QV Investors Inc. Reduces Stock Position in AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO)

QV Investors Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) by 41.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,925 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,110 shares during the period. QV Investors Inc.’s holdings in AutoZone were worth $9,366,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in shares of AutoZone in the 3rd quarter worth $36,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of AutoZone by 50.0% during the 2nd quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 15 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 5 shares during the period. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AutoZone during the 3rd quarter valued at about $47,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of AutoZone in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $47,000. Finally, McIlrath & Eck LLC boosted its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 25.0% in the third quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 20 shares of the company’s stock worth $63,000 after buying an additional 4 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.74% of the company’s stock.

AutoZone Stock Up 0.3 %

AZO stock traded up $8.20 during trading on Monday, hitting $3,259.52. 42,335 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 108,555. The firm has a market capitalization of $54.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.78, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.71. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $3,212.55 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $3,125.20. AutoZone, Inc. has a 1 year low of $2,575.00 and a 1 year high of $3,416.71.

AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, December 10th. The company reported $32.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $33.69 by ($1.17). The company had revenue of $4.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.30 billion. AutoZone had a net margin of 14.18% and a negative return on equity of 53.89%. AutoZone’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $32.55 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that AutoZone, Inc. will post 154.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Roth Mkm reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $3,634.00 target price on shares of AutoZone in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of AutoZone from a “buy” rating to a “sell” rating and lowered their price target for the company from $3,205.00 to $2,917.00 in a report on Monday, October 14th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of AutoZone to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of AutoZone from $3,500.00 to $3,900.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price target on AutoZone from $3,340.00 to $3,500.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, sixteen have assigned a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, AutoZone currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $3,429.84.

About AutoZone

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.