ATLANTA, April 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) announced today first quarter sales and earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Sales for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017 were $3.91 billion, a 5% increase compared to $3.72 billion for the same period in 2016. Net income for the first quarter was $160.2 million compared to $158.0 million recorded for the same period in the previous year. Earnings per share on a diluted basis were $1.08, up 3% from $1.05 for the first quarter last year.

Paul Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased that our total sales increase in the first quarter of 2017 represents positive sequential sales improvement and is our strongest quarterly growth since the fourth quarter of 2014. As a diversified global distributor, we benefited from strong total sales growth in our international automotive, industrial, electrical and office operations. The strength in these areas was partially offset by the headwinds in our U.S. automotive business, which we are working to overcome."

First quarter sales for the Automotive Group were up 3%, including an approximate 0.5% comparable sales increase. Sales at Motion Industries, our Industrial Group, were up 7%, including a 3% comparable sales increase, and sales at EIS, our Electrical/Electronic Group, were up 5%, with comparable sales up 2.5%. Sales for S.P. Richards, our Office Products Group, were up 9% for the quarter, including a 2.5% decrease in comparable sales.

Mr. Donahue concluded, "It is encouraging that our overall growth was driven by sales increases across all four of our businesses, with positive comparable sales in all but one segment. Our teams have worked hard to position the Company for stronger growth and remain focused on key sales and cost initiatives to build on our first quarter performance as we move forward in the year. We are excited by the future growth prospects across our broad platform, and will continue to support this growth with a strong balance sheet, solid cash flows and effective capital allocation intended to maximize shareholder value."

2017 Outlook

The Company expects sales to be up 3% to 4% for the full year, which is unchanged from the initial guidance, and is raising its outlook for diluted earnings per share to $4.75 to $4.85 compared to the initial outlook of $4.70 to $4.80.

Conference Call

Genuine Parts Company will hold a conference call today at 11:00 a.m. EDT to discuss the results of the quarter and the future outlook. Interested parties may listen to the call on the Company's website, www.genpt.com, by clicking "Investors", or by dialing 800-949-2163, conference ID 2672294. A replay will also be available on the Company's website or at 844-512-2921, conference ID 2672294, two hours after the completion of the call until 12:00 a.m. Eastern time on May 3, 2017.

Forward Looking Statements

Some statements in this report, as well as in other materials we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or otherwise release to the public and in materials that we make available on our website, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Senior officers may also make verbal statements to analysts, investors, the media and others that are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may relate, for example, to future operations, prospects, strategies, financial condition, economic performance (including growth and earnings), industry conditions and demand for our products and services. The Company cautions that its forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and while we believe that our expectations for the future are reasonable in view of currently available information, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events may differ materially from those indicated as a result of various important factors. Such factors may include, among other things, the Company's ability to successfully implement its business initiatives in each of its four business segments; slowing demand for the Company's products; changes in legislation or government regulations or policies; changes in general economic conditions, including unemployment, inflation or deflation; changes in tax policies; volatile exchange rates; high energy costs; uncertain credit markets and other macro-economic conditions; competitive product, service and pricing pressures; the ability to maintain favorable vendor arrangements and relationships; disruptions in our vendors' operations; the Company's ability to successfully integrate its acquired businesses; the uncertainties and costs of litigation; disruptions caused by a failure or breach of the Company's information systems, as well as other risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2016 and from time to time in the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no duty to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our subsequent Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other reports to the SEC.

About Genuine Parts Company

Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australasia. The Company also distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico through its Motion Industries subsidiary. S. P. Richards Company, the Office Products Group, distributes business products in the U.S. and Canada. The Electrical/Electronic Group, EIS, Inc., distributes electrical and electronic components throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.



                                                                GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES

                                                             CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                                             -------------------------------------------



                                                                                                            Three Months Ended March
                                                                                                                     31,

                                                                                                                 2017             2016
                                                                                                                 ----             ----

                                                                                                                (Unaudited)

                                                                                                         (in thousands, except per
                                                                                                                share data)


    Net sales                                                                                              $3,905,641       $3,718,267

    Cost of goods sold                                                                                      2,749,920        2,613,796
                                                                                                            ---------        ---------

    Gross profit                                                                                            1,155,721        1,104,471


    Operating expenses:

    Selling, administrative & other expenses                                                                  873,814          823,172

    Depreciation and amortization                                                                              38,132           34,654
                                                                                                               ------           ------

                                                                                                              911,946          857,826


    Income before income taxes                                                                                243,775          246,645

    Income taxes                                                                                               83,615           88,620
                                                                                                               ------           ------


    Net income                                                                                               $160,160         $158,025
                                                                                                             ========         ========


    Basic net income per common share                                                                           $1.08            $1.06


    Diluted net income per common share                                                                         $1.08            $1.05


    Weighted average common shares outstanding                                                                148,154          149,593


    Dilutive effect of stock options and

       non-vested restricted stock awards                                                                         634              749
                                                                                                                  ---              ---


    Weighted average common shares outstanding - assuming dilution                                            148,788          150,342
                                                                                                              =======          =======



                                                           GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES

                                                        SEGMENT INFORMATION AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                                                        --------------------------------------------



                                                                                                                                           Three Months Ended March 31,

                                                                                                                                                   2017                    2016
                                                                                                                                                   ----                    ----

                                                                                                                                                  (Unaudited)

                                                                                                                                                (in thousands)


    Net sales:

    Automotive                                                                                                                               $1,998,383              $1,932,178

    Industrial                                                                                                                                1,232,082               1,152,627

    Office Products                                                                                                                             519,005                 476,654

          Electrical/Electronic Materials                                                                                                       184,417                 175,847

    Other (1)                                                                                                                                  (28,246)               (19,039)
                                                                                                                                                -------                 -------

    Total net sales                                                                                                                          $3,905,641              $3,718,267
                                                                                                                                             ==========              ==========


    Operating profit:

    Automotive                                                                                                                                 $151,757                $153,710

    Industrial                                                                                                                                   90,374                  81,833

    Office Products                                                                                                                              31,119                  34,204

    Electrical/Electronic Materials                                                                                                              13,635                  14,841
                                                                                                                                                 ------                  ------

    Total operating profit                                                                                                                      286,885                 284,588

    Interest expense, net                                                                                                                       (6,174)                (4,822)

    Intangible amortization                                                                                                                    (10,806)                (8,760)

    Other, net                                                                                                                                 (26,130)               (24,361)
                                                                                                                                                -------                 -------

    Income before income taxes                                                                                                                 $243,775                $246,645
                                                                                                                                               ========                ========


    Capital expenditures                                                                                                                        $24,806                 $11,670
                                                                                                                                                =======                 =======


    Depreciation and amortization                                                                                                               $38,132                 $34,654
                                                                                                                                                =======                 =======


                                     (1) Represents the net effect of discounts, incentives and freight billed reported as a component of net sales.



                                                           GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES

                                                            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                                            -------------------------------------



                                                                                                    March 31,               March 31,

                                                                                                                       2017                 2016
                                                                                                                       ----                 ----

                                                                                                   (Unaudited)

                                                                                                  (in thousands)

    ASSETS

    CURRENT ASSETS

    Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                      $177,917             $205,135

    Trade accounts receivable, net                                                                                2,084,871            1,981,651

    Merchandise inventories, net                                                                                  3,287,042            3,074,641

    Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                                                       644,232              508,841
                                                                                                                    -------              -------


    TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS                                                                                          6,194,062            5,770,268


    Goodwill and other intangible assets, less accumulated                                                        1,608,466            1,412,985
    amortization

    Deferred tax assets                                                                                             129,539              114,917

    Other assets                                                                                                    497,553              504,153

    Net property, plant and equipment                                                                               737,206              648,204
                                                                                                                    -------              -------


    TOTAL ASSETS                                                                                                 $9,166,826           $8,450,527
                                                                                                                 ==========           ==========


    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

    CURRENT LIABILITIES

    Trade accounts payable                                                                                       $3,230,985           $2,961,318

    Current portion of debt                                                                                         475,000              450,000

    Income taxes payable                                                                                             65,270               46,137

    Dividends payable                                                                                                99,824               98,339

    Other current liabilities                                                                                       708,754              656,132
                                                                                                                    -------              -------


    TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES                                                                                     4,579,833            4,211,926



    Long-term debt                                                                                                  550,000              250,000

    Pension and other post-retirement benefit liabilities                                                           287,589              231,652

    Deferred tax liabilities                                                                                         49,328               50,736

    Other long-term liabilities                                                                                     467,732              462,501


    Common stock                                                                                                    147,394              149,623

    Retained earnings                                                                                             4,021,848            3,944,626

    Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                                          (950,269)           (862,519)
                                                                                                                   --------             --------


    TOTAL  PARENT EQUITY                                                                                          3,218,973            3,231,730


    Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries                                                                         13,371               11,982
                                                                                                                     ------               ------


    TOTAL  EQUITY                                                                                                 3,232,344            3,243,712
                                                                                                                  ---------            ---------


    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                                                                                 $9,166,826           $8,450,527
                                                                                                                 ==========           ==========





                                                                        GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES

                                                                    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                                                    -----------------------------------------------



                                                                                                                    Three Months Ended March
                                                                                                                              31,

                                                                                                                          2017             2016
                                                                                                                          ----             ----

                                                                                                                        (Unaudited)

                                                                                                                       (in thousands)

    OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    Net income                                                                                                        $160,160         $158,025

    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
    activities:

    Depreciation and amortization                                                                                       38,132           34,654

    Share-based compensation                                                                                             2,717            4,249

    Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation                                                                  (1,546)         (5,144)

    Changes in operating assets and liabilities                                                                       (97,643)        (56,739)
                                                                                                                       -------          -------


    NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES                                                                          101,820          135,045


    INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    Purchases of property, plant and equipment                                                                        (24,806)        (11,670)

    Acquisitions and other investing activities                                                                      (106,236)        (73,625)
                                                                                                                      --------          -------


    NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES                                                                            (131,042)        (85,295)


    FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    Proceeds from debt                                                                                               1,005,000          975,000

    Payments on debt                                                                                                 (855,000)       (900,000)

    Share-based awards exercised, net of taxes paid                                                                    (1,624)         (5,586)

    Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation                                                                        -           5,144

    Dividends paid                                                                                                    (97,584)        (92,596)

    Purchases of stock                                                                                                (91,984)        (46,431)
                                                                                                                       -------          -------


    NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES                                                                             (41,192)        (64,469)


    EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH                                                                              5,452            8,223
                                                                                                                         -----            -----


    NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                                                                         (64,962)         (6,496)


    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD                                                                   242,879          211,631
                                                                                                                       -------          -------


    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD                                                                        $177,917         $205,135
                                                                                                                      ========         ========

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SOURCE Genuine Parts Company