Waste Management (NYSE:WM) Stock Price Target Raised at Barclays

Key Points

• Barclays raised Waste Management’s price target from $277 to $283 while maintaining an “overweight” rating, implying 23.61% potential upside from the reported share price.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable: 14 analysts rate the stock a Buy and five rate it a Hold, producing a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $256.50.
• Waste Management’s quarterly revenue rose 6.3% year over year to $6.85 billion and exceeded estimates, but earnings of $2.15 per share narrowly missed consensus expectations of $2.18 amid higher costs.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) had its price objective raised by investment analysts at Barclays from $277.00 to $283.00 in a report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an "overweight" rating on the business services provider's stock. Barclays's price objective indicates a potential upside of 23.61% from the stock's current price.

A number of other research firms also recently weighed in on WM. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a $267.00 target price on shares of Waste Management in a report on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Waste Management from $252.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Raymond James Financial set a $251.00 price objective on shares of Waste Management in a report on Thursday. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce cut their target price on Waste Management from $250.00 to $225.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on Waste Management from $240.00 to $244.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $256.50.

Waste Management Stock Performance

Shares of WM stock traded up $3.80 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $228.95. 645,360 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,197,339. Waste Management has a 52 week low of $194.11 and a 52 week high of $248.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $91.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.40, a PEG ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.42. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $217.58 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $225.01. 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 (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 27th. The business services provider reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.18 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $6.85 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.81 billion. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.11% and a return on equity of 31.68%. The firm's revenue was up 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.98 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Waste Management will post 8.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Waste Management

In other 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 of the company's stock, valued at $771,629.10. This represents a 28.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.18% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Waste Management

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Main Street Group LTD bought a new stake in shares of Waste Management during the 1st quarter valued at $31,000. Balance Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Waste Management in the third quarter worth about $31,000. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Waste Management during the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,000. Markowski Investments purchased a new position in shares of Waste Management during the 2nd quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Bogart Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of Waste Management by 93.5% during the 1st quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 180 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the period. 80.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Waste Management News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Third-quarter revenue rose 6.3% year over year to $6.846 billion, exceeding analysts’ $6.81 billion estimate. The company also expects full-year revenue and free cash flow to finish near the high ends of its guidance ranges. Waste Management’s Q3 2026 beats on revenue
• Positive Sentiment: Waste Management reported adjusted operating improvements, while its healthcare segment posted 33% year-over-year operating EBITDA growth, supporting the long-term growth narrative. Waste Management: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors
• Positive Sentiment: Net income reached $820 million, compared with $1.98 per share in the year-ago quarter, indicating earnings growth despite the quarterly shortfall versus expectations. Waste Management: Q3 Earnings Snapshot
• Neutral Sentiment: A previously announced share-repurchase program received a tranche update. Buybacks can support per-share results, but the update provided no major change to the company’s operating outlook. Tranche Update on Waste Management’s Equity Buyback Plan
• Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter adjusted earnings of $2.15 per share missed the $2.18 consensus estimate. Higher fuel and risk-management costs pressured margins, creating a near-term concern despite the revenue beat. WM Q3 Earnings Miss Estimates, Revenues Increase 6.3% Year Over Year
• Negative Sentiment: At roughly 32 times earnings, WM remains richly valued, so continued multiple pressure from higher interest rates could limit upside if cost inflation persists.

About Waste Management

Waste Management, Inc, doing business as WM NYSE: WM, is an environmental services company that provides waste collection, transportation, disposal, recycling and resource-recovery services. The company serves residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers through a network of collection operations, transfer stations, landfills, recycling facilities and other environmental infrastructure.

WM's services include curbside and commercial waste collection, construction and demolition debris management, recycling, organics processing and landfill disposal.

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