Renaissance Technologies LLC Cuts Stock Holdings in Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST)

Renaissance Technologies LLC lowered its position in Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST - Free Report) by 49.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 86,359 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 86,100 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned 0.14% of Casella Waste Systems worth $9,138,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in Casella Waste Systems by 87.1% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 78,549 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $7,815,000 after purchasing an additional 36,573 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Casella Waste Systems by 2.4% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 607,954 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $64,328,000 after buying an additional 14,369 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC purchased a new stake in Casella Waste Systems in the 4th quarter valued at $201,000. Principal Securities Inc. increased its stake in shares of Casella Waste Systems by 11.0% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,979 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $209,000 after acquiring an additional 196 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Casella Waste Systems by 69.1% during the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,495 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $158,000 after acquiring an additional 611 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.51% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Casella Waste Systems

In other Casella Waste Systems news, SVP Paul Ligon sold 2,000 shares of Casella Waste Systems stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.67, for a total value of $237,340.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 20,347 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,414,578.49. This trade represents a 8.95 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 4.24% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Casella Waste Systems Stock Down 0.7 %

CWST traded down $0.83 on Wednesday, hitting $112.88. 131,413 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 357,895. The company has a current ratio of 2.00, a quick ratio of 2.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. The company has a market cap of $7.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 490.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.86 and a beta of 0.96. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $111.60 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $108.43. Casella Waste Systems, Inc. has a twelve month low of $86.41 and a twelve month high of $120.69.

Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ:CWST - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.16 by $0.25. Casella Waste Systems had a net margin of 0.87% and a return on equity of 4.15%. On average, equities analysts predict that Casella Waste Systems, Inc. will post 1.16 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on CWST. Raymond James reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Casella Waste Systems in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Casella Waste Systems from $127.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. TD Cowen began coverage on Casella Waste Systems in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a "buy" rating and a $130.00 target price for the company. William Blair reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Casella Waste Systems in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on Casella Waste Systems from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $122.67.

About Casella Waste Systems

Casella Waste Systems, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a vertically integrated solid waste services company in the United States. It offers resource management services primarily in the areas of solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling, and organics services to residential, commercial, municipal, institutional, and industrial customers.