Retained Earnings
AutoZone Retained Earnings decreased by 27.5% to -$4.39B in Q4 2025 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 19.0%, from -$5.42B to -$4.39B. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Retained Earnings shows a downward trend with a 75.4% CAGR. This decline may warrant attention — for this metric, higher values are generally preferred.
Analysis
How to read this metric
Consistent growth in retained earnings signals a profitable business model that can sustain itself without constant external capital raises.
Detailed definition
The cumulative amount of net income that has been reinvested in the business rather than distributed to shareholders as...
Peer comparison
Mature, highly profitable companies like Apple may actually see this decrease if they return more cash to shareholders via buybacks than they earn in net income.
retained_earningsHistorical Data
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | -$419.83M | $135.41M | -$2.73B | -$2.14B | -$1.33B | -$790.75M | -$4.47B | -$3.82B | -$2.96B | -$2.37B | -$5.98B | -$5.33B | -$4.42B | -$3.86B | -$5.42B | -$4.81B | -$3.98B | -$3.45B | -$4.39B |
| QoQ Change | — | +132.3% | <-999% | +21.7% | +37.8% | +40.5% | -465.5% | +14.5% | +22.6% | +20.1% | -152.7% | +10.9% | +16.9% | +12.8% | -40.4% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +13.4% | -27.5% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | -216.8% | -684.0% | -63.8% | -78.9% | -122.5% | -199.2% | -33.7% | -39.3% | -49.5% | -63.2% | +9.3% | +9.7% | +10.1% | +10.8% | +19.0% |
Retained Earnings at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is AutoZone's retained earnings?
- AutoZone (AZO) reported retained earnings of -$4.39B in Q4 2025.
- How has AutoZone's retained earnings changed year-over-year?
- AutoZone's retained earnings increased by 19.0% year-over-year, from -$5.42B to -$4.39B.
- What is the long-term trend for AutoZone's retained earnings?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), AutoZone's retained earnings has grown at a 75.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from -$419.83M to -$3.98B.
- What does retained earnings mean?
- The total profits the company has kept and reinvested since it started, after paying out any dividends.