EX-99.1

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY
REPORTS SALES UP 13%, EARNINGS UP 22% AND EPS UP 24%
FOR THE THIRD QUARTER
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

Atlanta, Georgia, October 15, 2010 — Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) reported sales and earnings for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2010. Thomas C. Gallagher, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, announced today that sales totaling $2.95 billion were up 13% compared to the third quarter of 2009. Net income for the quarter was $131.8 million, an increase of 22% from $107.6 million recorded in the same period of the previous year. Earnings per share on a diluted basis were 83 cents, up 24% compared to 67 cents for the third quarter last year.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, sales totaled $8.4 billion, up 11% compared to the same period in 2009. Net income for the nine months was $356.9 million, an increase of 19% from $300.4 million recorded in the previous year. Earnings per share on a diluted basis were $2.25, up 20% compared to $1.88 for the same period last year.

In review of the quarter, Mr. Gallagher commented, “We are pleased to report another period of solid sales and earnings growth for Genuine Parts Company. Our Industrial and Electrical businesses continue to turn in the strongest results among our four business segments. Sales for Motion Industries, our Industrial Group, were up 29% in the quarter, and EIS, our Electrical Group, generated a 31% increase. Both Motion Industries and EIS sell into the manufacturing sector of the economy, which has experienced a nice recovery in 2010 and is performing well today. Our Automotive Group produced another solid quarter, with sales for this group up 7% for the second consecutive quarter. The ongoing improvement that we have seen in our Automotive results over the past several quarters is encouraging. S.P. Richards, our Office Products Group, ended the quarter down slightly from last year, consistent with the first two quarters of the year. Their results were in line with our expectations and they reflect the challenge of lackluster office employment, which has impacted the office products industry for some time now.”

Mr. Gallagher added, “Our balance sheet as of September 30, 2010 remains in excellent condition. We continue to generate strong cash flows as a result of our working capital, asset management and cost reduction initiatives. Our strong cash position offers us tremendous opportunities and we continue to use our cash in several key areas to maximize the total return to shareholders. These include the dividends
paid to shareholders, the ongoing reinvestment back into each of our four businesses, strategic complimentary types of acquisitions and share repurchases.”
Mr. Gallagher concluded, “We are encouraged by the sales and earnings growth achieved in the third quarter and through the first nine months in 2010, and we are optimistic that our businesses will show continued progress over the balance of the year. Our management team remains focused on achieving our four primary objectives for 2010: producing solid sales results; improving operating margins; generating strong cash flows; and maintaining the strength of our balance sheet.”

Genuine Parts Company will hold a conference call today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time 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 “Investor Services”, or by dialing 877-316-2549, conference ID 14449908. A replay will also be available on the Company’s website or at 800-642-1687, conference ID 14449908, two hours after the completion of the conference call until 12:00 a.m. Eastern time on October 30, 2010.

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 include, but are not limited to, the ability to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships, changes in general economic conditions, the growth rate of the market demand for the Company’s products and services, competitive product, service and pricing pressures, including internet related initiatives, changes in financial markets, including particularly the capital and credit markets, impairment of financial institutions with which we do business, 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 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2009 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, Form 8-K and other reports to the SEC.

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., Canada and Mexico through its Motion Industries subsidiary. S.P. Richards Company, the Office Products Group, distributes business products nationwide in the U.S. and Canada. The Electrical/Electronic Group, EIS, Inc., distributes electrical and electronic components throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME


	Three Months Ended Sept. 30,				Nine Months Ended Sept. 30,
	2010		2009		2010		2009
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands, except per share data)
Net sales	$	2,950,560	$	2,606,757	$	8,399,861	$	7,586,298
Cost of goods sold		2,097,529		1,841,511		5,964,045		5,343,996

Gross profit		853,031		765,246		2,435,816		2,242,302
Operating Expenses:
Selling, administrative & other expenses		618,449		571,978		1,792,997		1,693,384
Depreciation and amortization		22,093		22,562		67,422		67,494

		640,542		594,540		1,860,419		1,760,878
Income before income taxes		212,489		170,706		575,397		481,424
Income taxes		80,704		63,067		218,536		181,016

Net income	$	131,785	$	107,639	$	356,861	$	300,408

Basic net income per common share	$	.84	$	.67	$	2.26	$	1.88
Diluted net income per common share	$	.83	$	.67	$	2.25	$	1.88
Weighted average common shares outstanding		157,573		159,541		158,197		159,500
Dilutive effect of stock options and
non-vested restricted stock awards		407		335		398		268

Weighted average common shares outstanding –
assuming dilution		157,980		159,876		158,595		159,768

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT INFORMATION AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS


	Three Months Ended Sept. 30,						Nine Months Ended Sept. 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands)
Net sales:
Automotive	$	1,481,294		$	1,381,578		$	4,231,367		$	3,960,743
Industrial		921,162			711,471			2,606,697			2,149,200
Office Products		434,513			436,287			1,246,984			1,255,169
Electrical/Electronic Materials		117,290			89,364			324,167			256,106
Other (1)		(3,699	)		(11,943	)		(9,354	)		(34,920	)

Total net sales	$	2,950,560		$	2,606,757		$	8,399,861		$	7,586,298

Operating profit:
Automotive	$	124,059		$	107,735		$	338,986		$	312,919
Industrial		72,856			36,495			181,820			102,113
Office Products		26,657			26,692			93,670			99,081
Electrical/Electronic Materials		8,393			6,802			22,156			17,560

Total operating profit		231,965			177,724			636,632			531,673
Interest expense, net		(6,562	)		(6,662	)		(19,988	)		(20,510	)
Other, net		(12,914	)		(356	)		(41,247	)		(29,739	)

Income before income taxes	$	212,489		$	170,706		$	575,397		$	481,424

Capital expenditures	$	31,019		$	12,405		$	58,931		$	49,360

Depreciation and amortization	$	22,093		$	22,562		$	67,422		$	67,494

(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


	Sept. 30,			Sept. 30,
	2010			2009
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	531,731		$	363,133
Trade accounts receivable, net		1,394,870			1,250,575
Merchandise inventories, net		2,182,413			2,188,133
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		282,287			232,450

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS		4,391,301			4,034,291
Goodwill and other intangible assets, less accumulated amortization		207,237			171,573
Deferred tax asset		152,248			152,787
Other assets		184,548			132,943
Net property, plant and equipment		478,436			485,647

TOTAL ASSETS	$	5,413,770		$	4,977,241


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Trade accounts payable	$	1,371,718		$	1,124,276
Income taxes payable		46,144			56,997
Dividends payable		64,584			63,819
Other current liabilities		238,439			199,419

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES		1,720,885			1,444,511
Long-term debt		500,000			500,000
Retirement and other post-retirement benefit liabilities		239,326			289,659
Other long-term liabilities		175,777			128,729
Common stock		157,535			159,552
Retained earnings and other		2,880,155			2,761,131
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(268,502	)		(313,788	)

TOTAL PARENT EQUITY		2,769,188			2,606,895
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries		8,594			7,447

TOTAL EQUITY		2,777,782			2,614,342

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	5,413,770		$	4,977,241

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


	Nine Months Ended
	Sept. 30,
	2010			2009
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	356,861		$	300,408
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		67,422			67,494
Share-based compensation		4,674			6,709
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation		(1,500	)		(63	)
Other		663			1,917
Changes in operating assets and liabilities		140,302			390,038

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		568,422			766,503
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(58,931	)		(49,360	)
Acquisitions and other		(83,080	)		(123,047	)
Purchase of properties under construction and lease agreement		—			(72,811	)

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(142,011	)		(245,218	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Stock options exercised		7,177			2,178
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation		1,500			63
Dividends paid		(193,313	)		(189,739	)
Changes in cash overdraft position		—			(52,000	)
Purchase of stock		(69,438	)		(159	)

NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES		(254,074	)		(239,657	)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH		22,591			13,728

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		194,928			295,356
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD		336,803			67,777

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$	531,731		$	363,133


Contacts:		Jerry W. Nix, Vice Chairman and CFO – (770) 612-2048 Sidney G. Jones, Vice President-Investor Relations – (770) 818-4628