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LKQ (LKQ) Risk Analysis
Risk Overview Q2, 2026
Source: the company's latest filing for the period ended Jun 30, 2026, filed Jul 30, 2026
Risk Change Over Time
- Debt & Financing - Risk 1Our senior notes do not impose any limitations on our ability to incur additional debt or protect against certain other types of transactions, and we may incur certain additional indebtedness under our credit agreement. agreement and CAD Note.
Although we are subject to our credit agreement and CAD Note for so long as each of those respective agreements remain in effect, the indentures governing the senior notes do not restrict the future incurrence of unsecured indebtedness, guarantees or other obligations. The indentures contain certain limitations, including limitations on our ability to incur liens on assets, engage in sale and leaseback transactions, and engage in certain change of control transactions or merge or consolidate with or into other companies. Certain additional restrictions in the indenture governing our Euro Notes (2028) (including restrictions on asset dispositions and restricted payments) are not currently applicable, but will become applicable to us if our Euro Notes (2028) are no longer investment grade. Furthermore, these limitations in our debt agreements are subject to important exceptions. In addition, the indentures do not contain many other restrictions, including certain restrictions contained in our credit agreement and CAD Note, including, without limitation, making investments, prepaying subordinated indebtedness or engaging in transactions with our affiliates. Our credit agreement will permit, subject to specified conditions and limitations, the incurrence of a significant amount of additional indebtedness under the credit agreement. As of December 31, 2025, we would have been able to incur an additional $1,885 million of indebtedness under our credit agreement ($1,999 million of availability reduced by $114 million of amounts outstanding under letters of credit). If we or our subsidiaries incur additional debt, the risks associated with our leverage and the need to service such debt would increase.
- Debt & Financing - Risk 2A downgrade in our credit rating would impact our cost of capital. us.
Credit ratings have an important effect on our cost of capital. Credit rating agencies rate our debt securities on factors that include, among other items, our results of operations, business decisions that we make, their view of the general outlook for our industry, and their view of the general outlook for the economy. Actions taken by the rating agencies can include maintaining, upgrading, or downgrading the current rating or placing us on a watch list for possible future downgrading. We believe our current credit ratings enhance our ability to borrow funds at favorable rates. A downgrade in our current credit rating from a rating agency could adversely affect our cost of capital by causing us to pay a higher interest rate on borrowed funds under our credit facilities. A downgrade could also adversely affect our ability to issue debt securities in the future or incur other indebtedness upon favorable terms. If we are downgraded to a rating that is below investment grade, the pricing on our debt under the credit agreement and CAD Note may increase and we may also become subject to additional covenants under our senior notes.
Risk Highlights Q2, 2026
Risk Word Cloud
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 38
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1Our amended and restated bylaws provide that the courts in the State of Delaware are the exclusive forums for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders' ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another court of the State of Delaware, or if no court of the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall be the exclusive forum for the following types of actions or proceedings; any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; any action asserting a claim against us arising under the Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation, or our bylaws; any action asserting a claim governed by the internal-affairs doctrine; and any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws. The choice of forum provision in our bylaws does not apply to claims brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the Securities Act or any claim with respect to which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers due to, among other possible factors, increased costs of such lawsuits and limitations on the ability to bring claims in a judicial forum that the plaintiffs may consider more favorable. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2Activist investors could cause us to incur substantial costs, divert management's attention, and have an adverse effect on our business.
We have in the past received, and we may in the future be subject to, proposals by activist investors urging us to take certain corporate actions. Depending on the circumstances, we may reach agreements with such investors, such as the cooperation agreement that we entered into with Ancora Catalyst Institutional, LP, Engine Capital, LP and certain of their affiliates in February 2025 (amended May 2025). In some instances though, activist investor activities could cause our business to be adversely affected because responding to proxy contests and other demands by activist investors can be costly and time-consuming, disrupt our operations, and divert the attention of management and our employees. For example, we have retained, and may in the future be required to retain, the services of various professionals to advise us on activist investor matters, including legal, financial and communications advisors, the costs of which may negatively impact our future financial results. Campaigns by activist investors to effect changes at publicly traded companies are sometimes led by investors seeking to increase short term investor value through actions such as financial restructuring, increased debt, special dividends, stock repurchases, or sales of assets or the entire company. Perceived uncertainties as to our future direction, strategy or leadership that arise as a consequence of activist investor initiatives may result in the loss of potential business opportunities, harm our ability to attract new investors, employees and business partners, and cause our stock price to experience periods of volatility or stagnation.
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