Tower Research Capital LLC TRC Has $4.72 Million Holdings in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its stake in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) by 272.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 23,390 shares of the business services provider's stock after buying an additional 17,109 shares during the quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC's holdings in Waste Management were worth $4,720,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates increased its position in shares of Waste Management by 892.9% during the 4th quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 139 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Transce3nd LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Waste Management during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. General Partner Inc. bought a new position in shares of Waste Management in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Waste Management in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Hurley Capital LLC bought a new stake in Waste Management during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. 80.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Waste Management Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE WM opened at $230.84 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.73. Waste Management, Inc. has a twelve month low of $196.59 and a twelve month high of $239.32. The company's fifty day moving average is $227.89 and its 200-day moving average is $219.11. The stock has a market cap of $92.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.95, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.66.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The business services provider reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.79 by ($0.09). Waste Management had a net margin of 12.45% and a return on equity of 37.93%. Equities research analysts predict that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 EPS for the current year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th were issued a dividend of $0.825 per share. This is an increase from Waste Management's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. Waste Management's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.53%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Waste Management

In other news, CAO John A. Carroll sold 209 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.55, for a total transaction of $46,094.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 9,066 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,999,506.30. This represents a 2.25 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Donald J. Smith sold 191 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 owns 6,129 shares in the company, valued at $1,349,728.38. The trade was a 3.02 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 95,577 shares of company stock valued at $21,662,464. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on WM shares. UBS Group increased their target price on Waste Management from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, April 11th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $227.00 to $235.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. StockNews.com lowered shares of Waste Management from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. William Blair reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Waste Management in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Scotiabank increased their price objective on Waste Management from $255.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a "sector outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Nine equities 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, Waste Management currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $237.76.

Waste Management Company 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.

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