Stocks Decline Ahead of Fed Meeting, 2026 Interest Rates Take Center Stage

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

AZO-0.41%

AVAV-1.87%

AVGO-2.06%

Source: Barron's

Updated: Dec 09 2025

0mins

Source: Barron's

Market Reaction: Stocks fell on Monday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve's anticipated interest rate cut.
Upcoming Decision: The Federal Open Market Committee is set to meet, with a quarter-point cut expected to be announced on Wednesday at 2 p.m.

AZO

$3683.33+Infinity%1D

Analyst Views on AZO

Wall Street analysts forecast AZO stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for AZO is 4328 USD with a low forecast of 3550 USD and a high forecast of 4800 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.

20 Analyst Rating

17 Buy

3 Hold

0 Sell

Strong Buy

Current: 3698.630

Low

3550

Averages

4328

High

4800

Current: 3698.630

Low

3550

Averages

4328

High

4800

Barclays

Overweight

downgrade

2026-01-08

Reason

Barclays

Price Target

AI Analysis

2026-01-08

downgrade

Overweight

Reason

Barclays lowered the firm's price target on AutoZone to $3,880 from $4,318 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm is positive on the broadlines, hardlines and food retail sector entering 2026. It sees improvements in discretionary goods demand with potential for a "modest bump" from consumer tax savings ahead and interest rate cuts.

Mizuho

David Bellinger

Outperform -> Neutral

downgrade

2026-01-05

Reason

Mizuho

David Bellinger

Price Target

2026-01-05

downgrade

Outperform -> Neutral

Reason

Mizuho analyst David Bellinger downgraded AutoZone to Neutral from Outperform with a price target of $3,550, down from $3,850. The firm views consensus estimates as "currently misaligned and overly optimistic" following the company's fiscal Q1 miss. AutoZone's elevated spending growth is "only beginning," the analyst tells investors in a research note. Mizuho says the company's cost of doing business is "moving structurally higher."

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JPMorgan

Overweight -> NULL

downgrade

2025-12-18

Reason

JPMorgan

Price Target

2025-12-18

downgrade

Overweight -> NULL

Reason

JPMorgan lowered the firm's price target on AutoZone to $4,100 from $4,850 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm also removed AutoZone from its Analyst Focus List. Last week's earnings report disappointed as sales were softer than expected and the company's spending to accelerate store growth continues to persist longer than previously referenced, the analyst tells investors in a research note. In addition, weather is expected to turn into a "potentially significant headwind" in January as AutoZone laps two polar vortexes, adds JPMorgan.

Wolfe Research

Outperform -> Peer Perform

downgrade

2025-12-16

Reason

Wolfe Research

Price Target

2025-12-16

downgrade

Outperform -> Peer Perform

Reason

Wolfe Research downgraded AutoZone to Peer Perform from Outperform with no price target.

About AZO

AutoZone, Inc. is a retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the Americas. Its Auto Parts Stores segment is a retailer and distributor of automotive parts and accessories through its approximately 7,353 stores in the United States, Mexico and Brazil. Each store carries an extensive product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light duty trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories and non-automotive products. The Company also sells automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories and non-automotive products through www.autozone.com, and its commercial customers can make purchases through www.autozonepro.com. In addition, the Company sells the ALLDATA brand of automotive diagnostic, repair, collision and shop management software through www.alldata.com. It also provides product information on its Duralast branded products through www.duralastparts.com.

About the author

Emily J. Thompson

Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.