Shares of Republic Services, Inc. RSG have gained 12.3% over the past year against 7.9% decline of the industry it belongs to. Let’s delve deeper into the factors which have contributed to the company’s outperformance.Raised 2020 Cash Flow GuidanceRepublic Services raised its full-year 2020 cash flow guidance. The company now anticipates generating $1.15 billion to $1.20 billion of adjusted free cash flow for the full year compared with the prior guidance of $1.1-$1.175 billion. This guidance assumes continued gradual improvement in economic activity through the remainder of the year.It also plans to invest $850-$900 million in acquisitions for the full year.However, the company has reaffirmed its 2020 adjusted EPS guidance. Adjusted EPS is expected to be in the range of $3.37-$3.40. The Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.38 lies within the guidance.Consecutive Earnings BeatRepublic Services reported better-than-expected earnings performance in all four quarters of 2019 and the first three quarters of 2020. The company’s bottom line continued to benefit from improvement in operational efficiency, growth in adjusted free cash flow, higher recycled commodity prices and lower fuel costs.Notably, the company's average recycled commodity price per ton sold in the third quarter of 2020 was $99, reflecting year-over-year increase of $27 per ton.Shareholder Friendly MovesRepublic Services’ consistent efforts in rewarding its shareholders through dividend payments and share repurchases are appreciable. During the first nine months of 2020, Republic Services paid out $387.1 million in dividends. Further, the company’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of 42.5 cents per share for shareholders on record as of Jan 4, 2021. The dividend will be paid out on Jan 15, 2021.Concurrent with the third-quarter 2020 earnings release, the company’s board of directors approved $2 billion for share repurchases, effective from Jan 1, 2021 till Dec 31, 2023. As of Sep 30, 2020, the company had $606 million available under its prior authorizationand this continues till Dec 31, 2020.In 2019, 2018 and 2017, the company paid out $491.2 million, $461.8 million and $440.5 million in dividends and repurchased shares worth $399.4 million, $736.9 million and $610.7 million, respectively. Such moves indicate the company’s commitment to create value for shareholders and also underline its confidence in its business. These initiatives not only instill investors’ confidence but also positively impact earnings per share.Zacks Rank and Other Stocks to ConsiderRepublic Services currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).Some other top-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Heidrick & Struggles International HSII, Automatic Data Processing ADP and Insperity NSP, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.The long-term expected earnings per share (three to five years) growth rate for Heidrick & Struggles International, Automatic Data Processing and Insperity is 10%, 12% and 15%, respectively.Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a GenerationBe among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP): Free Stock Analysis Report Republic Services, Inc. (RSG): Free Stock Analysis Report Insperity, Inc. (NSP): Free Stock Analysis Report Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (HSII): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research