Auto-related stocks report higher earnings

Article Excerpt

GENUINE PARTS CO. $97 (New York symbol GPC; Income-Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Indus try sector; Shares outstanding: 146.8 million; Market cap: $14.2 billion; Dividend yield: 3.0%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.genpt.com) sells replacement auto parts through 1,100 outlets under the NAPA banner; and the company’s distribution business serves 4,900 independent stores in North America, Australia and New Zealand. Genuine also distributes industrial parts, office products and electrical equipment. With the April 2018 payment, Genuine raised its quarterly dividend by 6.7%, to $0.72 a share from $0.675. The new annual rate of $2.88 yields 3.0%. In April 2018, the company announced that it would spin off its S.P. Richards business. As a separate company, S.P. Richards will then merge with Essendant Inc. (Nasdaq symbol ESND). The new Essendant should have annual sales of $7.3 billion and be a leading distributor of furniture, and janitorial and office products. Genuine shareholders will hold 51% of the combined company, with investors in the old Essendant owning 49%. However, Sycamore…