AutoZone, Inc. $AZO Stock Holdings Lifted by Inspire Investing LLC

Inspire Investing LLC raised its position in shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) by 4.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 85 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4 shares during the period. Inspire Investing LLC’s holdings in AutoZone were worth $324,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in AZO. Brighton Jones LLC raised its holdings in AutoZone by 14.4% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 111 shares of the company’s stock valued at $356,000 after buying an additional 14 shares in the last quarter. Vident Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of AutoZone by 24.1% in the 4th quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 1,378 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,414,000 after acquiring an additional 268 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP acquired a new stake in AutoZone in the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,250,000. Williams Jones Wealth Management LLC. boosted its position in AutoZone by 3.1% during the fourth quarter. Williams Jones Wealth Management LLC. now owns 1,038 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,324,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the period. Finally, Waverly Advisors LLC grew its holdings in AutoZone by 25.6% during the fourth quarter. Waverly Advisors LLC now owns 392 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,254,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. 92.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at AutoZone

In other news, SVP K. Michelle Borninkhof sold 750 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,597.13, for a total value of $2,697,847.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 406 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,460,434.78. The trade was a 64.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Richard Craig Smith sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,875.90, for a total value of $11,627,700.00. Following the sale, the vice president owned 2,925 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,337,007.50. This trade represents a 50.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 2.10% of the company’s stock.

AutoZone Stock Performance

AZO opened at $4,224.39 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $70.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.59, a PEG ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.41. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $4,017.73 and its 200-day simple moving average is $3,789.63. AutoZone, Inc. has a twelve month low of $2,898.57 and a twelve month high of $4,388.11.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of AutoZone from $4,260.00 to $4,925.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 11th. DA Davidson raised their target price on AutoZone from $4,192.00 to $4,850.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $3,811.00 price target on AutoZone in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on AutoZone from $4,200.00 to $4,850.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of AutoZone from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the company from $3,900.00 to $4,800.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AutoZone has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $4,339.33.

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.