LKQ (NASDAQ:LKQ) Shares Up 4.4% – Here’s Why

LKQ Co. (NASDAQ:LKQ) rose 4.4% on Monday . The company traded as high as $40.24 and last traded at $40.21. Approximately 306,563 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 84% from the average daily volume of 1,928,650 shares. The stock had previously closed at $38.50.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

LKQ has been the subject of several recent research reports. Roth Mkm reissued a “buy” rating and set a $59.00 price objective on shares of LKQ in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on LKQ from $54.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. StockNews.com raised LKQ from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Barrington Research reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $60.00 price objective on shares of LKQ in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of LKQ from $53.00 to $47.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $53.80.

LKQ Stock Performance

The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $38.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $40.77. The company has a current ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market cap of $10.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.90 and a beta of 1.29.

LKQ (NASDAQ:LKQ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The auto parts company reported $0.88 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.87 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $3.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.65 billion. LKQ had a return on equity of 15.15% and a net margin of 4.90%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.86 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that LKQ Co. will post 3.43 earnings per share for the current year.

LKQ Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 27th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.02%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 14th. LKQ’s dividend payout ratio is currently 44.78%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On LKQ

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of LKQ. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in LKQ during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Rothschild Investment LLC bought a new stake in shares of LKQ during the second quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Allworth Financial LP increased its holdings in shares of LKQ by 94.2% in the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,010 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 490 shares in the last quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC raised its position in LKQ by 33.5% in the 3rd quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 1,151 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 289 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise increased its stake in shares of LKQ by 29.8% in the 2nd quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 1,211 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 278 shares during the period. 95.63% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

LKQ Company Profile

LKQ Corporation engages in the distribution of replacement parts, components, and systems used in the repair and maintenance of vehicles and specialty vehicle aftermarket products and accessories. It operates through four segments: Wholesale-North America, Europe, Specialty, and Self Service. The company distributes bumper covers, automotive body panels, and lights, as well as mechanical automotive parts and accessories; salvage products, including mechanical and collision parts comprising engines; transmissions; door assemblies; sheet metal products, such as trunk lids, fenders, and hoods; lights and bumper assemblies; scrap metal and other materials to metals recyclers; and brake pads, discs and sensors, clutches, steering and suspension products, filters, and oil and automotive fluids, as well as electrical products, including spark plugs and batteries.