Asset Planning Inc Invests $642,000 in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

Asset Planning Inc acquired a new position in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 3,183 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $642,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Inspire Investing LLC raised its stake in shares of Waste Management by 10.9% in the 3rd quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 1,370 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $284,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its position in shares of Waste Management by 14.1% in the third quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 5,003 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,039,000 after purchasing an additional 619 shares during the period. NBC Securities Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Waste Management by 3.1% in the third quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 4,086 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $848,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. Swedbank AB boosted its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 67.2% during the 3rd quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 1,765,594 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $366,537,000 after buying an additional 709,678 shares during the period. Finally, IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltd grew its stake in Waste Management by 7.7% in the 3rd quarter. IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltd now owns 65,567 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $13,612,000 after buying an additional 4,703 shares during the last quarter. 80.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have issued reports on WM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Waste Management from $213.00 to $219.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on Waste Management from $231.00 to $237.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Waste Management from $255.00 to $238.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Waste Management from $235.00 to $237.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Waste Management from $243.00 to $252.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $235.94.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, VP Donald J. Smith sold 191 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.22, for a total transaction of $42,062.02. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 6,129 shares in the company, valued at $1,349,728.38. The trade was a 3.02 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, SVP Rafael Carrasco sold 4,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.89, for a total value of $903,560.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 18,531 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,185,967.59. This represents a 17.75 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 16,055 shares of company stock valued at $3,578,340 in the last 90 days. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Waste Management Price Performance

Shares of Waste Management stock traded up $0.65 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $228.38. 1,692,913 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,692,975. Waste Management, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $196.59 and a fifty-two week high of $230.39. The company has a market cap of $91.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.78. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $212.32 and a 200 day simple moving average of $212.45. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The business services provider reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.79 by ($0.09). Waste Management had a net margin of 12.45% and a return on equity of 38.88%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a $0.825 dividend. This represents a $3.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.44%. This is a boost from Waste Management's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. Waste Management's payout ratio is currently 44.12%.

Waste Management Profile

Waste Management, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of environmental solutions to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in the United States and Canada. It offers collection services, including picking up and transporting waste and recyclable materials from where it was generated to a transfer station, material recovery facility (MRF), or disposal site; and owns and operates transfer stations, as well as owns, develops, and operates landfill facilities that produce landfill gas used as renewable natural gas for generating electricity.