Scotiabank Predicts Lower Earnings for Waste Management

Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) – Equities researchers at Scotiabank cut their FY2026 EPS estimates for shares of Waste Management in a report released on Wednesday, March 19th. Scotiabank analyst K. Gupta now forecasts that the business services provider will post earnings per share of $8.77 for the year, down from their previous estimate of $9.14. Scotiabank has a “Sector Outperform” rating and a $255.00 price target on the stock. The consensus estimate for Waste Management’s current full-year earnings is $7.70 per share.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The business services provider reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.79 by ($0.09). Waste Management had a net margin of 12.45% and a return on equity of 37.93%.

A number of other research firms have also issued reports on WM. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Waste Management from $227.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. CIBC lifted their target price on Waste Management from $227.00 to $247.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Raymond James upped their price target on Waste Management from $235.00 to $237.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. William Blair reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Waste Management in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price 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 issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Waste Management presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $236.65.

Waste Management Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of WM opened at $227.26 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.73, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $91.38 billion, a PE ratio of 33.42, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.75. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $223.47 and its 200-day simple moving average is $216.19. Waste Management has a 1 year low of $196.59 and a 1 year high of $235.81.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a dividend of $0.825 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $3.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.45%. This is a boost from Waste Management’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. Waste Management’s payout ratio is 48.53%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CAO John A. Carroll sold 1,251 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.92, for a total value of $282,625.92. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 8,420 shares in the company, valued at $1,902,246.40. This represents a 12.94 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Johnson Varkey sold 124 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.96, for a total transaction of $29,135.04. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 8,491 shares in the company, valued at $1,995,045.36. The trade was a 1.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 95,577 shares of company stock valued at $21,662,464. Insiders own 0.18% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Waste Management

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Fire Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Waste Management in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $577,000. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in Waste Management by 5.6% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 260,910 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $52,649,000 after buying an additional 13,755 shares during the period. Chancellor Financial Group WB LP purchased a new position in Waste Management during the 4th quarter worth $623,000. 111 Capital acquired a new stake in shares of Waste Management in the 4th quarter worth $2,468,000. Finally, NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC increased its stake in shares of Waste Management by 524.7% during the fourth quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 81,759 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $16,498,000 after acquiring an additional 68,672 shares during the period. 80.40% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.