Rentokil Initial (NYSE:RTO) Shares Gap Up - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Rentokil Initial PLC shares experienced a significant increase, opening at $29.98 after closing at $27.09, indicating strong market interest.
• Analysts have mixed views on Rentokil Initial, with consensus rating shifting between "Hold" and "Strong Buy," highlighting a complex outlook for investors.
• The company's recent semi-annual dividend of $0.2738 per share reflects a dividend payout ratio of 21.85%, amidst a backdrop of changing investment sentiments.

Rentokil Initial PLC (NYSE:RTO - Get Free Report) shares gapped up before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $27.09, but opened at $29.98. Rentokil Initial shares last traded at $29.69, with a volume of 241,101 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have issued reports on RTO shares. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Rentokil Initial from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c-)" rating on shares of Rentokil Initial in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Rentokil Initial in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Rentokil Initial to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Berenberg Bank upgraded shares of Rentokil Initial to a "strong sell" rating in a research note on Monday, September 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Rentokil Initial presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy".

Rentokil Initial Trading Up 8.6%

The company's fifty day moving average is $25.37 and its 200-day moving average is $24.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.66, a P/E/G ratio of 4.70 and a beta of 0.95.

Rentokil Initial Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, August 15th were paid a dividend of $0.2738 per share. This represents a yield of 240.0%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 15th. Rentokil Initial's dividend payout ratio is presently 21.85%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Rentokil Initial

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of RTO. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its stake in Rentokil Initial by 416.9% during the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,132 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 913 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc raised its stake in Rentokil Initial by 115.5% during the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,282 shares of the company's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 687 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group raised its stake in Rentokil Initial by 668.3% during the 1st quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 1,598 shares of the company's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 1,390 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming acquired a new position in Rentokil Initial during the 1st quarter valued at $46,000. Finally, Cape Investment Advisory Inc. raised its stake in Rentokil Initial by 67.4% during the 1st quarter. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 2,519 shares of the company's stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 1,014 shares during the last quarter. 9.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Rentokil Initial Company Profile

Rentokil Initial plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides route-based services in North America, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and internationally. It offers a range of pest control services for rodents, and flying and crawling insects, as well as other forms of wildlife management for commercial customers.

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