World Equity Group Inc. Acquires 2,534 Shares of Waste Management, Inc. $WM

World Equity Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) by 222.5% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,673 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 2,534 shares during the quarter. World Equity Group Inc.’s holdings in Waste Management were worth $844,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Spartan Wealth Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of Waste Management during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $247,000. Ascent Wealth Partners LLC lifted its stake in Waste Management by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Ascent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 32,231 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $7,406,000 after purchasing an additional 876 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC acquired a new stake in Waste Management in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,159,000. California Public Employees Retirement System grew its stake in shares of Waste Management by 2.1% during the first quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 793,257 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $182,283,000 after buying an additional 16,018 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Waste Management by 2.3% during the first quarter. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC now owns 316,174 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $72,040,000 after buying an additional 7,000 shares during the last quarter. 80.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Headlines Impacting Waste Management

Here are the key news stories impacting Waste Management this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Scotiabank raised Waste Management’s price target to $260 from $250, suggesting continued upside potential despite maintaining a “sector perform” view.
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst commentary highlighted WM’s strong waste collection network, pricing power, and acquisition strategy as supports for growth and margins.
• Neutral Sentiment: Erste Group Bank trimmed its FY2026 EPS estimate to $8.16 from $8.17, a very small revision that matches the current consensus estimate.
• Neutral Sentiment: Erste Group also nudged FY2027 EPS down to $9.20 from $9.23, another modest cut that does not materially change the long-term earnings outlook.
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst notes pointed to WM’s high debt load and slower stock momentum as ongoing concerns that could weigh on investor sentiment.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on WM shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Waste Management from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, April 10th. Weiss Ratings cut Waste Management from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Thursday, June 11th. Oppenheimer dropped their target price on Waste Management from $264.00 to $263.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Barclays lifted their price target on Waste Management from $266.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on Waste Management from $263.00 to $269.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 10th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $256.70.

Waste Management Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:WM opened at $239.50 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.22, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 0.93. Waste Management, Inc. has a 52 week low of $194.11 and a 52 week high of $248.13. The firm has a market cap of $96.18 billion, a PE ratio of 34.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.44. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $222.20 and its 200-day moving average is $226.50.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 28th. The business services provider reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $6.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.28 billion. Waste Management had a return on equity of 31.90% and a net margin of 10.99%.Waste Management’s quarterly revenue was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.67 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Waste Management, Inc. will post 8.16 earnings per share for the current year.

Waste Management Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 5th were paid a $0.945 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 5th. This represents a $3.78 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.6%. Waste Management’s dividend payout ratio is presently 54.70%.

Waste Management Company Profile

Waste Management, Inc (NYSE: WM) is a leading provider of integrated waste management and environmental services in North America. The company offers end-to-end solutions that span collection, transfer, disposal and recycling, along with landfill operations and related infrastructure. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Waste Management serves a broad customer base that includes residential, commercial, industrial and municipal clients.

Core services include curbside and commercial waste collection, roll-off and temporary container services, materials recovery and recycling, and engineered landfill disposal.