LKQ (NASDAQ:LKQ) Trading 0.2% Higher - Still a Buy?

LKQ Co. (NASDAQ:LKQ - Get Free Report) was up 0.2% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $40.04 and last traded at $39.79. Approximately 603,180 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 69% from the average daily volume of 1,941,676 shares. The stock had previously closed at $39.72.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have issued reports on LKQ shares. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on LKQ from $50.00 to $48.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Barrington Research reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $60.00 price target on shares of LKQ in a research report on Friday, October 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on LKQ from $54.00 to $55.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on shares of LKQ from $53.00 to $47.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of LKQ from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, November 18th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $53.80.

LKQ Stock Down 1.2 %

The company has a market capitalization of $10.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.85 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.72. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $38.59 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $40.51.

LKQ (NASDAQ:LKQ - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The auto parts company reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.87 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $3.58 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.65 billion. LKQ had a return on equity of 15.15% and a net margin of 4.90%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.86 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that LKQ Co. will post 3.43 EPS for the current year.

LKQ Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 14th were issued a $0.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 14th. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.06%. LKQ's dividend payout ratio is currently 44.78%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On LKQ

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in LKQ. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its holdings in LKQ by 9.2% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 519,232 shares of the auto parts company's stock valued at $20,401,000 after purchasing an additional 43,541 shares during the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp raised its position in LKQ by 11.6% during the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 15,235 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $608,000 after acquiring an additional 1,588 shares during the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC raised its position in LKQ by 3.0% during the third quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 32,995 shares of the auto parts company's stock worth $1,317,000 after acquiring an additional 947 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in shares of LKQ in the third quarter valued at about $81,000. Finally, Sanctuary Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of LKQ by 22.3% in the third quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 33,725 shares of the auto parts company's stock valued at $1,298,000 after purchasing an additional 6,143 shares during the last quarter. 95.63% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About LKQ

LKQ Corporation engages in the distribution of replacement parts, components, and systems used in the repair and maintenance of vehicles and specialty vehicle aftermarket products and accessories. It operates through four segments: Wholesale-North America, Europe, Specialty, and Self Service. The company distributes bumper covers, automotive body panels, and lights, as well as mechanical automotive parts and accessories; salvage products, including mechanical and collision parts comprising engines; transmissions; door assemblies; sheet metal products, such as trunk lids, fenders, and hoods; lights and bumper assemblies; scrap metal and other materials to metals recyclers; and brake pads, discs and sensors, clutches, steering and suspension products, filters, and oil and automotive fluids, as well as electrical products, including spark plugs and batteries.

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