AZO vs MNRO

For growth investors, AutoZone, Inc.

(AZO) is the stronger pick with 2. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 4% for Monro, Inc. (MNRO). AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) offers the better valuation at 24. 5x trailing P/E (23. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) a "Buy" — based on 45 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, AutoZone, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 23. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, AutoZone, Inc.

(AZO) delivered a total return of +135. 9%, compared to -67. 6% for Monro, Inc. (MNRO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AZO returned +353. 6% versus MNRO's -62. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AutoZone, Inc.

(AZO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 22β versus Monro, Inc. 's 1. 50β — meaning MNRO is approximately 592% more volatile than AZO relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), AutoZone, Inc.

(AZO) is pulling ahead at 2. 4% versus -6. 4% for Monro, Inc. (MNRO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AutoZone, Inc. grew EPS -3. 1% year-over-year, compared to -119. 3% for Monro, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AZO leads at 5. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

AutoZone, Inc.

(AZO) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 2% net margin versus -0. 4% for Monro, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AZO leads at 19. 1% versus 3. 4% for MNRO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AZO leads at 52. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, AutoZone, Inc.

(AZO) trades at 23. 9x forward P/E versus 32. 4x for Monro, Inc. — 8. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MNRO: 129. 5% to $40. 00.

In this comparison, MNRO (6.

4% yield) pays a dividend. AZO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, AutoZone, Inc.

(AZO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 22), +353. 6% 10Y return). Monro, Inc. (MNRO) carries a higher beta of 1. 50 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AZO: +353. 6%, MNRO: -62. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: AZO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MNRO is a small-cap income-oriented stock. MNRO pays a dividend while AZO does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.