RSG vs. WM: Republic Services vs. Waste Management Stock Comparison
How do Republic Services (RSG) 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
Republic Services (RSG) and Waste Management (WM) are both classified in the Environmental & Facilities Services sub-industry within the broader Commercial Services & Supplies industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | RSG | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Republic Services, Inc. | 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 | Environmental & Facilities Services | Environmental & Facilities Services |
| Market Capitalization | 65.56 billion USD | 89.50 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 1, 1998 | June 22, 1988 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | RSG | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -12.65% | -1.03% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | RSG | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.79% | 19.23% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.40 | 0.44 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.78M | 2.20M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Waste Management (WM) at 29.94% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Republic Services (RSG) at 18.35% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WM.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
18.35%
- Max
- 53.04%
- Q3
- 25.86%
- RSG
- 18.35%
- 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)
Republic Services (RSG) at 12.99% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Waste Management (WM) at 10.99%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
12.99%
- Max
- 26.63%
- RSG
- 12.99%
- 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)
Republic Services (RSG) at 20.20% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Waste Management (WM) at 17.52%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
20.20%
- Max
- 38.33%
- RSG
- 20.20%
- 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 | RSG | WM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 18.35% | 29.94% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.18% | 6.60% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 12.99% | 10.99% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 20.20% | 17.52% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 43.05% | 40.61% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | RSG | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 3.49% | 14.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.08% | 8.56% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | RSG | WM |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 5.55% | -1.62% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.46% | 7.52% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Republic Services (RSG) at 0.67 and Waste Management (WM) at 0.93 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.67
- Max
- 3.17
- Q3
- 2.04
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.13
- RSG
- 0.67
- 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)
Republic Services (RSG) at 1.18 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Waste Management (WM) at 2.28 uses more debt funding than most peers.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.18
- Max
- 2.61
- Q3
- 1.38
- RSG
- 1.18
- Median
- 0.93
- 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 | RSG | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.67 | 0.93 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.18 | 2.28 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.69 | 2.97 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Republic Services (RSG) at 1.14% and Waste Management (WM) at 1.53% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.14%
- Max
- 4.01%
- Q3
- 1.68%
- RSG
- 1.14%
- 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)
Republic Services (RSG) at 35.22% 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.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
35.22%
- Max
- 90.59%
- Q3
- 36.71%
- RSG
- 35.22%
- 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 | RSG | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.14% | 1.53% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 35.22% | 49.49% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Republic Services (RSG) at 30.53 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.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
30.53
- Max
- 67.48
- Q3
- 35.82
- RSG
- 30.53
- 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 Republic Services (RSG) at 3.93 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.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
3.93
- Max
- 6.61
- RSG
- 3.93
- 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)
Republic Services (RSG) at 5.48 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Waste Management (WM) at 8.95 carries an above-peer premium to book — WM is pricier on assets.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
5.48
- Max
- 12.70
- Q3
- 6.61
- RSG
- 5.48
- 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 | RSG | WM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.53 | 32.30 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.93 | 3.52 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.48 | 8.95 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.76% | 2.39% |