Sapient Capital LLC Acquires Shares of 119,738 Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC)

Sapient Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 119,738 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $16,697,000. Sapient Capital LLC owned 0.09% of Genuine Parts as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new position in Genuine Parts during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Briaud Financial Planning Inc bought a new stake in shares of Genuine Parts during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Genuine Parts in the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new position in Genuine Parts during the third quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, Orion Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Genuine Parts during the 3rd quarter valued at $42,000. 78.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Wendy B. Needham sold 3,250 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.92, for a total value of $503,490.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 14,397 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,230,383.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.37% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on GPC shares. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Genuine Parts from $150.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, April 19th. Truist Financial upped their target price on Genuine Parts from $167.00 to $183.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, April 19th. StockNews.com raised shares of Genuine Parts from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 5th. Evercore ISI lowered their price objective on Genuine Parts from $160.00 to $155.00 and set an "in-line" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 16th. Finally, Wedbush reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $170.00 price objective (up previously from $140.00) on shares of Genuine Parts in a report on Friday, April 19th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $173.10.

Genuine Parts Price Performance

NYSE GPC traded up $1.09 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $157.41. The company's stock had a trading volume of 670,520 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,304,451. Genuine Parts has a 1 year low of $126.35 and a 1 year high of $174.91. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The company has a market capitalization of $21.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.55 and a beta of 0.94. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $153.39 and its 200-day moving average price is $143.28.

Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 18th. The specialty retailer reported $2.22 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.15 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $5.78 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.84 billion. Genuine Parts had a net margin of 5.46% and a return on equity of 30.92%. The company's quarterly revenue was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.14 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Genuine Parts will post 9.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Genuine Parts Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 7th will be given a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 7th. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.54%. Genuine Parts's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 44.59%.

Genuine Parts Company 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.