This dividend star keeps shining

Article Excerpt

GENUINE PARTS CO. $51 (New York symbol GPC; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 157.5 million; Market cap: $8.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 3.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.genpt.com) distributes auto parts to over 4,800 independent stores in North America. The company also operates about 1,000 auto parts stores under the NAPA banner. Auto parts account for roughly 50% of its sales, and 55% of its earnings. The company also distributes industrial parts (30% of sales, 30% of earnings), office furniture (15%, 10%), and electrical equipment (5%, 5%). Genuine Parts’ exposure to a variety of businesses helps protect it from slowdowns in certain industries. 54 years of rising dividends Genuine Parts began operating in 1928, and has a long history of profitability, even during economic downturns. It has also raised its dividend for the past 54 consecutive years. Sales rose 12.6%, from $9.8 billion in 2005 to $11.0 billion in 2008. The recession caused 2009 sales to fall 8.7%, to $10.1 billion…