HLLY vs LKQ

For growth investors, Holley Inc.

(HLLY) is the stronger pick with 1. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 1% for LKQ Corporation (LKQ). LKQ Corporation (LKQ) offers the better valuation at 12. 2x trailing P/E (9. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Holley Inc. (HLLY) a "Buy" — based on 11 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, LKQ Corporation (LKQ) is the cheapest at 12.

2x versus Holley Inc. at 15. 8x. On forward P/E, Holley Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, LKQ Corporation (LKQ) delivered a total return of -32.

1%, compared to -74. 8% for Holley Inc. (HLLY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LKQ returned +3. 7% versus HLLY's -74. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), LKQ Corporation (LKQ) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

90β versus Holley Inc. 's 1. 94β — meaning HLLY is approximately 117% more volatile than LKQ relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LKQ Corporation (LKQ) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 116% for Holley Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Holley Inc.

(HLLY) is pulling ahead at 1. 9% versus -3. 1% for LKQ Corporation (LKQ). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Holley Inc. grew EPS 180. 0% year-over-year, compared to -10. 6% for LKQ Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, LKQ leads at 2. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

LKQ Corporation (LKQ) is the more profitable company, earning 4.

4% net margin versus 3. 1% for Holley Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HLLY leads at 14. 3% versus 7. 8% for LKQ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HLLY leads at 41. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Holley Inc.

(HLLY) trades at 7. 4x forward P/E versus 9. 5x for LKQ Corporation — 2. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HLLY: 148. 0% to $6. 25.

In this comparison, LKQ (4.

2% yield) pays a dividend. HLLY does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, LKQ Corporation (LKQ) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

90), 4. 2% yield). Holley Inc. (HLLY) carries a higher beta of 1. 94 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LKQ: +3. 7%, HLLY: -74. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

LKQ pays a dividend while HLLY does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.