LKQ's (LKQ) "Outperform" Rating Reiterated at Barrington Research

Barrington Research reissued their outperform rating on shares of LKQ (NASDAQ:LKQ - Free Report) in a report released on Monday morning,Benzinga reports. Barrington Research currently has a $60.00 target price on the auto parts company's stock.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of LKQ from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on LKQ from $48.00 to $49.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, LKQ presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $52.60.

LKQ Stock Down 0.2 %

NASDAQ LKQ traded down $0.07 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $42.19. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,047,699 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,255,785. The company has a market capitalization of $10.91 billion, a PE ratio of 16.10 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. LKQ has a 52 week low of $35.56 and a 52 week high of $46.64. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $41.54 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $39.19.

LKQ (NASDAQ:LKQ - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The auto parts company reported $0.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.76 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $3.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.42 billion. LKQ had a return on equity of 14.93% and a net margin of 4.81%. Research analysts anticipate that LKQ will post 3.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

LKQ Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 13th were given a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 13th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.84%. LKQ's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.80%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Dominick P. Zarcone sold 5,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.14, for a total value of $180,700.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 369,462 shares of the company's stock, valued at $13,352,356.68. This trade represents a 1.34 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 45,000 shares of company stock worth $1,864,350. Corporate insiders own 0.55% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On LKQ

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in LKQ in the fourth quarter valued at $165,548,000. EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of LKQ during the 4th quarter valued at about $160,339,000. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of LKQ during the 4th quarter valued at about $119,395,000. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in LKQ in the 4th quarter worth approximately $91,678,000. Finally, Eminence Capital LP purchased a new stake in LKQ in the fourth quarter worth approximately $68,944,000. Institutional investors own 95.63% of the company's stock.

LKQ Company Profile

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.