Vista Investment Partners LLC Makes New Investment in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

Vista Investment Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 11,979 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $2,556,000.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Waste Management during the 4th quarter worth $784,486,000. Sustainable Growth Advisers LP purchased a new position in Waste Management during the first quarter worth about $300,594,000. Capital World Investors lifted its position in Waste Management by 44.6% in the first quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,226,869 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $900,957,000 after purchasing an additional 1,303,466 shares during the period. Swedbank AB purchased a new stake in Waste Management in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $193,955,000. Finally, AMF Tjanstepension AB increased its position in Waste Management by 85.6% during the 2nd quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 1,561,939 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $333,234,000 after purchasing an additional 720,358 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.40% of the company's stock.

Waste Management Trading Down 0.7 %

WM stock traded down $1.51 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $205.40. The stock had a trading volume of 1,536,923 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,709,305. The firm has a market cap of $82.38 billion, a PE ratio of 33.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 1.03. Waste Management, Inc. has a 12-month low of $149.71 and a 12-month high of $225.00. The company's 50-day moving average price is $208.93 and its 200 day moving average price is $207.21.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The business services provider reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.82. The firm had revenue of $5.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.43 billion. Waste Management had a return on equity of 39.52% and a net margin of 12.13%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.51 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Waste Management news, VP Michael J. Watson sold 4,208 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $204.28, for a total value of $859,610.24. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 45,644 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,324,156.32. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, VP Michael J. Watson sold 4,208 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $204.28, for a total value of $859,610.24. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 45,644 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,324,156.32. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Michael J. Watson sold 1,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.00, for a total value of $330,000.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 44,144 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $9,711,680. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently weighed in on WM. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on Waste Management from $215.00 to $213.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Oppenheimer lowered their price target on shares of Waste Management from $229.00 to $224.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $219.00 to $229.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Waste Management from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price target on shares of Waste Management from $240.00 to $235.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $215.83.

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.