Rollins, Inc. (NYSE:ROL) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of Rollins, Inc. (NYSE:ROL) have received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the six research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $51.00.

ROL has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Rollins from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Barclays began coverage on shares of Rollins in a research report on Monday, November 4th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $50.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Rollins from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Rollins from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, October 24th.

Rollins Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE ROL opened at $46.60 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.78. Rollins has a 1 year low of $40.41 and a 1 year high of $52.16. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $49.04 and its 200-day simple moving average is $49.25. The firm has a market cap of $22.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.54 and a beta of 0.72.

Rollins (NYSE:ROL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 23rd. The business services provider reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.30 by ($0.01). Rollins had a return on equity of 38.67% and a net margin of 14.18%. The business had revenue of $916.27 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $911.15 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.28 earnings per share. Rollins’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Rollins will post 0.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Rollins Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 12th were issued a dividend of $0.165 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 12th. This is a positive change from Rollins’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. This represents a $0.66 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.42%. Rollins’s dividend payout ratio is 68.75%.

Insider Transactions at Rollins

In related news, insider Elizabeth B. Chandler sold 4,685 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.49, for a total value of $236,545.65. Following the sale, the insider now owns 84,653 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,274,129.97. This trade represents a 5.24 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Timothy Curtis Rollins sold 14,750 shares of Rollins stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.88, for a total transaction of $735,730.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 124,214 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,195,794.32. This represents a 10.61 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 4.69% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Rollins

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC boosted its position in Rollins by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC now owns 4,543 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $230,000 after acquiring an additional 212 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. grew its position in Rollins by 8.8% in the 3rd quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 3,027 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $153,000 after buying an additional 246 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. increased its stake in Rollins by 16.4% during the 2nd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 1,766 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $86,000 after buying an additional 249 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. raised its position in shares of Rollins by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 13,283 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $672,000 after buying an additional 252 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tortoise Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Rollins by 18.4% during the 2nd quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 1,728 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $84,000 after buying an additional 269 shares in the last quarter. 51.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Rollins Company Profile

Rollins, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides pest and wildlife control services to residential and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. The company offers pest control services to residential properties protecting from common pests, including rodents, insects, and wildlife.