Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. Sells 6,450 Shares of Waste Management, Inc. $WM

Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. reduced its holdings in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) by 21.9% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 23,003 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 6,450 shares during the period. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co.’s holdings in Waste Management were worth $5,080,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WM. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Waste Management in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,583,000. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. acquired a new stake in Waste Management in the 3rd quarter valued at $3,092,000. Guerra Advisors Inc grew its position in Waste Management by 59.5% in the third quarter. Guerra Advisors Inc now owns 9,037 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,996,000 after acquiring an additional 3,371 shares during the period. Compass Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Waste Management by 537.0% during the third quarter. Compass Wealth Management LLC now owns 95,721 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $21,138,000 after acquiring an additional 80,695 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 19.1% during the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 69,287 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $15,301,000 after acquiring an additional 11,135 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.40% of the company’s stock.

Waste Management Stock Up 0.3%

Shares of NYSE:WM opened at $236.30 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.22. The firm has a market cap of $95.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.27, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.57. Waste Management, Inc. has a 12 month low of $194.11 and a 12 month high of $248.13. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $229.03 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $220.16.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The business services provider reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.95 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $6.31 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.39 billion. Waste Management had a net margin of 10.74% and a return on equity of 32.45%. Waste Management’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.70 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a $0.945 dividend. This represents a $3.78 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. This is a positive change from Waste Management’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. Waste Management’s dividend payout ratio is 49.25%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on WM. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Waste Management from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price target on shares of Waste Management from $255.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $236.00 to $252.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Waste Management from $266.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded Waste Management from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $253.55.

Waste Management News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: IBD upgraded WM’s relative strength rating, highlighting a price breakout that can attract momentum buyers and short-term flows. This Waste Management Giant Breaks Out, Keeps Rising, Gets Stock Rating Upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Waste Management raised its quarterly dividend to $0.945 (payable Mar 27; record/ex-dividend Mar 13), which supports income-oriented investors and signals healthy cash generation. Waste Management MarketBeat profile
• Positive Sentiment: Several analysts have recently raised price targets or reiterated Buy/Outperform views, leaving the consensus target above the current price and providing fundamental support. Analyst coverage and target changes
• Neutral Sentiment: Featured coverage (e.g., Motley Fool) frames WM as a defensive, buy-and-hold industrial/income name — supportive for long-term holders but not a short‑term catalyst. 1 Magnificent Industrial Stock to Buy and Hold Forever
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry presentations on longer-term opportunities (e.g., nuclear waste/disposal technologies) may matter to future growth but are not immediate drivers of the share price. Deep Isolation presentation at Waste Management 2026
• Negative Sentiment: Material insider selling by senior executives (COO John J. Morris and other officers reported multi‑thousand share sales) is creating short‑term selling pressure and investor concern about timing/intent. Top Waste Management Executive Quietly Cashes In on a Major Stock Sale
• Negative Sentiment: WM’s most recent quarter slightly missed EPS and revenue estimates, and the stock suffered an outsized one-day drop recently — factors that likely amplified intraday volatility and profit-taking after the multiyear run. Waste Management (WM) Suffers a Larger Drop Than the General Market

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Michael J. Watson sold 17,251 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $241.81, for a total value of $4,171,464.31. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president directly owned 44,146 shares in the company, valued at $10,674,944.26. This trade represents a 28.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Tara J. Hemmer sold 4,818 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $241.83, for a total value of $1,165,136.94. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 78,918 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $19,084,739.94. This represents a 5.75% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders sold 98,042 shares of company stock worth $23,039,777. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Waste Management

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.