Aviva PLC Sells 144,034 Shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

Aviva PLC reduced its stake in shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG - Free Report) by 52.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 131,909 shares of the business services provider's stock after selling 144,034 shares during the period. Aviva PLC's holdings in Republic Services were worth $26,537,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Republic Services by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 27,359 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $5,488,000 after purchasing an additional 406 shares during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC boosted its position in shares of Republic Services by 1.2% during the third quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 4,870 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $978,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the period. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 89.5% during the third quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 6,184 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $1,242,000 after buying an additional 2,920 shares in the last quarter. iA Global Asset Management Inc. raised its position in Republic Services by 85.2% in the 3rd quarter. iA Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 10,418 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $2,092,000 after buying an additional 4,792 shares during the last quarter. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd bought a new stake in Republic Services in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $388,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.73% of the company's stock.

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Republic Services Price Performance

Shares of RSG stock traded up $3.17 on Friday, reaching $243.40. The company had a trading volume of 412,652 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,115,593. The business's 50-day moving average is $232.75 and its 200 day moving average is $216.39. Republic Services, Inc. has a one year low of $180.92 and a one year high of $249.73. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $76.01 billion, a PE ratio of 37.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.62.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The business services provider reported $1.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.37 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $4.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates 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 last year, the business posted $1.41 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Republic Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced 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 of this dividend is Wednesday, April 2nd. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.95%. Republic Services's dividend payout ratio is presently 35.75%.

Insider Activity

In related 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 completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 10,416 shares in the company, valued at $2,376,931.20. This trade represents a 37.66 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on RSG shares. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Republic Services from a "sector perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $219.00 to $237.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Republic Services from $240.00 to $257.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. CIBC raised Republic Services from a "neutral" rating to a "sector outperform" rating and set a $264.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Argus set a $260.00 target price on shares of Republic Services in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Republic Services from $240.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday. Five 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $239.13.

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.