Excellent results from AutoZone as it continues its outstanding quarterly run:

It was the 17th straight quarter of double-digit growth for the Memphis, Tenn., company, and the eighth-straight quarter of 20 percent growth in earnings per share, AutoZone said in a statement. The company has performed well in the economic downturn as consumers keep their cars longer and longer for fear of losing their jobs as the economy continues to sputter along.

The company made $172.1 million, or $3.77 per share, in the quarter ending Nov. 30, compared with $143.3 million, or $2.82 per share, in the year-ago period. Revenue was $1.79 billion, up 12.7 percent from the same quarter last year.

The earnings beat Wall Street estimates. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected $3.44 per share on revenue of $1.72 billion.

We have some new products going into AutoZone next year, and we couldn’t be more excited.  Stay tuned for details.