Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC) Shares Sold by Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp

Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp decreased its position in shares of Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC) by 14.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 74,564 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after selling 12,430 shares during the quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp’s holdings in Genuine Parts were worth $8,706,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new position in Genuine Parts during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Genuine Parts during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. First Command Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new position in Genuine Parts during the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Compass Planning Associates Inc purchased a new stake in Genuine Parts in the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Synergy Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Genuine Parts during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.83% of the company’s stock.

Genuine Parts Price Performance

Shares of NYSE GPC opened at $118.49 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 1.16. The firm has a market cap of $16.44 billion, a PE ratio of 18.31 and a beta of 0.93. Genuine Parts has a one year low of $112.74 and a one year high of $164.45. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $121.13 and a 200 day moving average of $124.07.

Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 18th. The specialty retailer reported $1.61 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.54 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $5.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.71 billion. Genuine Parts had a net margin of 3.85% and a return on equity of 25.28%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.26 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Genuine Parts will post 7.9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Genuine Parts Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 7th will be given a $1.03 dividend. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.48%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 7th. This is an increase from Genuine Parts’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.00. Genuine Parts’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 63.68%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Loop Capital started coverage on Genuine Parts in a report on Thursday, January 16th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. Northcoast Research downgraded Genuine Parts from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on shares of Genuine Parts from $128.00 to $125.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Genuine Parts from $129.00 to $133.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Genuine Parts currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $137.63.

Genuine Parts Profile

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.