Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST) Stake Boosted by Principal Securities Inc.

Principal Securities Inc. increased its position in shares of Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST) by 11.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,979 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after acquiring an additional 196 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc.’s holdings in Casella Waste Systems were worth $209,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mather Group LLC. increased its position in Casella Waste Systems by 1,606.7% during the fourth quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 256 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 241 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Casella Waste Systems during the 4th quarter worth about $58,000. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC increased its holdings in shares of Casella Waste Systems by 30.2% during the 4th quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 798 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $84,000 after acquiring an additional 185 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Casella Waste Systems by 69.1% in the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,495 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $158,000 after acquiring an additional 611 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new stake in Casella Waste Systems in the 4th quarter worth approximately $201,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.51% of the company’s stock.

Casella Waste Systems Stock Down 1.8 %

Shares of Casella Waste Systems stock opened at $111.98 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $108.28 and a 200 day simple moving average of $106.21. The stock has a market cap of $7.09 billion, a PE ratio of 486.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.86 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a quick ratio of 2.48, a current ratio of 2.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. Casella Waste Systems, Inc. has a 12 month low of $86.41 and a 12 month high of $116.31.

Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ:CWST) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.16 by $0.25. Casella Waste Systems had a return on equity of 4.15% and a net margin of 0.87%. Research analysts predict that Casella Waste Systems, Inc. will post 1.16 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on CWST shares. William Blair reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Casella Waste Systems in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Casella Waste Systems from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their target price for the company from $115.00 to $113.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Casella Waste Systems from $127.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on shares of Casella Waste Systems from $114.00 to $107.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $117.75.

Casella Waste Systems Profile

Casella Waste Systems, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a vertically integrated solid waste services company in the United States. It offers resource management services primarily in the areas of solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling, and organics services to residential, commercial, municipal, institutional, and industrial customers.