Berkshire Asset Management LLC PA Sells 80 Shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

Berkshire Asset Management LLC PA lessened its holdings in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 4.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,912 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 80 shares during the period. Berkshire Asset Management LLC PA’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $405,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in Republic Services by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,213 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $445,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Simmons Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Simmons Bank now owns 1,895 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $381,000 after buying an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. Access Financial Services Inc. grew its position in Republic Services by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Access Financial Services Inc. now owns 6,178 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,243,000 after buying an additional 51 shares during the period. Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its holdings in Republic Services by 1.0% during the third quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 5,099 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,024,000 after buying an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Republic Services by 16.5% in the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 382 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $77,000 after acquiring an additional 54 shares during the period. 57.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Republic Services

In related news, COO Gregg Brummer sold 6,293 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction 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 directly owns 10,416 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,376,931.20. The trade was a 37.66 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Republic Services Trading Up 1.2 %

Republic Services stock opened at $234.28 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $73.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.10, a PEG ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.73. Republic Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $180.91 and a fifty-two week high of $240.95. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $218.91 and its 200-day moving average price is $210.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.58.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The business services provider reported $1.58 earnings per share 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 firm had revenue of $4.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.08 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.41 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders 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 yield of 0.99%. Republic Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 35.75%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on RSG shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Republic Services from $235.00 to $244.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. UBS Group boosted their target price on Republic Services from $212.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Republic Services from $220.00 to $230.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. William Blair reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Republic Services in a report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Argus set a $260.00 price objective on shares of Republic Services in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $236.88.

About Republic Services

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.