Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) Stake Boosted by MetLife Investment Management LLC

MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) by 1.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 114,979 shares of the business services provider's stock after buying an additional 1,130 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC's holdings in Waste Management were worth $23,202,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Barclays PLC lifted its position in Waste Management by 12.8% during 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 raised its stake in Waste Management by 0.7% during the third quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 12,706 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $2,638,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the period. Aldebaran Financial Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. Aldebaran Financial Inc. now owns 11,210 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $2,327,000 after purchasing an additional 489 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings 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 buying an additional 6,689 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arvest Bank Trust Division purchased a new position in shares of Waste Management in the 3rd quarter worth $562,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.40% of the company's stock.

Waste Management Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE WM traded down $1.03 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $228.93. The company had a trading volume of 1,797,136 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,645,475. Waste Management, Inc. has a 12 month low of $196.59 and a 12 month high of $239.32. The stock has a market cap of $92.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.67, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.66. 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 firm's 50 day simple moving average is $227.94 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $219.32.

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 37.93%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 earnings per share for the current year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a $0.825 dividend. This is a boost from Waste Management's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.44%. Waste Management's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.53%.

Insider Activity

In other Waste Management news, CAO John A. Carroll sold 209 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.55, for a total transaction of $46,094.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 9,066 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,999,506.30. This trade represents a 2.25 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP John J. Morris sold 19,153 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $224.71, for a total value of $4,303,870.63. Following the completion of 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 ninety days, insiders have sold 95,577 shares of company stock valued at $21,662,464. Company insiders own 0.18% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

WM has been the topic of a number of research reports. William Blair restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Waste Management in a report on Friday, January 31st. Raymond James upped their price target 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. Citigroup raised their price objective on Waste Management from $242.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. CIBC upped their target price on Waste Management from $227.00 to $247.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Waste Management from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $237.76.

About Waste Management

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.