What happened According to a SEC filing dated Feb. 2, 2026, Seizert Capital Partners, LLC increased its position in LKQ (NASDAQ:LKQ) by 503,998 shares during the fourth quarter. The estimated transaction value was $15.20 million based on quarterly average pricing. The value of the LKQ stake at quarter-end rose by $14.65 million to $65.80 million, a change reflecting both additional shares and price fluctuations. What else to know After the purchase, LKQ now 2.78% of Seizert Capital Partners’ 13F reporta ...

Core Viewpoint - LKQ Corporation has initiated a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value, which may include a potential sale of the Company [1][2]. Group 1: Strategic Review - The Board of Directors is working with advisors to evaluate the Company's strategic alternatives, aiming to identify the best path forward to unlock value not reflected in the current valuation [2]. - There is no set deadline for the completion of this strategic review, and there is no assurance that it will result in any transaction or strategic outcome [3]. Group 2: Company Operations - LKQ Corporation is a leading provider of alternative and specialty parts for repairing and accessorizing automobiles and other vehicles, with operations in North America, Europe, and Taiwan [4]. - The Company offers a broad range of OEM recycled and aftermarket parts, replacement systems, components, equipment, and services for various types of vehicles [4]. Group 3: Advisory Engagement - LKQ has engaged BofA Securities as its financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as its legal counsel for the strategic review process [3].

ANTIOCH, Tenn., Jan. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LKQ Corporation (Nasdaq: LKQ) will release fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Conference Call Details LKQ will host a conference call and webcast on February 19, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (7:00 a.m. Central Time) with members of senior management to discuss the Company's results. To access the investor conference call, please dial (833) 470-1428. International access to the call may be obtained by dialing ...

With a market cap of $8.6 billion, LKQ Corporation (LKQ) is a global distributor of replacement parts, components, and systems for vehicle repair and maintenance, serving collision and mechanical repair shops, dealerships, and retail customers. It operates across North America and Europe through four segments: Wholesale–North America, Europe, Specialty, and Self Service. The Antioch, Tennessee-based is expected to announce its fiscal Q4 2025 results soon. Ahead of this event, analysts forecast LKQ to rep ...

Core Viewpoint - LKQ Corporation is viewed positively by analysts following the announcement of a potential sale process for its Specialty segment, indicating a strategic move to simplify its portfolio [1][3]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings - John Babcock from Barclays reiterated a Hold rating on LKQ with a price target of $33 on December 5 [2]. - Jeff Lick from Stephens initiated a Buy rating with a price target of $39 on December 10, highlighting the stock as a deep-value opportunity [2][4]. Group 2: Company Strategy - The initiation of the potential sale of the Specialty segment is part of LKQ's multi-year strategy to simplify its portfolio, following the successful sale of its Self-Service segment [3]. - Management has not set a definitive timetable for the completion of the sale, indicating a careful review of market conditions for attractive divestiture opportunities [3]. Group 3: Financial Performance - Jeff Lick emphasized LKQ's strong free cash flow yield and competitive edge due to parts availability and pricing power, despite the company's low valuation [4]. - The company has faced challenges in the market, with its stock down 19% year-to-date [5].

Core Business Overview - LKQ engages in the distribution of replacement parts, components, and systems for vehicle repair and maintenance, operating through four segments: wholesale-North America, Europe, specialty, and self-service [1] - The company offers a wide range of products including bumper covers, automotive body panels, mechanical parts, salvage products, and automotive fluids, serving collision and mechanical repair shops, dealerships, and retail customers [1] Activist Involvement - Ananym Capital Management, an activist investment firm, has called on LKQ to divest its European operations and refocus on its North American business [3][11] - Ananym Capital was established in September 2024 and manages $260 million across 10 positions, seeking undervalued companies [2] Financial Performance and Segmentation - The North America segment accounts for 40% of LKQ's revenue and 55% of its EBITDA, primarily supplying aftermarket collision parts [4] - The Europe segment represents 47% of revenue and 38% of EBITDA, focusing on mechanical and suspension products, but has lower margins compared to North America [5] - The specialty segment contributes 13% of revenue and 7% of EBITDA, providing aftermarket parts for the RV market [6] Strategic Recommendations - Ananym's plan includes halting major M&A, divesting the European business, and using proceeds for buybacks and reinvestment in North America [12] - Divesting Europe would allow LKQ to focus on a higher-margin business with a larger market share, reducing complexity from operating in multiple regulatory environments [13][14] Valuation Insights - LKQ currently trades at 7.3x forward EBITDA, significantly below the mid-teens multiples of its industrial distribution peers and its historical average of 10x EBITDA [15] - A potential sale of the European business could unlock value, allowing for a re-rating of the North American business and enabling share repurchases of up to 40% of outstanding shares, potentially leading to over 60% upside from the current share price [16] Historical Context - LKQ has a history of shareholder activism, with previous campaigns leading to operational discipline and a significant increase in share price during ValueAct Capital's involvement [8][9] - Following ValueAct's exit, LKQ shifted focus back to M&A, resulting in a decline in stock price, highlighting the need for a financially astute shareholder representative [10][19] Management and Future Outlook - Ananym has established a constructive relationship with LKQ's CEO, Justin Jude, who has initiated steps towards share repurchases and divesting non-core assets [18] - The potential for Ananym to place a representative on the board could enhance financial modeling and strategic execution for LKQ [20]

Company Overview - LKQ Corporation, based in Antioch, Tennessee, is a leading provider of alternative and specialty parts for vehicle repair and accessorization, with a market cap of $7.9 billion [1] - The company operates through various segments including Wholesale-North America, Europe, Specialty, and Self-Service [1][2] Market Position - LKQ is categorized as a mid-cap stock, with its market cap exceeding the $2 billion to $10 billion range, indicating its substantial size and influence in the auto parts industry [2] Stock Performance - LKQ stock has experienced a significant decline, dropping 31.9% from its 52-week high of $44.82 on March 10, and has underperformed the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which increased by 5.5% over the same three-month period [3][4] - Year-to-date, LKQ stock prices have decreased by 17%, and over the past 52 weeks, they have fallen by 19.6%, while the Dow has gained 13.8% in 2025 and 10.5% over the past year [4] Recent Financial Results - Following the release of mixed Q3 results on October 30, LKQ's stock prices gained 3.7%. The company reported a 1.2% decrease in organic revenues for parts and services, with a net negative impact of 30 basis points from acquisitions and divestitures [5] - Despite these challenges, the overall topline increased by 1.3% year-over-year to $3.5 billion, although this was 84 basis points below market expectations [5] - The adjusted EPS decreased by 2.3% year-over-year to $0.84, but this figure surpassed consensus estimates by 13.5% [6] Competitive Comparison - Compared to its peer Mobileye Global Inc., which saw a 47.1% decline year-to-date and a 39.8% drop over the past 52 weeks, LKQ has significantly outperformed [6]

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is identified as the greatest investment opportunity of the current era, with a strong emphasis on the urgent need for energy to support its growth [1][2][3] Group 1: AI and Energy Demand - AI technologies, particularly large language models like ChatGPT, are extremely energy-intensive, with data centers consuming as much energy as small cities [2] - The increasing demand for AI is straining global power grids, leading to rising electricity prices and a need for utilities to expand capacity [2] - Industry leaders, including Sam Altman and Elon Musk, have highlighted the critical link between AI development and energy availability, warning of potential shortages [2] Group 2: Investment Opportunity - A specific company is positioned as a key player in the AI energy sector, owning critical energy infrastructure assets that will benefit from the anticipated surge in energy demand from AI data centers [3][7] - This company is not a chipmaker or cloud platform but is described as a "toll booth" operator in the energy market, profiting from the increasing need for electricity [5][6] - The company is debt-free and has significant cash reserves, equating to nearly one-third of its market capitalization, making it an attractive investment option [8] Group 3: Market Position and Growth Potential - The company plays a vital role in U.S. LNG exportation, which is expected to grow under the current administration's energy policies [7] - It is capable of executing large-scale engineering, procurement, and construction projects across various energy sectors, positioning it well for future growth [7] - The company also holds a substantial equity stake in another AI-related venture, providing investors with indirect exposure to multiple growth opportunities in the AI sector [9] Group 4: Valuation and Investor Interest - The company is trading at less than 7 times earnings, which is considered undervalued given its critical role in the AI and energy sectors [10] - There is growing interest from hedge funds, indicating that this stock is gaining attention among sophisticated investors [9] - The company is characterized as delivering real cash flows and owning essential infrastructure, distinguishing it from speculative stocks in the AI space [11]

Core Insights - Kettle Hill Capital Management acquired a new position in LKQ, purchasing 1,163,355 shares valued at approximately $35.53 million, which represents 7.99% of the fund's reported U.S. equity assets [1][2][10] - LKQ is now the largest equity holding for Kettle Hill Capital Management, with total positions increasing to 36 at the end of the quarter [2][10] - LKQ's stock has underperformed, with a price of $29.45 as of December 5, 2025, down 19.23% over the past year and lagging the S&P 500 by 34.82 percentage points [3][11] Company Overview - LKQ Corporation is a leading global distributor of automotive replacement parts, offering both new and recycled parts to a diverse customer base [6][9] - The company reported trailing twelve months (TTM) revenue of $13.96 billion and net income of $697 million, with a market capitalization of $7.95 billion [4][10] - LKQ's business model includes wholesale distribution to repair shops, dealerships, and retail customers, focusing on cost-effective vehicle repair and maintenance solutions [9][10] Performance Metrics - LKQ's shares have decreased by 8% over the last five years, resulting in a negative compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.7% [11] - In contrast, the S&P 500 has more than doubled in value during the same period, achieving a CAGR of 15.1% [11] - The company has a dividend yield of 3.87% [3]

Core Insights - Guardian Wealth Management increased its stake in LKQ to approximately $4.9 million, acquiring 77,245 shares during Q3 2025, which added an estimated $1.83 million in position value [1][2] - As of September 30, 2025, the total stake in LKQ stands at 159,199 shares, representing 2.87% of Guardian's $169.26 million in reportable U.S. equity assets [2][3] Company Overview - LKQ reported a total revenue of $13.96 billion and a net income of $697 million for the trailing twelve months (TTM) [4] - The company has a dividend yield of 3.97% and its stock price was $29.45 as of December 5, 2025 [4] Performance Analysis - LKQ's stock has declined by 46% over the past three years, resulting in a negative compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -16.8%, while the S&P 500 has increased by 82% during the same period [10] - Recent developments indicate LKQ is exploring a potential sale of its Keystone Automotive division, which may help raise cash and refocus on its core business of aftermarket and recycled auto parts [11] Business Model - LKQ operates as a leading distributor of aftermarket and recycled automotive parts, serving customers across North America and Europe [6][9] - The company sources parts from manufacturers and salvage operations, supplying them to repair shops, dealerships, and retail consumers [9]