Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) Shares Sold by Aviva PLC

Aviva PLC reduced its stake in shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 52.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 131,909 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 144,034 shares during the quarter. Aviva PLC’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $26,537,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of RSG. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Republic Services by 37.5% in the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 17,682 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $3,586,000 after purchasing an additional 4,827 shares during the period. TCW Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Republic Services by 13.0% during the third quarter. TCW Group Inc. now owns 114,582 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $23,013,000 after acquiring an additional 13,138 shares during the last quarter. DnB Asset Management AS increased its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 65.1% in the 4th quarter. DnB Asset Management AS now owns 72,931 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $14,672,000 after acquiring an additional 28,764 shares during the period. Avanza Fonder AB purchased a new stake in Republic Services in the 4th quarter valued at $4,430,000. Finally, Czech National Bank grew its position in Republic Services by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 44,134 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $8,879,000 after purchasing an additional 2,548 shares during the last quarter. 57.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Republic Services Stock Down 5.3 %

Republic Services stock opened at $235.29 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $73.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.58. Republic Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $180.92 and a fifty-two week high of $249.73. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $230.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $215.25.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The business services provider reported $1.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 firm had revenue of $4.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.08 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.41 EPS. Analysts predict that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Republic Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.58 per share. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.99%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 2nd. Republic Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.75%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on RSG shares. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Republic Services from $240.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Truist Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $250.00 target price (up from $244.00) on shares of Republic Services in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Argus set a $260.00 price target on Republic Services in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Republic Services from $212.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Republic Services from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised 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’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $236.88.

Insider Transactions at Republic Services

In related news, COO Gregg Brummer sold 6,293 shares of Republic Services stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 19th. The stock was 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 in the company, valued at approximately $2,376,931.20. This trade represents a 37.66 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

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.