Flputnam Investment Management Co. Buys 3,541 Shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

Flputnam Investment Management Co. boosted its position in shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 2.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 176,222 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,541 shares during the quarter. Flputnam Investment Management Co. owned about 0.06% of Republic Services worth $35,452,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. First American Bank increased its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. First American Bank now owns 33,854 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $6,811,000 after purchasing an additional 908 shares in the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Republic Services by 77.1% during the fourth quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 63,107 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $12,696,000 after buying an additional 27,480 shares during the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in Republic Services in the 4th quarter worth about $30,230,000. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. raised its position in Republic Services by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 87,800 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $17,664,000 after buying an additional 3,300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, New York Life Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Republic Services by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 27,234 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $5,479,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares during the period. 57.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Republic Services news, Director Katharine Weymouth sold 1,859 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $215.27, for a total value of $400,186.93. Following the sale, the director now owns 879 shares in the company, valued at $189,222.33. The trade was a 67.90 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, COO Gregg Brummer sold 6,293 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $228.20, for a total value of $1,436,062.60. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 10,416 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,376,931.20. The trade was a 37.66 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on RSG shares. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of Republic Services from $235.00 to $244.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. CIBC increased their price target on Republic Services from $217.00 to $227.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Republic Services from $240.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. William Blair reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Republic Services in a report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Republic Services from $220.00 to $230.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $234.56.

Republic Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:RSG opened at $237.42 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $74.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.58, a P/E/G ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.74. Republic Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $180.91 and a 1-year high of $237.52. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $215.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $209.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 0.58 and a quick ratio of 0.64.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The business services provider reported $1.58 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.21. Republic Services had a net margin of 12.74% and a return on equity of 18.28%. The company had revenue of $4.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.08 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.41 EPS. Research analysts expect that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.58 per share. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 2nd. Republic Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.75%.

Republic Services Profile

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.