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.
| Profile Item | CTAS | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Cintas Corporation | Waste Management, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Commercial & Professional Services | Commercial & Professional Services |
| GICS Industry | Commercial Services & Supplies | Commercial Services & Supplies |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Support Services | Environmental & Facilities Services |
| Market Capitalization | 68.06 billion USD | 89.50 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | August 19, 1983 | June 22, 1988 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -22.96% | -1.03% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.89% | 19.23% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.94 | 0.44 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.16M | 2.20M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Cintas (CTAS) at 41.30% and Waste Management (WM) at 29.94% 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
41.30%
- Max
- 53.04%
- CTAS
- 41.30%
- Q3
- 25.86%
- Median
- 14.00%
- Q1
- 2.97%
- Min
- -28.46%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
29.94%
- Max
- 53.04%
- WM
- 29.94%
- Q3
- 25.86%
- Median
- 14.00%
- Q1
- 2.97%
- Min
- -28.46%
Net Margin (TTM)
Cintas (CTAS) at 17.57% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Waste Management (WM) at 10.99%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
17.57%
- Max
- 26.63%
- CTAS
- 17.57%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -13.34%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
10.99%
- Max
- 26.63%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- WM
- 10.99%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -13.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Cintas (CTAS) at 23.22% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Waste Management (WM) at 17.52%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
23.22%
- Max
- 38.33%
- CTAS
- 23.22%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- Median
- 9.47%
- Q1
- 3.22%
- Min
- -4.52%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
17.52%
- Max
- 38.33%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- WM
- 17.52%
- Median
- 9.47%
- Q1
- 3.22%
- Min
- -4.52%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | WM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 41.30% | 29.94% |
| ROA (TTM) | 15.94% | 6.60% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 17.57% | 10.99% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.22% | 17.52% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 50.36% | 40.61% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.75% | 14.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.60% | 8.56% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | WM |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 16.17% | -1.62% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.74% | 7.52% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Cintas (CTAS) at 1.98 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Waste Management (WM) at 0.93 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WM.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.98
- Max
- 3.17
- Q3
- 2.04
- CTAS
- 1.98
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.13
- Min
- 0.45
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.93
- Max
- 3.17
- Q3
- 2.04
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.13
- WM
- 0.93
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Cintas (CTAS) at 0.61 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Waste Management (WM) at 2.28 uses more debt funding than most peers.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.61
- Max
- 2.61
- Q3
- 1.38
- Median
- 0.93
- CTAS
- 0.61
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.01
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.28
- Max
- 2.61
- WM
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.38
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.98 | 0.93 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.61 | 2.28 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.94 | 2.97 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Cintas (CTAS) at 1.03% and Waste Management (WM) at 1.53% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.03%
- Max
- 4.01%
- Q3
- 1.68%
- CTAS
- 1.03%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.53%
- Max
- 4.01%
- Q3
- 1.68%
- WM
- 1.53%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Cintas (CTAS) at 36.71% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Waste Management (WM) at 49.49% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
36.71%
- Max
- 90.59%
- CTAS
- 36.71%
- Q3
- 36.71%
- Median
- 16.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
49.49%
- Max
- 90.59%
- WM
- 49.49%
- Q3
- 36.71%
- Median
- 16.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.03% | 1.53% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 36.71% | 49.49% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Cintas (CTAS) at 35.81 and Waste Management (WM) at 32.30 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
35.81
- Max
- 67.48
- Q3
- 35.82
- CTAS
- 35.81
- Median
- 20.98
- Q1
- 14.64
- Min
- 4.14
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
32.30
- Max
- 67.48
- Q3
- 35.82
- WM
- 32.30
- Median
- 20.98
- Q1
- 14.64
- Min
- 4.14
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Cintas (CTAS) at 6.17 and Waste Management (WM) at 3.52 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
6.17
- Max
- 6.61
- CTAS
- 6.17
- Q3
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.09
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
3.52
- Max
- 6.61
- WM
- 3.52
- Q3
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.09
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Waste Management (WM) at 8.95 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Cintas (CTAS) at 14.21 prices even higher, above its industry range.
CTAS
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
14.21
- CTAS
- 14.21
- Max
- 12.70
- Q3
- 6.61
- Median
- 3.22
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -4.70
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
8.95
- Max
- 12.70
- WM
- 8.95
- Q3
- 6.61
- Median
- 3.22
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -4.70
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CTAS | WM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 35.81 | 32.30 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.17 | 3.52 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 14.21 | 8.95 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.22% | 2.39% |