Motion’s Outlook Lowered as 2Q Comp Sales Dip - Modern Distribution Management

Motion’s Outlook Lowered as 2Q Comp Sales Dip

Genuine Parts Company reported modest second-quarter sales growth but lowered its 2025 outlook due to U.S. tariffs and ongoing market uncertainty.
Motion Industries

Genuine Parts Company reported its 2025 second quarter financial results on July 22, which showed the company’s lowered outlook primarily attributed to current U.S. tariffs, despite an increase in sales in both segments.

Industrial Parts

GPC reported that 2Q sales at its Industrial Parts unit — which does business as Birmingham, AL-based MRO supplies distributor Motion — totaled $2.3 billion, up 0.7% year-over-year. The gain was attributed to a 1.3% benefit from acquisitions, partially offset by a 0.5% unfavorable impact of foreign currency and a 0.1% decline in comparable sales.

Sequentially, 2Q sales were up compared to 1Q25’s 0.4% decline and total sales of $2.2 billion.

In the Store: MDM’s U.S. MRO Market Trends Report 

Meanwhile, Motion’s 2Q segment EBITDA was $288 million on a 12.8% margin, up 1.1% and 10 basis points year-over-year, respectively. 2Q EBITDA increased from 1Q25’s $279 million on a 12.7% margin.

In updating its 2025 full year outlook, GPC included the expected impact of U.S. tariffs currently in effect, as well as its view on the forthcoming market for the second half of the year. The company forecasts total sales growth of 1.5% to 3.5% for its Industrial Parts segment, down from 2% to 4% in GPC’s previous outlook.

“While our results through the second quarter were in line with our expectations, we are updating full-year guidance to reflect our latest perspective on the second half of the year,” Motion EVP and Chief Financial Officer Bert Nappier said in the company’s financial release. “Our outlook considers the impact of current U.S. tariffs along with our updated views on the market environment. The evolving tariff landscape brings with it a degree of uncertainty, and as a result, we expect to see a more moderated improvement in market conditions than we projected in February.”

Motion is ranked No. 2 on MDM’s 2025 Top Distributors List for Industrial Supplies, No. 23 for Electrical/Data/Security, No. 2 for MRO, No. 1 for Power Transmission/Bearings, N0. 3 for Fluid Power, No. 2 for Hose/Accessories, No. 8 for Safety and No. 16 for Fasteners.

Automotive

GPC’s Automotive segment — which does business as NAPA Auto Parts — reported 2Q global sales of $3.9 billion, up 5.0% year-over-year. The gain was attributed to a 3.4% increase from acquisitions, a 1.2% net favorable impact of foreign currency and other and a 0.4% increase in comparable sales.

Meanwhile, segment EBITDA of $338 million decline 6.9% year-over-year on a segment margin of 8.6% which was down 110 bps year-over-year.

Like for Industrial Parts, GPC lowered its full-year revenue growth outlook of 2% to 4% to 1% to 3% for Automotive.

MDM Case Study: MSC Industrial Supply (Premium access here) 

Genuine Parts Company Overall 2Q

GPC reported overall 2Q sales of $6.2 billion, up 3.4% year-over-year. The increase was attributed to a 2.6% benefit from acquisitions, a 0.6% net favorable impact of foreign currency and other and a 0.2% gain in comparable sales.

Net income for the quarter was $255 million, down compared to $296 million in 2Q25, while adjusted net income of $292 million was likewise down year-over-year.

“Our results for the quarter were in line with our expectations and reflect the execution of our strategic initiatives and cost restructuring actions against continued challenging market conditions,” GPC President and CEO Will Stengel added. “As we turn to the second half of the year, we remain focused on what we can control as we proactively manage through an evolving external environment.”

MDM’s 2Q25 MarketPulse Report (store link) 

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