Waste Management (WM) Stock Analysis

September 7, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Waste Management (WM): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Commercial & Professional Services peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Waste Management (WM)
Profile Item	WM
Name	Waste Management Inc.
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Commercial & Professional Services
GICS Industry	Commercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-Industry	Environmental & Facilities Services
Market Capitalization	87.53 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	June 22, 1988
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GSPC

Waste Management (WM) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Waste Management (WM) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Waste Management (WM) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Waste Management (WM) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WM	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	-1.09%	-1.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	13.45%	7.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	8.71%	4.01%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GSPC

Waste Management (WM) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Waste Management (WM) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Waste Management (WM) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WM	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	20.22%	41.27%
Beta (5Y)	0.42	0.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-18.14%	-54.87%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. WM is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Waste Management (WM) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WM	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.26	-0.16
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.36	-0.22

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) posts ROE of 29.84%, in the upper peer quartile. That suggests the company earns more from each dollar of shareholders’ equity than most industry peers, a useful capital-efficiency signal.

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

29.84%

Group distribution

Max: 46.24%
WM: 29.84%
Q3: 24.40%
Median: 13.50%
Q1: 0.62%
Min: -31.82%

Largest peers

RELX: 131.86%
ADP: 72.24%
CTAS: 40.71%
WM: 29.84%
RSG: 18.15%
TRI: 14.17%
PAYX: --

Where Waste Management (WM) stands on ROE within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) keeps 11.12% of revenue as net profit, putting net margin in the upper peer quartile. After operating costs, interest, and taxes, more of each sales dollar reaches shareholders than it does at most industry peers.

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

11.12%

Group distribution

Max: 26.63%
WM: 11.12%
Q3: 10.98%
Median: 5.49%
Q1: 0.42%
Min: -13.84%

Largest peers

PAYX: 26.63%
RELX: 23.27%
TRI: 21.22%
ADP: 20.11%
CTAS: 17.75%
RSG: 12.94%
WM: 11.12%

Where Waste Management (WM) stands on net margin within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) turns 18.99% of revenue into operating profit, putting operating margin in the upper peer quartile. Before financing and taxes enter the picture, the day-to-day business keeps more of each sales dollar than most industry peers.

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

18.99%

Group distribution

Max: 38.33%
WM: 18.99%
Q3: 18.50%
Median: 9.96%
Q1: 4.48%
Min: -12.00%

Largest peers

PAYX: 38.33%
RELX: 32.01%
TRI: 28.30%
CTAS: 23.69%
ADP: 23.46%
RSG: 20.43%
WM: 18.99%

Where Waste Management (WM) stands on operating margin within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Waste Management (WM) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WM	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	29.84%	13.50%
ROA (TTM)	6.57%	5.21%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.12%	5.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)	18.99%	9.96%
Gross Margin (TTM)	40.60%	36.42%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Waste Management (WM) grew revenue 14.24%, in the upper peer quartile. The top line is expanding faster than at most industry peers, which points to share gains or stronger pricing.

Waste Management (WM): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Waste Management (WM) grew earnings per share -1.62%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Waste Management (WM): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Waste Management (WM) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WM	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	14.24%	6.40%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.56%	6.33%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-1.62%	5.51%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.52%	9.76%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Waste Management (WM) has current ratio of 0.91, in the tighter-liquidity quartile for its industry. The short-term cushion is thinner than most peers carry, even if the absolute comfort level still depends on the business model.

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.91

Group distribution

Max: 3.11
Q3: 1.97
Median: 1.49
Q1: 1.14
WM: 0.91
Min: 0.45

Largest peers

CTAS: 1.43
PAYX: 1.15
ADP: 1.05
WM: 0.91
RSG: 0.64
TRI: 0.51
RELX: 0.45

Where Waste Management (WM) stands on current ratio within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Waste Management (WM) has debt-to-equity ratio of 2.35, in the higher-leverage quartile for its industry. The heavier reliance on borrowing can make earnings, rates, or refinancing conditions matter more.

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.35

Group distribution

WM: 2.35
Max: 2.35
Q3: 1.27
Median: 0.93
Q1: 0.31
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

RELX: 7.10
WM: 2.35
PAYX: 1.24
RSG: 1.19
ADP: 0.91
CTAS: 0.53
TRI: 0.29

Where Waste Management (WM) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Waste Management (WM) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WM	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.91	1.49
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.35	0.93
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.93	2.57

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) has dividend yield of 1.60%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.60%

Group distribution

Max: 4.30%
Q3: 1.78%
WM: 1.60%
Median: 0.51%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

ADP: 2.34%
TRI: 2.27%
RELX: 1.88%
WM: 1.60%
RSG: 1.11%
CTAS: 0.90%
PAYX: 0.00%

Where Waste Management (WM) stands on dividend yield within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) has payout ratio of 50.07%, above the industry’s usual payout band. A larger share of earnings is going to dividends, so the cushion narrows if profit weakens.

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

50.07%

Group distribution

Max: 90.59%
WM: 50.07%
Q3: 36.96%
Median: 12.78%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

PAYX: 90.59%
TRI: 66.61%
ADP: 60.69%
RELX: 53.45%
WM: 50.07%
CTAS: 36.66%
RSG: 35.41%

Where Waste Management (WM) stands on payout ratio within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Waste Management (WM) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WM	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.60%	0.51%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	50.07%	12.78%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) trades at P/E ratio of 30.97, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

30.97

Group distribution

Max: 49.00
Q3: 31.02
WM: 30.97
Median: 23.75
Q1: 16.32
Min: 6.82

Largest peers

CTAS: 40.83
RSG: 31.55
WM: 30.97
TRI: 27.88
ADP: 25.38
PAYX: 24.89
RELX: 21.14

Where Waste Management (WM) stands on P/E ratio within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) trades at 3.41 on P/S ratio, in the higher sales-valuation quartile. Investors are paying up for each dollar of revenue, so stronger margins, growth, or revenue quality need to carry that price.

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.41

Group distribution

Max: 7.12
WM: 3.41
Q3: 3.39
Median: 1.42
Q1: 0.72
Min: 0.10

Largest peers

PAYX: 10.92
CTAS: 7.12
RELX: 6.36
TRI: 5.85
ADP: 5.03
RSG: 4.04
WM: 3.41

Where Waste Management (WM) stands on P/S ratio within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Waste Management (WM) trades at 8.82 on P/B ratio, in the higher book-value quartile. The market is paying a premium to book, so stronger ROE, cleaner assets, or a better growth profile need to justify it.

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

8.82

Group distribution

Max: 11.59
WM: 8.82
Q3: 5.69
Median: 2.98
Q1: 1.58
Min: -4.31

Largest peers

RELX: 148.08
ADP: 18.31
CTAS: 15.61
PAYX: 11.59
WM: 8.82
RSG: 5.66
TRI: 4.12

Where Waste Management (WM) stands on P/B ratio within its Commercial & Professional Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Waste Management (WM) metric values compared with Commercial & Professional Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WM	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	30.97	23.75
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.41	1.42
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.82	2.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.68%	4.75%