William H. Gates III and Cascade Investment, L.L.C., two significant shareholders in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG), recently executed substantial purchases of the company's common stock. These transactions, as detailed in a Form 4 filing, represent an acquisition totaling approximately $100.5 million, involving over half a million shares.
The timing and nature of these acquisitions warrant attention, particularly given that the stock was trading close to its 52-week low of $196.41. While the buying occurred at price points ranging from $197.18 to $203.6701, InvestingPro data indicates that the stock is currently valued above its computed Fair Value.
Details of Stakeholder Purchases
The buying spree took place over a three-day period, specifically between May 11 and May 13, 2026. The entities successfully purchased a cumulative total of 509,150 shares across these transactions.
- May 11: On this date, the acquisition totaled 78,150 shares, with the weighted-average price calculated at $197.18 per share. Individual trades during this period spanned from $196.83 to $197.65.
- May 12: The following day saw two transactions contributing to the total acquisition. First, 50,245 shares were purchased at a weighted-average price of $201.7002, with individual trades ranging between $201.48 and $202.24. Additionally, 4,755 shares were acquired separately at the rate of $202.61 per share.
- May 13: The majority of the buying occurred on May 13, when a total of 366,000 shares were bought across four distinct transactions. These included:
- 76,224 shares at a weighted-average price of $201.2417 (with trades ranging from $200.63 to $201.61).
- 173,819 shares at a weighted-average price of $202.0388 (ranging from $201.64 to $202.6250).
- 87,717 shares at a weighted-average price of $203.0575 (with trades ranging from $202.63 to $203.6250).
- 28,240 shares at a weighted-average price of $203.6701 (ranging from $203.63 to $203.75).
Current Stake and Company Profile
Following these significant purchases, William H. Gates III and Cascade Investment, L.L.C. now collectively own 110,315,982 shares of Republic Services common stock. Both entities are reported to hold a 10% ownership stake in the company.
Republic Services Inc., described as a waste management giant, possesses a market capitalization of $62.6 billion. The company has demonstrated financial consistency by maintaining dividend payments for 24 consecutive years and currently offers a yield of 1.23%.
Recent Corporate Developments and Analyst Views
In other recent corporate news, Republic Services Inc. announced strong financial results for the first quarter of 2026. These figures surpassed market expectations both in revenue and earnings. Specifically, the company posted an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.70, which was higher than the forecasted $1.64. Furthermore, reported revenue reached $4.11 billion, slightly exceeding the projected $4.10 billion.
These results were characterized by robust growth, despite facing headwinds from factors such as fuel costs and adverse weather conditions. On the analyst side, Oppenheimer maintained an Outperform rating for Republic Services, attributing this assessment to price-led growth and effective operating cost controls that contributed positively to margin expansion. Conversely, Argus downgraded the company's stock rating to Hold from Buy, citing its underperformance when compared to the S&P 500 index over the preceding three months.
Shareholder Governance and Valuation Context
Beyond the quarterly earnings, Republic Services held its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. At this meeting, all nominated directors received election approval, executive compensation was approved by shareholders, and the appointment of the company's independent auditor was also ratified.
For comprehensive analysis regarding RSG’s valuation and potential growth trajectory, resources are available that provide over 10 additional ProTips and extensive Pro Research Reports covering more than 1,400 US equities. The stock closed at $203.68, showing a minimal gain of $0.01 (+0.00%) on the day reported.