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GFL vs. ULS: GFL Environmental vs. UL Stock Comparison

How do GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS) 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

GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but GFL is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies while ULS is classified in Professional Services.

Company profile comparison for GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS)
Profile ItemGFLULS
NameGFL Environmental Inc.UL Solutions Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryCommercial Services & SuppliesProfessional Services
GICS Sub-IndustryEnvironmental & Facilities ServicesResearch & Consulting Services
Market Capitalization16.72 billion USD15.88 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 3, 2020April 12, 2024
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GFL
ULS
GSPC
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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS), 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 GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS)
MetricGFLULS
Total Return (1Y)7.30%-3.81%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.51%--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)3.62%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GFL
ULS
GSPC
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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS), 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 GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS)
MetricGFLULS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)29.80%42.88%
Beta (5Y)0.660.52
Max Drawdown (5Y)-42.75%-38.75%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.45M879.46K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GFL and ULS 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 GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS)
MetricGFLULS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.10-0.19
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.15-0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

GFL Environmental (GFL) reports a negative ROE of -2.97%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile UL (ULS) reports 36.51%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

-2.97%

Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
GFL
-2.97%
Min
-20.15%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

36.51%

Max
47.06%
ULS
36.51%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%
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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

GFL Environmental (GFL) reports a negative net margin of -4.28%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile UL (ULS) reports 16.13%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

-4.28%

Max
23.28%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
GFL
-4.28%
Min
-8.60%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

16.13%

Max
23.28%
ULS
16.13%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%
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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

UL (ULS) at 19.81% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of GFL Environmental (GFL) at 9.44%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

9.44%

Max
38.50%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
GFL
9.44%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

19.81%

Max
38.50%
ULS
19.81%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%
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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS)
MetricGFLULS
ROE (TTM)-2.97%36.51%
ROA (TTM)1.11%11.46%
Net Margin (TTM)-4.28%16.13%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.44%19.81%
Gross Margin (TTM)19.78%50.69%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both GFL Environmental (GFL) at 7.77% and UL (ULS) at 6.38% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: UL (ULS) reports EPS growth of -1.23%, ranked against its industry; GFL Environmental (GFL) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS)
MetricGFLULS
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.77%6.38%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.72%6.60%
EPS Growth (YoY)---1.23%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--2.98%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

UL (ULS) at 2.09 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while GFL Environmental (GFL) at 0.93 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for GFL.

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.93

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
GFL
0.93
Min
0.45

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.09

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
ULS
2.09
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
Min
0.45
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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both GFL Environmental (GFL) at 1.04 and UL (ULS) at 0.54 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.04

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
GFL
1.04
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.54

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
Median
0.88
ULS
0.54
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS)
MetricGFLULS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.932.09
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.040.54
Net Debt / EBITDA6.75-0.11

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both GFL Environmental (GFL) at 0.14% and UL (ULS) at 0.74% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.14%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
Median
0.60%
GFL
0.14%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.74%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
ULS
0.74%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both GFL Environmental (GFL) at 19.07% and UL (ULS) at 22.42% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

19.07%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
GFL
19.07%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

22.42%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
ULS
22.42%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%
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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS)
MetricGFLULS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.14%0.74%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)19.07%22.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: UL (ULS) trades at 31.21 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while GFL Environmental (GFL) has no P/E ratio this period.

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

--

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
GFL
--

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

31.21

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
ULS
31.21
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS): GFL does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; ULS is benchmarked against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

GFL Environmental (GFL) at 2.25 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while UL (ULS) at 4.98 sits in the pricier quartile — ULS costs more per dollar of sales.

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.25

Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
GFL
2.25
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.98

Max
7.17
ULS
4.98
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11
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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

GFL Environmental (GFL) at 2.42 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while UL (ULS) at 9.32 carries an above-peer premium to book — ULS is pricier on assets.

GFL

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.42

Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
Median
2.92
GFL
2.42
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78

ULS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

9.32

Max
11.25
ULS
9.32
Q3
6.08
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78
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GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. UL (ULS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for GFL Environmental (GFL) and UL (ULS)
MetricGFLULS
P/E Ratio (TTM)--31.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.254.98
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.429.32
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.55%2.94%