SG Americas Securities LLC Has $51.11 Million Stock Position in AutoZone, Inc. $AZO

SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its stake in shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) by 1,226.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,069 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 13,933 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC’s holdings in AutoZone were worth $51,107,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. grew its holdings in AutoZone by 6.6% during the third quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. now owns 4,966 shares of the company’s stock worth $21,315,000 after purchasing an additional 306 shares during the period. Braun Stacey Associates Inc. raised its stake in AutoZone by 7.8% in the third quarter. Braun Stacey Associates Inc. now owns 8,425 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,145,000 after buying an additional 613 shares during the period. Summit Global Investments lifted its position in shares of AutoZone by 132.8% in the third quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 319 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,369,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Numerai GP LLC lifted its position in shares of AutoZone by 1,199.3% in the third quarter. Numerai GP LLC now owns 1,754 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,525,000 after buying an additional 1,619 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of AutoZone during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $678,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.74% of the company’s stock.

AutoZone Price Performance

AZO opened at $3,346.50 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $3,650.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $3,758.71. AutoZone, Inc. has a 1 year low of $3,210.72 and a 1 year high of $4,388.11. The company has a market capitalization of $55.15 billion, a PE ratio of 23.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 0.41.

AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 3rd. The company reported $27.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $27.59 by $0.04. AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 72.31% and a net margin of 12.47%.The firm had revenue of $4.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.31 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $28.29 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 8.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that AutoZone, Inc. will post 152.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently weighed in on AZO. TD Cowen decreased their target price on AutoZone from $4,400.00 to $4,250.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 16th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of AutoZone in a report on Monday, December 29th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $4,000.00 to $4,020.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $4,200.00 to $4,300.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. Finally, Mizuho raised their target price on shares of AutoZone from $3,550.00 to $3,600.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have given a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, AutoZone has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $4,312.13.

Insider Activity at AutoZone

In other AutoZone news, Director George R. Mrkonic, Jr. sold 97 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,341.99, for a total value of $324,173.03. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 3,564 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,910,852.36. The trade was a 2.65% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Earl G. Graves, Jr. sold 250 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,295.00, for a total transaction of $823,750.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 4,887 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,102,665. The trade was a 4.87% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 9,447 shares of company stock worth $34,179,923. Corporate insiders own 2.60% of the company’s stock.

About AutoZone

AutoZone, Inc (NYSE: AZO) is a retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, the company supplies a wide range of aftermarket components, maintenance items and accessories for passenger cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles. Its product assortment includes engine parts, electrical components, batteries, brakes, filters, fluids and interior and exterior accessories, supported by inventory management and logistics systems to serve retail customers and professional service providers.

AutoZone serves both do?it?yourself (DIY) consumers and commercial customers such as independent repair shops and service centers.