Aware Super Pty Ltd as trustee of Aware Super Invests $3.20 Million in Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN)

Aware Super Pty Ltd as trustee of Aware Super purchased a new stake in Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 18,645 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $3,199,000.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Manchester Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Waste Connections in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Private Trust Co. NA raised its holdings in shares of Waste Connections by 153.3% in the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 152 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Waste Connections during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Waste Connections during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Waste Connections by 59.7% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 190 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. 86.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have issued reports on WCN shares. Citigroup cut their target price on Waste Connections from $218.00 to $209.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. StockNews.com cut shares of Waste Connections from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Truist Financial reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $210.00 target price (up previously from $200.00) on shares of Waste Connections in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on Waste Connections from $225.00 to $210.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Scotiabank raised their price target on shares of Waste Connections from $192.00 to $207.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Waste Connections presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $204.43.

Waste Connections Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:WCN traded up $0.75 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $197.32. 979,319 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 969,818. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 0.65. Waste Connections, Inc. has a one year low of $160.34 and a one year high of $201.66. The company has a market cap of $50.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 82.56, a P/E/G ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.67. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $190.03 and a 200 day moving average of $184.19.

Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The business services provider reported $1.16 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.20 by ($0.04). Waste Connections had a return on equity of 15.54% and a net margin of 6.92%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Waste Connections, Inc. will post 5.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Waste Connections Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 27th were issued a $0.315 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 27th. This represents a $1.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.64%. Waste Connections's dividend payout ratio is currently 52.72%.

Waste Connections Profile

Waste Connections, Inc provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, disposal, and resource recovery services in the United States and Canada. It offers collection services to residential, commercial, municipal, industrial, and exploration and production (E&P) customers; landfill disposal services; and recycling services for various recyclable materials, including compost, cardboard, mixed paper, plastic containers, glass bottles, and ferrous and aluminum metals.