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CTAS vs. WM: Cintas vs. Waste Management Stock Comparison

How do Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM) both belong to the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, though CTAS is classified under Diversified Support Services while WM falls under Environmental & Facilities Services.

Company profile comparison for Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM)
Profile ItemCTASWM
NameCintas CorporationWaste Management Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryCommercial Services & SuppliesCommercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified Support ServicesEnvironmental & Facilities Services
Market Capitalization81.71 billion USD87.80 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateAugust 19, 1983June 22, 1988
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CTAS
WM
GSPC
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricCTASWM
Total Return (1Y)-3.28%-2.03%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.12%12.92%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.91%8.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CTAS
WM
GSPC
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricCTASWM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.25%20.19%
Beta (5Y)0.910.42
Max Drawdown (5Y)-27.68%-18.14%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.28M2.13M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CTAS and WM are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricCTASWM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.31-0.30
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.45-0.42

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 40.71% and Waste Management (WM) at 29.84% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

40.71%

Max
46.24%
CTAS
40.71%
Q3
24.40%
Median
13.50%
Q1
0.62%
Min
-31.82%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

29.84%

Max
46.24%
WM
29.84%
Q3
24.40%
Median
13.50%
Q1
0.62%
Min
-31.82%
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Cintas (CTAS) at 17.75% and Waste Management (WM) at 11.12% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

17.75%

Max
26.63%
CTAS
17.75%
Q3
10.98%
Median
5.53%
Q1
0.42%
Min
-13.84%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

11.12%

Max
26.63%
WM
11.12%
Q3
10.98%
Median
5.53%
Q1
0.42%
Min
-13.84%
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 23.69% and Waste Management (WM) at 18.99% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

23.69%

Max
38.33%
CTAS
23.69%
Q3
18.05%
Median
9.96%
Q1
4.48%
Min
-4.70%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

18.99%

Max
38.33%
WM
18.99%
Q3
18.05%
Median
9.96%
Q1
4.48%
Min
-4.70%
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricCTASWM
ROE (TTM)40.71%29.84%
ROA (TTM)16.10%6.57%
Net Margin (TTM)17.75%11.12%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.69%18.99%
Gross Margin (TTM)50.67%40.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Waste Management (WM) at 14.24% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Cintas (CTAS) at 8.94% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WM.

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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 11.59% and Waste Management (WM) at -1.62% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricCTASWM
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.94%14.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)8.51%8.56%
EPS Growth (YoY)11.59%-1.62%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.77%7.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cintas (CTAS) at 1.43 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Waste Management (WM) at 0.91 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WM.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.43

Max
3.24
Q3
1.99
Median
1.49
CTAS
1.43
Q1
1.14
Min
0.45

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.91

Max
3.24
Q3
1.99
Median
1.49
Q1
1.14
WM
0.91
Min
0.45
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Cintas (CTAS) at 0.53 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Waste Management (WM) at 2.35 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.53

Max
2.35
Q3
1.25
Median
0.93
CTAS
0.53
Q1
0.31
Min
0.00

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.35

WM
2.35
Max
2.35
Q3
1.25
Median
0.93
Q1
0.31
Min
0.00
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricCTASWM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.430.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.532.35
Net Debt / EBITDA0.812.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Cintas (CTAS) at 0.88% and Waste Management (WM) at 1.63% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.88%

Max
4.25%
Q3
1.74%
CTAS
0.88%
Median
0.51%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.63%

Max
4.25%
Q3
1.74%
WM
1.63%
Median
0.51%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Cintas (CTAS) at 36.66% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Waste Management (WM) at 50.07% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

36.66%

Max
90.59%
Q3
36.96%
CTAS
36.66%
Median
12.78%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

50.07%

Max
90.59%
WM
50.07%
Q3
36.96%
Median
12.78%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricCTASWM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.88%1.63%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)36.66%50.07%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) at 30.76 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Cintas (CTAS) at 41.67 sits in the richer quartile — CTAS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

41.67

Max
50.49
CTAS
41.67
Q3
31.99
Median
24.05
Q1
16.25
Min
6.92

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

30.76

Max
50.49
Q3
31.99
WM
30.76
Median
24.05
Q1
16.25
Min
6.92
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) at 3.42 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Cintas (CTAS) at 7.25 sits in the pricier quartile — CTAS costs more per dollar of sales.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.25

CTAS
7.25
Max
7.25
Q3
3.51
Median
1.44
Q1
0.74
Min
0.15

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.42

Max
7.25
Q3
3.51
WM
3.42
Median
1.44
Q1
0.74
Min
0.15
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Waste Management (WM) at 8.85 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Cintas (CTAS) at 15.90 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

15.90

CTAS
15.90
Max
12.19
Q3
5.83
Median
2.98
Q1
1.58
Min
-4.40

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

8.85

Max
12.19
WM
8.85
Q3
5.83
Median
2.98
Q1
1.58
Min
-4.40
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Cintas (CTAS) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cintas (CTAS) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricCTASWM
P/E Ratio (TTM)41.6730.76
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.253.42
P/B Ratio (MRQ)15.908.85
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.79%2.67%