Truist Lowers GPC Target to $124, Notes Margin Recovery

Genuine Parts Company (NYSE:GPC) is included among the 10 Best Dividend Aristocrat Stocks to Buy in 2026.

On April 22, Scot Ciccarelli at Truist Financial lowered the price recommendation on Genuine Parts Company (NYSE:GPC) to $124 from $127. It reiterated a Hold rating on the shares, following its Q1 earnings beat. The firm said Q1 trends improved after a difficult Q4. U.S. auto comps rose 3%, and North America EBITDA margin increased to 6.6% from 5.5% in Q4, according to the research note. Shares appear relatively inexpensive, though the firm added that Auto needs to inflect for the stock to re-rate.

During the Q1 2026 earnings call, CFO Nappier said the company is holding its full-year outlook steady. Diluted EPS is still expected to come in between $6.10 and $6.60, while adjusted diluted EPS is projected in the $7.50 to $8 range. He said the decision reflects a balance between performance so far and a more cautious stance on the second and third quarters, pointing to uncertainty tied to the Iran conflict.

On revenue, he noted that the company continues to expect total GPC sales growth of 3% to 5.5%. That outlook assumes overall market growth remains roughly flat, with pricing contributing about 2%.

Genuine Parts Company (NYSE:GPC) operates globally as a provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts, along with value-added solutions. The business is organized into two segments: Automotive Parts Group and Industrial Parts Group.

READ NEXT: 10 Best Food Stocks with Highest Dividends and 10 Best Bear Market Stocks to Invest In Right Now

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.