Autozone Inc Valuation – June 2016 $AZO

Benjamin Graham taught that Intelligent Investors must do a thorough fundamental analysis of investment opportunities to determine their intrinsic value and inherent risk.  This is best done by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another company or by reviewing the 10 Companies Benjamin Graham Would Invest In Today – March 2016.  By using the ModernGraham method one can review a company’s historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries.  What follows is a stock analysis showing a specific look at how Autozone Inc (AZO) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.

Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): AutoZone, Inc. is a retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. The Company’s operating segments include Auto Parts Locations and Other. The Auto Parts Locations segment comprises Domestic Auto Parts, Mexico, Brazil and Interamerican Motor Corporation (IMC). The Other segment reflects business activities of three businesses: ALLDATA, E-commerce and AutoAnything. As of August 29, 2015, the Company operated approximately 5,140 AutoZone stores in the United States, including Puerto Rico; over 440 stores in Mexico; approximately seven stores in Brazil, and over 20 IMC branches. The Company’s store carries a product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories and non-automotive products. As of August 29, 2015, in approximately 4,140 of its domestic AutoZone stores, the Company also provides a commercial sales program.

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Downloadable PDF version of this valuation:

ModernGraham Valuation of AZO – June 2016

Stage 1: Is this company suitable for the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor?

What kind of Intelligent Investor are you?

Defensive Investor; must pass 6 out of the following 7 tests.
1. Adequate Size of the Enterprise Market Cap > $2Bil $22,502,986,801 Pass
2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition Current Ratio > 2 0.91 Fail
3. Earnings Stability Positive EPS for 10 years prior Pass
4. Dividend Record Dividend Payments for 10 years prior Fail
5. Earnings Growth Increase of 33% in EPS in past 10 years using 3 year averages at beginning and end 256.80% Pass
6. Moderate PEmg Ratio PEmg < 20 21.74 Fail
7. Moderate Price to Assets PB Ratio < 2.5 OR PB*PEmg < 50 -12.31 Fail
Score
Enterprising Investor; must pass 4 out of the following 5 tests, or be suitable for the Defensive Investor.
1. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition Current Ratio > 1.5 0.91 Fail
2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition Debt to NCA < 1.1 -11.74 Fail
3. Earnings Stability Positive EPS for 5 years prior Pass
4. Dividend Record Currently Pays Dividend Fail
5. Earnings Growth EPSmg greater than 5 years ago Pass

Stage 2: Determination of Intrinsic Value

AZO value chart June 2016

EPSmg $34.70
MG Growth Estimate 13.52%
MG Value $1,233.34
Opinion Undervalued
MG Grade D+
MG Value based on 3% Growth $503.09
MG Value based on 0% Growth $294.92
Market Implied Growth Rate 6.62%
Current Price $754.15
% of Intrinsic Value 61.15%

AutoZone, Inc. does not satisfy the requirements of either the Enterprising Investor or the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the low current ratio, poor dividend history, and the high PEmg and PB ratios. The Enterprising Investor has concerns regarding the level of debt relative to the current assets, and the lack of dividends. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach should explore other opportunities at this time or proceed cautiously with a speculative attitude.

As for a valuation, the company appears to be Undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $18.25 in 2012 to an estimated $34.70 for 2016. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 6.62% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham’s formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.

AutoZone, Inc. scores quite poorly in the ModernGraham grading system, with an overall grade of D+.

Stage 3: Information for Further Research

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AZO charts June 2016

Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) -$200.69
Graham Number $0.00
PEmg 21.74
Current Ratio 0.91
PB Ratio -12.31
Current Dividend $0.00
Dividend Yield 0.00%
Number of Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth 0

Useful Links:

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Most Recent Balance Sheet Figures

Balance Sheet Information 5/1/2016
Total Current Assets $4,225,486,000
Total Current Liabilities $4,647,589,000
Long-term Debt $4,953,697,000
Total Assets $8,464,105,000
Intangible Assets $0
Total Liabilities $10,327,387,000
Shares Outstanding (Diluted Average) 30,405,000

Earnings Per Share History

Next Fiscal Year Estimate $40.51
2015-08 $36.03
2014-08 $31.57
2013-08 $27.79
2012-08 $23.48
2011-08 $19.47
2010-08 $14.97
2009-08 $11.73
2008-08 $10.04
2007-08 $8.53
2006-08 $7.50
2005-08 $7.18
2004-08 $6.56
2003-08 $5.34
2002-08 $4.00
2001-08 $1.54
2000-08 $2.00
1999-08 $1.63
1998-08 $1.48
1997-08 $1.28
1996-08 $1.11

Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham History

Next Fiscal Year Estimate $34.70
2015-08 $30.42
2014-08 $26.22
2013-08 $22.20
2012-08 $18.25
2011-08 $14.74
2010-08 $11.76
2009-08 $9.77
2008-08 $8.52
2007-08 $7.51
2006-08 $6.71
2005-08 $5.85
2004-08 $4.75
2003-08 $3.53
2002-08 $2.46
2001-08 $1.66
2000-08 $1.64

Recommended Reading:

Other ModernGraham posts about the company

AutoZone Inc. Annual Valuation – 2015 $AZO

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The Best Companies of the Auto Industry – October 2015
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Disclaimer:

The author did not hold a position in any company mentioned in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours.  See my current holdings here.  This article is not investment advice; any reader should speak to a registered investment adviser prior to making any investment decisions.  ModernGraham is not affiliated with the company in any manner.  Please be sure to review our detailed disclaimer.

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