Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management Has $311,000 Stake in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management cut its stake in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 5.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,883 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 99 shares during the quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $311,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of RSG. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Republic Services during the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Millburn Ridgefield Corp bought a new position in Republic Services during the third quarter worth about $36,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Republic Services in the third quarter worth about $36,000. BKM Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Republic Services during the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Asset Dedication LLC lifted its stake in Republic Services by 48.1% in the third quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 277 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. 57.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Republic Services Stock Up 0.4 %

Republic Services stock opened at $188.13 on Friday. Republic Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $140.07 and a fifty-two week high of $196.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $59.25 billion, a PE ratio of 33.01, a P/E/G ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 0.67. The company’s 50-day moving average is $188.16 and its 200-day moving average is $172.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 0.53 and a quick ratio of 0.53.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 30th. The business services provider reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.10. Republic Services had a return on equity of 17.56% and a net margin of 11.81%. The firm had revenue of $3.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.89 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.24 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.05 earnings per share for the current year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 2nd will be issued a $0.535 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 2nd. This represents a $2.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.14%. Republic Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 37.54%.

Insider Transactions at Republic Services

In related news, CMO Amanda Hodges sold 6,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $186.02, for a total value of $1,209,130.00. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer now owns 6,831 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,270,702.62. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other Republic Services news, CMO Amanda Hodges sold 6,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $186.02, for a total value of $1,209,130.00. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 6,831 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,270,702.62. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Ark Jon Vander sold 5,446 shares of Republic Services stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $184.10, for a total value of $1,002,608.60. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 85,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,669,303.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Republic Services from $213.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, March 18th. Scotiabank upped their price objective on Republic Services from $211.00 to $213.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Republic Services from $209.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 16th. Royal Bank of Canada assumed coverage on Republic Services in a research report on Monday, April 8th. They set a “sector perform” rating and a $198.00 price target for the company. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Republic Services from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 1st. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $201.00.

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.