Rollins (NYSE:ROL) Given New $50.00 Price Target at Morgan Stanley

Rollins (NYSE:ROL - Free Report) had its price objective lifted by Morgan Stanley from $48.00 to $50.00 in a research report released on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an equal weight rating on the business services provider's stock.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Rollins from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $52.00 price objective on shares of Rollins in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Barclays began coverage on shares of Rollins in a research report on Monday, November 4th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $50.00 price target on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price objective on shares of Rollins from $48.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Rollins from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Rollins presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $52.00.

Rollins Price Performance

Shares of Rollins stock traded down $0.78 on Friday, hitting $49.96. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,831,529 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,767,807. The company has a market capitalization of $24.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.04 and a beta of 0.76. Rollins has a 1 year low of $40.76 and a 1 year high of $52.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.78. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $48.13 and a 200-day moving average price of $49.04.

Rollins (NYSE:ROL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The business services provider reported $0.23 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.23. Rollins had a return on equity of 38.67% and a net margin of 14.18%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Rollins will post 0.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Rollins Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th will be given a dividend of $0.165 per share. This represents a $0.66 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.32%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 25th. Rollins's dividend payout ratio is presently 68.75%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Rollins

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in ROL. CWM LLC lifted its stake in Rollins by 74.5% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 17,682 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $894,000 after purchasing an additional 7,549 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC grew its stake in shares of Rollins by 157.7% in the third quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 10,028 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $507,000 after acquiring an additional 6,137 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning increased its position in shares of Rollins by 27.1% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 23,169 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $1,172,000 after acquiring an additional 4,946 shares during the period. Swedbank AB raised its stake in shares of Rollins by 32.2% in the third quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 16,530 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $836,000 after acquiring an additional 4,024 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its holdings in Rollins by 17.7% in the third quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 16,613 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $840,000 after purchasing an additional 2,497 shares during the period. 51.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Rollins Company Profile

Rollins, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides pest and wildlife control services to residential and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. The company offers pest control services to residential properties protecting from common pests, including rodents, insects, and wildlife.