KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Buys Shares of 135,434 Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new stake in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 135,434 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $27,247,000.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Republic Services during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI increased its position in Republic Services by 200.0% during the 4th quarter. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI now owns 132 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in Republic Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Republic Services during the third quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Generali Asset Management SPA SGR acquired a new position in shares of Republic Services during the fourth quarter worth $45,000. 57.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Republic Services news, COO Gregg Brummer sold 6,293 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 10,416 shares in the company, valued at $2,376,931.20. The trade was a 37.66 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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Republic Services Stock Up 0.9 %

NYSE RSG traded up $2.23 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $239.98. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,256,528 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,009,454. 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's 50-day simple moving average is $226.67 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $213.33. The company has a market capitalization of $74.94 billion, a PE ratio of 36.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.73. Republic Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $180.92 and a 52 week high of $240.97.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results 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. Republic Services had a return on equity of 18.28% and a net margin of 12.74%. The company had revenue of $4.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.08 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.41 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Republic Services Dividend Announcement

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 dividend of $0.58 per share. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 2nd. Republic Services's payout ratio is 35.75%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on RSG shares. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Republic Services from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $211.00 to $238.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Argus set a $260.00 price objective on shares of Republic Services in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Republic Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $219.00 to $237.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Republic Services from $240.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on 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 given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average 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.