Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC) Given Consensus Rating of “Hold” by Analysts

Shares of Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC) have earned an average recommendation of “Hold” from the eight analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $139.57.

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Genuine Parts to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on Genuine Parts from $162.00 to $138.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Wedbush dropped their price target on Genuine Parts from $145.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Genuine Parts from $162.00 to $135.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Genuine Parts from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th.

Insider Activity

In other Genuine Parts news, Director Wendy B. Needham sold 1,608 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.78, for a total transaction of $194,214.24. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 11,357 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,371,698.46. This trade represents a 12.40 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.37% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Genuine Parts

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in Genuine Parts during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in shares of Genuine Parts during the third quarter valued at $31,000. Concord Wealth Partners lifted its holdings in shares of Genuine Parts by 79.3% during the third quarter. Concord Wealth Partners now owns 269 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Genuine Parts during the third quarter valued at $44,000. Finally, Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. increased its holdings in Genuine Parts by 63.8% in the 3rd quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 362 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.83% of the company’s stock.

Genuine Parts Stock Performance

Shares of GPC stock opened at $115.99 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 1.17. Genuine Parts has a fifty-two week low of $112.74 and a fifty-two week high of $164.45. The company has a market capitalization of $16.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.93 and a beta of 0.95. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $120.89 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $131.29.

Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 22nd. The specialty retailer reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.42 by ($0.54). Genuine Parts had a net margin of 4.67% and a return on equity of 27.23%. The firm had revenue of $6 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.94 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.49 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Genuine Parts will post 8.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Genuine Parts Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 6th were issued a $1.00 dividend. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.45%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 6th. Genuine Parts’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 51.48%.

About Genuine Parts

Genuine Parts Company distributes automotive replacement parts, and industrial parts and materials. It operates in two segments: Automotive Parts Group and Industrial Parts Group segments. The company distributes automotive replacement parts for hybrid and electric vehicles, trucks, SUVs, buses, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, farm vehicles, small engines, farm equipment, marine equipment, and heavy duty equipment; and equipment and parts used by repair shops, service stations, fleet operators, automobile and truck dealers, leasing companies, bus and truck lines, mass merchandisers, farms, and individuals.