AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) Given New $4,020.00 Price Target at Morgan Stanley

AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) had its price objective lifted by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $4,000.00 to $4,020.00 in a report released on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an “overweight” rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley’s price target would suggest a potential upside of 9.31% from the stock’s current price.

Several other analysts have also weighed in on AZO. Zacks Research upgraded AutoZone from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 24th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $4,600.00 to $4,400.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Raymond James Financial reduced their target price on shares of AutoZone from $4,800.00 to $4,600.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Oppenheimer dropped their price target on shares of AutoZone from $4,600.00 to $4,150.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of AutoZone from $4,076.00 to $4,045.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have given a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AutoZone currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $4,279.83.

AutoZone Stock Up 1.1%

AutoZone stock traded up $40.49 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $3,677.66. 60,473 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 167,777. The stock has a market cap of $60.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.65, a PEG ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.41. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $3,607.18 and its 200-day moving average is $3,825.54. AutoZone has a 12 month low of $3,210.72 and a 12 month high of $4,388.11.

AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 3rd. The company reported $27.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $27.59 by $0.04. AutoZone had a net margin of 12.78% and a negative return on equity of 65.38%. The company had revenue of $4.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.31 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $28.29 earnings per share. AutoZone’s quarterly revenue was up 8.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that AutoZone will post 152.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at AutoZone

In other AutoZone news, VP Richard Craig Smith sold 5,910 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,700.00, for a total value of $21,867,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 2,627 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $9,719,900. The trade was a 69.23% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Brian Hannasch purchased 147 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 18th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $3,393.09 per share, with a total value of $498,784.23. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 962 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,264,152.58. This represents a 18.04% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders have purchased 347 shares of company stock worth $1,179,256 and have sold 9,447 shares worth $34,179,923. Corporate insiders own 2.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AutoZone

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AZO. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of AutoZone in the third quarter valued at about $26,000. Turning Point Benefit Group Inc. purchased a new position in AutoZone during the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 600.0% in the 3rd quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 7 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 6 shares in the last quarter. Aspect Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of AutoZone by 700.0% in the 2nd quarter. Aspect Partners LLC now owns 8 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 7 shares during the period. Finally, Salomon & Ludwin LLC bought a new position in shares of AutoZone during the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. 92.74% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AutoZone News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting AutoZone this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Small EPS beat and underlying sales growth — AZO reported fiscal Q2 EPS of $27.63 (beat consensus by ~$0.04) and net sales up ~8% YoY; management highlighted commercial growth and store expansion as contributors. AutoZone Q2 Earnings Beat
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple analyst price-target increases — Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Barclays raised targets and maintained buy/overweight ratings, signaling continued confidence in AZO’s long-term growth and justifying upside from current levels. Goldman Sachs PT Raise
• Neutral Sentiment: Some target trims but ratings intact — Roth, Truist and DA Davidson trimmed targets but kept buy ratings, suggesting analysts see the miss as temporary rather than a structural problem. Roth PT Adjustment
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue shortfall vs. estimates — Q2 revenue of ~$4.27B missed consensus (~$4.31B), which, alongside modest EPS beat, disappointed investors and pressured shares. Reuters: Profit Falls
• Negative Sentiment: Margin pressure & weather impact — Management flagged inflationary headwinds and winter storms that hurt sales and compressed margins; several market write-ups note the margin squeeze as the main driver of the stock weakness. WSJ: Winter Storms Hurt Sales
• Negative Sentiment: Immediate market reaction — Coverage and headlines (“margins crack,” “shares plunge”) amplified selling after the print, reflecting investor focus on near-term profitability versus the underlying sales gains. 247WallSt: Margins Crack

AutoZone Company Profile

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.