BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. Sells 33,055 Shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO)

BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. decreased its holdings in shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO) by 79.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,550 shares of the company’s stock after selling 33,055 shares during the quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. owned about 0.05% of AutoZone worth $26,933,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Peak Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in AutoZone during the 2nd quarter worth $2,816,000. Verde Capital Management bought a new stake in AutoZone in the third quarter valued at about $1,137,000. Mizuho Securities USA LLC lifted its stake in AutoZone by 592.0% in the third quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 9,210 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,012,000 after buying an additional 7,879 shares during the period. Swedbank AB boosted its holdings in AutoZone by 5.6% during the second quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 16,524 shares of the company’s stock worth $48,979,000 after buying an additional 869 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BDF Gestion acquired a new position in shares of AutoZone during the 2nd quarter worth about $3,044,000. 92.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at AutoZone

In related news, VP John Scott Murphy sold 1,580 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3,107.69, for a total value of $4,910,150.20. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 1,218 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,785,166.42. This trade represents a 56.47 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Chairman William C. Rhodes III sold 300 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,075.20, for a total value of $922,560.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 13,857 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,613,046.40. This trade represents a 2.12 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 14,880 shares of company stock valued at $46,225,660. 2.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on AZO shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of AutoZone from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, September 21st. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of AutoZone from $3,280.00 to $3,350.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $3,300.00 to $3,350.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. BNP Paribas upgraded AutoZone to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, Roth Mkm restated a “buy” rating and issued a $3,634.00 price target on shares of AutoZone in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and four have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, AutoZone currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $3,202.71.

AutoZone Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:AZO opened at $3,099.38 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $52.38 billion, a PE ratio of 20.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.71. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $3,111.05 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $3,029.01. AutoZone, Inc. has a one year low of $2,510.00 and a one year high of $3,256.37.

AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, September 24th. The company reported $48.11 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $53.31 by ($5.20). The company had revenue of $6.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.25 billion. AutoZone had a net margin of 14.40% and a negative return on equity of 52.99%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $46.46 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that AutoZone, Inc. will post 158.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AutoZone Company Profile

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.