Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC) Issues Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.02 EPS

Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC) posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The specialty retailer reported $1.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.75 by $0.02, Zacks reports. The firm had revenue of $6.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.17 billion. Genuine Parts had a net margin of 0.24% and a return on equity of 22.28%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.75 earnings per share. Genuine Parts updated its FY 2026 guidance to 7.500-8.000 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Genuine Parts’ conference call:

• GPC reported a stronger-than-expected Q1 with $6.3 billion in sales (?7% YoY), adjusted EBITDA up 5% and adjusted EPS of $1.77, and management reaffirmed its 2026 guidance ranges.
• The planned split into independent Global Automotive and Global Industrial companies is on track for Q1 2027, with estimated ongoing dis-synergies and standalone costs of $100M–$150M (excluding one-time separation fees and current corporate allocations).
• Global Industrial (Motion) showed strength—sales up ?5%, comparable sales ?4%, and EBITDA up ~13% with a 90?basis?point margin improvement to 13.6% of sales, driven by MRO demand and gains across 10 of 14 end markets.
• Automotive performance improved sequentially (North America sales ?+4.5%, company?owned comps +5.5%), but inflationary pressures—higher salaries, healthcare, rent and freight—are compressing margins, notably in International Automotive where EBITDA margin fell 80 bps.
• Geopolitical risks (Middle East/Iran conflict) pose near?term headwinds: management expects a potential $10M–$20M EBITDA impact in Q2 from higher supplier, freight and fuel costs, though direct purchase exposure to the Middle East is <0.5%.

Genuine Parts Trading Down 0.5%

Shares of Genuine Parts stock opened at $111.15 on Thursday. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $112.21 and its 200 day moving average is $124.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.46 billion, a PE ratio of 260.52 and a beta of 0.76. Genuine Parts has a 1 year low of $96.08 and a 1 year high of $151.57. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77.

Genuine Parts Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th were paid a $1.0625 dividend. This represents a $4.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 6th. This is an increase from Genuine Parts’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.03. Genuine Parts’s dividend payout ratio is 923.91%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

GPC has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Zacks Research cut Genuine Parts from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 25th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Genuine Parts from $135.00 to $125.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Truist Financial dropped their target price on Genuine Parts from $127.00 to $124.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Genuine Parts in a research report on Friday, March 27th. Finally, Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Genuine Parts from a “market perform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $145.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $143.71.

Institutional Trading of Genuine Parts

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of GPC. Strive Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Genuine Parts in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd increased its holdings in Genuine Parts by 6,225.0% in the 3rd quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 253 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 249 shares in the last quarter. BOKF NA raised its position in Genuine Parts by 26.8% in the third quarter. BOKF NA now owns 487 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $67,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT boosted its stake in shares of Genuine Parts by 36.0% during the fourth quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 574 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 152 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Genuine Parts during the fourth quarter valued at about $83,000. Institutional investors own 78.83% of the company’s stock.

About Genuine Parts

Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) is a global distributor of automotive replacement parts, industrial parts and business products with a history dating back to 1928. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company operates a broad distribution network and retail presence serving repair shops, independent retailers, industrial customers and commercial accounts. Its business model centers on stocking and delivering a wide range of parts and supplies to support aftermarket and maintenance needs across multiple end markets.

Genuine Parts conducts its operations through several well-known operating groups and subsidiaries.