Bill Gates’ Latest Stock Portfolio: Top 5 Picks

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

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust’s Stake Value: $2.9 billion

Percentage of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust’s Portfolio: 14.9%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40

Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM), as the name implies, is a waste management and environmental services company based in Texas. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust is the leading shareholder in the company with a stake value of almost $3 billion. 

On May 13, As previously reported, BofA analyst Michael Feniger upgraded Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) to Neutral from Underperform and set a price target of $165, up from $155, after the corporation reported a better than anticipated start to the year in terms of managing the cost environment and driving price. 

In its Q1 results, Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) exceeded earnings expectations with an EPS of $1.29, $0.15 above consensus. The revenue was also above estimates by $208 million, at $4.6 billion. 

Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) has an annual dividend yield of 1.85% as of June 17. The company has been increasing its dividend payout for 20 consecutive years. Waste Management declared a quarterly dividend on May 9. The investors of record on June 3 will be paid a dividend cash amount of $0.65 per share on June 17.