AlphaQuest LLC Grows Holdings in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

AlphaQuest LLC raised its holdings in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) by 28.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 11,554 shares of the business services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 2,575 shares during the quarter. AlphaQuest LLC's holdings in Waste Management were worth $2,331,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Aberdeen Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Waste Management by 1.1% in the third quarter. Aberdeen Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,130 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $857,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC increased its position in shares of Waste Management by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 6,768 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,366,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Waste Management by 3.9% in the third quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,239 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $257,000 after buying an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Waste Management by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC now owns 2,039 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $411,000 after buying an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Maia Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of Waste Management by 4.1% in the fourth quarter. Maia Wealth LLC now owns 1,213 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $259,000 after buying an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.40% of the company's stock.

Remove Ads

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on WM shares. Raymond James raised their price target on Waste Management from $235.00 to $237.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. StockNews.com cut Waste Management from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. CIBC lifted their price objective on Waste Management from $227.00 to $247.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Waste Management from $242.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Waste Management from $243.00 to $252.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Waste Management has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $236.65.

Insider Activity

In other Waste Management news, VP Donald J. Smith sold 191 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.22, for a total value of $42,062.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 6,129 shares in the company, valued at $1,349,728.38. This represents a 3.02 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Johnson Varkey sold 124 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.96, for a total value of $29,135.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 8,491 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,995,045.36. This represents a 1.44 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 95,577 shares of company stock valued at $21,662,464 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.18% of the company's stock.

Waste Management Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE WM traded down $1.31 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $222.91. The stock had a trading volume of 1,262,872 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,530,250. The company has a market capitalization of $89.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.78, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.75. Waste Management, Inc. has a 1-year low of $196.59 and a 1-year high of $235.81. 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 company has a fifty day moving average price of $219.61 and a 200 day moving average price of $215.09.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The business services provider reported $1.70 earnings per share 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, analysts predict 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 will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend 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.