Truist Securities raised its price objective on Genuine Parts Company to $162.00 from $146.00 on Thursday and reiterated a Buy rating. The broker highlighted strengthening momentum in the firm’s industrial operations together with continued inflation-related support in automotive parts as key drivers behind the upgrade.
Genuine Parts (NYSE: GPC) was trading at $149.26 at the time of the announcement, a few cents below its 52-week high of $149.80. The stock has returned 21.39% year-to-date and 26.01% over the past 12 months.
Truist pointed to a pair of dynamics underpinning its view. First, the industrial business is building on positive momentum seen after a third-quarter inflection. Second, the automotive segment should receive support from same-SKU inflation in the fourth quarter. The broker further described the company’s Motion segment as "a coiled spring" that could deliver substantial leverage when the industrial cycle turns, adding that the company has sustained margins despite flattish sales.
In its comments, Truist also expected the automotive business to keep benefitting from operational improvements and structural industry trends, together with inflation effects continuing through the first half of 2026. The firm cited several positive catalysts for Genuine Parts, including the involvement of Elliott Management, in explaining its Buy stance.
Other broker activity has mirrored selective optimism. Evercore ISI raised its price target to $175.00 and maintained an Outperform rating, projecting solid performance that includes 2.5% organic growth and operating income above consensus expectations. Separately, Goldman Sachs moved its recommendation from Sell to Neutral, pointing to a more balanced risk/reward profile and improving trends across Automotive and Industrial segments.
Alongside analyst moves, the company announced a regular quarterly dividend of $1.03 per share, payable on January 5, 2026. Leadership changes were also disclosed: Non-Executive Chairman Paul D. Donahue is slated to retire in 2026, with current President and CEO Will Stengel set to take over the chairman role.
Not all signals were positive. Moody’s revised its outlook on Genuine Parts to negative from stable, citing weaker-than-expected operating performance amid challenging market conditions and economic uncertainties.
What to watch next - The company is preparing to report fourth-quarter results. Investors and analysts will be watching organic growth, operating income relative to consensus, and any updates on the Motion segment's leverage potential and margin trends.