Unigestion Holding SA Trims Stake in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

Unigestion Holding SA trimmed its holdings in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) by 27.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 125,731 shares of the business services provider's stock after selling 48,562 shares during the period. Waste Management makes up 1.5% of Unigestion Holding SA's investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest holding. Unigestion Holding SA's holdings in Waste Management were worth $25,359,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of WM. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates grew its holdings in Waste Management by 892.9% in the fourth 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 during the period. General Partner Inc. bought a new position in shares of Waste Management during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Waste Management in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Hurley Capital LLC bought a new stake in Waste Management in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Waste Management during the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.40% of the company's stock.

Waste Management Stock Performance

NYSE WM traded up $2.27 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $228.72. 620,768 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,632,972. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $92.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.66. Waste Management, Inc. has a 1 year low of $196.59 and a 1 year high of $239.32. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $227.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $218.04.

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

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were issued a $0.825 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.44%. This is a positive change from Waste Management's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. Waste Management's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.53%.

Insider Activity at Waste Management

In other Waste Management news, SVP Johnson Varkey sold 124 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.96, for a total transaction of $29,135.04. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 8,491 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,995,045.36. The trade was a 1.44 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP John J. Morris sold 19,153 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $224.71, for a total value of $4,303,870.63. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 85,257 shares of the company's stock, valued at $19,158,100.47. The trade was a 18.34 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 95,577 shares of company stock worth $21,662,464. Company insiders own 0.18% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. William Blair reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Waste Management in a research report on Friday, January 31st. CIBC raised their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $227.00 to $247.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Waste Management from $242.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Raymond James raised their price target on shares of Waste Management from $235.00 to $237.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Waste Management from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average 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.