Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) Stock Has Average Target Price of $249.32 According to Brokerages

Shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) have been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-one research firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and fourteen have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $252.10.

Several analysts have recently weighed in on RSG shares. UBS Group raised their target price on Republic Services from $233.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Republic Services from $232.00 to $219.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 13th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Republic Services from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Monday. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on Republic Services from $256.00 to $246.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. Finally, Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of Republic Services in a research report on Tuesday, September 15th. They set a “peer perform” rating for the company.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Brian Bales sold 3,400 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $244.00, for a total value of $829,600.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 17,616 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,298,304. This represents a 16.18% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Cascade Investment, L.L.C. purchased 324,810 shares of Republic Services stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 11th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $222.89 per share, for a total transaction of $72,396,900.90. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 117,058,444 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $26,091,156,583.16. The trade was a 0.28% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Insiders bought a total of 5,240,588 shares of company stock valued at $1,161,649,826 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Republic Services

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in RSG. Bell Investment Advisors Inc bought a new position in Republic Services in the second quarter worth about $25,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Republic Services during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. acquired a new stake in shares of Republic Services during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Compass Financial Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Republic Services during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 47.3% in the 1st quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC now owns 162 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. 57.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Republic Services Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:RSG opened at $252.73 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. Republic Services has a 52-week low of $196.41 and a 52-week high of $255.39. The company has a 50 day moving average of $227.62 and a two-hundred day moving average of $218.52. The company has a market capitalization of $76.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 0.32.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The business services provider reported $1.94 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.93 by $0.01. Republic Services had a net margin of 12.93% and a return on equity of 18.56%. The business had revenue of $4.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.42 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.90 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Republic Services will post 7.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.67 per share. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, January 4th. Republic Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.07%.

About Republic Services

Republic Services, Inc. provides waste collection, recycling and environmental services to residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers across the United States. Its services include collecting and transporting waste, operating transfer stations and landfills, and processing recyclable materials. The company also provides environmental solutions, including services for the management and disposal of hazardous and other specialized waste. Republic Services traces its origins to the 1990s and expanded its operations through the 2008 combination with Allied Waste Industries.