AutoZone stock reports a 5.60 percent sales rise in Q4

Published on 09/28/2026 at 15:05 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

AutoZone stock delivered USD 56.05 in fiscal Q4 EPS against USD 54.30 expected on September 22, 2026. Goldman Sachs cut its target to USD 3,917.00.

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AutoZone stock (ISIN US0533321024) closed at USD 2,872.16 on the NYSE on September 25, 2026, up USD 10.41 or 0.36 percent from the prior close. The company then delivered a mixed fiscal fourth-quarter report, with earnings above consensus but sales below expectations.

EPS beat offsets sales miss

According to GlobeNewswire on September 22, 2026, AutoZone reported fiscal fourth-quarter net sales of USD 6.6 billion for the 16-week period ended August 29, 2026, an increase of 5.60 percent from the prior-year quarter. Diluted GAAP EPS reached USD 56.05, compared with USD 48.71 a year earlier.

Investing.com reported on September 22, 2026, that adjusted EPS of USD 56.05 exceeded the USD 54.30 consensus by USD 1.76, while revenue of USD 6.6 billion missed the USD 6.71 billion estimate. The contrast puts sales execution ahead of margin expansion on the investor agenda.

Margins gain support from refunds

AutoZone's gross margin rose to 53.30 percent in fiscal Q4 2026, an increase of 182 basis points from the prior year, while operating profit increased 10.10 percent to USD 1.3 billion, according to GlobeNewswire. The release attributed part of the margin benefit to tariff refunds and a non-cash LIFO impact, making the quality of the improvement an important counter-factor.

For fiscal year 2026 ended August 29, 2026, net sales reached USD 20.3 billion, up 7.40 percent, while diluted EPS increased 5.30 percent to USD 152.55 from USD 144.87. AutoZone also ended the year with 8,031 stores after opening 374 locations, providing a measurable expansion channel alongside the softer domestic comparable-sales trend.

Analysts lower targets after results

According to MarketBeat on September 24, 2026, Goldman Sachs lowered its AutoZone price target from USD 4,096.00 to USD 3,917.00 while maintaining a Buy rating. The report also cited a broader Moderate Buy consensus and an average target of USD 3,717.12.

Stock stays above yearly low

AutoZone stock closed at USD 2,872.16 on September 25, 2026, with a 52-week range of USD 2,764.88 to USD 4,332.68 and a market capitalization of USD 46.5 billion. The closing price stood 3.88 percent above the 52-week low, while volume reached 434,942 shares.