Brokerages Set Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) Price Target at $236.88

Shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) have received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seventeen research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $236.88.

A number of research firms have issued reports on RSG. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Republic Services from $240.00 to $257.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Republic Services from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $219.00 to $237.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Argus set a $260.00 price objective on shares of Republic Services in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. CIBC raised shares of Republic Services from a “neutral” rating to a “sector outperform” rating and set a $264.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price target on Republic Services from $212.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th.

Republic Services Stock Performance

NYSE RSG opened at $239.98 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. The stock has a market cap of $74.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.73. Republic Services has a fifty-two week low of $180.92 and a fifty-two week high of $241.09. The business has a fifty day moving average of $227.23 and a 200-day moving average of $213.52.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The business services provider reported $1.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.08 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.41 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Republic Services will post 6.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.58 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 2nd. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.97%. Republic Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.75%.

Insider Activity

In related news, COO Gregg Brummer sold 6,293 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were 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 directly owns 10,416 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,376,931.20. This trade represents a 37.66 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Republic Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in RSG. Pathstone Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 2.7% during the third quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 33,937 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $6,816,000 after buying an additional 888 shares during the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC raised its position in shares of Republic Services by 21.9% in the 3rd quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 4,828 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $970,000 after acquiring an additional 869 shares during the period. Prospera Financial Services Inc boosted its position in shares of Republic Services by 21.6% during the third quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 4,896 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $984,000 after purchasing an additional 869 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Republic Services by 16.0% during the third quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,193 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $440,000 after acquiring an additional 303 shares in the last quarter. Finally, B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG acquired a new position in shares of Republic Services in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $3,323,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.73% of the company’s stock.

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.