking near-record growth for a first quarter. The domestic commercial sales segment saw a robust 14.5% growth, while DIY same-store sales grew by 1.5%. Inflation contributed to a 4.8% increase in average DIY ticket prices, and a 6.1% rise in the commercial segment's average ticket. The company plans to invest $1.6 billion in CapEx for fiscal 2026, focusing on expanding its store base, particularly in international markets, and enhancing its supply chain infrastructure.

AutoZone Financial Statement Overview

Summary
AutoZone's financial performance is characterized by strong revenue growth and operational efficiency, as evidenced by healthy margins. However, the high debt levels and negative equity present significant financial risk. The company has shown resilience in cash flow generation, but the leverage remains a concern that could impact future financial flexibility.
Income Statement
75
Positive
AutoZone has demonstrated consistent revenue growth, with a TTM growth rate of 1.84%. The gross profit margin remains strong at 52.15%, indicating effective cost management. However, the net profit margin has slightly decreased to 12.78% in the TTM, reflecting some pressure on profitability. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are healthy, suggesting robust operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
60
Neutral
The balance sheet shows a high debt-to-equity ratio due to negative equity, which poses a risk. Despite this, the company maintains a strong asset base. The return on equity is negative, reflecting the impact of high leverage and negative equity on profitability.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Cash flow analysis reveals a positive free cash flow growth rate of 3.64% in the TTM, indicating improved cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is stable, suggesting efficient cash conversion. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio has slightly decreased, indicating potential pressure on cash flow relative to earnings.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue18.94B18.49B17.46B16.25B14.63B
Gross Profit9.97B9.82B9.07B8.47B7.72B
EBITDA4.22B4.35B3.98B3.72B3.36B
Net Income2.50B2.66B2.53B2.43B2.17B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets19.36B17.18B15.99B15.28B14.52B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments271.80M298.17M277.05M264.38M1.17B
Total Debt12.29B12.37B10.93B9.30B8.23B
Total Liabilities22.77B21.93B20.34B18.81B16.31B
Stockholders Equity-3.41B-4.75B-4.35B-3.54B-1.80B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.79B1.93B2.14B2.54B2.90B
Operating Cash Flow3.12B3.00B2.94B3.21B3.52B
Investing Cash Flow-1.40B-1.29B-876.18M-648.10M-601.78M
Financing Cash Flow-1.75B-1.68B-2.06B-3.47B-3.50B

AutoZone Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price3413.81
Price Trends
50DMA
3763.22
Negative
100DMA
3953.38
Negative
200DMA
3824.10
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-122.57
Positive
RSI
32.05
Neutral
STOCH
23.87
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For AZO, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 3413.81 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 3655.68, below the 50-day MA of 3763.22, and below the 200-day MA of 3824.10, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -122.57 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 32.05 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 23.87 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for AZO.

AutoZone Risk Analysis

AutoZone disclosed 22 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. AutoZone reported the most risks in the "Production" 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
75
Outperform
$3.87B15.5718.19%7.94%34.84%
68
Neutral
$7.61B11.0410.87%3.97%-3.71%-0.27%
66
Neutral
$76.81B31.786.19%6.98%
65
Neutral
$9.63B72.152.24%1.24%0.08%-83.69%
65
Neutral
$838.17M12.4010.49%3.25%23.96%11.01%
63
Neutral
$56.42B23.813.81%-4.26%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
AZO
AutoZone
3,413.81
171.58
5.29%
BWA
BorgWarner
45.43
13.91
44.13%
DORM
Dorman Products
125.08
-5.79
-4.42%
LKQ
LKQ
30.22
-5.42
-15.21%
ORLY
O'Reilly Auto
91.75
11.27
14.00%
SMP
Standard Motor Products
37.79
8.30
28.15%

AutoZone Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
AutoZone Shareholders Reelect Board and Approve Key Proposals
Positive
Dec 19, 2025

At its annual meeting of shareholders held on December 17, 2025, AutoZone shareholders elected 11 directors to serve until the 2026 annual meeting, with each nominee receiving more votes for than against, signaling continued investor support for the company’s current board composition and strategic direction. Shareholders also ratified Ernst & Young LLP as the independent auditor for the 2026 fiscal year and approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the company’s named executive officers, reinforcing confidence in AutoZone’s financial oversight and executive pay practices.

Executive/Board ChangesStock Buyback
AutoZone Boosts Share Repurchase Program by $1.5 Billion
Positive
Oct 8, 2025

On October 8, 2025, AutoZone‘s Board of Directors approved the transition of William C. Rhodes, III from Executive Chairman to Chairman, effective January 2026, with compensation adjusted to standard non-employee director policies and an annual $250,000 in restricted stock units. Additionally, the Board authorized an extra $1.5 billion for its share repurchase program, bringing the total authorization since 1998 to $40.7 billion, reflecting the company’s strong capital allocation strategy and commitment to shareholder value.

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: Dec 20, 2025