Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. Has $2.10 Million Position in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) by 29.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 10,393 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 4,411 shares during the quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Waste Management were worth $2,097,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in WM. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt increased its position in Waste Management by 417.3% during the 3rd quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 3,471 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $720,000 after purchasing an additional 2,800 shares in the last quarter. Inspire Investing LLC increased its position in Waste Management by 10.9% in the 3rd quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 1,370 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $284,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares during the period. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC increased its position in Waste Management by 14.1% in the 3rd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 5,003 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,039,000 after acquiring an additional 619 shares during the period. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas increased its position in Waste Management by 60.8% in the 3rd quarter. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas now owns 2,771 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $575,000 after acquiring an additional 1,048 shares during the period. Finally, Procyon Advisors LLC increased its position in Waste Management by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 22,416 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $4,653,000 after acquiring an additional 567 shares during the period. 80.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In other news, CAO John A. Carroll sold 209 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $220.55, for a total value of $46,094.95. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 9,066 shares in the company, valued at $1,999,506.30. This represents a 2.25 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Johnson Varkey sold 560 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.11, for a total transaction of $123,261.60. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 9,152 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,014,446.72. This trade represents a 5.77 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 16,055 shares of company stock worth $3,578,340 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.18% of the company’s stock.

Waste Management Stock Performance

WM opened at $225.95 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $211.84 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $211.35. Waste Management, Inc. has a 1-year low of $187.48 and a 1-year high of $230.39. The company has a market cap of $90.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.23, a PEG ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.78.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The business services provider reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.79 by ($0.09). Waste Management had a return on equity of 38.88% and a net margin of 12.45%. On average, analysts expect that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 6th were issued a dividend of $0.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 6th. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.33%. Waste Management’s payout ratio is 44.12%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have issued reports on WM shares. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of Waste Management from $255.00 to $238.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Waste Management from $242.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. CIBC upped their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $228.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Scotiabank upped 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 note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, William Blair reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Waste Management in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Waste Management currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $234.50.

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.