AZO vs. WSM: AutoZone vs. Williams-Sonoma Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though AZO is classified under Automotive Retail while WSM falls under Homefurnishing Retail.

Company profile comparison for AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Profile Item	AZO	WSM
Name	AutoZone, Inc.	Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Specialty Retail	Specialty Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Automotive Retail	Homefurnishing Retail
Market Capitalization	51.77 billion USD	29.92 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	April 2, 1991	July 7, 1983
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AZO

WSM

GSPC

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	AZO	WSM
Total Return (1Y)	-12.81%	34.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	6.56%	54.88%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	11.68%	22.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AZO

WSM

GSPC

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) has an aggressive beta of 1.48, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while AutoZone (AZO) is defensive at 0.37 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	AZO	WSM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	30.55%	34.01%
Beta (5Y)	0.37	1.48
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-35.88%	-51.92%
Avg. Volume (3M)	268.95K	1.10M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AZO and WSM are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	AZO	WSM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.56	0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.74	1.45

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Williams-Sonoma (WSM) earns 54.96% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; AutoZone (AZO) has no ROE this period.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

Max: 62.17%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%
AZO: --

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

54.96%

Max: 62.17%
WSM: 54.96%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): AZO does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; WSM is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both AutoZone (AZO) at 12.65% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 14.73% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

12.65%

Max: 16.94%
AZO: 12.65%
Q3: 8.69%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

14.73%

Max: 16.94%
WSM: 14.73%
Q3: 8.69%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both AutoZone (AZO) at 18.03% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 17.27% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

18.03%

Max: 21.45%
AZO: 18.03%
Q3: 10.89%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

17.27%

Max: 21.45%
WSM: 17.27%
Q3: 10.89%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	AZO	WSM
ROE (TTM)	--	54.96%
ROA (TTM)	10.97%	16.64%
Net Margin (TTM)	12.65%	14.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)	18.03%	17.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)	51.71%	45.69%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both AutoZone (AZO) at 7.39% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 1.24% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Williams-Sonoma (WSM) reports EPS growth of 0.57%, ranked against its industry; AutoZone (AZO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	AZO	WSM
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.39%	1.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.22%	-3.45%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	0.57%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	2.70%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 1.45 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while AutoZone (AZO) at 0.90 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AZO.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.90

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
AZO: 0.90
Min: 0.48

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.45

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
WSM: 1.45
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.48

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Williams-Sonoma (WSM) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71 against its industry range, while AutoZone (AZO) reports no figure this period.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.01
AZO: --

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.71

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
WSM: 0.71
Min: 0.01

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): AZO does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; WSM is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	AZO	WSM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.90	1.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	--	0.71
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.00	0.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AutoZone (AZO) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Williams-Sonoma (WSM) reports a yield of 1.10%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max: 5.84%
Q3: 2.50%
AZO: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.10%

Max: 5.84%
Q3: 2.50%
WSM: 1.10%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AutoZone (AZO) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Williams-Sonoma (WSM) reports a payout of 29.13%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max: 72.73%
Q3: 32.44%
AZO: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

29.13%

Max: 72.73%
Q3: 32.44%
WSM: 29.13%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	AZO	WSM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	1.10%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	29.13%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AutoZone (AZO) at 21.08 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 26.06 sits in the richer quartile — WSM needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

21.08

Max: 40.50
Q3: 24.26
AZO: 21.08
Median: 19.23
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

26.06

Max: 40.50
WSM: 26.06
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both AutoZone (AZO) at 2.55 and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 3.74 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.55

Max: 4.32
AZO: 2.55
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.74

Max: 4.32
WSM: 3.74
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AutoZone (AZO) reports a negative P/B ratio of -20.79, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Williams-Sonoma (WSM) reports 13.98, ranking against industry peers normally.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

-20.79

Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45
AZO: -20.79

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.98

WSM: 13.98
Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	AZO	WSM
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.08	26.06
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.55	3.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	-20.79	13.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.31%	3.57%