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Genuine Parts Company Reports Results for 2003 and Announces 48Th Consecutive Year Increase in Dividends

ATLANTA--Feb. 1, 20047, 2004--Genuine Parts Company completed its 76th year of operations and reports sales and earnings for the year ended December 31, 2003.

Sales in 2003 were $8.4 billion, up 2.3% compared to the previous year. Net income for the year, before the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles related to cash consideration from vendors and goodwill as discussed below, was $354 million, compared to $368 million, for the same period in the prior year, a decrease of 4%. Diluted earnings per share, excluding the cumulative effect adjustments, were $2.03 versus $2.10 per share in 2002, a decrease of 3%. After accounting changes recorded in the first quarter of 2003 and 2002 as discussed below, net income was $334 million, or $1.91 diluted income per share, compared to a net loss of $27.6 million, or $.16 diluted loss per share in 2002.

Larry Prince, Chairman of the Board of Directors, stated, "Total sales for 2003 reached a new record level for us, exceeding our previous high set in the year 2000. We are disappointed that earnings before the cumulative effect adjustments were not on the plus side, given our sales improvement. While we were able to do a commendable job of expense control, our gross profit margins before the reclassification of vendor consideration were below those of the previous year and negatively impacted our earnings picture."

Mr. Prince added, "As you may recall, in the first quarter of 2003, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board's EITF No. 02-16 related to the accounting treatment for cash consideration received from vendors. Under this new method, vendor allowances are generally considered a reduction in the cost of goods sold. As a result of EITF No. 02-16, a non-cash charge of $20 million was recorded as of January 1, 2003, representing the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. In addition, in the first quarter of 2002, we completed our impairment testing for goodwill in conjunction with the new provisions introduced in FASB Statement No. 142, resulting in a non-cash charge of $395 million."

Fourth Quarter 2003

Sales increased 5% to $2.09 billion in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2003, as compared to $1.99 billion for the same period in 2002. Diluted earnings per share in the fourth quarter were $.50 compared to the prior year of $.52 per share, a decrease of 4%.

Mr. Prince commented, "For the quarter, revenues in our Automotive Group were up 6%, a strong finish to the year and we were pleased to see the positive impact of our sales initiatives. Motion Industries, our Industrial Group, increased sales by 2% for the fourth quarter, and S. P. Richards, our Office Products Group, had an increase of 4% for the quarter. Sales for EIS, our Electrical Group, were up slightly for the fourth quarter, their first comparative increase in quite some time."

Mr. Prince concluded, "We are optimistic that the stronger sales trend in the final quarter will carry over into 2004. GPC is in a position of market leadership in all our businesses, but we enter the new year with a determination and explicit plans to reach a higher level of growth."

Dividends Increased 48 Consecutive Years

Genuine Parts Company also announced an increase of 2% in the regular quarterly cash dividend for 2004. On February 16, 2004, the Board of Directors increased the cash dividend payable to an annual rate of $1.20 per share compared with the previous dividend of $1.18 per share. The quarterly cash dividend of $.30 per share is payable April 1, 2004 to shareholders of record March 5, 2004.

Conference Call

Genuine Parts Company will hold a conference call today at 11:00 a.m. EST to discuss the results of the quarter, the year and the future outlook. Interested parties may listen by dialing 877-422-4780, conference ID 5086255. A replay will also be available at 800-642-1687 until 12:00 a.m. EST on March 2, 2004.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this release constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company cautions that its forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no duty to update its forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's beliefs, expectations, and plans as of the present. Actual results or events may differ materially from those indicated as a result of various important factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes in general economic conditions, the growth rate of the market for the Company's products and services, the ability to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships, competitive product and pricing pressures, the effectiveness of the Company's promotional, marketing and advertising programs, changes in laws and regulations, including changes in accounting and taxation guidance, the uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Genuine Parts Company

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

                GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                ---------------------------------------


                Three Months Ended Dec. 31,     Year Ended Dec. 31,
                ------------------------------------------------------
                    2003         2002            2003         2002
                ------------------------------------------------------

Net sales        $2,085,260   $1,993,501      $8,449,300   $8,258,927
Cost of goods
 sold             1,404,316    1,337,317       5,826,684    5,704,749
                 ----------   ----------      ----------   ----------
                    680,944      656,184       2,622,616    2,554,178
Selling,
 administrative
  & other
   expenses         547,469      506,222       2,050,873    1,948,442
                 ----------   ----------      ----------   ----------
Income before
 income taxes and 
  accounting 
   change           133,475      149,962         571,743      605,736
Income taxes         46,738       59,563         218,101      238,236
                 ----------   ----------      ----------   ----------
Net income before
 cumulative effect of
  a change in
   accounting
    principle        86,737       90,399         353,642      367,500
Cumulative
 effect of a
  change in 
   accounting
    principle(1)         --           --         -19,541     -395,090
                 ----------   ----------      ----------   ----------
Net income (loss) 
 after cumulative 
  effect of a change 
   in accounting
     principle   $   86,737   $   90,399      $  334,101   $  -27,590
                 ==========   ==========      ==========   ==========

Basic Net Income(Loss) 
 per Common Share:
Before cumulative effect 
  of a change in
   accounting
    principle         $0.50        $0.52           $2.03        $2.11
Cumulative effect 
 of a change in
  accounting
   principle (1)         --           --           -0.11        -2.27
                    -------        -----          ------       ------
Basic net income
 (loss)               $0.50        $0.52           $1.92       ($0.16)
                 ==========   ==========      ==========   ==========

Diluted Net Income (Loss)
 per Common Share:
Before cumulative
 effect of a
  change in
   accounting
    principle         $0.50        $0.52           $2.03        $2.10
Cumulative
 effect of a
  change in
   accounting
    principle (1)        --           --           -0.12        -2.26
                    -------        -----          ------       ------
Diluted net
 income (loss)        $0.50        $0.52           $1.91       ($0.16)
                 ==========    =========      ==========   ==========
Weighted average
 common shares
  outstanding       173,994      174,434         173,995      174,369

Dilutive effect of stock
 options and
   non-vested
    restricted
     stock awards       473          511             485          735
                 ----------   ----------      ----------   ----------
Weighted average
 common shares
  outstanding -
   assuming
    dilution        174,467      174,945         174,480      175,104
                 ==========   ==========      ==========   ==========


(1) On January 1, 2003 the Company recorded a non-cash charge
    related to the capitalization of certain vendor consideration
    in connection with the new Financial Accounting Standards
    Board's EITF No. 02-16, "Accounting by a Customer (Including a
    Reseller) for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor".
    In addition, on January 1, 2002 the Company recorded a
    non-cash charge related to goodwill impairment in conjunction
    with the new Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
    142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets".



                GENUINE PARTS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             SEGMENT INFORMATION AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
             --------------------------------------------


                    Three months ended  Dec. 31,  Year ended Dec. 31,
                         2003       2002          2003       2002
                 -----------------------------------------------------
                       (Unaudited)                 (In thousands)
Net sales:
 Automotive          $1,094,619  $1,032,737    $4,477,508  $4,335,362
 Industrial             561,446     551,030     2,253,947   2,246,124
 Office Products        362,000     347,529     1,457,149   1,396,453
 Electrical/Electronic
  Materials              74,463      74,117       297,618     315,826
 Other (1)               -7,268     -11,912       -36,922     -34,838
                       -----------------------------------------------
 Total net sales     $2,085,260  $1,993,501    $8,449,300  $8,258,927
                       ===============================================

Operating profit:
 Automotive             $72,753     $81,304      $363,022    $381,771
 Industrial              40,489      52,041       151,109     178,027
 Office Products         40,035      39,819       143,263     140,912
 Electrical/Electronic
   Materials              1,709       1,708         7,112       2,756
                       -----------------------------------------------
 Total operating
  profit                154,986     174,872       664,506     703,466
 Interest expense       -11,512     -11,972       -51,538     -59,640
 Other, net              -9,999     -12,938       -41,225     -38,090
                       -----------------------------------------------
 Income before income
  taxes and accounting
   changes             $133,475    $149,962      $571,743    $605,736
                       ===============================================
Capital
 expenditures           $10,291     $18,252       $73,904     $64,758
                       ===============================================
Depreciation
 and amortization       $16,907     $17,154       $69,013     $70,151
                       ===============================================
Current ratio                                       3.4/1       3.0/1
                                                ======================
Total debt to
 total capitalization                               22.70%      27.10%
                                                ======================

(1) Represents the net effect of discounts, incentives and freight
    billed reported as a component of net sales.


                GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                ---------------------------------------

                                   ASSETS
                               --------------

                             Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,
                               2003          2002
                          -------------------------
                                (in thousands)
CURRENT ASSETS
---------------
Cash and cash
 equivalents              $   15,393    $   19,995
Trade accounts
 receivable                1,084,874     1,039,843
Inventories                2,140,811     2,144,787
Prepaid and other 
 current accounts            176,548       172,362
                          ----------    ----------
  TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS     3,417,626     3,376,987
Goodwill and other
 intangible assets            58,028        58,705
Other assets                 297,851       292,312
Total property, plant and
 equipment, net              342,992       333,051
                           ---------    ----------
TOTAL ASSETS              $4,116,497    $4,061,055
                          ==========    ==========

                 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                 ------------------------------------

CURRENT LIABILITIES
-------------------
Accounts payable          $  706,609    $  735,183
Current portion
 long-term debt
  and other borrowings        52,525       116,905
Income taxes                  18,575        21,366
Dividends payable             51,331        50,557
Other current
 liabilities                 187,891       186,919
                          ----------    ----------
 TOTAL CURRENT 
  LIABILITIES              1,016,931     1,110,930

Long-term debt               625,108       674,796
Deferred income
 taxes                       114,533        97,912
Minority
 interests in
  subsidiaries                47,642        47,408
Common stock                 174,045       174,381
Retained earnings and
 other                     2,138,238     1,955,628
                          ----------    ----------
 TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS'
  EQUITY                   2,312,283     2,130,009
                          ----------    ----------

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY     $4,116,497    $4,061,055
                          ==========    ==========


                GENUINE PARTS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 -------------------------------------
            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
           ------------------------------------------------


                                              Year
                                          Ended Dec. 31,
                                          ------------
                                         (in thousands)
                                       2003         2002
                                   -------------------------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
   Net income(loss)                $ 334,101      $ -27,590
   Adjustments to reconcile
   net income(loss) to
   net cash provided by
   operating activities:
    Cumulative effect of a
     change in accounting
      principle                       19,541        395,090
   Depreciation and
    amortization                      69,013         70,151
   Other                               2,565          2,315
   Changes in operating
    assets and liabilities           -23,035       -167,558
                                   ---------      ---------
NET CASH PROVIDED BY
 OPERATING ACTIVITIES                402,185        272,408

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
   Purchase of property,
    plant and equipment              -73,904        -64,758
   Other                              -1,371          4,095
                                     -------        -------
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING
 ACTIVITIES                          -75,275        -60,663
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Net payments on credit
   facilities                       -112,976       -101,069
  Stock options exercised              4,601         36,009
  Dividends paid                    -204,556       -201,150
  Purchase of stock                  -17,709        -11,615
                                     -------        -------
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING
 ACTIVITIES                         -330,640       -277,825
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE
 RATE CHANGES ON CASH                   -872            305
                                     -------        -------
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND
 CASH EQUIVALENTS                     -4,602        -65,775

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD               19,995         85,770
                                     -------        -------

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 AT END OF PERIOD              $      15,393      $  19,995
                                     =======        =======