Anyone can look good in a bull market. The challenge is looking like, and being a prime opportunity regardless of economic conditions. There are a few companies like that. But, more often than not, they are the ones you are likely not paying attention to. Building a bulletproof portfolio isn’t about chasing trends or timing the next move. It is about owning businesses that continue to grow sales, reward shareholders, and stay disciplined regardless of market conditions. These are the companies that keep p ...

ATLANTA, Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC), a leading global service provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts and value-added solutions, plans to release fourth quarter and full-year financial results on February 17, 2026. Following the release, management will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET. The public may access the webcast and supplemental earnings materials on the company's investor relations website. The call is also available by dialing 1-800-836-8 ...

Core Viewpoint - Genuine Parts Company (GPC) has a long history of paying dividends, but its financial performance in 2025 has raised concerns about its sustainability, particularly as it now pays out nearly all of its net income in dividends [2][3]. Financial Performance - GPC's earnings payout ratio is at 70.4%, with earnings of $5.81 per share and dividends of $4.09, indicating a concerning trend as net income fell by 31.3% year-over-year to $904 million while dividends continued to rise [3][8]. - The free cash flow (FCF) payout ratio is approximately 60%, which is considered adequate, but the remaining free cash flow after capital expenditures is only $129 million, a significant decrease from $396 million the previous year [4]. Balance Sheet Condition - Total debt has increased by 31% over two years to $6.4 billion, while cash reserves have decreased by 61% to $431 million, leading to a higher debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34x [5][6]. - Interest coverage remains strong at 8.2x, and net debt-to-EBITDA is manageable at 3.1x, but short-term debt has tripled in two years, indicating potential liquidity issues [6]. Dividend History and Growth - GPC has consistently raised its dividend since 1957, making it a Dividend King, but the latest increase of 3% to $1.03 is the slowest growth rate in recent history [7].

Atlanta, Georgia-based Genuine Parts Company (GPC) distributes automotive and industrial replacement parts. Valued at $18.6 billion by market cap, the company distributes automotive parts, accessories and solutions and replacement parts for hybrid and electric vehicles, trucks, SUVs, buses, motorcycles, farm equipment, and heavy duty equipment, as well as equipment parts and technologies. The top supplier of automotive and industrial replacement parts is expected to announce its fiscal fourth-quarter earni ...

Non-Executive Chair Paul Donahue to RetirePresident and Chief Executive Officer Will Stengel Named Chair-Elect ATLANTA, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC), a leading global service provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts and value-added solutions, announced today that Paul D. Donahue, Non-Executive Chairman, plans to retire from the Board of Directors at the company's 2026 annual meeting of shareholders. The company also announced that its Board of Directors ha ...

Group 1 - Genuine Parts Company (GPC) announced a $1.3 billion acquisition of Kaman Distribution Group, expanding its product offerings to include electromechanical parts, bearings, and motion control products [1] - The acquisition is part of GPC's strategy to enhance its distribution capabilities and diversify its product range [1] - The investment group "Value In Corporate Events" focuses on identifying actionable investment opportunities through major corporate events such as mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, and earnings reports [1]

Company Overview - Genuine Parts Company (GPC) is a leading global distributor of automotive and industrial replacement parts, known for its NAPA Auto Parts brand in North America [1] - The company has a market cap of $17.6 billion, operates over 10,700 locations in 17 countries, and employs over 60,000 people [1] Market Position - GPC is classified as a large-cap stock due to its market cap exceeding $10 billion, indicating its substantial size and influence in the auto parts industry [2] - The company benefits from consistent demand driven by an aging vehicle fleet and recurring maintenance needs, which supports stable cash flows [2] - Its diversified operations across automotive, industrial, and international markets position it as a steady, defensive player in the distribution sector [2] Stock Performance - GPC is currently trading 8.5% below its 52-week high of $143.48 and has declined 5.9% over the past three months, underperforming the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLY) 2.8% returns during the same period [3] - However, GPC stock has surged 12.4% year-to-date and gained 4.7% over the past 52 weeks, outperforming the XLY's 6.7% gains in 2025 and 3% return over the past year [4] Recent Earnings - On October 21, GPC shares rose 2.1% following the release of its third-quarter earnings, with sales reaching $6.3 billion, a 4.9% year-over-year increase [5] - The sales growth was driven by comparable sales growth, acquisitions, and favorable foreign-exchange effects, with revenue beating consensus estimates [5] - Adjusted diluted EPS increased to approximately $1.98, reflecting a 5.3% rise from the previous year [5] - The company raised its full-year 2025 revenue growth outlook to 3–4% from the prior range, indicating confidence in ongoing execution despite a challenging macro backdrop [5]

Core Insights - Companies with a strong history of dividend payments and increases are attractive to income-focused investors, with Merck, Altria, and Genuine Parts recently announcing dividend hikes and offering yields up to 7% [1] Merck - Merck & Co. has raised its dividends for 14 consecutive years, with the latest increase on Nov. 19 raising the quarterly payout from $0.77 to $0.81 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $3.24 per share [3] - The current dividend yield for Merck is 3.49% [3] - As of Sept. 30, Merck's annual revenue was $64.23 billion, and Q3 2025 revenues were reported at $17.28 billion with an EPS of $2.58, both exceeding consensus estimates [4] Altria - Altria Group has a remarkable track record of increasing dividends for 56 years, with the most recent hike on Aug. 21 raising the quarterly payout from $1.02 to $1.06 per share, equating to an annual figure of $4.24 per share [5] - The current dividend yield for Altria is 7.29% [5] - Altria's annual revenue as of Sept. 30 was $20.17 billion, with Q3 2025 revenues of $6.07 billion and an EPS of $1.45, both surpassing consensus estimates [6] Genuine Parts - Genuine Parts Co. has consistently raised its dividends for 69 years, with the latest increase on Feb. 18 raising the quarterly payout by 3% to $1.03 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $4.12 per share [8] - The current dividend yield for Genuine Parts is 3.24% [8]

Core Viewpoint - Genuine Parts reported mixed financial results for Q3 2025, missing earnings estimates but showing growth in net sales compared to the previous year [2][3]. Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share for Q3 2025 were $1.98, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.02, but up from $1.88 in the same quarter last year [2]. - Net sales reached $6.26 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.13 billion, and reflecting a 5% year-over-year growth driven by comparable sales, acquisitions, and favorable forex impacts [3]. Segmental Performance - The Automotive segment reported net sales of $4 billion, a 5% increase year-over-year, surpassing estimates and achieving a comparable sales growth of 1.6% [4]. - The Industrial Parts segment's net sales rose 4.6% year-over-year to $2.3 billion, also exceeding estimates, with comparable sales growth of 3.7% [5]. Guidance for 2025 - Genuine Parts expects overall sales growth of 3-4% for 2025, an increase from the previous guidance of 1-3% [7]. - Automotive sales are anticipated to grow by 4-5%, up from the prior forecast of 1.5-3.5% [7]. - Adjusted earnings per share guidance is set between $7.50 and $7.75, unchanged from the previous range [8]. Cash and Debt Position - As of September 30, 2025, cash and cash equivalents were $431 million, down from $480 million at the end of 2024, with long-term debt at $3.75 billion [6]. Market Sentiment and Estimates - Since the earnings release, there has been a flat trend in estimates revision, indicating stable market sentiment [9]. - The stock has an average Growth Score of C and a Momentum Score of F, but a Value Score of B, placing it in the second quintile for investment strategy [10]. Overall Outlook - Genuine Parts holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting an expectation of in-line returns in the coming months [12].

Core Insights - Genuine Parts Company (GPC) is a significant player in the auto parts industry with a market capitalization of $17.4 billion, indicating its strong position in automotive and industrial replacement parts distribution [1] Segment Overview - GPC operates through two main segments: Automotive Parts Group and Industrial Parts Group, providing a wide range of products and services across vehicles, industrial machinery, and equipment sectors, with a global presence [2] Stock Performance - GPC stock has returned 7.4% year-to-date (YTD), underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which gained 12.9%. Over the past 52 weeks, GPC stock gained 3.4%, while the S&P 500 increased by 12.3% [3] - In comparison to its sector, GPC stock has outperformed on a YTD basis against the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY), which has gained 4.2% over the past year [3] Current Challenges - The company is facing challenges due to weak discretionary demand and rising costs, which have contributed to a muted stock performance in 2025. Despite investments in restructuring, digital tools, and global expansion, these efforts have not yet resulted in strong near-term earnings [4] Earnings Expectations - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, analysts project a 6.6% year-over-year decline in EPS to $7.62 on a diluted basis. Historically, GPC has exceeded consensus EPS estimates, surpassing expectations in three of the last four quarters [5] Analyst Sentiment - Wall Street maintains a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating for GPC, with five analysts recommending a "Strong Buy" and seven holding a "Hold" rating [6] - Recently, Goldman Sachs upgraded GPC from "Sell" to "Neutral," raising its price target from $130 to $142, indicating a more optimistic outlook compared to the previous month [7]