AZO vs. LOW: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
UpdatedHere’s a clear look at AZO and LOW, comparing key factors like performance, valuation metrics, dividends, and financial strength. It’s built for investors or anyone curious to see how these two stocks match up.
Company Overview
LOW stands out with 126.16 billion USD in market value—about 1.95× AZO’s market cap of 64.78 billion USD.
LOW carries a higher beta at 0.99, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while AZO remains steadier at 0.44.
| Symbol | AZO | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | AutoZone, Inc. | Lowe's Companies, Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
| Industry | Specialty Retail | Home Improvement |
| CEO | Mr. Philip B. Daniele III | Mr. Marvin R. Ellison |
| Price | 3,872.6 USD | 225.4 USD |
| Market Cap | 64.78 billion USD | 126.16 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.44 | 0.99 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | April 2, 1991 | March 17, 1980 |
| ADR | No | No |
Performance Comparison
This chart compares the performance of AZO and LOW over the past year by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each (starting one year ago).
Hover over the lines to see the investment’s value and total return (%) at specific dates.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Valuation Metrics Comparison
The section examines key financial ratios to assess the valuation of AZO and LOW based on earnings, cash flow, sales, and book value. Pay attention to the following notable points where extreme values stand out.
- Book value is underwater for both AZO (-14.98) and LOW (-9.51), meaning liabilities exceed assets—signaling a critical solvency risk for both companies.
| Symbol | AZO | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 25.62 | 18.41 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 2.13 | 1.53 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 3.47 | 1.52 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | -14.98 | -9.51 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 32.17 | 18.89 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 18.37 | 11.02 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 4.12 | 1.58 |
| EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM) | 38.16 | 19.69 |
Dividend Comparison
AZO offers a 0% dividend yield, suggesting it may be reinvesting available cash back into the business for future growth, while LOW provides a 2.04% dividend yield, giving investors a steady income stream.
| Symbol | AZO | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 2.04% |
Financial Strength Metrics Comparison
This section dives into the financial resilience of AZO and LOW, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.
- AZO’s current ratio of 0.84 signals a possible liquidity squeeze, while LOW at 1.01 comfortably covers its short-term obligations.
- Both AZO (quick ratio 0.13) and LOW (quick ratio 0.19) fall below 0.8, meaning their most liquid assets—excluding inventory—aren’t enough to meet short-term obligations. This could force them to rely on receivables, inventory turn, or external financing.
- Both AZO (debt-to-equity ratio -2.77) and LOW (-0.63) exhibit negative shareholder equity—assets fall short of liabilities—signaling serious balance-sheet stress.
| Symbol | AZO | LOW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 0.84 | 1.01 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.13 | 0.19 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | -2.77 | -0.63 |
| Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM) | 0.68 | 0.19 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 7.90 | 9.38 |