World Investment Advisors Raises Position in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

World Investment Advisors raised its position in shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 35.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,137 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,082 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors’ holdings in Republic Services were worth $832,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in RSG. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. raised its stake in Republic Services by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,213 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $445,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the period. Access Financial Services Inc. raised its position in shares of Republic Services by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Access Financial Services Inc. now owns 6,178 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,243,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares during the period. Tower Wealth Partners Inc. boosted its holdings in Republic Services by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. Tower Wealth Partners Inc. now owns 1,697 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $341,000 after buying an additional 54 shares during the period. Umpqua Bank raised its holdings in Republic Services by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Umpqua Bank now owns 1,808 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $374,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the period. Finally, Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC lifted its position in shares of Republic Services by 1.2% during the third quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 4,870 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $978,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. 57.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Republic Services Stock Performance

Republic Services stock opened at $235.29 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $230.70 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $215.25. Republic Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $180.92 and a twelve month high of $249.73. The company has a market capitalization of $73.48 billion, a PE ratio of 36.25, a P/E/G ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04.

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

Republic Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 0.99%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 2nd. Republic Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.75%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Republic Services

In other Republic Services news, COO Gregg Brummer sold 6,293 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on 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 completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 10,416 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,376,931.20. This represents a 37.66 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently issued reports on RSG shares. UBS Group increased their price objective on Republic Services from $212.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Cibc World Mkts raised shares of Republic Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Republic Services from $240.00 to $257.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. William Blair reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Republic Services in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Republic Services from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $219.00 to $237.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $236.88.

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.