AZO vs. GPC: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on August 24, 2025

Here’s a clear look at AZO and GPC, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Symbol	AZO	GPC
Company Name	AutoZone, Inc.	Genuine Parts Company
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry	Specialty Retail	Distributors
Market Capitalization	69.56 billion USD	19.05 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	April 2, 1991	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of AZO and GPC by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

AZO vs. GPC: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	AZO	GPC
5-Day Price Return	4.15%	-0.57%
13-Week Price Return	7.17%	6.12%
26-Week Price Return	19.84%	9.87%
52-Week Price Return	31.08%	-1.22%
Month-to-Date Return	10.34%	6.29%
Year-to-Date Return	29.86%	17.33%
10-Day Avg. Volume	0.10M	0.91M
3-Month Avg. Volume	0.13M	1.22M
3-Month Volatility	22.44%	23.84%
Beta	0.38	0.78

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

AZO

249.27%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max: 61.19%
Q3: 37.24%
Median: 18.81%
Q1: 8.92%
Min: -13.03%

AZO’s Return on Equity of 249.27% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Specialty Retail industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

GPC

17.79%

Distributors Industry

Max: 18.85%
Q3: 17.85%
Median: 13.11%
Q1: 11.23%
Min: 11.19%

GPC’s Return on Equity of 17.79% is on par with the norm for the Distributors industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

AZO vs. GPC: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Specialty Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

AZO

13.56%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max: 21.28%
Q3: 10.68%
Median: 6.08%
Q1: 2.43%
Min: -4.54%

A Net Profit Margin of 13.56% places AZO in the upper quartile for the Specialty Retail industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

GPC

3.40%

Distributors Industry

Max: 5.04%
Q3: 4.92%
Median: 4.56%
Q1: 4.55%
Min: 4.54%

GPC’s Net Profit Margin of 3.40% is below the typical range for the Distributors industry. This suggests the company may be facing challenges with cost control or operating in a highly competitive environment that limits its pricing power.

AZO vs. GPC: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Specialty Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

AZO

19.63%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max: 33.35%
Q3: 15.84%
Median: 9.34%
Q1: 3.83%
Min: -8.97%

An Operating Profit Margin of 19.63% places AZO in the upper quartile for the Specialty Retail industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

GPC

4.95%

Distributors Industry

Max: 11.14%
Q3: 7.80%
Median: 5.53%
Q1: 3.65%
Min: 3.17%

GPC’s Operating Profit Margin of 4.95% is around the midpoint for the Distributors industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

AZO vs. GPC: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Specialty Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	AZO	GPC
Return on Equity (TTM)	249.27%	17.79%
Return on Assets (TTM)	14.37%	4.06%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	13.56%	3.40%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	19.63%	4.95%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	52.95%	36.88%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

AZO

0.84

Specialty Retail Industry

Max: 2.83
Q3: 1.89
Median: 1.39
Q1: 1.11
Min: 0.64

AZO’s Current Ratio of 0.84 falls into the lower quartile for the Specialty Retail industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

GPC

1.14

Distributors Industry

Max: 1.81
Q3: 1.72
Median: 1.48
Q1: 1.24
Min: 1.15

GPC’s Current Ratio of 1.14 is notably low, falling beneath the typical range for the Distributors industry. This suggests a heightened liquidity risk and could indicate potential challenges in meeting its short-term obligations.

AZO vs. GPC: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Specialty Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

AZO

37.81

Specialty Retail Industry

Max: 3.02
Q3: 1.57
Median: 0.64
Q1: 0.20
Min: 0.00

With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 37.81, AZO operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Specialty Retail industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.

GPC

1.02

Distributors Industry

Max: 1.09
Q3: 0.98
Median: 0.75
Q1: 0.52
Min: 0.46

GPC’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Distributors industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.02. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.

AZO vs. GPC: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Specialty Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

AZO

8.39

Specialty Retail Industry

Max: 48.12
Q3: 35.95
Median: 14.13
Q1: 3.61
Min: -36.00

AZO’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 8.39 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Specialty Retail industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

GPC

13.15

Distributors Industry

Max: 13.15
Q3: 10.84
Median: 5.59
Q1: 4.01
Min: 3.80

GPC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 13.15 is in the upper quartile for the Distributors industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.

AZO vs. GPC: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Specialty Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	AZO	GPC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.84	1.14
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.12	0.49
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	37.81	1.02
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	8.39	13.15

Growth

Revenue Growth

AZO vs. GPC: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

AZO vs. GPC: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AZO

0.00%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max: 6.53%
Q3: 2.69%
Median: 1.08%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AZO currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.

GPC

2.93%

Distributors Industry

Max: 44.83%
Q3: 35.02%
Median: 4.81%
Q1: 3.26%
Min: 1.54%

GPC’s Dividend Yield of 2.93% is in the lower quartile for the Distributors industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

AZO vs. GPC: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Specialty Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AZO

0.00%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max: 165.81%
Q3: 80.94%
Median: 31.61%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AZO has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.

GPC

69.26%

Distributors Industry

Max: 1,122.47%
Q3: 858.23%
Median: 55.08%
Q1: 44.32%
Min: 34.92%

GPC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 69.26% is within the typical range for the Distributors industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

AZO vs. GPC: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Specialty Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	AZO	GPC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	2.93%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	69.26%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

AZO

27.06

Specialty Retail Industry

Max: 48.56
Q3: 29.15
Median: 22.00
Q1: 15.46
Min: 7.95

AZO’s P/E Ratio of 27.06 is within the middle range for the Specialty Retail industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

GPC

23.67

Distributors Industry

Max: 28.99
Q3: 25.04
Median: 23.42
Q1: 13.71
Min: 6.24

GPC’s P/E Ratio of 23.67 is within the middle range for the Distributors industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

AZO vs. GPC: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Specialty Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

AZO

3.67

Specialty Retail Industry

Max: 5.08
Q3: 2.69
Median: 1.23
Q1: 0.48
Min: 0.09

AZO’s P/S Ratio of 3.67 is in the upper echelon for the Specialty Retail industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

GPC

0.81

Distributors Industry

Max: 1.14
Q3: 1.14
Median: 0.96
Q1: 0.61
Min: 0.28

GPC’s P/S Ratio of 0.81 aligns with the market consensus for the Distributors industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

AZO vs. GPC: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Specialty Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

AZO

94.97

Specialty Retail Industry

Max: 16.93
Q3: 7.98
Median: 3.69
Q1: 1.79
Min: 0.21

At 94.97, AZO’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Specialty Retail industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

GPC

3.58

Distributors Industry

Max: 3.72
Q3: 3.57
Median: 3.12
Q1: 2.41
Min: 1.47

GPC’s P/B Ratio of 3.58 is in the upper tier for the Distributors industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

AZO vs. GPC: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Specialty Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	AZO	GPC
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	27.06	23.67
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	3.67	0.81
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	94.97	3.58
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	34.64	43.61