Analysts Set Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) Price Target at $236.88

Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) has received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seventeen brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, eleven have given a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $236.88.

RSG has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada raised Republic Services from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and raised their target price for the company from $219.00 to $237.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Cibc World Mkts upgraded Republic Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Republic Services from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $211.00 to $238.00 in a research report on Friday, December 6th. UBS Group increased their target price on Republic Services from $212.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, Argus set a $260.00 price target on shares of Republic Services in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th.

Republic Services Trading Down 0.8 %

NYSE RSG opened at $232.95 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $72.75 billion, a PE ratio of 35.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.73. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $224.90 and a two-hundred day moving average of $212.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. Republic Services has a 52 week low of $180.92 and a 52 week high of $240.95.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The business services provider reported $1.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $4.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.08 billion. Republic Services had a net margin of 12.74% and a return on equity of 18.28%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.41 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Republic Services will post 6.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be given a $0.58 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 2nd. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.00%. Republic Services’s payout ratio is currently 35.75%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, COO Gregg Brummer sold 6,293 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $228.20, for a total transaction of $1,436,062.60. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 10,416 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,376,931.20. This trade represents a 37.66 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Republic Services

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Pathstone Holdings LLC raised its position in shares of Republic Services by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 33,937 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $6,816,000 after acquiring an additional 888 shares in the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC increased its stake in Republic Services by 21.9% during the third quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 4,828 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $970,000 after purchasing an additional 869 shares during the last quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc raised its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 21.6% during the third quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 4,896 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $984,000 after purchasing an additional 869 shares during the period. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Republic Services by 16.0% in the 3rd quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,193 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $440,000 after buying an additional 303 shares during the last quarter. Finally, B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new stake in shares of Republic Services during the 3rd quarter valued at about $3,323,000. 57.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Republic Services Company 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.