Qtron Investments LLC Purchases 2,094 Shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

Qtron Investments LLC grew its stake in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM - Free Report) by 44.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,763 shares of the business services provider's stock after buying an additional 2,094 shares during the period. Qtron Investments LLC's holdings in Waste Management were worth $1,365,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sterling Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Waste Management by 7.1% during the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 17,082 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $3,447,000 after purchasing an additional 1,139 shares during the period. Heritage Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Waste Management during the fourth quarter worth approximately $365,000. Covestor Ltd grew its position in Waste Management by 8.2% in the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 609 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $123,000 after buying an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Argent Trust Co lifted its stake in shares of Waste Management by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Argent Trust Co now owns 14,384 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $2,903,000 after acquiring an additional 164 shares during the period. Finally, Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Waste Management during the fourth quarter worth about $232,000. 80.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Waste Management Price Performance

Shares of Waste Management stock traded up $2.56 during trading on Thursday, hitting $232.13. 658,004 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,635,366. Waste Management, Inc. has a twelve month low of $196.59 and a twelve month high of $239.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.73, a current ratio of 0.76 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The company has a market cap of $93.39 billion, a PE ratio of 34.13, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.66. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $227.71 and its 200 day moving average price is $218.64.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The business services provider reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.79 by ($0.09). Waste Management had a net margin of 12.45% and a return on equity of 37.93%. Analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 earnings per share for the current year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a dividend of $0.825 per share. This is a boost from Waste Management's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.42%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. Waste Management's dividend payout ratio is 48.53%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have issued reports on WM shares. Oppenheimer increased their target price on shares of Waste Management from $231.00 to $237.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. CIBC lifted their price objective on Waste Management from $227.00 to $247.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. StockNews.com lowered Waste Management from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Waste Management from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Waste Management from $242.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Waste Management has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $237.76.

Insider Buying and Selling at Waste Management

In other Waste Management news, CAO John A. Carroll sold 209 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $220.55, for a total value of $46,094.95. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 9,066 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,999,506.30. This trade represents a 2.25 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Johnson Varkey sold 124 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.96, for a total transaction of $29,135.04. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 8,491 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,995,045.36. The trade was a 1.44 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 95,577 shares of company stock worth $21,662,464. Insiders own 0.18% of the company's stock.

Waste Management Company 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.