In this article, we will take a look at the 5 best auto parts stocks to buy now. If you want to explore similar stocks, you can also take a look at 5 Best Auto Parts Stocks to Buy Now.
The auto industry is facing unprecedented challenges and changes, such as rising demand for electric vehicles, supply chain disruptions, and global chip shortages. Nevertheless, the auto parts segment is expected to thrive, driven by the growing need for replacement parts, maintenance, and repair services.
The auto parts industry is a vital component of the global automotive sector. It encompasses the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of various components and parts used in the production and repair of vehicles. Auto parts include everything from engines, transmissions, brakes, and steering systems to electronics, tires, and batteries.
The industry has experienced significant growth in recent years due to the increase in vehicle ownership and the rise of emerging markets, particularly in Asia. The industry is also benefiting from the increasing popularity of electric vehicles and the development of advanced technologies such as autonomous driving and connected cars.
Global Auto Parts Industry Expected To Reach $2.7 Trillion By 2028
According to an industry analysis report by Expert Market Research, the global auto parts manufacturing industry was valued at $2.2 trillion in 2022. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.2% from 2023 through 2028 and attain a value of $2.7 trillion by the end of the forecasted period.
Car Prices Rise and Sales Tumble
According to Bloomberg, car payments for both new and used cars are up significantly from pre-pandemic levels. In March 2023, the average payment for a new car was roughly $730, up 27% from the pre-Covid period. For used cars, the average payment surged to $541 in March, up 34% from before Covid-19.
Car prices are surging and auto sales are plateauing. Keeping December 2019 as a reference point, the trailing twelve-month revenue generated by new car sales was up 18.2% in February 2022. This figure grew slightly, by 1.5% year-over-year, and reached 19.7% in February 2023. Revenue from used car sales fell from 36.3% in February 2022 to 31.7% in February 2023. However, within the broader auto industry, the auto parts segment is exhibiting consistent revenue growth. The auto parts segment grew its TTM revenue from 18.6% in February 2022, to 30% in February 2023.
With rising auto prices and flattening auto sales, courtesy of higher interest rates, consumers seem inclined towards maintenance of their cars instead of purchasing a new one. As the demand for replacement parts and services grows, investors may want to consider adding auto parts stocks to their portfolio. We have compiled a list of the best auto parts stocks to buy now, which include LKQ Corporation (NASDAQ:LKQ), Autoliv Inc. (NYSE:ALV), and Aptiv PLC (NYSE:APTV). Let's now discuss these stocks, among others, in detail below.
To determine the best auto parts stocks to buy now, we used Yahoo Finance's stock screener and screened for companies that are operating in the auto parts industry. We then sourced each company's hedge fund sentiment from Insider Monkey's database of over 900 elite money managers. We narrowed down our selection to stocks that were the most widely held by hedge funds. We have ranked these stocks in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them.
Best Auto Parts Stocks to Buy Now
10. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ:GT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ:GT) is a leading global manufacturer and distributor of tires and related products. On February 10, Deutsche Bank analyst Emmanuel Rosner revised her price target on The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ:GT) to $9 from $11 and maintained a Hold rating on the shares.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ:GT) is one of the best auto parts stocks to buy now and is currently trading at a compelling valuation. As of April 25, the stock is trading at a PE multiple of 14x.
At the end of Q4 2022, 25 hedge funds were long The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ:GT) and disclosed stakes worth $178.6 million in the company. Of those, AQR Capital Management was the leading investor in the company and disclosed a position worth $37.9 million.
In addition to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ:GT), other auto parts stocks that are popular among elite hedge funds include LKQ Corporation (NASDAQ:LKQ), Autoliv Inc. (NYSE:ALV), and Aptiv PLC (NYSE:APTV).
Visteon Corporation (NYSE:VC) is a leading global automotive technology company that designs and manufactures automotive electronics and offers connected car solutions to auto manufacturers. Shares of Visteon Corporation (NYSE:VC) have surged 16.88% over the past 6 months. The stock is one of the best auto parts stocks to buy now.
This March, Citi raised its price target on Visteon Corporation (NYSE:VC) to $165 from $145 and maintained a Neutral rating on the shares.
At the close of the fourth quarter of 2022, 25 hedge funds were bullish on Visteon Corporation (NYSE:VC) and disclosed positions worth $260.3 million in the company. Of those, Driehaus Capital was the top shareholder in the company and held a stake worth $61.7 million.
Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ:GNTX) offers digital vision, connected car, dimmable glass, and fire protection products for the global automotive industry. As of April 25, the stock is offering a forward dividend yield of 1.79% and has gained 5.84% over the past 6 months.
On April 6, Baird reiterated its Outperform rating and a $35 price target on Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ:GNTX). The stock is ranked eighth on our list of the best auto parts stocks to buy now, according to hedge funds.
At the close of Q4 2022, Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ:GNTX) was spotted on 26 hedge funds' portfolios that held positions worth $510.7 million in the company. As of December 31, Ariel Investments is the dominant stockholder in the company and has a stake worth $241.3 million.
Lear Corporation (NYSE:LEA) is an American manufacturer of automotive seating and electrical systems for OEM manufacturers in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. This February, Barclays analyst Dan Levy took coverage of Lear Corporation (NYSE:LEA) with an Equal Weight rating and a $155 price target.
As of April 25, Lear Corporation (NYSE:LEA) has returned 4.85% to investors on a year-to-date basis and is offering a forward dividend yield of 2.30%. The stock is one of the best auto parts stocks to buy now.
At the end of Q4 2022, 28 hedge funds were eager on Lear Corporation (NYSE:LEA) and disclosed stakes worth $1.35 billion in the company. As of December 31, Pzena Investment Management is the largest investor in the company and has a position worth $851.4 million.
Some of the most widely held auto parts stocks among institutional investors include LKQ Corporation (NASDAQ:LKQ), Autoliv Inc. (NYSE:ALV), and Aptiv PLC (NYSE:APTV).
Mobileye Global Inc. (NASDAQ:MBLY) is involved in the design and development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies. The company has operations worldwide. Mobileye Global Inc. (NASDAQ:MBLY) was held by 29 hedge funds at the end of Q4 2022. These funds held positions worth $334.2 million in the company.
This April, Daiwa analyst Louis Miscioscia started coverage of Mobileye Global Inc. (NASDAQ:MBLY) with a Buy rating and a $50 price target.
Mobileye Global Inc. (NASDAQ:MBLY) is placed sixth on our list of the best auto parts stocks to buy now according to hedge funds. The stock has gained 35.55% year to date, as of April 25.
Baron Funds made the following comment about Mobileye Global Inc. (NASDAQ:MBLY) in its Q4 2022 investor letter:
“During the fourth quarter, we participated in Mobileye Global Inc. (NASDAQ:MBLY)’s IPO. Mobileye is a leading ADAS and autonomous driving technologies and solutions provider with over 125 million vehicles across 800 models that have incorporated its products to date across 50-plus vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) including 13 of the top 15 global OEMs. The company was founded in 1999 and effectively pioneered the ADAS market introducing its first EyeQ system-on-chip (SoC) in 2007, enabling the vehicle to gain ADAS capabilities (such as real-time detection of vehicles, pedestrians, and lane markings) for a price of around $50. While the company remains a leader in ADAS today (with an approximate 70% market share), we believe the bigger opportunity is in leading the autonomous driving revolution. This would, in our view, significantly improve safety; meaningfully increase the vehicle utilization rate, which today is only around 4%; and dramatically grow the company’s content per vehicle. Mobileye’s SuperVision, a fully operational point-to-point assisted driving navigation solution, is the next step in the company’s progress towards autonomous driving, and it has a price tag of over 20 times that of its basic ADAS SoC. At the last Consumer Electronics Conference, the company announced a $3.5 billion backlog for its SuperVision solution across six OEMs and nine vehicle models. In addition, the company announced a $1.5 billion design win for its consumer AV program and a $3.5 billion backlog for its Mobility-as-a-Service or robotaxi solution. CEO and Founder, Amnon Shashua discussed his long-term vision in the company’s shareholder letter:
