TD Private Client Wealth LLC Sells 180 Shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

TD Private Client Wealth LLC trimmed its holdings in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) by 2.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,682 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 180 shares during the quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC’s holdings in Waste Management were worth $1,752,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Lee Danner & Bass Inc. bought a new stake in Waste Management during the 4th quarter valued at $129,000. Whittier Trust Co. raised its holdings in Waste Management by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 14,173 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $2,860,000 after buying an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. Blueshift Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Waste Management during the 4th quarter valued at $448,000. First National Bank of Hutchinson increased its position in Waste Management by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. First National Bank of Hutchinson now owns 3,742 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $755,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares during the period. Finally, Royal London Asset Management Ltd. increased its position in Waste Management by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 179,692 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $36,260,000 after purchasing an additional 2,169 shares during the period. 80.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Waste Management Stock Performance

Shares of WM stock opened at $224.76 on Friday. Waste Management, Inc. has a one year low of $196.59 and a one year high of $235.81. The company’s 50-day moving average is $222.69 and its 200 day moving average is $215.86. The company has a market capitalization of $90.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.73, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.76.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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%. Sell-side analysts expect that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.825 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.47%. This is a boost from Waste Management’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. Waste Management’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.53%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $255.00 to $238.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. CIBC boosted their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $227.00 to $247.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Scotiabank boosted their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $250.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Waste Management from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Waste Management from $227.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $236.65.

Insider Buying and Selling at Waste Management

In related news, EVP Charles C. Boettcher sold 693 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $220.59, for a total value of $152,868.87. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 45,542 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,046,109.78. This trade represents a 1.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Johnson Varkey sold 124 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 8,491 shares in the company, valued at approximately $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 90 days, insiders have sold 95,577 shares of company stock worth $21,662,464. Company 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.