ATLANTA, July 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) announced today sales and earnings for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017.

Sales for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017 were $4.1 billion, a new record and a 5% increase compared to $3.9 billion for the same period in 2016. Net income for the second quarter was $190.0 million compared to $191.4 million recorded for the same period in the previous year. Earnings per share on a diluted basis were $1.29, up 1% from $1.28 for the second quarter last year.

Paul Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are encouraged by the steady and consistent total sales increase thus far in 2017, which reflects the diversified aspects of our Company combined with an ongoing strategy to drive both organic and acquisitive growth. This represents our second consecutive quarter of 5% total sales growth for the Company and includes sales increases in each of our four distribution businesses, with our strongest performances in the Industrial and Electrical segments."

Second quarter sales for the Automotive Group were up 4%, including an approximate 1.5% comparable sales increase. Sales at Motion Industries, our Industrial Group, were up 7%, including a 5% comparable sales increase, and sales at EIS, our Electrical/Electronic Group, grew 11%, with comparable sales down 1%. Sales for S.P. Richards, our Office Products Group, were up 5% for the quarter, including a 4% decrease in comparable sales.

Sales for the six months ended June 30, 2017 were $8.0 billion, also a new record and a 5% increase compared to $7.6 billion for the same period in 2016. Net income for the six months was $350.1 million compared to $349.4 million in 2016, and earnings per share on a diluted basis were $2.36, up 1% compared to $2.33 in 2016.

Mr. Donahue concluded, "Our teams are committed to generating sustainable sales growth, while also streamlining our cost structure to improve profitability. We believe our focus in these areas, along with a strong balance sheet, solid cash flows and effective capital allocation, will drive long-term growth for the Company and serve to maximize shareholder value."

2017 Outlook

For the full year 2017, the Company continues to expect total sales to be up 3% to 4%. The Company expects diluted earnings per share to range from $4.70 to $4.75 compared to the prior outlook of $4.75 to $4.85.

Conference Call

Genuine Parts Company will hold a conference call today at 11:00 a.m. EDT to discuss the results of the quarter and the future outlook. Interested parties may listen to the call on the Company's website, www.genpt.com, by clicking "Investors", or by dialing 877-741-4245, conference ID 6054876. A replay will also be available on the Company's website or at 844-512-2921, conference ID 6054876, two hours after the completion of the call until 12:00 a.m. Eastern time on August 4, 2017.

Forward Looking Statements

Some statements in this report, as well as in other materials we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or otherwise release to the public and in materials that we make available on our website, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Senior officers may also make verbal statements to analysts, investors, the media and others that are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may relate, for example, to future operations, prospects, strategies, financial condition, economic performance (including growth and earnings), industry conditions and demand for our products and services. The Company cautions that its forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and while we believe that our expectations for the future are reasonable in view of currently available information, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events may differ materially from those indicated as a result of various important factors. Such factors may include, among other things, the Company's ability to successfully implement its business initiatives in each of its four business segments; slowing demand for the Company's products; changes in legislation or government regulations or policies; changes in general economic conditions, including unemployment, inflation or deflation; changes in tax policies; volatile exchange rates; high energy costs; uncertain credit markets and other macro-economic conditions; competitive product, service and pricing pressures; the ability to maintain favorable vendor arrangements and relationships; disruptions in our vendors' operations; the Company's ability to successfully integrate its acquired businesses; the uncertainties and costs of litigation; disruptions caused by a failure or breach of the Company's information systems, as well as other risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2016 and from time to time in the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no duty to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our subsequent Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other reports to the SEC.

About Genuine Parts Company

Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australasia. The Company also distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico through its Motion Industries subsidiary. S. P. Richards Company, the Office Products Group, distributes business products in the U.S. and Canada. The Electrical/Electronic Group, EIS, Inc., distributes electrical and electronic components throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

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SOURCE Genuine Parts Company