AutoZone (AZO): analysis in plain words
Is AutoZone cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
AutoZone (AZO) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in retail. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against AutoZone according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
AutoZone (AZO) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $3,325.56 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 21.8x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +5.6% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 12.7% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 3.0x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $53.5 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The AutoZone figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any AZO figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How AutoZone makes money
AutoZone sells replacement parts, batteries, oil and accessories at its stores in the United States, Mexico and Brazil. Its core customer is the driver who works on their own car, though its commercial business supplying repair shops is growing. It also sells online and offers ALLDATA, diagnostic and repair software for mechanics.
Over the last 12 months, AutoZone brought in revenue of $20.3 billion. For every 100 it sells, AutoZone keeps 51.7 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 18.0 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 79,200 full-time employees, that is about $257,000 of revenue per employee.
AutoZone against its sector
To know whether a AutoZone figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares AutoZone with the median of the 18 retail companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | AutoZone | retail median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 21.8x | 26.2x (18) |
| Revenue growth | +5.6% | +7.1% (18) |
| Net margin | 12.7% | 7.2% (18) |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.78% (18) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 3.0x | 1.5x (18) |
In short, against the typical retail company, AutoZone trades on a lower P/E, grows more slowly and earns a wider margin. By size, AutoZone ranks number 13 of 17 retail companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for AutoZone
What works in favour of AutoZone, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Analysts expect AutoZone earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 17.3x, below the current 21.8x.
The main risk for AutoZone
The AutoZone figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: price competition, which keeps margins thin, and a slowdown in consumer spending.
Frequently asked questions about AutoZone
Is it a good time to buy AutoZone stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell AutoZone, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, AutoZone stock trades at $3,325.56, 17% below its 52-week high ($3,996.25) and 22% above its low ($2,730.65). Its P/E is 21.8x against a retail median of 26.2x, and 17.3x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With AutoZone, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does AutoZone pay a dividend?
No. As of November 4, 2026, AutoZone does not pay a dividend: what it earns stays in the company to grow, invest or, where it does so, buy back shares. Anyone buying AutoZone today is counting on the share price rising, not on income.
Is AutoZone stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, AutoZone trades at 21.8x its last 12 months of earnings: cheaper than the retail median (26.2x). Including its debt, AutoZone is valued at 15.0x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make AutoZone expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are AutoZone's competitors?
On Fintols we compare AutoZone with Target, O'Reilly Automotive and MercadoLibre, which are also in retail. As of November 4, 2026, Target is worth $74.1 billion and trades on a P/E of 16.9; O'Reilly Automotive is worth $74.3 billion and trades on a P/E of 28.3; MercadoLibre is worth $88.2 billion and trades on a P/E of 47.3. Each has a side-by-side comparison with AutoZone below.
AutoZone competitors
- Target (TGT) analysis · AutoZone vs Target comparison
- O'Reilly Automotive (ORLY) analysis · AutoZone vs O'Reilly Automotive comparison
- MercadoLibre (MELI) analysis · AutoZone vs MercadoLibre comparison
To understand AutoZone better
- Economic Moats Explained: From Warren Buffett to AI
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like AutoZone: retail stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full AZO analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about AutoZone, not investment advice.