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EFX vs. WM: Equifax vs. Waste Management Stock Comparison

How do Equifax (EFX) 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

Equifax (EFX) and Waste Management (WM) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but EFX is classified in Professional Services while WM is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies.

Company profile comparison for Equifax (EFX) and Waste Management (WM)
Profile ItemEFXWM
NameEquifax Inc.Waste Management Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesCommercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryResearch & Consulting ServicesEnvironmental & Facilities Services
Market Capitalization22.27 billion USD93.95 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980June 22, 1988
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EFX
WM
GSPC
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Equifax (EFX) 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 Equifax (EFX) and Waste Management (WM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Equifax (EFX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricEFXWM
Total Return (1Y)-7.77%19.43%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)1.72%13.45%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-7.34%9.97%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

EFX
WM
GSPC
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Equifax (EFX) 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 Equifax (EFX) and Waste Management (WM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Equifax (EFX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricEFXWM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.48%21.31%
Beta (5Y)1.250.37
Max Drawdown (5Y)-54.43%-18.14%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.67M2.24M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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EFX 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 Equifax (EFX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricEFXWM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.290.71
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.411.07

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) at 31.68% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Equifax (EFX) at 15.44% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WM.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

15.44%

Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
EFX
15.44%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

31.68%

Max
47.06%
WM
31.68%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%
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Equifax (EFX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) at 11.78% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Equifax (EFX) at 11.27%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

11.27%

Max
23.28%
Q3
11.35%
EFX
11.27%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

11.78%

Max
23.28%
WM
11.78%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%
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Equifax (EFX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Equifax (EFX) at 20.99% and Waste Management (WM) at 19.08% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.99%

Max
38.50%
EFX
20.99%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

19.08%

Max
38.50%
WM
19.08%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%
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Equifax (EFX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Equifax (EFX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricEFXWM
ROE (TTM)15.44%31.68%
ROA (TTM)6.67%6.69%
Net Margin (TTM)11.27%11.78%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.99%19.08%
Gross Margin (TTM)55.18%40.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Waste Management (WM) at 14.24% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Equifax (EFX) at 6.92% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WM.

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

EPS Growth

Both Equifax (EFX) at 9.92% 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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Equifax (EFX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Equifax (EFX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricEFXWM
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.92%14.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.85%8.56%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.92%-1.62%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.99%7.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Equifax (EFX) at 1.09 and Waste Management (WM) at 0.82 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.09

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
EFX
1.09
Min
0.45

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.82

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
WM
0.82
Min
0.45
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Equifax (EFX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Equifax (EFX) at 1.13 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Waste Management (WM) at 2.37 uses more debt funding than most peers.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.13

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
EFX
1.13
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.37

WM
2.37
Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Equifax (EFX) 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 Equifax (EFX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricEFXWM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.090.82
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.132.37
Net Debt / EBITDA2.472.94

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Equifax (EFX) at 1.12% and Waste Management (WM) at 1.52% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.12%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
EFX
1.12%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.52%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
WM
1.52%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Equifax (EFX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Equifax (EFX) at 35.28% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Waste Management (WM) at 48.03% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

35.28%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
EFX
35.28%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

48.03%

Max
99.58%
WM
48.03%
Q3
41.99%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%
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Equifax (EFX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Equifax (EFX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricEFXWM
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.12%1.52%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)35.28%48.03%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Equifax (EFX) at 30.68 and Waste Management (WM) at 31.01 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

30.68

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
EFX
30.68
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

31.01

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
WM
31.01
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
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Equifax (EFX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Equifax (EFX) at 3.38 and Waste Management (WM) at 3.60 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.38

Max
7.17
EFX
3.38
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.60

Max
7.17
WM
3.60
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11
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Equifax (EFX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Equifax (EFX) at 4.96 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Waste Management (WM) at 9.52 carries an above-peer premium to book — WM is pricier on assets.

EFX

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.96

Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
EFX
4.96
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

9.52

Max
11.25
WM
9.52
Q3
6.08
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78
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Equifax (EFX) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Equifax (EFX) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricEFXWM
P/E Ratio (TTM)30.6831.01
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.383.60
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.969.52
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.24%2.64%