Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) Shares Acquired by NewSquare Capital LLC

NewSquare Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) by 81.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 363 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 163 shares during the quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC’s holdings in Waste Management were worth $73,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Swedbank AB raised its holdings in Waste Management by 67.2% in the third quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 1,765,594 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $366,537,000 after acquiring an additional 709,678 shares in the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc raised its holdings in Waste Management by 7.6% in the third quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 1,741,090 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $361,450,000 after acquiring an additional 122,696 shares in the last quarter. United Advisor Group LLC raised its holdings in Waste Management by 27.6% in the third quarter. United Advisor Group LLC now owns 1,198 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $249,000 after acquiring an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank raised its holdings in Waste Management by 3.9% in the third quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 84,039 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $17,446,000 after acquiring an additional 3,120 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fiduciary Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in Waste Management in the third quarter valued at approximately $539,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.40% of the company’s stock.

Waste Management Price Performance

Shares of NYSE WM opened at $230.55 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $92.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.90, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.78. Waste Management, Inc. has a one year low of $196.59 and a one year high of $235.81. The company’s fifty day moving average is $217.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is $214.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.73, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.76.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The business services provider reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.79 by ($0.09). Waste Management had a return on equity of 37.93% and a net margin of 12.45%. Analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.825 per share. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.43%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This is an increase from Waste Management’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. Waste Management’s payout ratio is 48.53%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on WM. Oppenheimer raised their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $231.00 to $237.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. StockNews.com cut shares of Waste Management from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $242.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Scotiabank raised their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $250.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $235.00 to $237.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given 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 price target of $236.65.

Insider Transactions at Waste Management

In related news, EVP Charles C. Boettcher sold 693 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The shares were 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 owns 45,542 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,046,109.78. The trade was a 1.50 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 4,126 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $228.11, for a total transaction of $941,181.86. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 62,639 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,288,582.29. The trade was a 6.18 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 75,173 shares of company stock valued at $17,075,967 in the last 90 days. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.