We recently published a list of 12 Stocks That Could Split in the Near Future. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Autozone Inc. (NYSE:AZO) stands against other stocks that could split in the near future.

Stock splits don’t change how much a company is worth, but they make each share cheaper and easier for people to buy, considering it’s a forward split. Stock splits can vary from a simple 2-for-1 split to a larger 100-for-1 split or more. In a 2-for-1 split, each share is turned into two new shares. This makes each share half the price, but the total value of the company remains the same. For example, if a share costs $100, after a 2-for-1 split, you’ll have two shares that cost $50 each. This can make it easier to buy shares and attract more people to invest. Even though the share price goes down, the total amount of money paid out to shareholders stays the same. Hence, splitting shares doesn’t change how much control existing shareholders have in the company. The main goal is to make the company’s stock more appealing to investors. There’s no proof that stock splits make a company better, but they can make investors feel more positive about the company. But with these benefits come the costs and risks. The process requires legal work and can be expensive.

Splitting a stock doesn’t change a good company into a bad one or vice versa. The price might go up a bit after the split, but it won’t change the company’s long-term fundamentals. Sometimes, a low stock price can actually look bad for a big company. Still, many companies practice splitting stocks if their share prices are growing too high.

2025 Outlook

On January 16, Mark Newton, Fundstrat Global head of technical strategy, joined ‘Squawk Box’ on CNBC to discuss that the long-term market trends look positive. The market initially experienced a cooler-than-expected jump, but concerns were raised about the breadth of the market and the potential impact of interest rates on small-cap stocks. Mark Newton expressed a constructive view but noted that the market’s breadth had deteriorated significantly, with only about 25% of stocks currently above their 50-day moving average. This decline was particularly evident in sectors like healthcare, where seven sectors lost more than 4% in the last month.

Despite these challenges, Newton highlighted that technology stocks had rebounded, helping to keep indices afloat and maintaining long-term trends. However, he noted that near-term sentiment had become pessimistic regarding the potential policies of the president-elect, which added to market uncertainty. He maintained his target for the S&P 500 at 6650, suggesting that interest rates might begin to roll over in the coming months, which could be bullish for equities given their recent correlation with treasury yields.

Methodology

We sifted through ETFs, online rankings, and internet lists to compile a list of the top stocks trading over $400 as of January 19. We then selected the 20 stocks with high surges in their share prices in the past 5 years and a history of splitting stocks. From that, we picked the top 12 stocks that were the most popular among elite hedge funds and that analysts were bullish on. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them, as of Q3 2024.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Autozone Inc. (NYSE:AZO)

Share Price as of January 19: $3,228.40

Surge in Share Price in 5 Years: 179.62%

Stock Split Confirmed: No

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 47

Autozone Inc. (NYSE:AZO) retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. It operates a network of stores and serves both professional mechanics and do-it-yourself customers. Some of its products include engine parts, brakes, and batteries, among other automotive components.

One of its key growth drivers is the domestic commercial (DIFM) business. It involves selling auto parts to professional repair shops and service providers who install them for customers. In FY24, domestic commercial sales increased 6.2% for the full year. This segment now represents 31% of domestic auto parts sales and 27% of total company sales.

This was fueled by the expansion of hub and mega-hub locations. Hub locations are central distribution points, whereas mega-hub locations are high-capacity centers that handle more inventory and logistics operations. The company added 8 hubs and 11 mega-hubs in FY24, bringing the total to 109 mega-hubs. These locations stock over 100,000 SKUs, which accelerate fulfillment speed and drive higher sales. Mega-hubs outperform standard stores and lift both commercial and DIY sales. Autozone Inc. (NYSE:AZO) aims to surpass 200 mega-hubs in the coming years.

As of January, the company has a consensus price target of $3322.71 based on the ratings of 26 analysts. Appalaches Capital highlighted in its Q3 2024 investor letter that Autozone Inc.’s (NYSE:AZO) strong market position is reinforced by its extensive inventory, supplier reliance, and favorable credit terms. Here’s what the firm said:

“Passing on cost structure benefits, sometimes called “Shared Economies of Scale,” is not the only form of these positive feedback loops. AutoZone, Inc.’s (NYSE:AZO) moat also deepens as it grows. While most would think of the company as a very good retailer, I would say that the business model is more nuanced than that. The automotive aftermarket is a highly fragmented and specialized industry. There are hundreds of companies producing automotive components, most of which are specific to one of thousands of vehicle models. In 2022, there were over 280 million registered vehicles in the U.S., further adding to the fragmented nature of the value chain.8 Outside of large metropolitan areas with public transportation, people rely heavily on their vehicles in all facets of their daily lives. Not having a working car poses significant problems. Whether it’s getting to work or shopping for groceries, if something breaks on your vehicle, you need it fixed immediately.

The combination of all of these factors leads AutoZone to maintain a large and diverse inventory that is ready on a moment’s notice. Manufacturers and vendors cannot sell directly to consumers because it would take too long for the product to arrive, and it would not be economical to build out their own distribution network given the low turnover of the inventory. AutoZone is heavily relied upon by their suppliers, and as a result, their suppliers give them very favorable payment terms allowing them to stock more inventory while tying up less working capital. The creditors of these suppliers additionally acknowledge the prowess of AutoZone, providing more flexible credit to suppliers if their inventory is sent to AutoZone. With more inventory, they can better meet the needs of their customers, resulting in higher sales and a more efficient network of stores, which in turn leads to a more effective service for suppliers. This is a very effective flywheel. AutoZone is not new to the portfolio, but I do enjoy writing about it.”

Overall, AZO ranks 8th on our list of stocks that could split in the near future. While we acknowledge the growth potential of AZO, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AZO but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and Complete List of 59 AI Companies Under $2 Billion in Market Cap

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.