Sather Financial Group Inc Trims Stake in AutoZone, Inc. $AZO

Sather Financial Group Inc lessened its holdings in shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) by 30.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,097 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,645 shares during the quarter. AutoZone makes up 1.4% of Sather Financial Group Inc’s portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest holding. Sather Financial Group Inc’s holdings in AutoZone were worth $26,158,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. 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. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of AutoZone during the 2nd quarter valued at about $981,202,000. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt grew its stake in shares of AutoZone by 7,358.8% during the 2nd quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 243,231 shares of the company’s stock valued at $902,929,000 after acquiring an additional 239,970 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in shares of AutoZone by 277.3% during the 3rd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 102,567 shares of the company’s stock valued at $440,037,000 after acquiring an additional 75,382 shares during the period. Finally, Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Ltd raised its stake in AutoZone by 1,185.5% during the 2nd quarter. Evelyn Partners Investment Management Services Ltd now owns 64,685 shares of the company’s stock worth $240,126,000 after acquiring an additional 59,653 shares during the period. 92.74% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Philip B. Daniele sold 2,533 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $4,020.88, for a total transaction of $10,184,889.04. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 55 shares in the company, valued at approximately $221,148.40. This represents a 97.87% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Brian Hannasch acquired 147 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 18th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $3,393.09 per share, with a total value of $498,784.23. Following the purchase, the director owned 962 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,264,152.58. The trade was a 18.04% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders bought 347 shares of company stock worth $1,179,256 and sold 3,180 shares worth $12,465,312. 2.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

AZO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Gabelli reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of AutoZone in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $4,400.00 target price on shares of AutoZone in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. UBS Group decreased their price target on AutoZone from $4,800.00 to $4,325.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Erste Group Bank lowered AutoZone from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Wolfe Research downgraded AutoZone from an “outperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have given a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $4,330.84.

AutoZone News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting AutoZone this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Brokerage consensus remains constructive — analysts’ aggregate rating sits around “Moderate Buy,” and many firms still maintain buy/strong‑buy calls and above‑current price targets, providing support to demand. AutoZone Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy”
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage pieces (Zacks, Globe and Mail, Yahoo) are highlighting AutoZone as a trending name and outlining a changing investment story — useful context on valuation, margin pressure and growth assumptions but not a single immediate catalyst. AutoZone Trending Stock (Zacks) Analysts Offer Insights (Globe & Mail) Changing AutoZone Investment Story (Yahoo)
• Negative Sentiment: Mizuho downgraded AZO from Outperform to Neutral and cut its price target (now $3,550), citing valuation and nearer‑term earnings visibility — a direct sell‑side catalyst pressuring the stock. Mizuho Downgrade (MSN)
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling disclosed: Director Earl G. Graves Jr. sold 250 shares and Director George R. Mrkonic Jr. sold 97 shares in early January — modest absolute amounts but typically amplifies near‑term negative sentiment when combined with analyst downgrades. Earl G. Graves Jr SEC filing George R. Mrkonic Jr SEC filing
• Negative Sentiment: AutoZone’s most recent quarterly report showed an EPS miss versus consensus and slower comp/margin dynamics, which remains a fundamental overhang for near‑term earnings visibility and multiple expansion. Earnings & Company Data (MarketBeat)

AutoZone Trading Down 0.6%

AZO opened at $3,250.20 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $53.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.67, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.42. AutoZone, Inc. has a 12 month low of $3,162.00 and a 12 month high of $4,388.11. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $3,638.88 and a 200 day moving average of $3,862.80.

AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, December 9th. The company reported $31.04 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $32.69 by ($1.65). AutoZone had a net margin of 12.78% and a negative return on equity of 65.38%. The company had revenue of $4.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.64 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $32.52 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 8.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that AutoZone, Inc. will post 152.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AutoZone announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Wednesday, October 8th that allows the company to repurchase $0.00 in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to buy shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

AutoZone Company 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.