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

Plancorp LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 1,117 shares of the business services provider's stock, valued at approximately $225,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of WM. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Waste Management during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $340,611,000. Parnassus Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Waste Management by 22.5% during the 4th quarter. Parnassus Investments LLC now owns 6,272,009 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,265,629,000 after acquiring an additional 1,151,237 shares during the period. Swedbank AB raised its position in Waste Management by 67.2% during the third quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 1,765,594 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $366,537,000 after acquiring an additional 709,678 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its position in shares of Waste Management by 138.0% in the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 718,546 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $149,168,000 after acquiring an additional 416,579 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Robeco Schweiz AG acquired a new stake in Waste Management in the 4th quarter valued at about $60,668,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.40% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Waste Management news, VP Donald J. Smith sold 191 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $220.22, for a total value of $42,062.02. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 6,129 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,349,728.38. This represents a 3.02 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Charles C. Boettcher sold 693 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.59, for a total value of $152,868.87. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 45,542 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,046,109.78. This represents a 1.50 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 95,577 shares of company stock worth $21,662,464. Company insiders own 0.18% of the company's stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Waste Management from $227.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Waste Management from $255.00 to $238.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. William Blair restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Waste Management in a report on Friday, January 31st. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Waste Management from $243.00 to $252.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Waste Management from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Nine research 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $236.65.

Waste Management Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of Waste Management stock traded up $0.23 on Thursday, reaching $229.16. 1,354,057 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,530,164. The company has a current ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.73. The company has a 50-day moving average of $223.89 and a 200 day moving average of $216.28. Waste Management, Inc. has a one year low of $196.59 and a one year high of $235.81. The company has a market capitalization of $92.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.70, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.75.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The business services provider reported $1.70 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 research analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 earnings per share for the current year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid 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 dividend yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. Waste Management's payout ratio is currently 48.53%.

Waste Management 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.