Quaero Capital S.A. Reduces Stock Holdings in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

Quaero Capital S.A. lowered its position in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 17.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,450 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 750 shares during the quarter. Quaero Capital S.A.’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $694,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV grew its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 4.2% in the fourth quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 3,770 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $758,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA grew its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 46.3% in the fourth quarter. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA now owns 585 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $118,000 after purchasing an additional 185 shares during the period. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in Republic Services in the fourth quarter valued at about $202,000. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its position in Republic Services by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 46,617 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $9,378,000 after buying an additional 856 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bogart Wealth LLC lifted its position in Republic Services by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 33,823 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $6,805,000 after buying an additional 187 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.73% of the company’s stock.

Republic Services Stock Performance

Shares of Republic Services stock opened at $230.98 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $72.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.96, a P/E/G ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.74. Republic Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $177.03 and a 52 week high of $232.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $210.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $207.06.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The business services provider reported $1.58 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.21. Republic Services had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 18.18%. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.41 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.25 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. 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.00%. Republic Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.12%.

Insider Transactions at Republic Services

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

RSG has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Republic Services from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their target price for the company from $211.00 to $238.00 in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Republic Services from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the company from $219.00 to $237.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on shares of Republic Services from $235.00 to $244.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. CIBC increased their price target on shares of Republic Services from $217.00 to $227.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Republic Services from $220.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Republic Services has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $225.38.

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.