PRTS vs LKQ

For growth investors, LKQ Corporation (LKQ) is the stronger pick with -3.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 0% for CarParts. com, Inc. (PRTS). 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.

Over the past 5 years, LKQ Corporation (LKQ) delivered a total return of -31.

0%, compared to -94. 0% for CarParts. com, Inc. (PRTS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LKQ returned +4. 2% versus PRTS's -72. 5%. 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 CarParts. com, Inc. 's 1. 28β — meaning PRTS is approximately 43% more volatile than LKQ relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CarParts. com, Inc. (PRTS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 47% versus 77% for LKQ Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), LKQ Corporation (LKQ) is pulling ahead at -3.

1% versus -7. 0% for CarParts. com, Inc. (PRTS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LKQ Corporation grew EPS -10. 6% year-over-year, compared to -15. 5% for CarParts. com, Inc.. 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 -9. 2% for CarParts. com, Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LKQ leads at 7. 8% versus -8. 9% for PRTS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LKQ leads at 38. 0%, 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.

In this comparison, LKQ (4.

2% yield) pays a dividend. PRTS 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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LKQ: +4. 2%, PRTS: -72. 5%), 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: PRTS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LKQ is a small-cap deep-value stock. LKQ pays a dividend while PRTS 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.