What is AZO's Intrinsic value?

Autozone Inc (AZO) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of April 4, 2026, Autozone Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $1819.14 to $4924.04 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $4924.04 +44.8%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $4191.95 +23.3%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $2822.44 -17.0%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $2801.40 -17.6%
Earnings Power Value $1819.14 -46.5%

Is Autozone Inc (AZO) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $3400.54, the stock appears to be fairly valued.

Understanding Intrinsic Value

Intrinsic value represents the "true" worth of a company based on its fundamentals rather than market sentiment. We've employed multiple methodologies to triangulate Autozone Inc's intrinsic value, including:

  1. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF): Values the company based on projected future cash flows
  2. Dividend Discount Model (DDM): Values the company based on expected future dividend payments
  3. Earnings Power Value (EPV): Values the company based on its current earnings power, assuming no growth

Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)

The cost of capital is a critical factor in valuation models, representing the required return for investors.

WACC Component Low High
Long-term bond rate 3.9% 4.4%
Equity market risk premium 4.6% 5.6%
Adjusted beta 0.52 0.54
Cost of equity 6.2% 7.9%
Cost of debt 4.0% 4.8%
Tax rate 20.3% 20.6%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.16 0.16
After-tax WACC 5.8% 7.3%

Valuation Methods

1. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Valuation

Our DCF model projects cash flows over 5-year and 10-year horizons, with the following key assumptions:

  • Forecast Period: 5-year DCF and 10-year DCF
  • Terminal Growth Rate: 0.0% (range: 3.0% - 5.0%)
  • Discount Rate: 6.6% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $18,939 (FY08-2025) to $33,916 (FY08-2035)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 13% to 13%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 5% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $4,192 $77,587M 81.7%
10-Year Growth $4,924 $89,681M 67.4%
5-Year EBITDA $2,988 $57,702M 75.4%
10-Year EBITDA $3,789 $70,928M 58.8%

2. Dividend Discount Model (DDM)

The DDM values a company based on its expected future dividend payments. We used two approaches:

Multi-Stage DDM:

  • Current payout ratio: 0.0%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 7.1%
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0%
  • Fair value: $2822.44 (-17.0% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 7.9% (Low) to 6.2% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 1.0% (Low) to 3.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $1,499 to $4,104
  • Selected fair value: $2801.40 (-17.6% from current price)

3. Earnings Power Value (EPV)

EPV assesses a company's value based on its current normalized earnings power, assuming no growth.

EPV Component Value
Normalized Earnings $2,491M
Discount Rate (WACC) 7.3% - 5.8%
Enterprise Value $33,965M - $42,811M
Net Debt $8,335M
Equity Value $25,629M - $34,475M
Outstanding Shares 17M
Fair Value $1,551 - $2,087
Selected Fair Value $1819.14

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $56177M
Enterprise Value $64512M
Trailing P/E 22.98
Forward P/E 20.79
Trailing EV/EBITDA 9.95
Current Dividend Yield 0.00%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 0.00%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.16

Investment Decision Framework

To determine the most reliable intrinsic value estimate, we weigh each valuation method based on:

  1. Forecast Certainty: DCF methods rely on long-term projections, while earnings power value focuses on current normalized earnings
  2. Business Model Alignment: Dividend models are more appropriate for mature companies with established dividend policies
  3. Historical Accuracy: How well each method has predicted fair value historically

Valuation Weight Matrix

Valuation Method Weight Weighted Value
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) 30% $1477.21
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $1047.99
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $564.49
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $420.21
Earnings Power Value 10% $181.91
Weighted Average 100% $3691.81

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Autozone Inc's intrinsic value is $3691.81, which is approximately 8.6% above the current market price of $3400.54.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (13% to 13% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.16)

Given these factors, we believe Autozone Inc is currently fairly valued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.