Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Decreases Position in Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans cut its holdings in Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN - Free Report) by 2.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 106,663 shares of the business services provider's stock after selling 2,738 shares during the quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' holdings in Waste Connections were worth $18,369,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Fifth Third Bancorp increased its holdings in Waste Connections by 8.8% during the fourth quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 705 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $121,000 after buying an additional 57 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC raised its position in shares of Waste Connections by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 14,247 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $2,445,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Waste Connections by 59.7% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 190 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC boosted its position in Waste Connections by 58.0% during the third quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 226 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Inspire Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Waste Connections by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 3,943 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $676,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.09% of the company's stock.

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Waste Connections Stock Performance

WCN stock traded up $2.14 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $193.07. 891,754 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 883,689. Waste Connections, Inc. has a 1-year low of $160.34 and a 1-year high of $194.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.65. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $186.24 and its 200-day simple moving average is $182.72. The firm has a market cap of $49.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 80.78, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.81.

Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The business services provider reported $1.16 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.20 by ($0.04). Waste Connections had a net margin of 6.92% and a return on equity of 15.54%. On average, analysts expect that Waste Connections, Inc. will post 5.28 earnings per share for the current year.

Waste Connections Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 27th were given a dividend of $0.315 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 27th. This represents a $1.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.65%. Waste Connections's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.72%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com cut Waste Connections from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of Waste Connections from $196.00 to $192.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 27th. Truist Financial reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $210.00 price target (up previously from $200.00) on shares of Waste Connections in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Oppenheimer raised their price objective on Waste Connections from $192.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Waste Connections from $205.00 to $212.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $202.43.

Waste Connections Company Profile

Waste Connections, Inc provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, disposal, and resource recovery services in the United States and Canada. It offers collection services to residential, commercial, municipal, industrial, and exploration and production (E&P) customers; landfill disposal services; and recycling services for various recyclable materials, including compost, cardboard, mixed paper, plastic containers, glass bottles, and ferrous and aluminum metals.