LKQ Co. (NASDAQ:LKQ) Stock Position Lifted by Rice Hall James & Associates LLC

Rice Hall James & Associates LLC boosted its stake in shares of LKQ Co. (NASDAQ:LKQ) by 408.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 443,030 shares of the auto parts company’s stock after purchasing an additional 355,815 shares during the period. Rice Hall James & Associates LLC owned about 0.17% of LKQ worth $16,281,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its position in LKQ by 657.4% during the fourth quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,733 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $247,000 after purchasing an additional 5,844 shares in the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC lifted its stake in LKQ by 13.5% in the fourth quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 38,292 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $1,464,000 after acquiring an additional 4,567 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP lifted its stake in LKQ by 107.8% in the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 2,099 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $82,000 after acquiring an additional 1,089 shares during the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. lifted its stake in LKQ by 20.1% in the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 10,161 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $373,000 after acquiring an additional 1,700 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in LKQ by 25.9% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,847 shares of the auto parts company’s stock valued at $105,000 after acquiring an additional 585 shares during the last quarter. 95.63% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LKQ has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com upgraded shares of LKQ from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Barrington Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $60.00 target price on shares of LKQ in a research note on Friday. 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. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of LKQ from $50.00 to $48.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of LKQ from $50.00 to $48.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $52.40.

Insider Activity at LKQ

In related news, Director Dominick P. Zarcone sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.84, for a total transaction of $184,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 374,462 shares in the company, valued at $13,795,180.08. This represents a 1.32 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.55% of the company’s stock.

LKQ Price Performance

Shares of LKQ stock opened at $39.11 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $37.48 and a 200-day simple moving average of $38.73. The company has a current ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. LKQ Co. has a 1-year low of $35.56 and a 1-year high of $53.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.59 and a beta of 1.29.

LKQ 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.