AZO
AutoZone Inc. Consumer Discretionary - Auto Parts Retail Investor Relations →
AutoZone Inc. (AZO) closed at $3282.90 as of 2026-03-20, trading 9.9% above its 200-week moving average of $2985.98. The stock is currently moving closer to the line, down from 19.6% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 44, indicating neutral momentum.
Trading volume is running at 1.3x of its 14-week average, which is in the normal range. The balance between buying and selling volume (0.98 ratio) is neutral — neither side is clearly dominating.
Over the past 1776 weeks of data, AZO has crossed below its 200-week moving average 15 times. On average, these episodes lasted 13 weeks. Historically, investors who bought AZO at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +30.5%.
With a market cap of $54.2 billion, AZO is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 2.1%. The stock trades at -18.6x book value.
The company has been aggressively buying back shares, reducing its share count by 12.9% over the past three years.
Over the past 33.2 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in AZO would have grown to $18693, compared to $2683 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 17.0% vs 10.4% for the index — confirming AZO as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been declining at a -11% compound annual rate. A deteriorating cash flow trend warrants extra scrutiny — the stock may be cheap for a reason.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
Growth of $100: AZO vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After AZO Crosses Below the Line?
Across 15 historical episodes, buying AZO when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +25.3% after 12 months (median +17.0%), compared to +17.2% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 67% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +62.7% vs +21.1% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment AZO crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
AZO has crossed below its 200-week MA 15 times with an average 1-year return of +30.5% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1996 | Jul 1997 | 37 | 22.5% | +21.2% | +12711.3% |
| Jan 1998 | Jan 1998 | 3 | 3.6% | +30.0% | +12526.5% |
| Aug 1998 | Nov 1998 | 12 | 18.4% | -11.1% | +12058.9% |
| Apr 1999 | Apr 1999 | 1 | 1.3% | -8.8% | +11418.9% |
| May 1999 | May 1999 | 1 | 0.3% | -6.0% | +11244.8% |
| Jun 1999 | Dec 1999 | 23 | 20.4% | -22.4% | +11469.7% |
| Jan 2000 | Dec 2000 | 49 | 23.9% | +1.1% | +11520.9% |
| Jan 2001 | Apr 2001 | 11 | 12.2% | +142.1% | +12172.5% |
| Oct 2005 | Oct 2005 | 2 | 4.1% | +43.1% | +4087.4% |
| Jul 2006 | Jul 2006 | 2 | 1.6% | +61.0% | +3788.8% |
| Oct 2008 | Oct 2008 | 3 | 7.6% | +46.4% | +3192.8% |
| Nov 2008 | Nov 2008 | 2 | 14.8% | +35.8% | +3004.1% |
| May 2017 | Nov 2017 | 27 | 23.1% | +2.9% | +433.3% |
| Feb 2018 | Jul 2018 | 20 | 12.5% | +40.2% | +395.3% |
| Mar 2020 | Apr 2020 | 3 | 11.0% | +81.9% | +350.9% |
| Average | 13 | — | +30.5% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AZO below its 200-week moving average?
No. AutoZone Inc. (AZO) is currently 9.9% above its 200-week moving average of $2985.98. It would need to fall to $2985.98 to cross below the line.
What is AZO's 200-week moving average price?
AutoZone Inc.'s 200-week moving average is $2985.98 as of 2026-03-20. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when AZO drops below its 200-week moving average?
AZO has crossed below its 200-week moving average 15 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +30.5%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 13 weeks on average.
Is AZO a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about AZO as of 2026-03-20: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 44. Free cash flow yield is 2.1%. Price-to-book is -18.6x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does AZO compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 33.2 years, $100 invested in AZO would have grown to $18693, compared to $2683 for the S&P 500. That's 17.0% annualized vs 10.4% for the index. AZO has outperformed the broader market over this period.
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of week of 2026-03-20