CleaRank Financial AI • AI-powered analysis using real-time market data from TwelveData
Analysis reviewed by Kate Leaman, Financial Journalist and Market Analyst. Data refreshed daily. Not financial advice.
AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) is trading at $2,911.62, below its 50-day SMA of $2,939.09 and 200-day SMA of $3,275.16, indicating near-term technical weakness. Wall Street analysts collectively rate the stock a Buy, with a median price target of $3,648, implying a 25.3% upside potential from current levels. The forward-looking growth estimates and the strong analyst conviction suggest that the market is focused on future performance rather than current balance sheet conditions. The significant insider selling, with $205.8M in total sales versus $1.7M in total purchases, presents a notable risk, indicating a lack of insider confidence.
AZO at a glance
AutoZone, Inc. (AZO): Buy, 76/100 on CleaRank's AI score.
TrendDown: the price is below both its 50- and 200-day moving averages ($2,939.09 and $3,275.16).
InsidersInsiders sold $205.8M and bought $1.7M over the last 18 months.
ValuationP/E of 19.0 against 20.8 for the Consumer Cyclical sector: broadly in line with peers (-9%).
As of October 15, 2026, AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) trades at $2,911.62. Wall Street's consensus target is $3,648.00 across 27 analysts. The 14-day RSI (daily closes) is 52, in neutral territory, and the price is below its 50-day simple moving average of $2,939.09.
Figures as of October 15, 2026.
Only on CleaRank
Figures we compute ourselves from AZO's own price, earnings and insider-filing history. Tap one to see it in context.
Valuation is broadly in line with sector peers (-9% difference), suggesting fair market pricing relative to industry standards.
AZO Financial Performance
Revenue vs. Earnings
Annual
Quarterly
Earnings Reality Check
In the last 2 quarters, AZO beat the analyst estimate 2 times; the stock fell in the first session after 1 of those beats.
AZO earnings surprises and the stock's reaction
Report
EPS estimate
EPS actual
Surprise
First session
5 sessions
Sep 22, 2026
$53.89
$56.05
+4.01%
-1.78%
-0.65%
Mar 3, 2026
$27.41
$27.63
+0.80%
+2.19%
+2.44%
The first session is the first full trading day on the news: the report day itself for a report before the open, the next day for one after the close. Surprise is actual EPS against the consensus estimate.
As of October 15, 2026, AZO has beaten the analyst EPS estimate in 2 of its last 2 reported quarters and fell in the first trading session after 1 of those beats; its latest report, on September 22, 2026, came in 4.01% above the estimate and the stock moved -1.78% in the first session.
AZO Analysis
Company's Health3/5
12-Month Analyst Target+25.29% above price
Median of 27 analysts (12-month)
$3,648.00
AI Analyst Consensus ScoreBuy
AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) is currently trading below its 50-day SMA ($2,939.09) and 200-day SMA ($3,275.16), suggesting a bearish near-term trend. The 20-day EMA at $2,885.79 is acting as support, with the price currently trading above it. The 14-day RSI is at 51.9, indicating neutral momentum, while the MACD is negative at -7.20, signaling bearish pressure. Key resistance levels are observed at the 50-day SMA ($2,939.09) and the 200-day SMA ($3,275.16). The current price of $2,911.62 is closer to the 20-day EMA, suggesting some immediate buying interest. Volume on the latest trading day was 159,700, which is below the average of 194,750, indicating subdued trading activity. The overall chart structure points to a stock consolidating below key moving averages, with potential for a short-term bounce from the 20-day EMA, but facing significant overhead resistance.
ProTips
Given the stock is trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages ($2,939.09 and $3,275.16), consider waiting for a technical breakout above these levels before initiating new long positions.
Key Catalysts
BullishStrong Analyst Conviction and Upside Potential
A median analyst price target of $3,648 implies a 25.3% upside from the current price, supported by a consensus Buy rating from 27 analysts.
Source: Wall Street Summary
BullishProjected Revenue and EPS Growth
Analysts forecast approximately 7.00% revenue growth for the current and next year, with next year's EPS estimated at $190.89, indicating strong forward momentum.
Source: Wall Street Summary
BearishNegative Shareholder Equity
AutoZone's shareholder equity is negative, meaning liabilities exceed assets, which represents a significant balance sheet risk.
Source: Company Fundamentals
Market Outlook
The primary upside catalysts include sustained revenue growth and positive forward EPS estimates. However, the significant balance sheet risk indicated by negative shareholder equity and the heavy insider selling represent considerable downside risks that could challenge the stock's trajectory. Investors should monitor the company's ability to manage its liabilities and the implications of insider sentiment.
Key Statistics
Market Cap
47.09B
P/E Ratio
18.97
EPS (TTM)
152.55
Dividend Yield
0.00%
52 Week High
4,047.41
52 Week Low
2,730.65
As of October 15, 2026, AZO trades at $2,911.62, with a market value of $47.09B and a P/E ratio of 18.97.
AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) exhibits a P/E ratio of 18.97, which is slightly below the sector average of 20.8, suggesting a potential valuation discount relative to peers. The company reports a strong profit margin of 12.65% and an operating margin of 19.97%. However, its return on equity is a concerning -73.17%, and shareholder equity is negative, indicating that liabilities exceed assets. This balance sheet weakness is a significant risk, despite the company's profitability. The projected revenue growth of 7.00% for the current and next year, coupled with an expected 12.6% EPS growth next year, suggests a positive outlook for top-line and bottom-line expansion.
Earnings & Growth Analysis
AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) most recently reported earnings on September 22, 2026, with an EPS of $56.05, beating the estimate of $53.89 by 4.01%. This beat was accompanied by a 1.78% decrease in stock price. Prior to that, on March 3, 2026, the company reported an EPS of $27.63, slightly exceeding the estimate of $27.41 by 0.8%, and the stock saw a 2.19% increase. The company has demonstrated a pattern of beating analyst EPS estimates in its recent reported quarters.
Key Risks
AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) faces significant risks stemming from its negative shareholder equity, indicating a precarious balance sheet where liabilities outweigh assets. The stock is currently trading below its key 50-day and 200-day moving averages, suggesting potential for further downside pressure if these technical levels are not reclaimed soon.
Technical Indicators i
RSI (14-day)
51.90
MACD (12, 26)
-7.20
SMA (50-day)
2,939.09
SMA (200-day)
3,275.16
Technical RatingBearish
RSI
Neutral
SMA Cross
Bearish
Price vs SMA
Bearish
MACD
Bearish
Moving averages show a lagging Death Cross (50-day: $2,939.09, 200-day: $3,275.16), price is trading below the 50-day SMA.
As of October 15, 2026, with AZO at $2,911.62, its 14-day RSI is 51.9 (neutral territory), its 50-day simple moving average is $2,939.09 and its 200-day is $3,275.16.
Calculated by CleaRank on daily closes as of October 15, 2026: Wilder's 14-day RSI, 50- and 200-day simple moving averages, MACD line (12, 26).
Market Correlations
How this stock moves relative to other assets
Based on 1 year of daily price data. Correlations may vary over different time periods.
S&P 500 (SPY)+0.13
Weak correlation
Nasdaq 100 (QQQ)+0.03
Weak correlation
Bitcoin (BTC)-0.08
Weak correlation
Gold (XAU)+0.10
Weak correlation
As of October 15, 2026, AZO's 1-year correlation of daily returns is +0.13 with S&P 500 (SPY), +0.03 with Nasdaq 100 (QQQ), -0.08 with Bitcoin (BTC) and +0.10 with gold (XAU).
Check Custom Correlation
How does any other asset move with AZO? One year of daily closes, Pearson correlation.
The price, $2,911.62, sits below every analyst's target.
Ratings
Buy 23Hold 4Sell 03 months ago: 23 of 27 buy
Recent rating actions
Recent analyst rating actions on AZO
Date
Firm
Action
Rating
Sep 29, 2026
Bernstein
Initiates
Outperform
Sep 28, 2026
JP Morgan
Maintains
Overweight
Sep 23, 2026
Roth Capital
Maintains
Buy
Sep 23, 2026
Truist Securities
Maintains
Buy
Sep 23, 2026
TD Cowen
Maintains
Buy
Sep 23, 2026
DA Davidson
Maintains
Buy
As of October 15, 2026, 27 Wall Street analysts cover AZO: 23 rate it a buy or strong buy, 4 a hold and 0 a sell or strong sell. Their 12-month price targets range from $3,000.00 to $4,800.00, with a median of $3,648.00, 25.3% above the price of $2,911.62.
Source: TwelveData analyst consensus. Targets and ratings belong to the analysts, not to CleaRank.
AZO Trade Plans
Specific entry, exit, and risk management levels
Select Your Trade Bias
Risk Tolerance
Conservative2%Aggressive
Portfolio Value
$
Position Size: Enter portfolio size →
Long entry pick an entry style
Conservative
$2,853.39
2% below current price (Pullback entry)
Lower risk, wait for pullback
Aggressive
$2,911.62
Buy at current price
Higher risk, immediate entry
Risk Management
STOP LOSS
$2,767.79
MAX LOSS
-3.0%
Volatility-Adjusted Stop Loss
Calculated based on RSI (51.9) and current market volatility
These levels come from AZO's moving averages and recent volatility, not from a forecast. Educational levels, not financial advice; the full disclaimer is at the foot of the page.
Growth of $10,000
A $10,000 investment in AZO in October 2016 would be worth about $38,567 today, compared with about $36,237 for the same investment in the S&P 500 benchmark.
Compare with Another Ticker
AZO Drawdowns & Recovery
Worst fall, last 10 years
-37.7%
December 2016 to July 2017
Recovery
16 months
back at the old peak by November 2018
From the 10-year high
-33.1%
highest close, September 2025
1-year holds that gained
83%
of every 1-year window
As of October 15, 2026, AZO's worst peak-to-trough fall over the last 10 years was -37.7% (December 2016 to July 2017); it regained that peak by November 2018, 16 months after the low, and 83% of 1-year holding periods ended with a gain.
From weekly closing values. A drawdown is the fall from the highest value reached so far to a later low.
Monte Carlo Projection (10yr)
CleaRank's 10-year Monte Carlo simulation projects that a $10,000 investment in AZO today could grow to about $23,885 by 2036 in the base case, with a 90th-percentile outcome near $71,794 and a 10th-percentile outcome around $7,946. Projections are statistical simulations, not guarantees.
AZO Stock Price Prediction: 2030
CleaRank's simulation projects a price near $4,125 for AZO by 2030 in the base case, from $2,912 today (1.4x over 4 years). The 10th-percentile path ends near $2,056. These are outcomes of a Monte Carlo simulation run on AZO's historical return distribution, not price targets, and they assume no dividends are reinvested.
AZO simulated price paths by year
Year
10th percentile
Base case
90th percentile
2027
$2,243
$3,176
$4,499
2028
$2,118
$3,465
$5,669
2029
$2,069
$3,781
$6,908
2030
$2,056
$4,125
$8,273
2031
$2,066
$4,500
$9,799
Method: a lognormal simulation of AZO's own volatility and capped historical trend, re-run daily; base case is the median path, the outer columns the 10th and 90th percentiles.
As of October 15, 2026, AZO insiders reported 14 open-market sales worth $205.8M and 4 open-market purchases worth $1.7M over the last 18 months; grants and option exercises are not counted.
Recent insider transactions in AZO
Date
Insider
Type
Shares
Value
Sep 25, 2026
DANIELE PHILIP B. III
Chief Executive Officer
Option
250
$146.8K
Aug 28, 2026
JAYCOX KENNETH E
Officer
Grant
1.7K
$5.0M
Aug 7, 2026
LERICHE DENNIS W
Officer
Sell
1.5K
$4.5M
Aug 7, 2026
LERICHE DENNIS W
Officer
Option
1.5K
$1.5M
Jul 13, 2026
MCCULLOUGH MARY DENISE
Officer
Grant
1
-
May 29, 2026
HANNASCH BRIAN
Director
Buy
165
$492.9K
Apr 10, 2026
GRAVES EARL G JR
Director
Sell
50
$173.9K
Mar 31, 2026
BEDSOLE JENNA M
Officer
Grant
5
$13.5K
Mar 31, 2026
BORNINKHOF MICHELLE K
Chief Technology Officer
Grant
4
$10.1K
Mar 31, 2026
DANIELE PHILIP B. III
Chief Executive Officer
Grant
12
$33.8K
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is AutoZone stock a buy right now?
AutoZone (AZO) is currently rated a Buy by Wall Street analysts, with a median price target of $3,648 suggesting 25.3% upside. However, the stock is trading below its key moving averages and exhibits significant insider selling, presenting notable risks.
What is AutoZone's long-term outlook?
AutoZone's long-term outlook is supported by projected revenue growth of approximately 7.00% and EPS growth of 12.6% for next year. Analysts anticipate continued growth, with a 5-year average annual growth rate estimate of 11.01%.
What are the main risks for AutoZone shareholders?
The primary risks for AutoZone shareholders include a negative shareholder equity, indicating balance sheet weakness, and heavy insider selling totaling $205.8 million. Additionally, the stock's current technical positioning below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages ($2,939.09 and $3,275.16) suggests potential near-term headwinds.
How does AutoZone's valuation compare to its sector peers?
AutoZone's P/E ratio of 18.97 is below the sector average of 20.8, suggesting a potential valuation discount. However, its price-to-sales ratio of 2.30 is higher than the sector median of 1.9, indicating a premium relative to sales.
What was AutoZone's most recent earnings performance?
AutoZone most recently reported earnings on September 22, 2026, with an EPS of $56.05, beating estimates by 4.01%, though the stock price declined 1.78% on the news.
Are AutoZone insiders buying or selling stock?
AutoZone insiders are heavily net sellers, with $1.7M in total purchases versus $205.8M in total sales across recent filings, indicating significant selling pressure.
Is AZO in an uptrend?
No. AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) trades at $2,911.62, below both its 50- and 200-day moving averages ($2,939.09 and $3,275.16). Its 14-day RSI on daily closes is 51.9, in neutral territory.
What is the analyst price target for AZO?
As of October 15, 2026, the 27 Wall Street analysts covering AZO have 12-month targets from $3,000.00 to $4,800.00, with a median of $3,648.00, 25.3% above the current price of $2,911.62. 23 rate it a buy or strong buy, 4 a hold and 0 a sell or strong sell. Three months ago 23 of 27 rated it a buy.
What is AZO's biggest drop in the last 10 years?
AutoZone, Inc. (AZO)'s worst peak-to-trough fall over the last 10 years was -37.7%, from December 2016 to July 2017. It regained that peak by November 2018, 16 months after the low. Over the same period, 83% of 1-year holding periods ended with a gain.
What are AZO's best and worst months?
Over the last 10 years, April has been AZO's strongest month on average (+4.28%, rising in 6 of 10 years) and May its weakest (-5.63%, rising in 3 of 10 years). Seasonal averages describe the past and do not predict a given year.
