Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) Shares Purchased by Blue Trust Inc.

Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 19.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,575 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 896 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc.’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $1,120,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. PFG Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of Republic Services by 4.2% during the fourth quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 3,730 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $750,000 after purchasing an additional 152 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI acquired a new position in shares of Republic Services during the fourth quarter worth $311,000. Running Oak Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Republic Services by 7.5% during the fourth quarter. Running Oak Capital LLC now owns 68,479 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $13,763,000 after purchasing an additional 4,762 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its position in shares of Republic Services by 255.2% during the fourth quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 16,953 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $3,411,000 after purchasing an additional 12,180 shares in the last quarter. Finally, McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Republic Services by 2.2% during the fourth quarter. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,213 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $445,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. 57.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Republic Services

In other news, Director Katharine Weymouth sold 1,859 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated 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 trade represents a 67.90 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Brian M. Delghiaccio sold 5,071 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated 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 owns 6,318 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,326,906.36. This trade represents a 44.53 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently commented on RSG. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Republic Services from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $211.00 to $238.00 in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Scotiabank started coverage on shares of Republic Services in a research report on Friday, October 4th. They set a “sector perform” rating and a $224.00 target price on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of Republic Services from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their price target for the company from $219.00 to $237.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Republic Services from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the company from $219.00 to $237.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Republic Services from $235.00 to $244.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $222.24.

Republic Services Stock Up 0.2 %

RSG stock opened at $216.06 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $67.66 billion, a PE ratio of 34.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.73. 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 simple moving average is $209.58 and its 200 day simple moving average is $205.34. Republic Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $169.83 and a fifty-two week high of $220.58.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The business services provider reported $1.81 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.61 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $4.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.12 billion. Republic Services had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 18.18%. Republic Services’s quarterly revenue was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.54 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.25 EPS for the current year.

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.