March 27, 2025
Top 10 Stock LKQ Strong Buy Recommendation
How to read the ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Snapshot: LKQ – Top 10 Stock in Employee Satisfaction Leaders in the United States
LKQ is listed as a top 10 stock on March 27, 2025 in the market index Employee Focus US because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. As three out of four consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, it is a solid investment where the risk of paying too much for the shares is low, despite a currently slow growth momentum. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 96 (top 96% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall strong buy recommendation for LKQ on March 27, 2025.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | USA |
| Industry | Distributors |
| Index | Employee Focus US, NASDAQ, S&P US Luxury, S&P 500 |
| Size class | XX-Large |
When Obermatt identifies the Top 10 stocks in a market, it’s based on a certain investment strategy. The best performing stocks usually aren’t the ones that everyone is talking about (those are often "over-priced" and have low Value ranks).
For each investment strategy, we provide you with more detailed analysis and our recommendation. You see the ranks of the top 10 stocks ranked by that particular investment strategy (360° View, Sentiment, Value, Growth, Safety and Combined Financial Performance).
360° View: Obermatt 360° View LKQ Strong Buy
| 360 METRICS | March 27, 2025 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 91 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 21 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 84 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 92 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 96 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 96 (better than 96% compared with alternatives) for 2025, overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock LKQ are very positive. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for LKQ. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 91, which means that the share price of LKQ is on the lower side compared with typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means the stock price is lower than for 91% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The company is also safely financed with a Safety rank of 84. In addition, professional market sentiment is above average compared with other stock investment alternatives with a Sentiment Rank of 92. But the consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 21, which means that the company is below average in terms of growth and momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth as well as stock returns. 79 of its competitors have better growth. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 96, LKQ is better positioned than 96% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Three out of four consolidated Obermatt Ranks show above-average performance. The stock has as good value (Value Rank of 91), secure financing practices (Safety Rank of 84), and positive market sentiment in the professional investor community (Sentiment Rank of 92). It is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the shares is limited, and disappointments are less likely to occur. The company’s growth expectations are below the industry average (Growth Rank of 21), but that could also be temporary since professional investors remain optimistic despite the low growth numbers. The low price as reflected in the good Value Rank could indicate that the company's future is challenging. The below-par growth performance may be the reason for this. Companies that grow less are typically cheaper than fast-growing competitors. We recommend evaluating whether the future of LKQ is as difficult as the stock’s low price suggests, despite the positive professional investor sentiment. Since the professional community is optimistic, you might have less to worry about, and the stock may just go through a more challenging phase now, indicating good timing. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for LKQ very positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 92 (better than 92% compared with alternatives) for 2025, overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock LKQ is very positive. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators where all but one are above average for LKQ. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 91 (better than 91% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. The Professional Investors rank is also good at 77, which means that currently, professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 77% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. In addition, Market Pulse has a rank of 50 which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are on the positive side when discussing this company (more positive news than for 50% of competitors). But Analyst Opinions Change has a below-average rank of 40, which means that stock research experts are currently changing their opinions for the worse when it comes to recommending this stock. In other words, they are getting more critical of investments in LKQ. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 92 (more positive than 92% compared with investment alternatives), LKQ has a reputation among professional investors that is significantly higher than that of its competitors. This is an early sign of caution, even if the stock has significantly appreciated. If analysts change their opinions, the stock may become too expensive. If the price is on the way down, the trend may continue. This may be a stock with a good reputation and history, but it may have reached its breaking point by now. Investors should look at the Value Ranks as well. If they indicate trouble, it might just materialize in the future. ...read more
Value Strategy: LKQ Stock Price Value at the top
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 91 (better than 91% compared with alternatives) for 2025, LKQ shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators above average for LKQ. Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price to earnings, P/E ratio) is 75 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is lower than for 75% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning LKQ's profit levels. The same is valid for the expected Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 52, and for Dividend Yield with a Dividend Yield Rank of 93. But, compared with other companies in the same industry, the stock price is higher than average as regards expected revenues; only 57% of all competitors have an even higher stock price as regards to sales revenues (a Price-to-Sales Rank of 43). Profits, the level of invested capital, and dividend policy suggest that this stock is attractively priced. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 91, is a buy recommendation based on LKQ's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since it is on the expensive side for Price-to-Sales, it may mean that LKQ has pricing power in its distribution market because it can charge higher prices than its competitors. If this is the case, all four value indicators are positive signals for purchasing LKQ shares. ...read more
Growth Strategy: LKQ Growth Momentum negative
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 21 (better than 21% compared with alternatives), LKQ shows one of the most restricted growth dynamics in its industry. There is little momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four metrics below average for LKQ. Sales Growth has a rank of 23, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 77% of its competitors. The same is valid for Profit Growth, with a rank of 25, and Capital Growth with 45. In addition, Stock Returns have a below market rank of 47, which means that the stock returns have recently been below 53% of alternative investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 21, is a sell recommendation for growth and momentum investors. These are all bad growth momentum indicators. These are negative signals for investors interested in growth companies. Value is likely good for this company, as investors may have left this stock in the cold. If that is the case, investors should look at the company's outlook, especially Sentiment performance, because it may be a turnaround situation that could entail above-average stock returns in the future. But it remains a risky bet, as no growth signals are in the green zone yet. ...read more
Safety Strategy: LKQ Debt Financing Safety very solid
| SAFETY METRICS | March 27, 2025 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 51 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 48 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 74 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 84 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 84 (better than 84% compared with alternatives) for 2025, the company LKQ has safe financing practices, which means that their overall debt burden is low. This doesn't mean that the business of LKQ is safe, it only means that the company is on the safer side regarding possible bankruptcy, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with two out of three indicators above average for LKQ. Leverage is at a rank of 51, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 51% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at a rank of 74, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 74% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the safer side when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is lower at a rank of 48, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 52% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 84 (better than 84% compared with alternatives), LKQ has a financing structure that is significantly safer than that of its competitors. The refinancing issues could be a short-term problem, especially if the company has reputation issues. Banks and investors don't like to refinance debt if there are clouds on the horizon. For this reason, investors should look at the refinancing environment for LKQ. Does it look safe that debt that is coming due can be covered with new debt? If that is the case, then the financing situation of the company is on the safer side. If not, it may be better to wait until refinancing has been completed and the Refinancing rank is good again. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: LKQ Top Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | March 27, 2025 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 91 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 21 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 74 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 91 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 91 (better than 91% compared with investment alternatives), LKQ (Distributors, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of LKQ are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 91 (better than 91% of alternatives), are safely financed (Safety Rank of 84, which means low debt burdens), but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 21). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 91, is a strong buy recommendation based on LKQ's financial characteristics. As the company LKQ's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 91) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 21) while being safely financed (Obermatt Safety Rank of 84), it may be a safer investment because companies with low debt can better withstand times of crises. Yet the good value, better than 91% of comparable companies, may also indicate that the company's future is challenging. If you believe that low growth is temporary or just due to a specific current event, you may conclude that the good value of the stock provides an attractive investment opportunity and the downside is limited due to below-average financing risks. ...read more
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