22,022 Shares in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) Acquired by Avanza Fonder AB

Avanza Fonder AB purchased a new position in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 22,022 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $4,430,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in RSG. Simmons Bank increased its position in shares of Republic Services by 2.8% during the third quarter. Simmons Bank now owns 1,895 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $381,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its stake in Republic Services by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 5,099 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,024,000 after buying an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Republic Services by 16.5% in the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 382 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $77,000 after buying an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 3.8% in the third quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,520 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $310,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the period. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Republic Services by 11.6% during the third quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 529 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $106,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.73% of the company’s stock.

Republic Services Stock Performance

Republic Services stock opened at $213.85 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.64. Republic Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $165.99 and a 12 month high of $220.58. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $209.23 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $204.29. The company has a market cap of $66.97 billion, a PE ratio of 34.22, a P/E/G ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 0.73.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The business services provider reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.20. Republic Services had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 18.18%. The business had revenue of $4.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.54 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 2nd were given a dividend of $0.58 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 2nd. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.08%. Republic Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 37.12%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CFO Brian M. Delghiaccio sold 5,071 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.02, for a total value of $1,065,011.42. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 6,318 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,326,906.36. This trade represents a 44.53 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Katharine Weymouth sold 1,859 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $215.27, for a total transaction of $400,186.93. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $189,222.33. The trade was a 67.90 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

RSG has been the topic of several research reports. William Blair assumed coverage on shares of Republic Services in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. They set an “outperform” rating on the stock. Scotiabank started coverage on Republic Services in a research report on Friday, October 4th. They issued a “sector perform” rating and a $224.00 price target on the stock. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on Republic Services from $219.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. CIBC boosted their target price on Republic Services from $217.00 to $227.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised Republic Services from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $219.00 to $237.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Republic Services currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $221.12.

Republic Services Company 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.