Private Advisor Group LLC Sells 379 Shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

Private Advisor Group LLC decreased its stake in shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 2.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 16,284 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 379 shares during the quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $3,276,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Republic Services by 185.2% during the 4th quarter. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC now owns 13,446 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $2,705,000 after purchasing an additional 8,731 shares in the last quarter. Financial Perspectives Inc grew its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 2,029.4% during the fourth quarter. Financial Perspectives Inc now owns 362 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $73,000 after buying an additional 345 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new stake in shares of Republic Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund lifted its position in Republic Services by 58.2% in the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 9,564 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,924,000 after acquiring an additional 3,520 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 16.7% in the 4th quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 24,458 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $4,920,000 after purchasing an additional 3,501 shares in the last quarter. 57.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Republic Services Stock Performance

NYSE RSG opened at $230.73 on Monday. Republic Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $180.91 and a 1-year high of $232.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 0.58 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $212.87 and its 200-day simple moving average is $208.65. The company has a market cap of $72.05 billion, a PE ratio of 35.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.74.

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

Republic Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.58 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 2nd. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.01%. Republic Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 35.75%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Republic Services news, Director Katharine Weymouth sold 1,859 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $215.27, for a total transaction of $400,186.93. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $189,222.33. This represents a 67.90 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed 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 transaction of $1,436,062.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 10,416 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,376,931.20. This trade represents a 37.66 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on Republic Services from $235.00 to $244.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Republic Services from $220.00 to $230.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Argus set a $260.00 target price on shares of Republic Services in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Royal Bank of Canada raised Republic Services from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their price target for the company from $219.00 to $237.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, CIBC boosted their target price on shares of Republic Services from $217.00 to $227.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Republic Services currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $233.41.

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.