Company Description
Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) is a global service provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts and value-added solutions. Established in 1928, the company operates in the Wholesale Trade sector with a primary focus on motor vehicle supplies and new parts merchant wholesaling and the distribution of industrial components. According to its public disclosures, Genuine Parts Company serves customers across multiple continents through two primary operating groups: its Automotive Parts Group and its Industrial Parts Group.
Business Overview
The company describes itself as a leading global service provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts. Its activities align with the motor vehicle supplies and new parts merchant wholesalers industry, distributing parts and related products to a broad customer base. Genuine Parts Company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GPC, with its common stock registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Genuine Parts Company highlights that it offers value-added solutions alongside parts distribution. While specific solutions are not detailed in the provided materials, the company’s communications emphasize operational execution, cost management, and strategic initiatives designed to support its automotive and industrial customers.
Automotive Parts Group
The Automotive Parts Group operates across a wide geographic footprint. According to the company’s news releases, this group serves markets in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australasia, France, the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Portugal. The group focuses on automotive replacement parts and related products. Genuine Parts Company states that it maintains a large network of locations supporting this business, contributing significantly to its overall sales.
Polygon’s description further notes that Genuine Parts sells aftermarket automotive parts and that a substantial portion of the company’s sales are generated from this activity. It also notes that the automotive segment primarily acts as a distributor to a network of thousands of retail locations. While specific brand names and customer mixes are mentioned in that third-party description, the company’s own recent releases emphasize the global scope and service nature of its automotive operations rather than detailed breakdowns.
Industrial Parts Group
The Industrial Parts Group serves customers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australasia. Genuine Parts Company describes this group as providing industrial replacement parts and value-added solutions. Polygon’s description adds that this segment, operating primarily under the Motion name in the United States, distributes bearings, power transmission and other industrial products to maintenance, repair and original equipment manufacturer customers. The company’s earnings releases refer to this segment as the Industrial Parts Group ("Industrial") and provide periodic updates on its sales and segment EBITDA performance.
Scale and Global Network
Genuine Parts Company states that it operates a vast network of over 10,700 locations spanning 17 countries, supported by more than 63,000 teammates. This network underpins both its automotive and industrial businesses and reflects the company’s role as a large-scale distributor within its sector. The company describes its purpose as helping to “keep the world moving” by supplying critical replacement parts and related solutions to customers worldwide.
Financial Reporting and Segments
In its earnings releases, Genuine Parts Company reports results for its Automotive Parts Group and Industrial Parts Group, including net sales, segment EBITDA and segment EBITDA margins. The company discusses metrics such as comparable sales, which it defines as period-over-period sales comparisons excluding the impact of acquisitions, foreign currency and other factors. Management commentary in recent quarters has focused on executing strategic initiatives, managing costs in changing market conditions and updating full-year outlooks for total sales growth and adjusted diluted earnings per share.
The company also discusses non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and free cash flow. It explains that these measures are intended to provide additional insight into ongoing operating performance by excluding items such as restructuring costs and certain one-time charges. Genuine Parts Company notes that these metrics are used internally by management and are also of interest to investors and analysts who follow the business.
Capital Allocation and Dividends
Genuine Parts Company’s Board of Directors has repeatedly declared regular quarterly cash dividends on the company’s common stock, as disclosed in multiple Form 8-K filings. These filings describe the per-share dividend amount and the associated record and payment dates. The company’s capital allocation discussions in earnings releases reference uses of cash for capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt repayment and dividends to shareholders.
Governance and Board Developments
Recent Form 8-K filings and press releases describe several governance and board changes. In September 2025, Genuine Parts Company entered into a Cooperation Agreement with Elliott Investment Management entities, under which the company agreed to appoint two new independent directors, Matthew A. Carey and Court D. Carruthers, to its Board of Directors and to include them in its slate of nominees for election at the 2026 annual meeting of shareholders. The company also reported the retirement of two long-serving directors and described ongoing board refreshment efforts.
In January 2026, the company announced that Non-Executive Chairman Paul D. Donahue plans to retire from the Board at the 2026 annual meeting of shareholders. In connection with this planned retirement, the Board appointed President and Chief Executive Officer Will Stengel as Chair-Elect, to assume the combined role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer upon Mr. Donahue’s retirement. These leadership changes were disclosed in a Form 8-K and an accompanying press release.
Strategic Focus
Across its public communications, Genuine Parts Company emphasizes strategic initiatives, cost management and operational performance in both its automotive and industrial businesses. Management commentary in earnings releases references a dynamic market environment, inflationary pressures, tariffs and geopolitical factors, and discusses the company’s efforts to manage what it can control while pursuing opportunities to enhance operational performance and profitability.
The company’s cooperation agreement with Elliott Investment Management and its board refreshment program are described as supporting an ongoing review of operational and strategic value creation initiatives. Genuine Parts Company has also indicated plans to host an Investor Day, reflecting engagement with shareholders and the broader investment community.
Stock and Regulatory Status
Genuine Parts Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GPC. Recent Form 8-K filings confirm that the company remains an SEC registrant with its securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The filings and news releases provided contain no indication of delisting, deregistration, bankruptcy or similar status changes.
FAQs
The following frequently asked questions summarize key aspects of Genuine Parts Company based on the available information.