Bill Gates’ Latest Portfolio: Top 5 Stock Picks

2. Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

Bill Gates’ Stake Value: $3,109,960,000

Percentage of Bill Gates’ 13F Portfolio: 13.53%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 35

Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM), a Texas-based company that recycles and collects hazardous materials, is the second largest holding in Bill Gates’ fourth quarter portfolio. Bill Gates has been a long-term shareholder of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM), and in the fourth quarter of 2021, he owned 18.6 million shares of the company, worth $3.10 billion. The stock represents 13.53% of the total investments for Q4 2021. 

Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) on March 1 announced a $0.65 per share quarterly dividend, which is distributable on March 31, to shareholders of record on March 17. The stock yields 1.72% as of March 14. 

JPMorgan analyst Stephanie Yee on March 1 reinstated coverage of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) with a Neutral rating and a $153 price target. While the analyst appreciates the strong waste business, owing to good margins and lots of free cash flow, he believes Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) “is playing a bit of catch-up” in terms of pricing to recover from cost inflation experienced in 2021.

A total of 35 hedge funds were bullish on Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) at the end of December 2021, with collective stakes exceeding $4 billion. Impax Asset Management is a major shareholder of the company, with 2.6 million shares worth close to $436 million.