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GPC vs. LOW: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

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Here’s a clear look at GPC and LOW, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

SymbolGPCLOW
Company NameGenuine Parts CompanyLowe's Companies, Inc.
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS IndustryDistributorsSpecialty Retail
Market Capitalization19.40 billion USD147.95 billion USD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of GPC and LOW by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

GPC vs. LOW: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolGPCLOW
5-Day Price Return1.72%5.12%
13-Week Price Return11.52%15.99%
26-Week Price Return14.67%5.19%
52-Week Price Return-2.90%8.81%
Month-to-Date Return8.24%17.96%
Year-to-Date Return19.48%6.86%
10-Day Avg. Volume0.94M3.78M
3-Month Avg. Volume1.21M2.77M
3-Month Volatility24.19%23.94%
Beta0.790.90

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

GPC

17.79%

Distributors Industry

Max
18.85%
Q3
17.85%
Median
13.11%
Q1
11.23%
Min
11.19%

GPC’s Return on Equity of 17.79% is on par with the norm for the Distributors industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

LOW

264.53%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
61.19%
Q3
37.24%
Median
18.81%
Q1
8.92%
Min
-13.03%

LOW’s Return on Equity of 264.53% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Specialty Retail industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

GPC vs. LOW: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

GPC

3.40%

Distributors Industry

Max
5.04%
Q3
4.92%
Median
4.56%
Q1
4.55%
Min
4.54%

GPC’s Net Profit Margin of 3.40% is below the typical range for the Distributors industry. This suggests the company may be facing challenges with cost control or operating in a highly competitive environment that limits its pricing power.

LOW

8.22%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
21.28%
Q3
10.68%
Median
6.08%
Q1
2.43%
Min
-4.54%

LOW’s Net Profit Margin of 8.22% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Specialty Retail industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

GPC vs. LOW: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

GPC

4.95%

Distributors Industry

Max
11.14%
Q3
7.80%
Median
5.53%
Q1
3.65%
Min
3.17%

GPC’s Operating Profit Margin of 4.95% is around the midpoint for the Distributors industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

LOW

12.38%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
33.35%
Q3
15.84%
Median
9.34%
Q1
3.83%
Min
-8.97%

LOW’s Operating Profit Margin of 12.38% is around the midpoint for the Specialty Retail industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

GPC vs. LOW: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolGPCLOW
Return on Equity (TTM)17.79%264.53%
Return on Assets (TTM)4.06%15.37%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)3.40%8.22%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)4.95%12.38%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)36.88%33.37%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

GPC

1.14

Distributors Industry

Max
1.81
Q3
1.72
Median
1.48
Q1
1.24
Min
1.15

GPC’s Current Ratio of 1.14 is notably low, falling beneath the typical range for the Distributors industry. This suggests a heightened liquidity risk and could indicate potential challenges in meeting its short-term obligations.

LOW

1.01

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
2.83
Q3
1.89
Median
1.39
Q1
1.11
Min
0.64

LOW’s Current Ratio of 1.01 falls into the lower quartile for the Specialty Retail industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

GPC vs. LOW: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

GPC

1.02

Distributors Industry

Max
1.09
Q3
0.98
Median
0.75
Q1
0.52
Min
0.46

GPC’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Distributors industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.02. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.

LOW

52.23

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
3.02
Q3
1.57
Median
0.64
Q1
0.20
Min
0.00

With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 52.23, LOW operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Specialty Retail industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.

GPC vs. LOW: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

GPC

13.15

Distributors Industry

Max
13.15
Q3
10.84
Median
5.59
Q1
4.01
Min
3.80

GPC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 13.15 is in the upper quartile for the Distributors industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.

LOW

7.97

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
48.12
Q3
35.95
Median
14.13
Q1
3.61
Min
-36.00

LOW’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 7.97 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Specialty Retail industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

GPC vs. LOW: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolGPCLOW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.141.01
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.490.19
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)1.0252.23
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)13.157.97

Growth

Revenue Growth

GPC vs. LOW: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

GPC vs. LOW: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

GPC

2.93%

Distributors Industry

Max
44.83%
Q3
35.02%
Median
4.81%
Q1
3.26%
Min
1.54%

GPC’s Dividend Yield of 2.93% is in the lower quartile for the Distributors industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

LOW

1.79%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
6.53%
Q3
2.69%
Median
1.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LOW’s Dividend Yield of 1.79% is consistent with its peers in the Specialty Retail industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

GPC vs. LOW: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

GPC

69.26%

Distributors Industry

Max
1,122.47%
Q3
858.23%
Median
55.08%
Q1
44.32%
Min
34.92%

GPC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 69.26% is within the typical range for the Distributors industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

LOW

37.67%

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
165.81%
Q3
80.94%
Median
31.61%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LOW’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 37.67% is within the typical range for the Specialty Retail industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

GPC vs. LOW: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolGPCLOW
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.93%1.79%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)69.26%37.67%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

GPC

23.67

Distributors Industry

Max
28.99
Q3
25.04
Median
23.42
Q1
13.71
Min
6.24

GPC’s P/E Ratio of 23.67 is within the middle range for the Distributors industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

LOW

21.09

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
48.56
Q3
29.15
Median
22.00
Q1
15.46
Min
7.95

LOW’s P/E Ratio of 21.09 is within the middle range for the Specialty Retail industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

GPC vs. LOW: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

GPC

0.81

Distributors Industry

Max
1.14
Q3
1.14
Median
0.96
Q1
0.61
Min
0.28

GPC’s P/S Ratio of 0.81 aligns with the market consensus for the Distributors industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

LOW

1.73

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
5.08
Q3
2.69
Median
1.23
Q1
0.48
Min
0.09

LOW’s P/S Ratio of 1.73 aligns with the market consensus for the Specialty Retail industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

GPC vs. LOW: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

GPC

3.58

Distributors Industry

Max
3.72
Q3
3.57
Median
3.12
Q1
2.41
Min
1.47

GPC’s P/B Ratio of 3.58 is in the upper tier for the Distributors industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

LOW

316.28

Specialty Retail Industry

Max
16.93
Q3
7.98
Median
3.69
Q1
1.79
Min
0.21

At 316.28, LOW’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Specialty Retail industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

GPC vs. LOW: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Distributors and Specialty Retail industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolGPCLOW
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)23.6721.09
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)0.811.73
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)3.58316.28
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)43.6121.61