Waste Management (NYSE:WM) Earns Buy Rating from Analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Waste Management (NYSE:WM) in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm issued a buy rating and a $241.00 price target on the business services provider’s stock.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $211.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $219.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Waste Management from $207.00 to $212.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Waste Management from $215.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, CIBC raised their target price on shares of Waste Management from $207.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, April 29th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Waste Management has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $217.61.

Waste Management Stock Performance

Waste Management stock opened at $208.81 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.23. Waste Management has a 1-year low of $149.71 and a 1-year high of $214.54. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $209.50 and a 200-day moving average of $193.83. The firm has a market cap of $83.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.72.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 24th. The business services provider reported $1.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.52 by $0.23. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.98% and a return on equity of 38.61%. The business had revenue of $5.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.22 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.31 earnings per share. Waste Management’s quarterly revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Waste Management will post 7.29 EPS for the current year.

Waste Management Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 21st. Investors of record on Friday, June 7th will be given a dividend of $0.75 per share. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 7th. Waste Management’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 49.10%.

Insider Activity at Waste Management

In other Waste Management news, EVP Charles C. Boettcher sold 2,500 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.50, for a total value of $523,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 29,677 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,217,331.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders sold 2,611 shares of company stock valued at $546,839 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.18% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Waste Management

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Waste Management by 29.7% in the 1st quarter. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 214 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the period. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Waste Management by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,273 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $911,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. McAdam LLC lifted its position in shares of Waste Management by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. McAdam LLC now owns 1,317 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $281,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Waste Management by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 1,228 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $262,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the period. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC lifted its position in shares of Waste Management by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 2,053 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $438,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.40% 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.