USS Investment Management Ltd Sells 12,349 Shares of Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC)

USS Investment Management Ltd lessened its position in Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC - Free Report) by 23.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 39,883 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after selling 12,349 shares during the period. USS Investment Management Ltd's holdings in Genuine Parts were worth $4,659,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Genuine Parts in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Genuine Parts in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. First Command Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of Genuine Parts in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Compass Planning Associates Inc bought a new position in shares of Genuine Parts in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Genuine Parts in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Institutional investors own 78.83% of the company's stock.

Genuine Parts Stock Performance

NYSE GPC traded down $0.58 during trading on Friday, reaching $126.31. The company's stock had a trading volume of 978,633 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,283,534. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.52 and a beta of 0.76. Genuine Parts has a 12 month low of $104.01 and a 12 month high of $149.22. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $118.32 and a 200 day moving average price of $120.06.

Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 22nd. The specialty retailer reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.66 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $5.87 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.83 billion. Genuine Parts had a net margin of 3.85% and a return on equity of 25.28%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Genuine Parts will post 7.9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Genuine Parts Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 6th will be issued a dividend of $1.03 per share. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 6th. Genuine Parts's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 67.65%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Argus raised shares of Genuine Parts to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Genuine Parts from $133.00 to $137.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Genuine Parts from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, April 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "sell" rating and issued a $114.00 price target (down previously from $133.00) on shares of Genuine Parts in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased their price target on shares of Genuine Parts from $135.00 to $130.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $130.86.

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.