Zacks cuts AutoZone forecast: average target for AutoZone stock is USD 3,669.12

AutoZone (ISIN US0533321024) faces a more cautious near-term earnings estimate after Zacks Research cut its Q2 2027 earnings-per-share forecast from USD 32.61 to USD 31.45 on October 6, 2026, according to MarketBeat. The same report put the average analyst target at USD 3,669.12, while AutoZone stock was trading at EUR 2,550.00 at Lang & Schwarz on October 8, 2026, down 0.66 percent versus the prior close of EUR 2,567.00. The combination gives investors two separate signals: estimates have softened for a future quarter, but the broader analyst target remains above the latest NYSE price in its original currency.

Three events shape the stock

On September 10, 2026, AutoZone celebrated the opening of its 8,000th store globally, according to the company's AutoZone release. On September 22, 2026, fiscal fourth-quarter net sales reached USD 6.59 billion and diluted earnings per share reached USD 56.05, according to Earnings Whispers. On October 6, 2026, Zacks Research reduced its Q2 2027 earnings-per-share forecast to USD 31.45 from USD 32.61, as reported by MarketBeat.

What the forecast change means

The estimate reduction is modest in absolute terms but important because it follows a quarter in which AutoZone exceeded the earnings consensus. Fiscal fourth-quarter earnings per share of USD 56.05 topped the USD 54.54 consensus estimate, while revenue of USD 6.59 billion trailed the USD 6.71 billion forecast, according to Earnings Whispers. The split between profit and revenue matters: margin execution supported earnings, while sales growth remains the more demanding part of the next-quarter setup.

For fiscal 2026, net sales rose 7.40 percent to USD 20.34 billion and diluted earnings per share increased 5.30 percent to USD 152.55. The company ended the fiscal year with 8,031 stores, including 6,863 in the United States, 1,001 in Mexico and 167 in Brazil, according to the same results release.

Investor dates and market context

AutoZone's fiscal fourth-quarter results were released on September 22, 2026, and the related conference-call replay remains available through October 20, 2026, according to Earnings Whispers. The next dated investor item is therefore the October 20, 2026 replay deadline. On the NYSE, AutoZone was last at USD 2,910.54 on October 8, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET, with the market status shown as after-hours; its market capitalization was USD 47.5 billion on October 8, 2026.

AutoZone stock after hours

AutoZone stock was trading at EUR 2,550.00 at Lang & Schwarz on October 8, 2026 at 10:36 p.m. CEST in after-hours trading, down 0.66 percent versus the Lang & Schwarz prior close of EUR 2,567.00 on October 7, 2026. The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of AutoZone stock.

Market context: Market report S&P 500.

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