In this article, we discuss the 7 best auto components and parts stocks to buy, along with the latest updates around the auto industry.

Auto Sector Outlook Adjusted with Focus on Innovation and Market Realities

As reported by Barron’s on September 10, Deutsche Bank analyst Edison Yu analyzed the U.S. automotive industry and gave a cautious outlook. Out of 17 car companies he reviewed, only three were rated as Buy, which is lower than usual. Yu thinks the U.S. car market is reaching the end of its growth phase after the boost it got post-pandemic. While the situation is not collapsing, he pointed out that high car prices, expensive payments, and high used car prices are making the future of new car prices less promising.

Other analysts also showed a similar sentiment as we discussed in our article about the most undervalued auto stocks to buy. Here is an excerpt from the article:

“As reported by TipRanks, Morgan Stanley recently released a report, in which in which it pointed out major changes in the automotive industry, mainly due to China’s growing production capabilities. The firm mentioned that China is now making 9 million more cars than it sells, which is shaking up competition in the Western market.

Due to this, the bank has downgraded its assessment of the U.S. auto industry from Attractive to In-Line. The change reflects rising vehicle inventories in the U.S., affordability challenges for consumers, and an increase in credit defaults among less-than-prime borrowers.

On a brighter note for car dealerships, the bank upgraded several franchise dealer stocks to Overweight.”

More Americans Owe More Than Their Cars Are Worth

A report from Edmunds.com reveals that more Americans with auto loans now owe more than their vehicles’ worth, with the average upside-down loan reaching a record $6,458 in the third quarter. This reflects rising financial strain on consumers, as delinquency rates on auto loans have also surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

While owing slightly more than a vehicle’s value isn’t necessarily critical, Edmunds noted that 22% of borrowers with negative equity owe over $10,000, and 7.5% owe more than $15,000. The issue stems largely from consumers who bought vehicles at inflated prices during the pandemic, with their values dropping as inventories recovered.

Prime Auto Loans Show Strain but Broader Crisis Unlikely

Matthew Mish, UBS head of credit strategy, recently joined CNBC’s ‘Squawk on the Street’ and highlighted growing concerns around auto loan delinquencies. While traditionally, subprime loans were the primary concern, prime loans, which represent 80-85% of auto loans, are now showing elevated delinquency levels approaching those seen in 2009. However, Mish emphasized that net losses are not increasing at the same rate as delinquencies, partly due to a trend called “churning,” where borrowers miss payments but then catch up.

Despite these concerns, he noted that auto loans only make up a small portion of household and bank debt. Mish also pointed out that consumer credit, especially auto and credit card loans, may face more challenges moving forward, but he downplayed the possibility of a broader financial crisis. He further indicated that while mortgage delinquencies are rising, they remain below historical averages, and the focus should be on consumer loans.

The bank downgraded its view on high-yield auto credit to Underweight, but Mish advised caution and noted that the data does not yet indicate a severe economic downturn.

With that, we look at the 7 Best Auto Components and Parts Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Our Methodology

For this article, we used stock screeners to identify over 30 auto components and parts stocks with a market cap above $300 million. We narrowed our list to 7 stocks most widely held by institutional investors. The stocks are listed in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s Q2 database of 912 hedge funds.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

7 Best Auto Components and Parts Stocks to Buy Right Now

7. Garrett Motion Inc. (NASDAQ:GTX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 32

Garrett Motion Inc. (NASDAQ:GTX) is a technology leader in the automotive industry that specializes in turbocharging and other advanced vehicle technologies for nearly 70 years. The company focuses on developing solutions that reduce emissions and support the shift to zero-emission vehicles and offers products such as turbochargers, electric turbos, electric compressors, and fuel cell compressors for hydrogen vehicles.

The company operates five R&D centers and 13 manufacturing facilities that are committed to advancing transportation through innovative technologies. The company entered China in 1994, becoming one of the first global companies to introduce turbocharging technology there. It operates two advanced manufacturing facilities in Shanghai and Wuhan, along with two innovation centers. The company maintains strong partnerships with over 40 global and Chinese automakers and offers a diverse range of turbocharging solutions for gasoline, diesel, natural gas, hybrid, and zero-emission battery electric vehicles.

After posting a loss per share of $0.31, Garrett Motion (NASDAQ:GTX) is expected to post an EPS of $1.16 in 2024 according to Yahoo Finance. This makes the company a very cheap stock on a forward earnings multiples basis as it trades at a forward PE ratio of 7x as of October 16, a nearly 60% discount to its sector median.

Moreover, according to the consensus opinion of two analysts, the company’s average price target of $12.50 shows nearly 53.4% upside to the company’s stock at current levels.

6. Visteon Corporation (NASDAQ:VC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33

The 6th best auto components and parts stock, Visteon Corporation (NASDAQ:VC) is a global automotive technology company that specializes in connected car solutions and focuses on improving driving experiences through digital, electric, and autonomous technologies. It serves automakers like BMW, Ford, General Motors, and Volkswagen with products including digital instrument clusters, domain controllers with ADAS, infotainment systems, and battery management systems.

It has manufacturing and engineering facilities worldwide and aligns with industry trends such as increased electronic content, the rise of electric vehicles, and autonomous driving. Its offerings include customizable instrument clusters, curved displays, Android-based infotainment, and advanced domain controllers that support applications from infotainment to ADAS and EV battery management. The company also provides high-voltage power electronics and telematics solutions, helping automakers meet consumer and regulatory demands.

On September 20, The Fly reported that Wells Fargo analyst Colin Langan raised Visteon’s (NASDAQ:VC) rating from Equal Weight to Overweight and increased the price target from $115 to $122. The upgrade is based on the company’s favorable valuation and strong growth potential.

The analyst noted that Visteon (NASDAQ:VC) stands out among competitors which are set to benefit from high growth in global original equipment manufacturers despite slower light vehicle production. Other positive factors include lower labor inflation risks, improving free cash flow, and disruptions faced by competitors.