Chapman Investment Management LLC Increases Stake in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

Chapman Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) by 6.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 24,540 shares of the business services provider's stock after buying an additional 1,456 shares during the period. Waste Management comprises about 4.2% of Chapman Investment Management LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest position. Chapman Investment Management LLC's holdings in Waste Management were worth $5,681,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Xponance Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 93,853 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $21,728,000 after buying an additional 1,875 shares during the last quarter. Fingerlakes Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Waste Management during the 1st quarter valued at $207,000. Robeco Schweiz AG grew its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 19.9% during the 1st quarter. Robeco Schweiz AG now owns 360,350 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $83,425,000 after purchasing an additional 59,703 shares during the last quarter. Seamount Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Seamount Financial Group Inc. now owns 3,791 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $878,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 110.0% during the 1st quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 462,671 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $107,113,000 after purchasing an additional 242,353 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.40% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Waste Management

In other Waste Management news, SVP Rafael Carrasco sold 674 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $236.81, for a total transaction of $159,609.94. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 16,542 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,917,311.02. The trade was a 3.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 57,888 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $237.36, for a total transaction of $13,740,295.68. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 83,934 shares in the company, valued at $19,922,574.24. This represents a 40.82% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.18% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Waste Management Stock Performance

NYSE WM traded up $0.25 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $225.90. 1,696,881 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,634,195. The business's fifty day moving average price is $232.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $225.44. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $90.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.99 and a beta of 0.64. Waste Management, Inc. has a 52 week low of $196.59 and a 52 week high of $242.58.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The business services provider reported $1.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $6.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.67% and a return on equity of 35.67%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 16.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.75 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 EPS for the current year.

Waste Management Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 6th were issued a dividend of $0.825 per share. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 6th. Waste Management's dividend payout ratio is currently 49.77%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Waste Management from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $225.00 to $277.00 in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. William Blair reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Waste Management in a research report on Wednesday, June 25th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Waste Management from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 29th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on shares of Waste Management from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a "sector outperform" rating in a report on Friday, June 27th. Finally, Melius initiated coverage on shares of Waste Management in a report on Monday, June 9th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $251.29.

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.