Margins Strong but Valuation Tight
Slightly undervaluedDCF
Equity analysis

Autozone Inc (AZO) Margins Strong but Valuation Tight

May 2, 2026Equity Analysis

Can AutoZone keep turning sales into returns at this rate?

Trailing P/E
24.19
Price
3594.08
ROE
249.27
Gross Margin
51.88

How Does This Auto Parts Retailer Operate?

AutoZone is a retailer focused on automotive replacement parts and related products. It serves customers who need parts for vehicle maintenance and repair, selling through a large store footprint and supporting channels. The business is built around product availability and repeat purchase behavior tied to ongoing vehicle upkeep. Its scale is reflected in a market value of about USD 59.2 billion.

Are Margins and Returns Still Expanding?

Fundamentals

For the year ended August 30, 2025 (reported in USD), revenue reached USD 18.9 billion, with EBIT of USD 3.6 billion and net income of USD 2.5 billion. That operating result sits alongside TTM margins of 51.88% gross and 18.08% operating, translating into a 12.47% net profit margin.

Cash generation, using the provided proxy that adjusts EBIT for tax, adds depreciation and amortization, and subtracts capital expenditure, was about USD 2.26 billion, with depreciation and amortization at USD 613.2 million against capex of USD 1.33 billion. Revenue grew 2.4% year over year, while the TTM ROE of 249.27% stands out as an unusually high equity return measure in the context of these profit levels. Total debt was USD 8.8 billion.

Is the Stock Fairly Priced Now?

DCF / Multiples

At USD 3,594.08, the shares trade within the DCF range, which runs from USD 2,241.13 in a weaker scenario to USD 4,007.67 centrally and USD 6,402.15 in a stronger outcome. The pricing also lines up with headline multiples of 24.19x trailing earnings and 16.17x EV/EBITDA.

High Returns Require Stability

Takeaway

Operations are producing high margins and very high equity returns. The valuation sits near the middle of the cash-flow range. This works if margins and cash generation stay consistent. It breaks if returns fade or reinvestment costs rise faster than profit.

Disclaimer
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
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INDEX
VDIX
ValueDetect Intrinsic eXpectations Index
Overvalued market
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VDIX measures whether the market is expensive or cheap relative to intrinsic value. For each company, ValueDetect estimates fair value using a discounted cash flow (DCF) model, then compares it with the current share price to derive a RiskRatio. These signals are capped, weighted by market capitalization, and aggregated into a single market-wide score.

Current score-0.82Negative = market trades above fair value
1-day move-0.13Rising score = improving valuation conditions
7-day average-0.68Smoothed market valuation signal
Latest observation03 June 2026The latest weighted reading suggests that the market is trading above DCF-based intrinsic value in aggregate.
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