AutoZone, Inc. (AZO)
AutoZone is a leading retailer of aftermarket automotive parts and accessories across the Americas.
Consumer Discretionary stock comparison
AZO vs ORLY: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare AutoZone, Inc. with O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Consumer
- Industry
- Same SIC
- Shared themes
- 1
- Updated
- 2026-02-27
AZO vs ORLY: quick comparison
| Company fact | AZO | ORLY |
|---|---|---|
| Company | AutoZone, Inc. | O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| SEC industry | Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores | Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores |
| Fiscal year-end | August 29 | December 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2025-10-27 | 10-K · 2026-02-27 |
AZO vs ORLY: audited financials
AZO reported about 1.1× the revenue of ORLY in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, ORLY converted a larger share of revenue into net income (14.3% versus 13.2%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | AZO | ORLY |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $18.9B | $17.8B |
| Net income | $2.5B | $2.5B |
| Operating cash flow | $3.1B | $2.8B |
| Diluted EPS | $144.87 | $2.97 |
| Net margin | 13.2% | 14.3% |
AZO: FY ending 2025-08-30 · ORLY: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
AZO and ORLY share the SEC industry classification “Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores,” giving the comparison a primary-source operating relationship. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.
O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (ORLY)
O'Reilly Automotive sells replacement auto parts, tools, and accessories to retail customers and professional mechanics.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. AZO is classified by the SEC as Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores, while ORLY is classified as Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.
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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.
Read the full researchWhich thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study AZO when…
- Real wage growth and consumer confidence
- Interest rates on autos and big-ticket credit
- Inventory cycles and promotional intensity
- The trade-down between premium and value
Study ORLY when…
- Real wage growth and consumer confidence
- Interest rates on autos and big-ticket credit
- Inventory cycles and promotional intensity
- The trade-down between premium and value
Shared research themes
Economic trends
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.AZO's fiscal year ends August 29, while ORLY's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 10matched transaction rows for AZOand 16 for ORLY. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
AZO primary filings
ORLY primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
AZO vs ORLY FAQs
Are AZO and ORLY direct competitors?
AutoZone, Inc. and O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. share the SEC industry classification “Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.
Which is better, AZO or ORLY?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this AZO vs ORLY comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers AutoZone, Inc. and O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.
AZO vs ORLY shows how the businesses differ. Membership is the monthly sourced view of who could benefit, what could break, and what evidence matters next. $15/month or $150/year.
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