Compare Stocks › AZO vs MS
AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) vs Morgan Stanley (MS)
AZO
AutoZone, Inc.
$3341.58
VS
MS
Morgan Stanley
$158.55
Rewards
AZO
- ★AutoZone, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
- ★AutoZone, Inc. scores 89/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Share count has been reduced by 13% over the past 4 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
MS
- ★Gross margin of 87.1% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $6.65 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
- ★PEG ratio of 0.75 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to its growth rate — paying less than 1x for each unit of earnings growth.
Risks
AZO
- ⚠Insiders have sold $34.2M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.
- ⚠Free cash flow has declined at a 11.0% CAGR over the past 4 years — a concerning trend.
MS
- ⚠High leverage (4.56x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
- ⚠Altman Z-Score of 0.29 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
- ⚠7 insider sales totaling $25.2M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →AZO
MS
Valuation
$1.79B
Free Cash Flow
N/A
3.24%
FCF Yield
N/A
23.42
Trailing P/E
15.53
19.13
Forward P/E
12.89
Quality & Moat
19.90%
ROIC
3.43%
N/A
ROE
14.42%
52.15%
Gross Margin
87.06%
N/A
PEG Ratio
0.75
Balance Sheet Safety
N/A
Debt / Equity
4.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
2.92
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
N/A
Dividend Yield
2.52%
AZO: 1Ties: 1MS: 3
AZOMS
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →AZO
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
MS
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
$1 Retained Earnings Test
Learn more →AZO
$1.22
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Value Creator
Σ Retained
$7.69B
Δ Market Cap
+$9.35B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
MS
$6.65
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$20.84B
Δ Market Cap
+$138.59B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
Learn more →AZO
33.7% Margin of Safety
Price is 33.7% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $3341.58
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $5036.42
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MS
45.5% Margin of Safety
Price is 45.5% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $158.55
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $290.92
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →AZO
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $3342?
+11.8%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +16.3%
The market implies +11.8% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.
Standard FCF implies a demanding +16.3%, reflecting heavy growth investment.
MS
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →AZO
89/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Revenue Predictability is the standout factor.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
MS
32/100
No Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
No durable moat detected, though revenue predictability shows some competitive positioning. The business lacks consistent evidence of sustainable advantages.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →AZO
-2.36
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
MS
-2.09
Possible Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Ownership Breakdown
Learn more →AZO
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 94.4%Retail & Other 5.4%
No. of Institutional Holders1,851
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
MS
Insiders 24.0%Institutions 62.7%Retail & Other 13.3%
No. of Institutional Holders3,181
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
Insider Buying Activity
Learn more →AZO
1
Buys (3M)
3
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $1.18M
GEORGE MICHAEL A
Director
$492,729
@ $3398.13 · 2025-12-22
HANNASCH BRIAN
Director
$498,784
@ $3393.09 · 2025-12-18
JACKSON JAMERE
Chief Financial Officer
$187,742
@ $3413.49 · 2025-12-10
BEDSOLE JENNA M
Officer
$99,256
@ $2757.11 · 2024-05-23
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
MS
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $5,630
PETERSON DOUGLAS L
Director
$5,630
@ $156.39 · 2025-10-17
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →AZO
4
Sells (3M)
14
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $214.37M
SMITH RICHARD CRAIG
Officer
$21.87M
@ $3700.00 · 2026-01-23
SMITH RICHARD CRAIG
Officer
$11.16M
@ $3500.00 · 2026-01-16
GRAVES EARL G JR
Director
$823,750
@ $3295.00 · 2026-01-02
MRKONIC GEORGE R JR
Director
$323,538
@ $3370.19 · 2026-01-02
BORNINKHOF MICHELLE K
Chief Technology Officer
$1.13M
@ $3775.00 · 2025-10-27
DANIELE PHILIP B. III
Chief Executive Officer
$10.18M
@ $4020.88 · 2025-10-17
MURPHY JOHN SCOTT
Officer
$11.94M
@ $4175.70 · 2025-09-24
SMITH RICHARD CRAIG
Officer
$11.63M
@ $3875.90 · 2025-07-24
BORNINKHOF MICHELLE K
Chief Technology Officer
$2.70M
@ $3597.13 · 2025-06-20
RHODES WILLIAM C III
Officer and Director
$102.00M
@ $3708.94 · 2025-06-10
JACKSON JAMERE
Chief Financial Officer
$9.74M
@ $3728.05 · 2025-05-30
HURTADO DOMINGO
Officer
$17.57M
@ $3660.00 · 2025-04-22
GOULD ERIC S
Officer
$5.70M
@ $3800.00 · 2025-03-31
DANIELE PHILIP B. III
Chief Executive Officer
$7.60M
@ $3800.01 · 2025-03-27
SMITH RICHARD CRAIG
Officer
$10.29M
@ $3610.00 · 2025-03-20
BORNINKHOF MICHELLE K
Chief Technology Officer
$481,575
@ $3567.22 · 2025-03-11
LERICHE DENNIS W
Officer
$5.67M
@ $3600.00 · 2025-03-07
CHILDRESS BAILEY L
Officer
$568,000
@ $3550.00 · 2025-03-05
MRKONIC GEORGE R JR
Director
$1.08M
@ $3202.29 · 2024-12-31
RHODES WILLIAM C III
Officer and Director
$40.39M
@ $3107.15 · 2024-10-10
RHODES WILLIAM C III
Officer and Director
$7.56M
@ $3105.97 · 2024-10-03
RHODES WILLIAM C III
Officer and Director
$34.28M
@ $3098.44 · 2024-10-02
MURPHY JOHN SCOTT
Officer
$4.91M
@ $3107.69 · 2024-09-25
RHODES WILLIAM C III
Officer and Director
$38.44M
@ $3189.75 · 2024-03-26
RHODES WILLIAM C III
Officer and Director
$21.37M
@ $3190.22 · 2024-03-26
GOULD ERIC S
Officer
$6.72M
@ $3200.00 · 2024-03-21
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
MS
7
Sells (3M)
16
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $62.45M
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$6.02M
@ $182.61 · 2026-01-30
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$3.97M
@ $184.00 · 2026-01-20
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.44M
@ $183.45 · 2026-01-20
YESHAYA SHARON
Chief Financial Officer
$2.94M
@ $185.77 · 2026-01-20
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$1.55M
@ $182.08 · 2026-01-20
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$3.69M
@ $184.55 · 2026-01-20
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$5.57M
@ $183.62 · 2026-01-20
PICK EDWARD N.
Chief Executive Officer
$16.43M
@ $164.34 · 2025-10-31
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.69M
@ $141.12 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.09M
@ $141.13 · 2025-07-17
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$2.81M
@ $140.30 · 2025-07-17
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.53M
@ $140.62 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$3.70M
@ $127.37 · 2025-05-12
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$95,459
@ $119.32 · 2025-05-02
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.80M
@ $120.00 · 2025-05-02
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.12M
@ $111.65 · 2025-04-15
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.15M
@ $138.06 · 2025-01-22
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.78M
@ $136.20 · 2025-01-21
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$5.00M
@ $136.61 · 2025-01-21
AKRAM RAJA
Chief Financial Officer
$2.38M
@ $136.01 · 2025-01-21
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.52M
@ $136.92 · 2025-01-21
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.20M
@ $136.43 · 2025-01-21
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$368,375
@ $105.25 · 2024-07-26
AKRAM RAJA
Officer
$797,764
@ $106.37 · 2024-07-18
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.26M
@ $106.54 · 2024-07-17
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$106,621
@ $106.62 · 2024-07-17
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$692,663
@ $99.61 · 2024-05-14
GORMAN JAMES P
Officer and Director
$9.02M
@ $90.21 · 2024-04-18
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$1.01M
@ $90.09 · 2024-04-17
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.
🎭 Mr. Market's Mood
Learn more →AZO
😨Fear(36/100)
"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
MS
😐Neutral(48/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
⚖️ Buffett Signal
Learn more →AZO
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (36)
MS
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (48)