Braun Stacey Associates Inc. Boosts Holdings in AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO)

Braun Stacey Associates Inc. grew its position in AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 7,129 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. Braun Stacey Associates Inc.’s holdings in AutoZone were worth $22,457,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Peak Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AutoZone in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $2,816,000. Verde Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of AutoZone during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,137,000. Swedbank AB increased its holdings in AutoZone by 5.6% in the 2nd quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 16,524 shares of the company’s stock valued at $48,979,000 after purchasing an additional 869 shares during the last quarter. BDF Gestion acquired a new stake in AutoZone in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $3,044,000. Finally, Mizuho Securities USA LLC increased its holdings in AutoZone by 592.0% in the 3rd quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 9,210 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,012,000 after purchasing an additional 7,879 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.74% of the company’s stock.

AutoZone Stock Performance

NYSE AZO opened at $3,107.53 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $52.52 billion, a PE ratio of 20.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.71. AutoZone, Inc. has a one year low of $2,510.00 and a one year high of $3,256.37. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $3,112.88 and its two-hundred day moving average is $3,025.11.

AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, September 24th. The company reported $48.11 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $53.31 by ($5.20). The business had revenue of $6.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.25 billion. AutoZone had a net margin of 14.40% and a negative return on equity of 52.99%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $46.46 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that AutoZone, Inc. will post 158.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at AutoZone

In other news, Chairman William C. Rhodes III sold 13,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,107.15, for a total transaction of $40,392,950.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 13,857 shares in the company, valued at $43,055,777.55. The trade was a 48.40 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, VP John Scott Murphy sold 1,580 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,107.69, for a total transaction of $4,910,150.20. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 1,218 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,785,166.42. This trade represents a 56.47 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 14,880 shares of company stock worth $46,225,660. 2.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently weighed in on AZO shares. Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $3,200.00 target price on shares of AutoZone in a report on Thursday, September 19th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of AutoZone to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. StockNews.com cut shares of AutoZone from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, September 21st. Roth Capital raised shares of AutoZone to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on shares of AutoZone from $3,340.00 to $3,500.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and four have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $3,202.71.

AutoZone Company Profile

AutoZone, Inc retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. The company provides various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products.