AutoZone vs Hilton

This page compares AutoZone, Inc. and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., examining their business models, financial performance and market context in clear, accessible language for readers. Neutral, objective framing keeps complexities understandable. Educational content, not financial advice.

This page compares AutoZone, Inc. and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., examining their business models, financial performance and market context in clear, accessible language for readers. Neutral, obje...

Comparison Snapshot

Key Financial Metrics

AZO

Metric

HLT

$61.67B

Market Cap

$70.41B

18.33%

Potential Profit

-4.64%

Buy

Analyst Rating

Buy

Why It's Moving

AutoZone SVP's $21.8M Share Sale Sparks Investor Scrutiny Amid Recent Margin Pressures.

SVP Richard Craig Smith exercised options at $587/share and sold 5,910 shares at $3,700 apiece on Jan 23, reducing his direct holdings to 2,627 shares.
Institutional tweaks include Truist Financial cutting its stake by 17.3% in Q3 to a $20.4M position, alongside smaller sales by Krilogy and New York State fund.
Analysts adjusted targets lower—Morgan Stanley to $4,000, UBS to $4,325—citing elevated SG&A spending and gross margin hits, yet consensus stays at Moderate Buy.

Sentiment:

🐻Bearish

Hilton Hits 9,000-Hotel Milestone as Analysts Lift Targets Amid Expansion Surge

Reached 9,000th hotel after Q3 net unit growth of 6.5%, signaling accelerating global footprint and revenue potential from new luxury and lifestyle brands like Outset Collection.
Plans $3.30 billion in 2025 cash returns via buybacks and dividends under an enlarged $18 billion authorization, bolstering per-share value amid portfolio growth.
Analysts upbeat with Evercore ISI hiking target to $325 (Jan 22), Barclays to $309 (Jan 16), and HSBC to $319, reflecting confidence in operating leverage and macro recovery.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

AutoZone SVP's $21.8M Share Sale Sparks Investor Scrutiny Amid Recent Margin Pressures.

SVP Richard Craig Smith exercised options at $587/share and sold 5,910 shares at $3,700 apiece on Jan 23, reducing his direct holdings to 2,627 shares.
Institutional tweaks include Truist Financial cutting its stake by 17.3% in Q3 to a $20.4M position, alongside smaller sales by Krilogy and New York State fund.
Analysts adjusted targets lower—Morgan Stanley to $4,000, UBS to $4,325—citing elevated SG&A spending and gross margin hits, yet consensus stays at Moderate Buy.

Sentiment:

🐻Bearish

Hilton Hits 9,000-Hotel Milestone as Analysts Lift Targets Amid Expansion Surge

Reached 9,000th hotel after Q3 net unit growth of 6.5%, signaling accelerating global footprint and revenue potential from new luxury and lifestyle brands like Outset Collection.
Plans $3.30 billion in 2025 cash returns via buybacks and dividends under an enlarged $18 billion authorization, bolstering per-share value amid portfolio growth.
Analysts upbeat with Evercore ISI hiking target to $325 (Jan 22), Barclays to $309 (Jan 16), and HSBC to $319, reflecting confidence in operating leverage and macro recovery.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

Investment Analysis

AutoZone

AZO

Pros

AutoZone demonstrated revenue growth to $18.94 billion in 2025, a 2.43% increase year-over-year.
The company shows strong return on assets and invested capital at approximately 15% and 39% respectively, indicating efficient use of resources.
AutoZone is expanding aggressively with store growth in the US, Mexico, and Brazil, supported by strong commercial growth as a key driver.

Considerations

Earnings decreased by 6.17% in 2025 despite revenue growth, reflecting margin pressures.
Current ratio and quick ratio are below 1, indicating potential liquidity constraints.
Market sentiment is bearish with a Fear & Greed Index showing fear and relatively high price volatility (5.2%).

Hilton

HLT

Pros

Hilton Worldwide is a large-cap company with a market capitalization exceeding $62 billion, reflecting strong market presence.
The company benefits from global exposure in the hospitality sector, positioning it to capitalize on ongoing travel demand recovery.
Hilton has a strong operational footprint with diversified brands and a scalable business model leveraging franchising and management contracts.

Considerations

Hilton faces cyclicality risks due to its dependence on travel and lodging demand, which can be affected by economic downturns or geopolitical events.
The hospitality sector remains sensitive to regulatory changes, including potential increases in taxes and labor costs.
Profit margins can be pressured by rising operational expenses and competition from alternative lodging options like home-sharing platforms.

Related Market Insights

Auto Parts Power Play: Supplying Reliability After BMW's Recall Wake-Up Call

BMW's recall spotlights reliable auto parts. Discover investment opportunities in quality suppliers as manufacturers prioritise trusted partners. Invest in the Vehicle Recall Impact Neme with Nemo.