Cambria Investment Management L.P. Sells 515 Shares of AutoZone, Inc. $AZO

Cambria Investment Management L.P. lessened its holdings in shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) by 64.8% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 280 shares of the company’s stock after selling 515 shares during the quarter. Cambria Investment Management L.P.’s holdings in AutoZone were worth $1,201,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in AutoZone by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,797,548 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,711,912,000 after purchasing an additional 26,544 shares during the period. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in AutoZone by 371,123.0% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 935,482 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,472,724,000 after purchasing an additional 935,230 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its position in AutoZone by 1.6% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 714,091 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,650,870,000 after buying an additional 11,088 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in AutoZone in the second quarter worth about $981,202,000. Finally, Northern Trust Corp raised its stake in shares of AutoZone by 1.2% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 189,789 shares of the company’s stock worth $814,240,000 after buying an additional 2,333 shares during the period. 92.74% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AutoZone Trading Down 0.6%

Shares of AZO opened at $3,342.73 on Friday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $3,659.45 and its 200 day moving average is $3,783.07. The company has a market capitalization of $55.39 billion, a PE ratio of 23.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.41. AutoZone, Inc. has a 12-month low of $3,210.72 and a 12-month high of $4,388.11.

AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 3rd. The company reported $27.63 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $27.59 by $0.04. AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 72.31% and a net margin of 12.47%.The company had revenue of $4.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.31 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $28.29 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 8.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that AutoZone, Inc. will post 152.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wolfe Research downgraded AutoZone from an “outperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Robert W. Baird cut shares of AutoZone from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $3,900.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Monday, February 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of AutoZone from $4,274.00 to $4,345.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Oppenheimer reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $4,300.00 price target (up from $4,150.00) on shares of AutoZone in a research report on Tuesday, March 10th. Finally, Guggenheim reduced their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $4,600.00 to $4,400.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have assigned a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $4,312.13.

Insider Activity at AutoZone

In related news, VP Richard Craig Smith sold 5,910 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,700.00, for a total transaction of $21,867,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 2,627 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,719,900. This represents a 69.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Michael A. George purchased 145 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction on Monday, December 22nd. The stock was bought at an average price of $3,398.13 per share, for a total transaction of $492,728.85. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 566 shares in the company, valued at $1,923,341.58. The trade was a 34.44% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 9,447 shares of company stock worth $34,179,923 over the last ninety days. 2.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

More AutoZone News

Here are the key news stories impacting AutoZone this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised its FY2027 earnings view to $174.79 and bumped FY2026 and several quarter estimates (including Q3 and Q4 2026 and Q3/Q4 2027), signaling upside to longer‑term profitability expectations. Zacks still carries a “Hold” rating, so these increases support valuation but aren’t a full bullish re-rating.
• Neutral Sentiment: Macro inflation risks could complicate AutoZone’s cost/revenue dynamics: a wider inflation pickup (e.g., higher oil/fertilizer pushing producer prices) would be a mixed factor — boosting parts demand/prices but squeezing margins if costs rise. Inflation Could Be Coming Back. 2 Stocks To Buy Now
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks cut a few near-term quarter forecasts: modest downgrades to Q1 2028, Q2 2027 and Q2 2028 EPS — these trims suggest some weakening in the nearer-term cadence of earnings that could pressure the stock until visibility improves.
• Negative Sentiment: TD Cowen / market commentary has lowered expectations for AutoZone’s stock price, adding external downward pressure and signaling that at least one broker sees downside to valuation or growth trajectory. TD Cowen Has Lowered Expectations for AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) Stock Price

AutoZone 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.