Financial Counselors Inc. Buys 219 Shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

Financial Counselors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 11.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,082 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 219 shares during the period. Financial Counselors Inc.’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $343,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Republic Services by 56.3% in the 3rd quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC now owns 197 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the period. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Republic Services in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in Republic Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $34,000. Millburn Ridgefield Corp purchased a new stake in Republic Services in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Republic Services in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Institutional investors own 57.73% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Ark Jon Vander sold 5,446 shares of Republic Services stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $184.10, for a total value of $1,002,608.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 85,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $15,669,303.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Republic Services Stock Down 0.7 %

Republic Services stock opened at $187.82 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $59.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.34, a PEG ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.68. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $184.44 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $167.42. Republic Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $135.33 and a 12 month high of $192.57. The company has a current ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The business services provider reported $1.41 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.13. Republic Services had a return on equity of 17.32% and a net margin of 11.57%. The business had revenue of $3.83 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.73 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.13 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 2nd will be issued a $0.535 dividend. This represents a $2.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 1st. Republic Services’s payout ratio is currently 39.12%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on RSG shares. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Republic Services from $175.00 to $187.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on Republic Services from $182.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Republic Services from $213.00 to $225.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 18th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Republic Services from $173.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada assumed coverage on Republic Services in a research note on Monday, April 8th. They issued a “sector perform” rating and a $198.00 target price for the company. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $198.15.

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.