Generali Asset Management SPA SGR Invests $1.91 Million in Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC)

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR purchased a new position in Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 16,371 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $1,911,000.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Genuine Parts in the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. First Command Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Genuine Parts in the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Compass Planning Associates Inc purchased a new position in shares of Genuine Parts in the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Genuine Parts in the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new position in shares of Genuine Parts in the fourth quarter worth approximately $34,000. 78.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

GPC has been the topic of a number of research reports. 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 report on Wednesday, February 19th. Northcoast Research downgraded shares of Genuine Parts from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Loop Capital began coverage on shares of Genuine Parts in a report on Thursday, January 16th. They set a “buy” rating and a $155.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Genuine Parts from $129.00 to $133.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Genuine Parts has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $137.63.

Genuine Parts Price Performance

GPC stock opened at $120.60 on Friday. Genuine Parts has a one year low of $112.74 and a one year high of $164.45. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $120.93 and its 200-day moving average price is $125.00. 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 company has a market capitalization of $16.74 billion, a PE ratio of 18.64 and a beta of 0.93.

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

Genuine Parts Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, March 7th will be given a $1.03 dividend. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.42%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 7th. This is a boost from Genuine Parts’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.00. Genuine Parts’s payout ratio is currently 63.68%.

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.