Insider Trading February 2, 2026

Waste Management Executive Records Stock Sale and Large Award Vesting Amid Q4 Miss

Senior vice president Michael J. Watson sold roughly $151,000 of WM shares after a substantial settlement of performance awards the prior day

By Avery Klein WM
Waste Management Executive Records Stock Sale and Large Award Vesting Amid Q4 Miss
WM

Waste Management Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Michael J. Watson reported a sale of 687 shares on January 30, 2026, and the day before he received the settlement of performance shares that generated large acquisitions totalling more than $2.7 million. These insider transactions were disclosed in a Form 4 filing and come alongside the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 results, which modestly missed EPS and revenue forecasts.

Key Points

  • Michael J. Watson sold 687 shares on January 30, 2026 at $219.79, generating approximately $150,995.
  • On January 29, 2026 Watson acquired 8,668 shares at $226.41 through the settlement of a performance share award, valued at $1,962,521, and 3,372 shares transacted at the same price for $763,454.
  • Waste Management reported fourth-quarter 2025 EPS of $1.93 versus a $1.95 forecast and revenue of $6.31 billion versus an anticipated $6.39 billion - developments relevant to investors and financial markets.

Waste Management, Inc. reported a set of insider transactions by Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Michael J. Watson in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

According to the Form 4 disclosure, Watson sold 687 shares of Waste Management common stock on January 30, 2026. The sale was executed at $219.79 per share, producing proceeds of approximately $150,995.

The filing also shows activity the previous day. On January 29, 2026, Watson acquired 8,668 shares of Waste Management common stock at $226.41 per share, a total value of $1,962,521. The filing states these shares were the settlement of a performance share award granted under the Waste Management, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan. That same day, an additional 3,372 shares were transacted at $226.41 per share, amounting to $763,454.

After the transactions reported in the filing, Watson is listed as directly owning 48,755.2959 shares of Waste Management common stock. The filing additionally lists an indirect holding of 2,612.5834 shares attributable to a 401(k) Plan.

These insider disclosures arrive against the backdrop of the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 financial report. Waste Management reported earnings per share of $1.93 for the quarter, slightly below the $1.95 forecast. Revenue for the period was reported at $6.31 billion, compared with an expected $6.39 billion.

The company’s quarterly results are identified in the filing as relevant to investors assessing the firm’s recent performance. The report notes that the company’s stock moved in response to the earnings announcement, although the filing does not provide specific details on the scale or timing of that stock price movement.

The SEC Form 4 and the company’s earnings disclosure together document both the insider’s trading and the recent operational results. The filings provide discrete facts about the transactions, holdings, and quarterly financial outcomes without additional commentary on future expectations.

Risks

  • The company’s slight misses on EPS and revenue for Q4 2025 may influence investor sentiment - potentially impacting equity valuations in the waste management and industrial services sector.
  • The filing notes the company’s stock moved after the earnings release but does not detail the magnitude of that movement, creating uncertainty about the market reaction.
  • Insider transactions show both a sale and large acquisitions tied to award settlements; the net effect on future insider ownership and potential sell-side liquidity is not specified in the filings.

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