Trust Co. of Vermont Sells 100 Shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG)

Trust Co. of Vermont trimmed its position in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) by 8.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,139 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 100 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Vermont’s holdings in Republic Services were worth $229,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its position in Republic Services by 3.1% during the second quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 26,702 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $5,189,000 after buying an additional 813 shares in the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Republic Services by 27.1% during the second quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,743 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $533,000 after purchasing an additional 585 shares in the last quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ increased its position in shares of Republic Services by 0.7% in the second quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 43,354 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $8,425,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC lifted its position in Republic Services by 10.4% during the second quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 1,339 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $260,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kowal Investment Group LLC grew its stake in Republic Services by 10.0% in the 2nd quarter. Kowal Investment Group LLC now owns 2,065 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $401,000 after buying an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. 57.73% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Katharine Weymouth sold 1,859 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 5th. The shares were 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 represents a 67.90 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Brian M. Delghiaccio sold 5,071 shares of Republic Services 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 transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 6,318 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,326,906.36. This trade represents a 44.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Republic Services Price Performance

RSG stock opened at $213.85 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $209.27 and a 200 day moving average of $204.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The company has a market cap of $66.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.22, a PEG ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 0.73. Republic Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $165.99 and a 1 year high of $220.58.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The business services provider reported $1.81 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $4.08 billion during 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 firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.54 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6.25 EPS for the current year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.58 per share. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.08%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 2nd. Republic Services’s dividend payout ratio is 37.12%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on RSG. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Republic Services from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $219.00 to $237.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Royal Bank of Canada raised Republic Services from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $219.00 to $237.00 in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Scotiabank initiated coverage on Republic Services in a report on Friday, October 4th. They set a “sector perform” rating and a $224.00 price objective on the stock. CIBC upped their target price on Republic Services from $217.00 to $227.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Republic Services from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $211.00 to $238.00 in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $221.12.

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.