Skip to main content
AZOAutoZone, Inc.Sell5.7·$3074.04-1.36%
AZO · Why this verdict

Why AutoZone (AZO) is rated SELL

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Show full disclosure ▾

About TrendMatrix. TrendMatrix is a publisher of general securities research and market commentary. We publish on a regular schedule. All content is the same for every subscriber in a tier — we do not provide personalized investment advice and we do not take into account any individual subscriber's financial situation, investment objectives, risk tolerance, tax situation, or holdings.

Not investment advice. TrendMatrix is not a registered investment adviser. Our content is for informational and educational purposes only. Consult your own licensed investment adviser, broker, or tax professional before making any investment decision.

Conflicts and positions. The TrendMatrix editorial team frequently holds personal long-term positions in securities discussed. We disclose positions held at the time of publication on each piece. We maintain a trading-window policy: we do not initiate or close positions in the same direction as a TrendMatrix publication within 24 hours before or 72 hours after publication.

No paid promotion. TrendMatrix does not accept payment from any issuer, broker, or third party in exchange for coverage of any security. Our sole compensation is subscription revenue.

No fiduciary duty. No fiduciary, advisory, or agency relationship is created between you and TrendMatrix by reading our content or subscribing to our service.

Performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Performance figures reflect the published model only and do not reflect any individual subscriber's actual results.

Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictSELL
Overall score5.7/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroRISK_OFF

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

6.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
P/E6.1
P/S8.6
EV/EBITDA3.0
Fwd P/E7.1
PEG5.4
Analyst target7.5
  • Forward P/E: 17.8x
  • PEG: 1.41

Quality

6.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROA7.6
Gross margin6.4
Op margin7.6
Net margin6.2
Current ratio3.6
Moat6.4
Piotroski F7.8
  • Strong Piotroski F-Score: 7/9

Growth

4.0/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth4.6
EPS growth3.5

Momentum

4.7/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI3.5
MACD0.0
OBV10.0
MA position1.0
Volume9.1
  • Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
  • Below 200-MA, MA slope -2.2%/30d — confirmed downtrend

Sentiment

8.3/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
LLM sentiment7.5
Analyst rating9.0
Price target8.4
  • LLM news sentiment: +0.50 (n=1)
  • Analyst upside: 28%

Insider

5.0/10data confidence 50%
ComponentSub-score
materiality5.0
holder change5.1
  • Negligible insider buying — $318,919 (0.001% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

5.3/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank3.4
quality rank7.5
growth rank5.2

Technical

6.1/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger7.0
support resistance7.4
52w position4.0

Risk (lower is worse)

5.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest8.7
days to cover9.5
volatility3.2
put call0.3
implied vol3.3
max pain risk3.0
beta10.0
  • Elevated put/call: 1.96
  • Above max pain $2260

Catalyst

4.1/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history3.3
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg2.2
news activity5.0
  • Earnings concerns: 2B/2M

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Multiple concerning factors. Consider reducing position.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L4:PATH_F_SELL
Passed (8)
  • MOMENTUM:4.7>=4.5
  • ASYMMETRY:2.1>=1.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • 8K:CLEAN
  • NEWS_BOOST:ANALYST:0.50
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:106d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
  • DEATH_CROSS:HARD_BLOCK
Warning (1)
  • MOMENTUM:4.7<5.5 (soft — BUY_NOW allowed but watch)
Reward-to-Risk
2.06
Upside
+15.3%
Downside
7.4%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupFALLING_KNIFE Death cross, below all MAs, RSI 33, MACD bearish

EdgeNO_EDGE No clear edge identified

SuitabilityMODERATE Balanced profile

Investment implication

The F-path SELL output reflects an overall score of 4.2 below the 5.6 soft trigger — multiple weakening dimensions accumulated rather than a single hard-floor breach. The strongest dimension ( Sentiment at 8.3) was not enough to lift the adjusted overall above the threshold. Co-occurring failed gates ( DEATH_CROSS:HARD_BLOCK) reinforce the read. Current asymmetry R:R is 2.06 — supplementary context, not the trigger for this path.

The strongest dimensions are Sentiment at 8.3, Quality at 6.5, and Value at 6.4; the weakest are Growth at 4.0, Catalyst at 4.1, and Momentum at 4.7. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of 2.06 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

Engine reasoning is mechanically derived from pipeline gate outputs. See decision view.

Home Stocks AZO Why this verdict