Morningstar | LKQ Reports Solid 2Q Results, Tweaks 2018 Guidance Higher; Maintaining $43 FVE
Narrow-moat-rated LKQ, which provides alternative and specialty parts to repair and accessorize vehicles, reported second-quarter earnings per share before special items of $0.61, $0.03 better than the consensus EPS of $0.58 but $0.08 higher than the $0.53 reported in the same period a year ago. Organic parts and service revenue growth was strong at 7.2%, while acquisitions added 12.7% and favorable currency translation added 2.9%. Total consolidated revenue, including LKQ’s scrap metal business, was up 23.3% to $3.0 billion versus $2.5 billion reported in the second quarter of 2017. The 4-star-rated LKQ shares currently trade at an attractive 22% discount to our $43 fair value estimate.Europe organic growth was exceptionally strong at 8.3% on new branches opened in Eastern Europe. North America second-quarter organic growth was impressive and above management's long-term target of 4%-6%, increasing 7.4%. Growth was attributable to healthier volume after mild winter weather affected first-quarter 2018 results, but also favorable wholesale pricing during the second quarter. However, the outperformance in North America was partially offset by softer specialty segment organic growth of 4.1%. Higher steel prices drove scrap organic growth to 30.2%.
Consequently, management tweaked guidance slightly higher on combined organic growth and better margin guidance on the ramp-up of a large automated distribution facility in the U.K. The new guidance increased management’s adjusted income from continuing operations guidance by $25 million, to a range of $710 million to $735 million. This resulted in a $0.04 increase in the midpoint of EPS guidance to $2.25 to $2.33. We maintained our 2018 EPS estimate of $2.30, including the Stahlgruber acquisition that closed on June 30.
LKQ is a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides alternative vehicle collision replacement products and alternative vehicle mechanical replacement products. The company is also a provider of alternative vehicle replacement and maintenance products in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Benelux region (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg), Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, and other European countries. In addition to its wholesale operations, the company operates self service retail facilities across the United States that sell recycled automotive products from end-of-life-vehicles. The company is also a distributor of specialty vehicle aftermarket equipment and accessories.
Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company offer an extensive line of products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, and retirement plan providers and sponsors.
Morningstar provides data on approximately 530,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles, along with real-time global market data on more than 18 million equities, indexes, futures, options, commodities, and precious metals, in addition to foreign exchange and Treasury markets. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its investment advisory subsidiaries and had approximately $185 billion in assets under advisement and management as of June 30, 2016.
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