U.S. auto-industry stocks: 1 buy & 1 hold

Article Excerpt

Genuine Parts and Snap-On get most of their earnings from the cyclical automotive industry. Despite the volatility of their earnings, each firm has a long history of raising its dividend. We continue to like the long-term outlook for both. However, we see only one as a buy for right now. GENUINE PARTS CO. $93 (New York symbol GPC; Income-Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Indus try sector; Shares outstanding: 148.9 million; Market cap: $13.8 billion; Dividend yield: 2.9%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.genpt.com) gets 52% of its sales and 58% of its earnings by selling replacement auto parts. It also makes industrial parts (30% of sales, 27% of earnings), office products (13%, 10%) and electrical equipment (5%, 5%). Starting with the April 2017 quarterly dividend payment, investors will receive $0.675 a share, up 2.9% from $0.6575. The new annual rate of $2.70 yields 2.8%. Genuine has now increased that rate each year for the past 61 years. Focusing on small acquisitions cuts risk The…