D.A. Davidson & CO. Cuts Stake in Waste Management, Inc. $WM

Key Points

• D.A. Davidson reduced its Waste Management stake by 12% in the second quarter, selling 12,525 shares and retaining 91,906 shares valued at approximately $20.5 million. Institutional investors collectively own 80.4% of WM.
• Waste Management exceeded quarterly EPS expectations, reporting $2.02 versus the $1.98 consensus, while revenue rose 4% year over year to $6.68 billion. Margin expansion, pricing gains, stronger cash flow and integration efficiencies support the bullish case.
• Analysts maintain a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with a $258.89 price target, but softer volumes and a lowered 2026 revenue outlook remain concerns. WM also carries a premium valuation, substantial debt and weak liquidity metrics.

D.A. Davidson & CO. lessened its holdings in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) by 12.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 91,906 shares of the business services provider's stock after selling 12,525 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO.'s holdings in Waste Management were worth $20,484,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in WM. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Waste Management in the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. RHL Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Waste Management during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 55.3% during the fourth quarter. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 132 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Waste Management during the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Waste Management in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.40% of the company's stock.

Waste Management News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Higher margins, pricing gains and stronger cash flow could help WM sustain earnings momentum even as operating conditions soften. Technology-driven efficiencies, including benefits from the Stericycle integration, and the company’s consistent dividend also support the long-term investment case. Is WM Stock Worth Buying as Margins Rise but Valuation Stays Rich?
• Positive Sentiment: WM’s recent earnings performance exceeded analysts’ EPS expectations, while revenue continued to grow year over year. These results reinforce the potential for margin expansion and disciplined pricing to offset slower volume growth.
• Neutral Sentiment: WM has lagged the broader market rally, prompting some investors to view the stock as a potential opportunity for defensive, income-oriented portfolios. However, the investment case depends on continued execution rather than a clear near-term catalyst. Waste Management Fell Behind the Rally. Is It an Opportunity?
• Negative Sentiment: WM lowered its 2026 revenue outlook because of softer volumes. Investors are watching whether margin improvements, pricing and cash flow can fully offset weaker demand. WM’s 2026 Outlook Tests Whether Margin Gains Can Offset Softer Volumes
• Negative Sentiment: A premium earnings multiple, substantial debt and weak liquidity metrics increase downside risk if growth or integration benefits disappoint. With shares trading near their moving averages and valuation still rich, investors may demand continued earnings execution. Is WM Stock Worth Buying as Margins Rise but Valuation Stays Rich?

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WM has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce downgraded shares of Waste Management from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Waste Management from $263.00 to $269.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 10th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Waste Management from $252.00 to $261.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Waste Management from $273.00 to $268.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $258.89.

Waste Management Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:WM opened at $224.73 on Friday. Waste Management, Inc. has a twelve month low of $194.11 and a twelve month high of $248.13. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24. The company has a market cap of $89.83 billion, a PE ratio of 31.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.44. The company's 50 day moving average is $227.62 and its 200 day moving average is $227.88.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The business services provider reported $2.02 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $6.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.71 billion. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.11% and a return on equity of 31.68%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.92 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 8.14 EPS for the current year.

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.

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