BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S Has $8.89 Million Position in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S boosted its holdings in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) by 84.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 44,054 shares of the business services provider's stock after buying an additional 20,106 shares during the quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S's holdings in Waste Management were worth $8,890,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 12.8% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 2,433,408 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $505,175,000 after buying an additional 276,287 shares during the period. McIlrath & Eck LLC increased its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 12,706 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $2,638,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the period. Aldebaran Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Waste Management by 4.6% in the third quarter. Aldebaran Financial Inc. now owns 11,210 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $2,327,000 after purchasing an additional 489 shares in the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Waste Management by 245.6% during the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 9,413 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $1,954,000 after acquiring an additional 6,689 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arvest Bank Trust Division purchased a new stake in Waste Management during the third quarter valued at approximately $562,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.40% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Waste Management

In related news, SVP Johnson Varkey sold 560 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction on Friday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $220.11, for a total value of $123,261.60. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 9,152 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,014,446.72. The trade was a 5.77 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP John J. Morris sold 19,153 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $224.71, for a total value of $4,303,870.63. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 85,257 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $19,158,100.47. This trade represents a 18.34 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 95,577 shares of company stock worth $21,662,464. Insiders own 0.18% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Scotiabank upped their target price on Waste Management from $255.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a "sector outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. William Blair reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Waste Management in a report on Friday, January 31st. CIBC boosted their price objective on Waste Management from $227.00 to $247.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Waste Management from $242.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Raymond James boosted their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $235.00 to $237.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $237.76.

Waste Management Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE WM traded down $1.03 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $228.93. 1,797,136 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,645,475. The company has a market capitalization of $92.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.67, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a current ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.73. Waste Management, Inc. has a 52-week low of $196.59 and a 52-week high of $239.32. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $227.94 and a 200-day moving average price of $219.32.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The business services provider reported $1.70 earnings per share 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 37.93%. Equities research analysts expect that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were given a dividend of $0.825 per share. This represents a $3.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This is an increase from Waste Management's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. Waste Management's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.53%.

Waste Management Company 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.