Clare Market Investments LLC Makes New Investment in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

Clare Market Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 10,245 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $2,067,000. Waste Management comprises 0.5% of Clare Market Investments LLC's holdings, making the stock its 29th largest holding.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Swedbank AB grew its position 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 valued at $366,537,000 after acquiring an additional 709,678 shares during the period. Impax Asset Management Group plc grew its position in shares of Waste Management by 7.6% during the 3rd quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 1,741,090 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $361,450,000 after acquiring an additional 122,696 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Waste Management during the 3rd quarter valued at $944,000. Assetmark Inc. grew its position in shares of Waste Management by 10.1% during the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 2,077 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $431,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares during the period. Finally, Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Waste Management by 217.2% during the 3rd quarter. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. now owns 14,764 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $3,064,000 after acquiring an additional 10,109 shares during the period. 80.40% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Waste Management Price Performance

Shares of NYSE WM traded down $1.31 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $222.91. 1,262,872 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,530,250. The company's 50-day moving average is $219.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $215.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.73, a current ratio of 0.76 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The company has a market capitalization of $89.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.78, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.75. Waste Management, Inc. has a 1 year low of $196.59 and a 1 year high of $235.81.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The business services provider reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.79 by ($0.09). Waste Management had a net margin of 12.45% and a return on equity of 37.93%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a $0.825 dividend. This is a positive change from Waste Management's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.48%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. Waste Management's dividend payout ratio is 48.53%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on WM shares. 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 research report on Friday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Waste Management from $227.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Scotiabank upped their target price on shares of Waste Management from $250.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a "sector outperform" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Waste Management from $242.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, CIBC upped their target price on shares of Waste Management from $227.00 to $247.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Waste Management presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $236.65.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO James C. Fish, Jr. sold 44,405 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $228.43, for a total value of $10,143,434.15. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 211,061 shares of the company's stock, valued at $48,212,664.23. This represents a 17.38 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Donald J. Smith sold 191 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 6,129 shares in the company, valued at $1,349,728.38. This trade represents a 3.02 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 95,577 shares of company stock valued at $21,662,464 in the last ninety days. 0.18% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.