AutoZone, Inc. $AZO Stock Acquired by Farther Finance Advisors LLC

Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) by 15,374.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 55,552 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 55,193 shares during the period. AutoZone accounts for about 1.1% of Farther Finance Advisors LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Farther Finance Advisors LLC’s holdings in AutoZone were worth $157,213,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in shares of AutoZone in the second quarter worth $3,938,566,000. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. lifted its position in shares of AutoZone by 247,417.8% in the second quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 249,993 shares of the company’s stock valued at $798,963,000 after acquiring an additional 249,892 shares in the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of AutoZone during the second quarter valued at $572,885,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its stake in shares of AutoZone by 11,577.6% during the second quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 141,066 shares of the company’s stock valued at $450,838,000 after acquiring an additional 139,858 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LP purchased a new stake in AutoZone during the 2nd quarter worth about $38,604,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.74% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting AutoZone

Here are the key news stories impacting AutoZone this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Bernstein upgraded AutoZone to “Strong Buy.” The firm’s average price target is approximately $3,669, implying meaningful potential upside from recent trading levels and providing the clearest positive catalyst for the shares. Bernstein upgrades AutoZone stock to Strong Buy
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks Research introduced a fiscal 2029 EPS forecast of $220.60. Zacks also raised its Q3 2028 estimate to $46.56, suggesting analysts still expect long-term earnings growth despite weaker near- and medium-term projections.
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks reduced earnings estimates across several periods. Forecasts were cut for Q1 2027 to $34.65 from $37.78, Q2 2027 to $31.45 from $32.61, Q3 2027 to $41.91 from $42.64, and Q4 2027 to $58.15 from $61.70. The FY2027 estimate fell to $166.16 from $174.73.
• Negative Sentiment: Longer-term fiscal 2028 estimates were also lowered. Zacks reduced Q1 2028 EPS to $41.39 from $43.62, Q2 2028 to $39.11 from $40.45, Q4 2028 to $63.01 from $67.59, and FY2028 to $190.08 from $197.32. These revisions point to more cautious expectations for AutoZone’s earnings trajectory.
• Neutral Sentiment: The latest Zacks commentary keeps the focus on upcoming earnings. The current full-year consensus EPS estimate remains $172.12, while investors may weigh the bullish valuation outlook against the downward revisions to future quarterly results. Zacks Research Comments on AutoZone’s Q2 Earnings

AutoZone Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:AZO traded up $64.35 during trading on Thursday, reaching $2,910.62. 172,435 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 264,784. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $2,949.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $3,149.16. The firm has a market cap of $47.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 0.40. AutoZone, Inc. has a 12-month low of $2,730.65 and a 12-month high of $4,146.42.

AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, September 22nd. The company reported $56.05 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.54 by $55.51. The firm had revenue of $6.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.70 billion. AutoZone had a net margin of 12.65% and a negative return on equity of 90.08%. AutoZone’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $48.71 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that AutoZone, Inc. will post 172.12 EPS for the current year.

AutoZone announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Tuesday, June 16th that allows the company to buyback $1.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to repurchase up to 3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Transactions at AutoZone

In other news, VP Dennis LeRiche sold 1,455 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,100.00, for a total value of $4,510,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 441 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,367,100. This represents a 76.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 2.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AZO has been the subject of several analyst reports. DA Davidson cut their target price on shares of AutoZone from $3,750.00 to $3,500.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 23rd. Piper Sandler set a $3,500.00 price target on shares of AutoZone in a research note on Monday, August 31st. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of AutoZone from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $4,000.00 to $3,500.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Finally, Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $3,200.00 to $3,000.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, September 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $3,669.12.

AutoZone Company Profile

AutoZone, Inc is a specialty retailer of automotive replacement parts, accessories and maintenance products. The company serves do-it-yourself customers as well as professional automotive repair shops, offering products such as batteries, brakes, filters, engine components, tools, fluids and other vehicle parts.

In addition to its retail stores, AutoZone provides commercial sales and delivery services for professional repair businesses. The company also operates ALLDATA, which offers automotive diagnostic, repair and shop-management software and information services to repair professionals.

Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, AutoZone operates primarily in the United States, with additional stores and operations in Mexico and Brazil.