Waste Management (NYSE:WM) Price Target Cut to $235.00 by Analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Key Points

• JPMorgan cut Waste Management’s price target from $270 to $235 while maintaining an “overweight” rating; the revised target implies about 11.9% upside from the prior close.
• Despite the reduction, analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and average price target of $256.65 based on 13 Buy and five Hold ratings.
• Waste Management’s latest quarterly results exceeded earnings expectations, reporting $2.02 in EPS versus a $1.98 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 4% year over year to $6.68 billion.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) had its price target reduced by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $270.00 to $235.00 in a note issued to investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an "overweight" rating on the business services provider's stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s price target would suggest a potential upside of 11.90% from the company's previous close.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on shares of Waste Management in a research report on Tuesday, September 15th. They issued a "peer perform" rating on the stock. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Waste Management from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Citigroup lifted their target price on Waste Management from $263.00 to $269.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 10th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Waste Management from $252.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Scotiabank boosted their target price on Waste Management from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $256.65.

Waste Management Trading Up 0.5%

NYSE WM traded up $1.07 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $210.01. 2,182,182 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,174,348. The stock has a market capitalization of $83.94 billion, a PE ratio of 29.75, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.91. Waste Management has a 1-year low of $194.11 and a 1-year high of $248.13. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $217.67 and its 200 day simple moving average is $222.81.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The business services provider reported $2.02 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.04. Waste Management had a return on equity of 31.68% and a net margin of 11.11%.The company had revenue of $6.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.71 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.92 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Waste Management will post 8.13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Waste Management news, CAO John Carroll sold 1,365 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $219.90, for a total value of $300,163.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 3,509 shares in the company, valued at $771,629.10. This represents a 28.01% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.18% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Waste Management by 55.3% in the 4th quarter. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 132 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Main Street Group LTD purchased a new stake in shares of Waste Management during the first quarter worth about $31,000. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. acquired a new position in shares of Waste Management in the fourth quarter worth about $34,000. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new position in Waste Management in the second quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Union Savings Bank acquired a new stake in Waste Management during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000. 80.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Waste Management News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Waste Management this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Oppenheimer initiated or reiterated a Buy rating on Waste Management, providing a favorable analyst signal after the stock’s recent weakness. Waste Management (WM) Gets a Buy from Oppenheimer
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts expect Waste Management’s third-quarter profitability to rise in the low-double-digit range when results are released later this month. Expectations for earnings growth could support the shares ahead of the report. What You Need to Know Ahead of Waste Management’s Earnings Release
• Neutral Sentiment: Commentary continues to highlight WM’s recurring, contract-based waste-collection revenue and landfill network as potential long-term competitive advantages. However, the articles do not present a new operating catalyst. What is Waste Management’s Economic Moat, and is it Widening or Narrowing?
• Neutral Sentiment: Waste Management is being cited as a dependable dividend and defensive-compounding business, but the broader investing articles offer limited new information specific to WM’s near-term valuation or earnings outlook. 5 Monthly Dividend Stocks That Could Turn Your Portfolio into a Second Paycheck
• Negative Sentiment: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce lowered its price target from $250 to $225 and shifted to a Neutral rating. Although the revised target implies approximately 7.1% potential upside, the downgrade signals more limited conviction in near-term appreciation.
• Negative Sentiment: WM suspended trash collection in Okaloosa County ahead of Hurricane Isaias. The disruption is localized and likely temporary, but severe weather can delay service and create short-term operational costs. Waste Management Suspends Trash Collection in Okaloosa County Ahead of Hurricane Isaias

About Waste Management

Waste Management, Inc, doing business as WM NYSE: WM, is an environmental services company that provides waste collection, transfer, disposal, recycling and resource recovery services. Its customers include residential households, commercial businesses, industrial organizations and municipalities.

The company operates a network of collection operations, transfer stations, landfills, recycling facilities and waste-to-energy assets across the United States and Canada. Its services include curbside collection, dumpster and roll-off services, recycling, landfill disposal, organics management and specialized waste solutions.

Founded in 1968, WM has expanded from a traditional waste collection business into a broader provider of environmental and sustainability services.

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