American Century Companies Inc. Sells 181,666 Shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

American Century Companies Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG - Free Report) by 15.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,011,856 shares of the business services provider's stock after selling 181,666 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. owned 0.32% of Republic Services worth $203,565,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its position in Republic Services by 37.5% in the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 17,682 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $3,586,000 after buying an additional 4,827 shares during the period. TCW Group Inc. increased its position in Republic Services by 13.0% in the 3rd quarter. TCW Group Inc. now owns 114,582 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $23,013,000 after acquiring an additional 13,138 shares during the period. Avanza Fonder AB acquired a new stake in shares of Republic Services during the fourth quarter worth $4,430,000. Czech National Bank raised its holdings in Republic Services by 6.1% during the fourth quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 44,134 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $8,879,000 after purchasing an additional 2,548 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hickory Point Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in Republic Services in the fourth quarter valued at $790,000. 57.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, COO Gregg Brummer sold 6,293 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $228.20, for a total value of $1,436,062.60. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 10,416 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,376,931.20. This represents a 37.66 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

Republic Services Price Performance

RSG stock traded up $2.23 during trading on Thursday, hitting $239.98. The company had a trading volume of 1,256,528 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,010,326. The company has a current ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $226.67 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $213.33. Republic Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $180.92 and a fifty-two week high of $240.97. The company has a market cap of $74.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.98, a P/E/G ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.73.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The business services provider reported $1.58 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.21. Republic Services had a net margin of 12.74% and a return on equity of 18.28%. The firm had revenue of $4.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.08 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.41 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be paid 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 0.97%. Republic Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.75%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have weighed in on RSG shares. 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 research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Republic Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $219.00 to $237.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. William Blair reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Republic Services in a report on Friday, February 14th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Republic Services from $235.00 to $244.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price 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. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Republic Services has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $236.88.

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.