Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) has earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-three analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $255.30.

Several research analysts have recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Waste Management from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, April 10th. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Waste Management in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Waste Management from $270.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of Waste Management in a research note on Friday, March 13th. They set a “peer perform” rating on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on shares of Waste Management from $235.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Broadway Wealth Solutions Inc. grew its stake in Waste Management by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Broadway Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 1,588 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $349,000 after buying an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Bey Douglas LLC grew its stake in Waste Management by 3.7% in the 4th quarter. Bey Douglas LLC now owns 1,233 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $271,000 after buying an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. San Luis Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Waste Management by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. San Luis Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,922 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $422,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in Waste Management by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC now owns 6,104 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,341,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Waste Management by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,398 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $527,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. 80.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Waste Management Stock Up 2.3%

Waste Management stock opened at $221.12 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $88.80 billion, a PE ratio of 32.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.22, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 0.93. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $223.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $224.65. Waste Management has a twelve month low of $194.11 and a twelve month high of $248.13.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The business services provider reported $1.81 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.75 by $0.06. Waste Management had a net margin of 10.99% and a return on equity of 31.90%. The company had revenue of $6.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.28 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.67 EPS. Waste Management’s quarterly revenue was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Waste Management will post 8.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.945 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 5th. This represents a $3.78 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Waste Management’s dividend payout ratio is 54.70%.

Waste Management Company Profile

Waste Management, Inc (NYSE: WM) is a leading provider of integrated waste management and environmental services in North America. The company offers end-to-end solutions that span collection, transfer, disposal and recycling, along with landfill operations and related infrastructure. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Waste Management serves a broad customer base that includes residential, commercial, industrial and municipal clients.

Core services include curbside and commercial waste collection, roll-off and temporary container services, materials recovery and recycling, and engineered landfill disposal.