Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC Purchases 625 Shares of Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC)

Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC) by 4.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 15,633 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after buying an additional 625 shares during the quarter. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Genuine Parts were worth $1,830,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Genuine Parts during the third quarter worth $26,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in shares of Genuine Parts in the third quarter valued at about $31,000. Concord Wealth Partners raised its holdings in Genuine Parts by 79.3% in the 3rd quarter. Concord Wealth Partners now owns 269 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Genuine Parts during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Genuine Parts in the third quarter valued at about $44,000. 78.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Wendy B. Needham sold 1,608 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.78, for a total transaction of $194,214.24. Following the sale, the director now owns 11,357 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,371,698.46. This represents a 12.40 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.37% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

GPC has been the topic of a number of research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on Genuine Parts from $162.00 to $138.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Wedbush lowered their price objective on Genuine Parts from $145.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Loop Capital began coverage on shares of Genuine Parts in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. They set a “buy” rating and a $155.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Genuine Parts from $162.00 to $135.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their price target on Genuine Parts from $155.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $141.50.

Genuine Parts Price Performance

Shares of NYSE GPC opened at $118.12 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $16.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.20 and a beta of 0.95. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $119.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $129.44. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. Genuine Parts has a 1-year low of $112.74 and a 1-year high of $164.45.

Genuine Parts Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 6th were issued a dividend of $1.00 per share. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 6th. Genuine Parts’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 51.48%.

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.