AGF Management Ltd. Reduces Position in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

AGF Management Ltd. reduced its holdings in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 20.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,058 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 3,070 shares during the period. AGF Management Ltd.’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $2,426,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of RSG. FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Republic Services during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI lifted its position in Republic Services by 200.0% during the fourth quarter. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI now owns 132 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Republic Services during the fourth quarter worth $32,000. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Republic Services in the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Republic Services in the 3rd quarter worth $39,000. 57.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Republic Services Price Performance

Shares of RSG opened at $229.08 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $71.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.30, a PEG ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.73. Republic Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $180.91 and a fifty-two week high of $240.95. 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 firm’s 50 day moving average price is $221.33 and its 200 day moving average price is $211.50.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The business services provider reported $1.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.37 by $0.21. Republic Services had a return on equity of 18.28% and a net margin of 12.74%. The firm had revenue of $4.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.08 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.41 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Republic Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be issued a $0.58 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 2nd. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.01%. Republic Services’s payout ratio is 35.75%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Republic Services news, COO Gregg Brummer sold 6,293 shares of Republic Services stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 19th. The stock was 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $2,376,931.20. The trade was a 37.66 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. William Blair reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Republic Services in a research report on Friday, February 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Republic Services from $239.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating 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 price target on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. BMO Capital Markets raised Republic Services from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and raised their target price for the stock from $211.00 to $238.00 in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Republic Services from $220.00 to $230.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $236.88.

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.