KBC Group NV Raises Stock Position in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

KBC Group NV lifted its stake in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 133.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 211,259 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 120,769 shares during the period. KBC Group NV’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $42,501,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new position in shares of Republic Services during the fourth quarter worth about $30,676,000. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in Republic Services by 19.1% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 5,575 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,120,000 after buying an additional 896 shares during the last quarter. PFG Investments LLC increased its position in Republic Services by 4.2% during the fourth quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 3,730 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $750,000 after buying an additional 152 shares during the period. Strategic Investment Advisors MI purchased a new stake in Republic Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $311,000. Finally, Running Oak Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 7.5% in the fourth quarter. Running Oak Capital LLC now owns 68,479 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $13,763,000 after acquiring an additional 4,762 shares during the period. 57.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Republic Services news, CFO Brian M. Delghiaccio sold 5,071 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.02, for a total transaction of $1,065,011.42. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 6,318 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,326,906.36. The trade was a 44.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Katharine Weymouth sold 1,859 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $215.27, for a total transaction of $400,186.93. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $189,222.33. This trade represents a 67.90 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Republic Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:RSG opened at $215.47 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.64. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $209.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $205.22. The stock has a market cap of $67.47 billion, a PE ratio of 34.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.73. Republic Services, Inc. has a one year low of $169.83 and a one year high of $220.58.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The business services provider reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.20. Republic Services had a net margin of 12.46% and a return on equity of 18.18%. The firm had revenue of $4.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.12 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.54 earnings per share. Republic Services’s revenue was up 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on RSG shares. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Republic Services from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their price target for the company from $219.00 to $237.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Truist Financial boosted their price target on Republic Services from $220.00 to $244.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Republic Services from $235.00 to $244.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Scotiabank initiated coverage on Republic Services in a report on Friday, October 4th. They issued a “sector perform” rating and a $224.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Republic Services from $217.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Republic Services has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $222.24.

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.