Summer 2026
Human Resources Intern
Posted on 9/5/2025
LKQ
5,001-10,000 employees
Global distributor of aftermarket vehicle parts
No salary listed
Nashville, TN, USA
In Person
Travel may be required periodically, including overnight stays.
 People & HR (1) |
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- High School Diploma/GED
- 0+ years of experience required
- Current college or university student
- Travel may be required periodically, including overnight stays
- Work is primarily sedentary: must be able to sit for extended periods of time and use a computer, keyboard, and mouse frequently
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
- Understands the overall concept of the company, including the brand, customer, product goals, and all other aspects of service
- Accepts designated, business-focus projects to research, propose ideas and solutions, and present final project during the internship
- Conduct established activities and any added responsibilities which are mutually agreed upon by the student and site supervisor
- Work on projects
- Report/present findings to other team members and management as needed
- Serve as a resource within the function/department
- Maintaining documentation and/or records
- Providing ongoing support as needed
- Assume other duties as assigned
- Preferably working toward a major in respective functional area
LKQ is a global distributor that supplies vehicle parts and accessories for cars and trucks. It sells aftermarket, recycled and salvaged parts, as well as specialty equipment, to repair shops and retail customers who repair, maintain, or customize vehicles. Its parts come from a wide range of suppliers and are distributed through a large network to repair shops, collision centers, and individuals. The way the products work is straightforward: customers order parts, LKQ sources them (including recycled or salvaged options when available), and ships them to the customer for installation or use. LKQ differentiates itself through its broad, global catalog and mix of new, aftermarket, and recycled parts, offering a one-stop source for repairing and upgrading vehicles. The company’s goal is to be a leading, reliable supplier that helps customers quickly find and obtain the parts they need to fix, service, or customize vehicles.
Company Size
5,001-10,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Arizona
Founded
1998
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- North America revenue declined only 0.4% in Q1 2026, outperforming 2-4% claims drop.
- Specialty segment grew 3.4% organically in Q1 2026 after 14 quarters decline.
- Generated $847 million free cash flow in 2025 supporting restructuring and returns.
What critics are saying
- FinishMaster loses major multi-shop clients, destroying synergies post-2023 acquisition.
- North America tariffs raise costs, cut volumes, contract gross margins in 2026.
- Europe private label pricing squeezes margins amid soft demand in 2026.
What makes LKQ unique
- LKQ professionalized fragmented salvage-yard market since 1998 Chicago founding.
- LKQ built global circular-economy platform with recycled OEM parts and logistics.
- LKQ deploys AI-driven pricing tools for dynamic shop-level responses.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Paid Parental Leave
Fertility Treatment Support
401(k) Company Match
Company Paid Life Insurance
Short-Term Disability
Employee Assistance Program
Tuition Reimbursement
Employee Discounts
Company News
LKQ Europe has acquired ACtronics, a leading European specialist in repairing and remanufacturing automotive electronic components. Founded in 2005 and based in Almelo, Netherlands, ACtronics repairs complex vehicle electronics including ABS/ESP units, instrument clusters, transmission and engine control units, and EV specialist components. The acquisition strengthens LKQ Europe's existing circular economy operations, which include vehicle salvage, EV battery repair and remanufactured powertrain components. ACtronics operates exclusively in the B2B aftermarket, serving workshops, dealers and distributors across Europe. LKQ Europe employs around 25,000 people and operates over 900 branches across 18 European countries. The company aims to provide cost-effective, sustainable alternatives to new replacement parts as vehicles become increasingly complex and component costs rise.
Petrus Trust Company initiated a $15.70 million position in LKQ, purchasing 520,000 shares in the fourth quarter, according to a 17 February SEC filing. The automotive parts distributor now represents 1.59% of the fund's reportable assets. LKQ shares have fallen 31% over the past year to $28.11, significantly underperforming the S&P 500's 16% gain. The company's fourth-quarter results showed revenue rising modestly to $3.3 billion from $3.2 billion year-on-year, but net income dropped to $75 million and diluted earnings per share fell 50% to $0.29. Despite earnings pressure, LKQ generated $1.1 billion in operating cash flow and $847 million in free cash flow for the full year. Management is implementing cost-cutting measures expected to deliver over $50 million in annual savings.
Barrington has raised its price target for LKQ Corporation to $45-$50 from $40-$45, maintaining an Outperform rating on the stock. The analyst updated its sum-of-the-parts valuation following the company's fourth-quarter 2025 results. LKQ reported challenging Q4 results on 19 February, facing soft demand in North America and Europe. Diluted earnings per share fell 50% year-on-year to $0.29, whilst adjusted diluted EPS declined 24% to $0.59, missing analyst expectations of $0.65. Segment EBITDA dropped 18% to $321 million. The earnings decline stemmed from rising costs due to higher tariffs in North America and increased expenses in Europe, forcing price increases that reduced sales volumes in both regions. Gross margins contracted as LKQ chose not to fully pass costs on to consumers.
Kettle Hill Capital Management sold 777,476 shares of LKQ during the fourth quarter, worth approximately $23.45 million, according to a 17 February SEC filing. The transaction reduced LKQ to 2.6% of Kettle Hill's assets under management, down from 8% in the prior quarter. As of 17 February, LKQ shares traded at $32.51, down 16.8% over the past year and trailing the S&P 500 by 28.8 percentage points. The automotive parts distributor has been under pressure from activist investor Ananym Capital since October to sell business units. LKQ has engaged Bank of America to help sell its Keystone Automotive Industries division, potentially worth $1 billion. Reuters reported in January that the company's board is exploring strategic options, including a potential sale.
LKQ, a vehicle parts distributor with $13.7 billion in revenue, has seen its shares decline 21% over the past year, though the stock has gained 11% in the past three months. Trading at $32.07, the shares have posted a year-to-date return of approximately 6.8%. According to analyst valuations, LKQ appears undervalued with a fair value estimate of $52.80, suggesting potential upside of roughly 28%. The company generates $596 million in net income serving repair shops, dealerships and retail customers across North America and Europe. The investment case depends on steady revenue growth and margin expansion in LKQ's parts distribution business. However, risks include potential volume declines from advanced driver assistance systems reducing collisions and operational challenges in its European operations.