Waste Management (NYSE:WM) COO Sells $1,955,413.53 in Stock

Posted by Lindsey Winhoffer on Mar 12th, 2026

Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM – Get Free Report) COO John Morris sold 7,979 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $245.07, for a total value of $1,955,413.53. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 98,656 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $24,177,625.92. This represents a 7.48% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Waste Management Stock Performance

Shares of WM opened at $236.30 on Thursday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $229.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is $220.16. The firm has a market cap of $95.31 billion, a PE ratio of 35.27, a price-to-earnings-growth 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 has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.22.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM – Get Free Report) 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 business had revenue of $6.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.39 billion. Waste Management had a net margin of 10.74% and a return on equity of 32.45%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.70 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Waste Management, Inc. will post 7.7 EPS for the current year.

Waste Management Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.945 per share. This represents a $3.78 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.6%. This is a positive change from Waste Management’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. Waste Management’s payout ratio is currently 49.25%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on WM shares. TD Cowen increased their price objective on Waste Management from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Barclays dropped their target price on Waste Management from $266.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price target on Waste Management from $255.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Waste Management from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $225.00 to $260.00 in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Oppenheimer upped their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $263.00 to $264.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Waste Management presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $253.55.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on WM

Institutional Trading of Waste Management

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Waste Management in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Waste Management by 101.5% during the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 133 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. RHL Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Waste Management during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 55.3% in the 4th quarter. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 132 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Waste Management in the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. 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: 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

About Waste Management

(Get Free Report)

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.