State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D Sells 2,117 Shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D decreased its holdings in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 145,926 shares of the business services provider's stock after selling 2,117 shares during the period. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D's holdings in Waste Management were worth $29,446,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of WM. Inspire Investing LLC raised its stake in Waste Management by 10.9% in the third quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 1,370 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $284,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the period. Swedbank AB increased its stake in shares of Waste Management by 67.2% during the third quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 1,765,594 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $366,537,000 after purchasing an additional 709,678 shares during the period. Claro Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Waste Management by 13.4% during the third quarter. Claro Advisors LLC now owns 3,197 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $664,000 after purchasing an additional 379 shares during the period. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Waste Management by 32.2% during the third quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,781 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $370,000 after purchasing an additional 434 shares during the period. Finally, Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Waste Management by 17.0% during the third quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,190 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $247,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.40% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, SVP Johnson Varkey sold 560 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.11, for a total value of $123,261.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 9,152 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,014,446.72. This trade represents a 5.77 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Charles C. Boettcher sold 693 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.59, for a total value of $152,868.87. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 45,542 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $10,046,109.78. This trade represents a 1.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 16,055 shares of company stock valued at $3,578,340 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.18% of the company's stock.

Waste Management Price Performance

Shares of NYSE WM traded up $0.55 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $229.07. 1,189,606 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,664,494. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.85. Waste Management, Inc. has a twelve month low of $196.59 and a twelve month high of $230.39. The company has a market cap of $91.94 billion, a PE ratio of 33.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.78. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $212.84 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $212.70.

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 38.88%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a dividend of $0.825 per share. This is a positive change from Waste Management's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. Waste Management's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 44.12%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on Waste Management from $204.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Waste Management from $255.00 to $238.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Citigroup raised their price objective on Waste Management from $242.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Argus raised their price objective on Waste Management from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Waste Management from $243.00 to $252.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Nine 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 company. According to MarketBeat, Waste Management presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $235.94.

About Waste Management

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.