Rollins, Inc. (NYSE:ROL) Stake Cut by Kentucky Retirement Systems

Kentucky Retirement Systems reduced its holdings in Rollins, Inc. (NYSE:ROL) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 19,303 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 266 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems’ holdings in Rollins were worth $895,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of ROL. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in Rollins in the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. True Wealth Design LLC increased its position in Rollins by 4,272.2% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 787 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 769 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position in Rollins by 57.8% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 890 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in Rollins in the 3rd quarter worth about $52,000. Finally, Intact Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in Rollins in the 3rd quarter worth about $71,000. 51.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Rollins

In related news, insider Elizabeth B. Chandler sold 13,193 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.18, for a total transaction of $675,217.74. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 76,526 shares in the company, valued at $3,916,600.68. This represents a 14.70 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 4.69% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on ROL shares. StockNews.com raised Rollins from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Rollins from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Rollins from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Barclays assumed coverage on Rollins in a research report on Monday, November 4th. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $50.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price objective on Rollins from $48.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Rollins has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $52.00.

Rollins Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ROL opened at $51.36 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market cap of $24.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.50 and a beta of 0.76. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $48.34 and its 200-day simple moving average is $49.15. Rollins, Inc. has a 52 week low of $41.72 and a 52 week high of $52.83.

Rollins (NYSE:ROL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The business services provider reported $0.23 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.23. Rollins had a return on equity of 37.94% and a net margin of 13.76%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Rollins, Inc. will post 1.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Rollins Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.165 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 25th. This represents a $0.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.29%. Rollins’s payout ratio is 68.75%.

Rollins Profile

Rollins, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides pest and wildlife control services to residential and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. The company offers pest control services to residential properties protecting from common pests, including rodents, insects, and wildlife.