Aptus Capital Advisors LLC Boosts Stock Holdings in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

Aptus Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG - Free Report) by 21.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,994 shares of the business services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 1,047 shares during the period. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC's holdings in Republic Services were worth $1,206,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of RSG. AXA S.A. lifted its position in shares of Republic Services by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 526,270 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $105,875,000 after buying an additional 4,792 shares during the last quarter. Visualize Group LP purchased a new stake in Republic Services in the fourth quarter valued at $8,738,000. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co boosted its stake in Republic Services by 3.4% in the fourth quarter. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co now owns 11,587 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $2,331,000 after acquiring an additional 384 shares in the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 4.3% during the fourth quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 64,077 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $12,891,000 after purchasing an additional 2,651 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Unisphere Establishment acquired a new stake in shares of Republic Services during the fourth quarter worth about $6,237,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.73% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Republic Services news, COO Gregg Brummer sold 6,293 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $228.20, for a total value of $1,436,062.60. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 10,416 shares in the company, 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 Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.11% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Republic Services Stock Performance

Republic Services stock opened at $250.74 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $78.36 billion, a PE ratio of 38.63, a P/E/G ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.66. Republic Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $180.92 and a 12 month high of $252.40. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $239.00 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $221.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 0.58 and a quick ratio of 0.64.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The business services provider reported $1.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.53 by $0.05. Republic Services had a net margin of 12.74% and a return on equity of 18.28%. The business had revenue of $4.01 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.08 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.45 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect 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 Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.58 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 2nd. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.93%. Republic Services's dividend payout ratio is currently 34.99%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on RSG shares. Raymond James reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Republic Services in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on Republic Services from $233.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. CIBC raised Republic Services from a "neutral" rating to a "sector outperform" rating and set a $264.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Argus set a $260.00 price objective on shares of Republic Services in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Republic Services from $235.00 to $244.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $249.00.

About Republic Services

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.

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