LKQ vs ORLY vs AZO vs GPC

For growth investors, O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.

(ORLY) is the stronger pick with 6. 4% 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 LKQ Corporation (LKQ) a "Buy" — based on 22 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 Genuine Parts Company at 223. 9x. On forward P/E, LKQ Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: AutoZone, Inc. wins at 1. 59x versus LKQ Corporation's 4. 01x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.

(ORLY) delivered a total return of +152. 3%, compared to -32. 1% for LKQ Corporation (LKQ). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ORLY returned +431. 0% versus LKQ's +3. 7%. 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), O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.

(ORLY) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 14β versus LKQ Corporation's 0. 90β — meaning LKQ is approximately 528% more volatile than ORLY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LKQ Corporation (LKQ) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 186% for Genuine Parts Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.

(ORLY) is pulling ahead at 6. 4% versus -3. 1% for LKQ Corporation (LKQ). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. grew EPS 9. 6% year-over-year, compared to -92. 7% for Genuine Parts Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, ORLY leads at 7. 3% 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.

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.

(ORLY) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 3% net margin versus 0. 3% for Genuine Parts Company — meaning it keeps 14. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ORLY leads at 19. 5% versus 5. 0% for GPC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AZO leads at 52. 6%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 59x versus LKQ Corporation's 4. 01x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, LKQ Corporation (LKQ) trades at 9. 5x forward P/E versus 29. 2x for O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. — 19. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LKQ: 34. 7% to $38. 67.

In this comparison, LKQ (4.

2% yield), GPC (3. 8% yield) pay a dividend. ORLY, AZO do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.

(ORLY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 14), +431. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ORLY: +431. 0%, LKQ: +3. 7%), 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.

In terms of investment character: LKQ is a small-cap deep-value stock; ORLY is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AZO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; GPC is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. LKQ, GPC pay a dividend while ORLY, AZO do 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.