Candriam S.C.A. Has $7.64 Million Stock Holdings in Waste Connections, Inc. $WCN

Candriam S.C.A. lessened its holdings in Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN) by 14.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 47,116 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 7,840 shares during the quarter. Candriam S.C.A.’s holdings in Waste Connections were worth $7,638,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. City Holding Co. acquired a new stake in shares of Waste Connections in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC bought a new position in Waste Connections during the third quarter worth $26,000. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Waste Connections by 346.2% in the fourth quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC now owns 174 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new position in Waste Connections in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Waste Connections by 1,166.7% in the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 190 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. 86.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP James Little sold 2,605 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $163.98, for a total transaction of $427,167.90. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 34,395 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,640,092.10. This represents a 7.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Eric Hansen sold 6,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.82, for a total transaction of $988,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 13,350 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,200,347. The trade was a 31.01% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders sold 17,605 shares of company stock valued at $2,822,923. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $211.00 price target on shares of Waste Connections in a research note on Thursday, April 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $218.00 price target (up from $210.00) on shares of Waste Connections in a report on Friday, April 24th. Barclays set a $180.00 price objective on shares of Waste Connections and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Waste Connections from $180.00 to $182.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Waste Connections from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 13th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Waste Connections presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $202.79.

Waste Connections Trading Up 0.0%

Shares of WCN stock opened at $171.15 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.69. Waste Connections, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $146.89 and a fifty-two week high of $191.91. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $158.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $163.67. The company has a market cap of $43.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.74, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.49.

Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 22nd. The business services provider reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.04. Waste Connections had a net margin of 10.97% and a return on equity of 16.49%. The business had revenue of $2.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.50 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.13 earnings per share. Waste Connections’s revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Waste Connections, Inc. will post 5.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Waste Connections Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 21st. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 6th were issued a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 6th. Waste Connections’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 34.15%.

About Waste Connections

Waste Connections (NYSE: WCN) is a North American integrated waste services company that provides a range of solid waste and environmental services to municipal, commercial, industrial and residential customers. The company offers collection, transportation, transfer, disposal and recycling services, and operates an extensive network of transfer stations and disposal facilities. Waste Connections positions itself as a provider of infrastructure-driven waste solutions across many regions of the United States and Canada.

The company’s operating activities include routine curbside and commercial collection, roll-off and container services, operation of landfills and transfer stations, and recycling and resource recovery programs.