AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO) stock finished Tuesday’s session with a solid gain, then held near the close in after-hours trading as investors head into a holiday-shortened Wednesday that comes with a major market “mechanics” twist: U.S. equities close early on Christmas Eve.
Here’s what happened after the bell on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, what today’s most relevant headlines and analyst takes are emphasizing, and what to keep on your radar before the opening bell on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025.
AutoZone stock price after the bell: where AZO closed and what after-hours trading indicates
AutoZone shares rose 1.46% in Tuesday’s regular session, closing at $3,463.61. The move marked the stock’s second consecutive day of gains in a generally positive broader market session. [1]
In the after-hours session, AZO traded slightly lower, quoted around $3,457.00 (down about 0.19%) later Tuesday evening—an extremely modest pullback that suggests no major new company-specific catalyst hit immediately after the close. [2]
From a day-range perspective, AZO traded between roughly $3,419 and $3,486 on Tuesday, with an opening price near $3,436. [3]
The “today” headline: AZO outperformed peers in a rising tape
In market wrap coverage dated Tuesday, AutoZone’s gain stood out versus several close retail/auto-parts peers:
- O’Reilly Automotive finished slightly higher.
- Advance Auto Parts and CarParts.com finished lower on the day. [4]
Volume was also notable: trading activity (about 187,639 shares, per the market data write-up) came in above the 50-day average of roughly 148,310 shares—often read as a sign that the day’s move had more participation than a typical session. [5]
One more context point frequently cited in Tuesday’s coverage: despite the rebound, AutoZone remained about 21% below its 52-week high of $4,388.11, which was set on Sept. 11, 2025. [6]
What’s really driving sentiment right now: growth vs. margins after the latest results
Although Tuesday didn’t bring a fresh earnings release, the stock is still digesting the company’s most recent quarterly report from earlier this month—and the push-pull in that report continues to shape both price targets and investor expectations.
In AutoZone’s fiscal first quarter results (quarter ended Nov. 22, 2025, released Dec. 9, 2025), the company reported:
- Net sales of $4.6 billion, up 8.2% year over year
- Same-store sales:Domestic +4.8%, International +11.2% (and International +3.7% on a constant-currency basis)
- Gross margin of 51.0%, down 203 basis points, driven largely by a non-cash LIFO impact
- Operating profit down 6.8% to $784.2 million
- Net income of $530.8 million (vs. $564.9 million a year earlier)
- Diluted EPS of $31.04 (vs. $32.52 a year earlier) [7]
The capital return story remains central. AutoZone said it repurchased 108,000 shares during the quarter for $431.1 million (average price about $3,999), and ended the quarter with about $1.7 billion remaining under its current repurchase authorization. [8]
Management also emphasized store expansion: AutoZone opened 53 net new stores globally in the quarter, ending with a total store count of 7,710 across the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil. [9]
Why this matters for the stock now: the market is weighing strong top-line momentum and footprint growth against margin pressure (including accounting impacts like LIFO) and higher investment spending—exactly the mix that tends to produce “targets trimmed, ratings mostly intact” analyst reactions.
Analyst forecasts and price targets: still bullish overall, but trims are the theme
Consensus analyst positioning remains constructive—even after the post-earnings volatility earlier in December.
One widely cited snapshot puts the average 12-month price target around $4,317, implying meaningful upside from current levels, with a consensus rating in the “Moderate Buy” range based on dozens of analyst ratings. [10]
At the same time, several high-profile notes in recent days show analysts adjusting expectations:
- JPMorgan lowered its price target to $4,100 from $4,850, kept an Overweight rating, and removed AutoZone from an internal “focus list,” citing disappointment with sales and continued spending tied to accelerating store growth. [11]
- Wolfe Research recently shifted its stance to Peer Perform from Outperform, contributing to the narrative that AZO’s near-term risk/reward is being re-rated after the quarter. [12]
Taken together, the analyst picture heading into Wednesday is less about a sudden bearish turn and more about a reset of the “how fast and how profitably” growth is expected to come through, especially as investment spending rises.
A quick reality check: tomorrow is not a normal trading day
If you’re looking at AZO (or any U.S. stock) into Wednesday’s open, the single most important “know before you trade” factor is the calendar:
- Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025 (Christmas Eve): NYSE closes early at 1:00 p.m. ET. [13]
- The bond market is recommended to close early at 2:00 p.m. ET (SIFMA guidance). [14]
- Markets are closed Thursday, Dec. 25 for Christmas Day, and reopen Friday, Dec. 26 for a normal session. [15]
There was also unusual attention on this year’s Christmas Eve schedule because of the federal government closure directive—but major exchanges confirmed they would follow their planned trading calendar (including the early close on Dec. 24 and a full session on Dec. 26). [16]
What early close can mean specifically for AZO
Holiday sessions can bring:
- Thinner liquidity and wider bid/ask spreads
- More price sensitivity to relatively small orders
- More “index/ETF flow” influence than stock-specific news flow
So if AZO moves sharply Wednesday, it can sometimes reflect market structure and lower participation, not necessarily a new fundamental development.
Economic catalyst to watch before the open: jobless claims move to Wednesday
Even on a holiday-shortened week, the macro calendar still matters—especially because a key release shifts off its normal Thursday slot.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s weekly unemployment insurance claims release is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. ET (moved due to the holiday). [17]
Market calendars also list Initial Jobless Claims for that morning time window. [18]
Why this matters for AZO: while AutoZone is not a “macro-data stock” in the way high-multiple tech can be, broad market futures and rate expectations can still influence consumer/retail sentiment and risk appetite at the open—especially on a low-liquidity day.
Key levels and scenarios traders are watching into Wednesday
Without overcomplicating it, Tuesday set a clear near-term reference range:
- Near-term support zone: roughly the low $3,400s (Tuesday’s low was around $3,419) [19]
- Near-term resistance zone: the mid-to-upper $3,400s (Tuesday’s high was around $3,486) [20]
- Bigger picture context: AZO’s 52-week range has run from roughly $3,162 to $4,388 [21]
With after-hours action muted, Wednesday’s first hour of trading may be more about how the broader tape reacts to jobless claims and holiday positioning than about any new AutoZone-specific development.
Bottom line for AutoZone stock heading into the Dec. 24 open
AutoZone stock closed Tuesday higher and showed no meaningful after-hours disruption, keeping the spotlight on the same themes that have dominated the stock through December: strong sales growth and aggressive expansion plans on one side, and margin/investment pressure on the other. [22]
Before the market opens Wednesday, the most practical things to know are:
- It’s an early-close session (1 p.m. ET for NYSE)—expect different liquidity dynamics than a normal day. [23]
- Jobless claims hit at 8:30 a.m. ET, which can set the tone for the open even in a holiday week. [24]
- Street forecasts remain generally positive, but recent target cuts show analysts want clearer evidence that growth investments can scale without prolonged margin drag. [25]
This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice.
References
1. www.marketwatch.com, 2. www.wsj.com, 3. stockanalysis.com, 4. www.marketwatch.com, 5. www.marketwatch.com, 6. www.marketwatch.com, 7. markets.businessinsider.com, 8. markets.businessinsider.com, 9. markets.businessinsider.com, 10. www.marketbeat.com, 11. www.tipranks.com, 12. www.marketscreener.com, 13. www.nyse.com, 14. www.sifma.org, 15. www.nyse.com, 16. www.reuters.com, 17. oui.doleta.gov, 18. www.marketwatch.com, 19. stockanalysis.com, 20. stockanalysis.com, 21. stockanalysis.com, 22. www.marketwatch.com, 23. www.nyse.com, 24. oui.doleta.gov, 25. www.marketbeat.com
