Versor Investments LP Invests $1.39 Million in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

Versor Investments LP acquired a new position in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 6,502 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $1,387,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Waste Management during the 4th quarter valued at about $784,486,000. Sustainable Growth Advisers LP bought a new position in shares of Waste Management during the 1st quarter worth approximately $300,594,000. Capital World Investors grew its position in shares of Waste Management by 44.6% during the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,226,869 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $900,957,000 after buying an additional 1,303,466 shares during the period. Swedbank AB bought a new stake in shares of Waste Management in the 1st quarter valued at $193,955,000. Finally, AMF Tjanstepension AB boosted its stake in Waste Management by 85.6% during the second quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 1,561,939 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $333,234,000 after acquiring an additional 720,358 shares in the last quarter. 80.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. CIBC decreased their price target on shares of Waste Management from $223.00 to $213.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 26th. StockNews.com downgraded Waste Management from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Waste Management in a report on Wednesday, May 22nd. They set a "buy" rating and a $241.00 price objective for the company. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on Waste Management from $215.00 to $213.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Waste Management from $215.00 to $204.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $215.83.

Insider Buying and Selling at Waste Management

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

Waste Management Stock Performance

Shares of Waste Management stock traded up $2.16 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $212.04. 1,786,700 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,397,243. The stock has a market capitalization of $85.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.70, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.74. Waste Management, Inc. has a 12-month low of $149.71 and a 12-month high of $225.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $209.80 and a 200-day simple moving average of $208.60.

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

Waste Management Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.75 per share. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.41%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. Waste Management's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 49.10%.

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.