Bensler LLC Sells 658 Shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

Bensler LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 3.1% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 20,692 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 658 shares during the period. Bensler LLC’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $4,163,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in RSG. FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Republic Services during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC raised its holdings in Republic Services by 351.6% in the third quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 140 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Webster Bank N. A. bought a new position in Republic Services in the third quarter worth $31,000. Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new position in Republic Services in the third quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in Republic Services in the third quarter worth $39,000. Institutional investors own 57.73% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Republic Services Trading Up 1.7 %

Republic Services stock opened at $215.38 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.64. Republic Services, Inc. has a one year low of $169.83 and a one year high of $220.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $67.44 billion, a PE ratio of 34.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.73. The business’s fifty day moving average is $209.45 and its 200 day moving average is $205.22.

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 the consensus estimate of $1.61 by $0.20. The business had revenue of $4.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.12 billion. Republic Services had a return on equity of 18.18% and a net margin of 12.46%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.54 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.25 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on RSG shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Republic Services from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $219.00 to $237.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on Republic Services from $219.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a 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 report on Thursday, January 23rd. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Republic Services from $217.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Republic Services from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and raised their price target for the company from $219.00 to $237.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $222.24.

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.