Voya Investment Management LLC Increases Stock Holdings in Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST)

Voya Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST - Free Report) by 1,368.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 279,743 shares of the industrial products company's stock after buying an additional 260,689 shares during the period. Voya Investment Management LLC owned approximately 0.44% of Casella Waste Systems worth $29,600,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Barclays PLC raised its stake in Casella Waste Systems by 29.0% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 131,906 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $13,122,000 after acquiring an additional 29,686 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its stake in Casella Waste Systems by 41.1% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 495,294 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $50,604,000 after acquiring an additional 144,212 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in Casella Waste Systems by 87.1% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 78,549 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $7,815,000 after acquiring an additional 36,573 shares during the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Casella Waste Systems by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 68,095 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $7,205,000 after acquiring an additional 1,966 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Casella Waste Systems in the 4th quarter worth $58,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.51% of the company's stock.

Casella Waste Systems Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:CWST traded down $0.45 during trading on Thursday, reaching $117.00. 157,471 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 361,813. Casella Waste Systems, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $88.89 and a fifty-two week high of $120.69. The company has a quick ratio of 2.48, a current ratio of 2.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. The firm has a market cap of $7.41 billion, a PE ratio of 507.00, a P/E/G ratio of 3.86 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $111.84 and a 200-day simple moving average of $109.07.

Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ:CWST - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.16 by $0.25. Casella Waste Systems had a return on equity of 4.15% and a net margin of 0.87%. As a group, analysts predict that Casella Waste Systems, Inc. will post 1.16 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Casella Waste Systems news, SVP Paul Ligon sold 2,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.67, for a total value of $237,340.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 20,347 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,414,578.49. This trade represents a 8.95 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 4.24% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on CWST shares. TD Cowen started coverage on Casella Waste Systems in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a "buy" rating and a $130.00 price target on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Casella Waste Systems from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their price target for the stock from $115.00 to $113.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Raymond James reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Casella Waste Systems in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. UBS Group increased their price target on Casella Waste Systems from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, William Blair reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Casella Waste Systems in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Casella Waste Systems has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $122.67.

About Casella Waste Systems

Casella Waste Systems, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a vertically integrated solid waste services company in the United States. It offers resource management services primarily in the areas of solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling, and organics services to residential, commercial, municipal, institutional, and industrial customers.