GPC vs. LOW: Genuine Parts vs. Lowe's Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW) both fall under the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group, but GPC is classified in Distributors while LOW is classified in Specialty Retail.

Company profile comparison for Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW)
Profile Item	GPC	LOW
Name	Genuine Parts Company	Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Distributors	Specialty Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Distributors	Home Improvement Retail
Market Capitalization	16.93 billion USD	125.98 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GPC

LOW

GSPC

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW)
Metric	GPC	LOW
Total Return (1Y)	3.03%	1.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	0.86%	9.02%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	1.55%	1.87%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GPC

LOW

GSPC

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW)
Metric	GPC	LOW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	33.94%	30.08%
Beta (5Y)	0.63	0.78
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-45.70%	-36.85%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.02M	3.23M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

GPC and LOW are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW)
Metric	GPC	LOW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.04	-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.05	-0.13

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Genuine Parts (GPC) earns 0.66% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Lowe's (LOW) has no ROE this period.

GPC

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.66%

Max: 62.17%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
GPC: 0.66%
Min: -12.16%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

Max: 62.17%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%
LOW: --

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW): LOW does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; GPC is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Lowe's (LOW) at 7.35% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Genuine Parts (GPC) at 0.12% retains only a bottom-quartile share.

GPC

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.12%

Max: 16.94%
Q3: 8.69%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
GPC: 0.12%
Min: -9.41%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

7.35%

Max: 16.94%
Q3: 8.69%
LOW: 7.35%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Lowe's (LOW) at 13.37% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Genuine Parts (GPC) at 6.36%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

GPC

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.36%

Max: 21.45%
Q3: 10.89%
GPC: 6.36%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.37%

Max: 21.45%
LOW: 13.37%
Q3: 10.89%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW)
Metric	GPC	LOW
ROE (TTM)	0.66%	--
ROA (TTM)	4.41%	12.52%
Net Margin (TTM)	0.12%	7.35%
Operating Margin (TTM)	6.36%	13.37%
Gross Margin (TTM)	37.74%	32.99%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Genuine Parts (GPC) at 3.46% and Lowe's (LOW) at 3.12% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Lowe's (LOW) at -3.11% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Genuine Parts (GPC) at -92.74% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW)
Metric	GPC	LOW
Revenue Growth (YoY)	3.46%	3.12%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.22%	-3.85%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-92.74%	-3.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-61.61%	5.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Genuine Parts (GPC) at 1.22 and Lowe's (LOW) at 1.11 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

GPC

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.22

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
Median: 1.35
GPC: 1.22
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.48

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.11

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
Median: 1.35
LOW: 1.11
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.48

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Genuine Parts (GPC) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46 against its industry range, while Lowe's (LOW) reports no figure this period.

GPC

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.46

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
GPC: 1.46
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.01

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.01
LOW: --

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW): LOW does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; GPC is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW)
Metric	GPC	LOW
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.22	1.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.46	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.94	3.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Genuine Parts (GPC) at 3.39% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Lowe's (LOW) at 2.13% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, GPC the richer one.

GPC

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.39%

Max: 5.84%
GPC: 3.39%
Q3: 2.50%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.13%

Max: 5.84%
Q3: 2.50%
LOW: 2.13%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Genuine Parts (GPC) reports payout ratio above 100% at 1,622.12%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Lowe's (LOW) reports 41.00%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GPC

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1,622.12%

GPC: 1,622.12%
Max: 72.73%
Q3: 32.44%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

41.00%

Max: 72.73%
LOW: 41.00%
Q3: 32.44%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW)
Metric	GPC	LOW
Dividend Yield (TTM)	3.39%	2.13%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	1,622.12%	41.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Lowe's (LOW) at 18.98 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Genuine Parts (GPC) at 472.31 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for GPC’s trailing earnings.

GPC

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

472.31

GPC: 472.31
Max: 40.50
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

18.98

Max: 40.50
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
LOW: 18.98
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Genuine Parts (GPC) at 0.67 and Lowe's (LOW) at 1.39 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

GPC

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.67

Max: 4.32
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
GPC: 0.67
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.39

Max: 4.32
Q3: 1.99
LOW: 1.39
Median: 0.70
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Lowe's (LOW) reports a negative P/B ratio of -16.94, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Genuine Parts (GPC) reports 3.64, ranking against industry peers normally.

GPC

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.64

Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
GPC: 3.64
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

-16.94

Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45
LOW: -16.94

Genuine Parts (GPC) vs. Lowe's (LOW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Genuine Parts (GPC) and Lowe's (LOW)
Metric	GPC	LOW
P/E Ratio (TTM)	472.31	18.98
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.67	1.39
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.64	-16.94
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	5.41%	3.66%