NEW YORK, Feb 11, 2026, 1:51 PM EST — Market open
- AutoZone shares climbed roughly 2.3% in afternoon trading, beating the broader market’s performance.
- The company scheduled its fiscal second-quarter results and investor call for March 3.
- Traders are eyeing margins, pricing, and demand for clues before the report drops.
AutoZone shares climbed roughly 2.3% to $3,749.52 during Wednesday afternoon trading, bouncing between $3,648.06 and $3,749.52 earlier in the session.
The auto parts retailer announced Tuesday that it will release fiscal second-quarter results on March 3, ahead of the U.S. market open, followed by a conference call at 10 a.m. ET. The quarter wraps up on Saturday, Feb. 14, the company confirmed.
Timing is crucial as investors want a clear signal on repair-and-maintenance demand following a period where price hikes and cost inflation carried much of the retail sector. Auto parts tend to hold steady—drivers keep fixing their cars even when money’s tight—but the market reacts swiftly to any sign of margin squeeze.
Peers showed strength as well, with O’Reilly Automotive climbing roughly 0.8% and Advance Auto Parts surging close to 4%. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF, however, barely moved.
Traders are zeroing in on comparable-store sales before March 3 — that’s revenue from stores open at least a year — along with the split between do-it-yourself customers and repair shops using AutoZone’s commercial segment. Expect price and cost insights to impact the stock more than the top-line figures.
In its latest update from December, AutoZone reported net sales climbed 8.2% to $4.6 billion, but earnings per share dipped to $31.04 from $32.52 a year ago due to a drop in gross margin linked to a non-cash LIFO effect. LIFO, an inventory accounting method, can shift reported profits when costs fluctuate. CEO Phil Daniele said the company plans to “aggressively open stores” for the rest of the fiscal year. AutoZone also bought back 108,000 shares for $431.1 million, leaving $1.7 billion available under its repurchase authorization at quarter’s end. GlobeNewswire
AutoZone operates stores across the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil. It has boosted per-share results through new openings and share buybacks, all while maintaining strict control over working capital.
The setup works both ways. If prices drop quicker than costs do, or if demand weakens during the spring driving season, investors might face another quarter where rising sales fail to boost profits.
AutoZone will report before the bell on March 3, followed by a conference call at 10 a.m. ET. Investors will be watching closely for any updates from management on gross margin and how aggressively the company plans to continue buybacks as the fiscal second quarter wraps up this weekend.
