Sciencast Management LP Has $1.43 Million Stock Holdings in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

Sciencast Management LP trimmed its holdings in shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 21.1% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 7,457 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 1,989 shares during the quarter. Sciencast Management LP’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $1,428,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its holdings in Republic Services by 11.1% in the first quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 57,461 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $11,000,000 after purchasing an additional 5,744 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLC lifted its position in shares of Republic Services by 3.4% during the first quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 7,468 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,430,000 after purchasing an additional 249 shares in the last quarter. Duality Advisers LP bought a new position in shares of Republic Services during the first quarter valued at about $332,000. Staley Capital Advisers Inc. purchased a new stake in Republic Services during the first quarter worth about $230,000. Finally, DAVENPORT & Co LLC increased its holdings in Republic Services by 4.3% during the first quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 378,502 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $72,345,000 after buying an additional 15,546 shares during the last quarter. 57.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Republic Services

In related news, CMO Amanda Hodges sold 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $186.02, for a total value of $1,209,130.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 6,831 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,270,702.62. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Katharine Weymouth bought 540 shares of Republic Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 4th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $185.26 per share, with a total value of $100,040.40. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 540 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $100,040.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CMO Amanda Hodges sold 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $186.02, for a total transaction of $1,209,130.00. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 6,831 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,270,702.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Republic Services Stock Performance

RSG traded up $1.55 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $200.25. 891,913 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,199,403. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $63.07 billion, a PE ratio of 35.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.69. The company’s 50-day moving average is $189.77 and its 200 day moving average is $183.35. Republic Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $140.23 and a 52 week high of $201.34.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 30th. The business services provider reported $1.45 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.10. Republic Services had a net margin of 11.81% and a return on equity of 17.56%. The firm had revenue of $3.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.89 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.24 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.05 EPS for the current year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, July 2nd will be paid a $0.535 dividend. This represents a $2.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 2nd. Republic Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.54%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

RSG has been the subject of several recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Republic Services from $213.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 18th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Republic Services from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of Republic Services from $209.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Republic Services in a report on Thursday, May 23rd. They set a “hold” rating and a $203.00 price target for the company. Finally, Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on shares of Republic Services from $202.00 to $204.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 1st. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $203.14.

About Republic Services

Republic Services, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers environmental services in the United States and Canada. It is involved in the collection and processing of recyclable, solid waste, and industrial waste materials; transportation and disposal of non-hazardous and hazardous waste streams; and other environmental solutions.