Vontobel Holding Ltd. Cuts Stake in Republic Services, Inc. $RSG

Vontobel Holding Ltd. decreased its stake in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 44,043 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 2,395 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd.’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $10,107,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Republic Services in the second quarter valued at approximately $690,313,000. M&G PLC lifted its holdings in Republic Services by 113.0% in the 2nd quarter. M&G PLC now owns 1,164,656 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $287,670,000 after buying an additional 617,939 shares in the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. boosted its position in Republic Services by 118.4% in the 2nd quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 806,409 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $198,869,000 after buying an additional 437,190 shares during the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd grew its stake in shares of Republic Services by 174.6% during the second quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 685,448 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $169,038,000 after acquiring an additional 435,816 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. increased its position in shares of Republic Services by 21.3% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,325,302 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $573,443,000 after acquiring an additional 408,885 shares during the last quarter. 57.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Republic Services

In other news, Director Katharine Weymouth purchased 478 shares of Republic Services stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 9th. The stock was bought at an average price of $209.46 per share, with a total value of $100,121.88. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 5,740 shares in the company, valued at $1,202,300.40. The trade was a 9.08% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.11% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on RSG shares. Sanford C. Bernstein began coverage on Republic Services in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. They set a “market perform” rating and a $205.00 price objective on the stock. Oppenheimer set a $256.00 price target on shares of Republic Services in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Robert W. Baird set a $240.00 price target on shares of Republic Services in a report on Friday, October 31st. National Bankshares reduced their price objective on shares of Republic Services from $270.00 to $241.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of Republic Services from $260.00 to $240.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Republic Services has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $250.64.

Republic Services Trading Up 0.1%

NYSE RSG opened at $213.20 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.58. Republic Services, Inc. has a one year low of $199.43 and a one year high of $258.75. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $213.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $227.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $66.00 billion, a PE ratio of 31.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.66 and a beta of 0.54.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The business services provider reported $1.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.78 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $4.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.25 billion. Republic Services had a net margin of 12.77% and a return on equity of 18.24%. Republic Services’s revenue was up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.81 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Investors of record on Friday, January 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.625 per share. This represents a $2.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 2nd. Republic Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 37.20%.

Republic Services Profile

Republic Services, Inc is a leading provider of non-hazardous solid waste and recycling services in the United States. The company offers a broad range of waste management solutions to residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers, positioning itself as a full-service partner for everyday waste collection as well as specialized disposal needs.

Republic’s core operations include curbside and commercial collection, transfer and hauling, materials recovery and recycling facilities, and landfill disposal.