AutoZone, Inc. (AZO)

In the past six months, AutoZone's stock price has fluctuated, reaching all-time highs of $4388 in September 2025 before falling by 28% by early January 2026. The Q1 2026 earnings report in December 2025 missed revenue and EPS estimates due to a spike in the cost of sales, including a non-cash $98 million LIFO charge. Despite an 8.2% overall revenue growth, the stock saw a nearly 7% drop following the Q1 earnings release. Over the last 12 months, the stock's price has increased by 8.25%, with a year-to-date return of 3.46% as of January 12, 2026.

Demand for AutoZone's products and services is generally inelastic, but there is some seasonality. Mild weather can lead to fewer battery failures, postponing battery replacements, which are a key revenue driver.

AutoZone, Inc. is the largest American retailer and distributor of aftermarket automotive parts and accessories, operating in the Consumer Discretionary sector. The company caters to both DIY retail customers and DIFM professional mechanics, offering a wide range of automotive parts, accessories, and software like ALLDATA.

AutoZone has a significant geographic presence, with 7,140 stores across the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and the US Virgin Islands as of August 30, 2025. As of May 10, 2025, there are 7,516 stores, including 6,537 in the U.S., 838 in Mexico, and 141 in Brazil. The company also maintains offices in Shanghai, China, to support its sourcing efforts in Asia and plans to open 350 to 360 stores globally in fiscal year 2026.

AutoZone has maintained a positive brand reputation in the past year, receiving recognition in various Forbes lists for 2025 and 2026, including "America's Best Companies," "Most Trusted Companies in America," and "Best Customer Service." In June 2025, AutoZone honored 18 top suppliers at its annual Vendor Summit, with Clarios receiving the "2025 Vendor of the Year" award.

AutoZone's ownership is primarily composed of institutional investors, who collectively own approximately 83% of the company's shares. Major institutional owners include Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock, Inc., State Street Corp, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Fidelity Investments (FMR), T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., Geode Capital Management, Llc, Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank Of Canada, Boston Partners Global Investors, Inc., PineStone Asset Management Inc., and Norges Bank Investment Management. Insiders own about 0.25% of the stock, while public companies and individual investors hold the remaining shares.