Sterling Investment Management LLC Decreases Position in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

Sterling Investment Management LLC decreased its stake in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 2.1% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 7,297 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 157 shares during the quarter. Sterling Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $1,203,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of RSG. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Republic Services by 56.3% in the third quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC now owns 197 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in shares of Republic Services in the first quarter worth about $34,000. Millburn Ridgefield Corp acquired a new position in shares of Republic Services in the third quarter worth about $36,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Republic Services during the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Republic Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.73% of the company’s stock.

Republic Services Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE RSG opened at $191.54 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $179.51 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $163.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a current ratio of 0.56. The firm has a market cap of $60.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.02, a PEG ratio of 3.32 and a beta of 0.67. Republic Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $130.34 and a 1 year high of $192.57.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 27th. The business services provider reported $1.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.13. Republic Services had a return on equity of 17.32% and a net margin of 11.57%. The company had revenue of $3.83 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.73 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.13 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Republic Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 2nd will be issued a $0.535 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 1st. This represents a $2.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.12%. Republic Services’s payout ratio is currently 39.12%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Ark Jon Vander sold 5,446 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $184.10, for a total transaction of $1,002,608.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 85,113 shares in the company, valued at $15,669,303.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on RSG shares. UBS Group cut Republic Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $175.00 to $195.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Republic Services from $182.00 to $209.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Citigroup upped their price objective on Republic Services from $190.00 to $215.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. Oppenheimer increased their price target on Republic Services from $182.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Republic Services from $166.00 to $199.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $193.54.

Republic Services 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.