Genuine remains the better pick

Article Excerpt

Genuine Parts and Snap-On both stand to gain as COVID-19 shutdowns ease and car sales rebound. However, we feel Genuine’s businesses outside of auto parts and its wider geographic presence better protect it from possible future shutdowns. GENUINE PARTS CO. $126 is still a buy. The company (New York symbol GPC; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 144.3 million; Market cap: $18.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.0; Dividend yield: 2.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.genpt.com) is a leading seller of replacement auto parts. It has 1,100 company-owned stores (under the famous NAPA banner) and independent outlets in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. This business accounts for 67% of its total sales. The remaining 38% comes from distributing industrial parts and electrical equipment. As COVID-19 lockdowns ease and more of the company’s store re-open, its sales in the three months ended June 30, 2021, jumped 25.1%, to $4.78 billion from $3.82 billion a year earlier. Sales also benefited from favourable foreign…