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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.

Company profile comparison for Republic Services (RSG) and Waste Management (WM)
Profile ItemRSGWM
NameRepublic Services, Inc.Waste Management, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryCommercial Services & SuppliesCommercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryEnvironmental & Facilities ServicesEnvironmental & Facilities Services
Market Capitalization65.75 billion USD89.76 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 1, 1998June 22, 1988
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RSG
WM
GSPC
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Republic Services (RSG) 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 Republic Services (RSG) and Waste Management (WM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Republic Services (RSG) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRSGWM
Total Return (1Y)-6.59%0.88%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)14.51%13.52%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)13.65%10.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Republic Services (RSG) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRSGWM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)19.01%20.21%
Beta (5Y)0.390.42
Max Drawdown (5Y)-22.54%-18.14%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.59M2.16M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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RSG 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 Republic Services (RSG) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRSGWM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.56-0.15
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.81-0.22

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) at 29.84% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Republic Services (RSG) at 18.15% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WM.

RSG

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

18.15%

Max
46.24%
Q3
24.40%
RSG
18.15%
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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Republic Services (RSG) 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 Republic Services (RSG) at 12.94% 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.

RSG

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

12.94%

Max
23.27%
RSG
12.94%
Q3
10.86%
Median
5.53%
Q1
0.56%
Min
-13.84%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

11.12%

Max
23.27%
WM
11.12%
Q3
10.86%
Median
5.53%
Q1
0.56%
Min
-13.84%
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Republic Services (RSG) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Republic Services (RSG) at 20.43% 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.

RSG

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.43%

Max
37.53%
RSG
20.43%
Q3
17.72%
Median
9.96%
Q1
4.50%
Min
-4.70%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

18.99%

Max
37.53%
WM
18.99%
Q3
17.72%
Median
9.96%
Q1
4.50%
Min
-4.70%
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Republic Services (RSG) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Republic Services (RSG) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRSGWM
ROE (TTM)18.15%29.84%
ROA (TTM)6.17%6.57%
Net Margin (TTM)12.94%11.12%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.43%18.99%
Gross Margin (TTM)43.04%40.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Waste Management (WM) at 14.24% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Republic Services (RSG) at 3.49% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WM.

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Republic Services (RSG) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Republic Services (RSG) at 5.55% 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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Republic Services (RSG) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Republic Services (RSG) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRSGWM
Revenue Growth (YoY)3.49%14.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.08%8.56%
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 0.64 and Waste Management (WM) at 0.91 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

0.64

Max
3.24
Q3
1.98
Median
1.48
Q1
1.14
RSG
0.64
Min
0.45

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.91

Max
3.24
Q3
1.98
Median
1.48
Q1
1.14
WM
0.91
Min
0.45
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Republic Services (RSG) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Republic Services (RSG) at 1.19 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Waste Management (WM) at 2.35 uses more debt funding than most peers.

RSG

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.19

Max
2.35
Q3
1.26
RSG
1.19
Median
0.94
Q1
0.37
Min
0.00

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.35

WM
2.35
Max
2.35
Q3
1.26
Median
0.94
Q1
0.37
Min
0.00
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Republic Services (RSG) 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 Republic Services (RSG) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRSGWM
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.640.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.192.35
Net Debt / EBITDA2.702.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Republic Services (RSG) at 1.16% and Waste Management (WM) at 1.58% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

RSG

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.16%

Max
4.53%
Q3
1.84%
RSG
1.16%
Median
0.51%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.58%

Max
4.53%
Q3
1.84%
WM
1.58%
Median
0.51%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Republic Services (RSG) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Republic Services (RSG) at 35.41% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while Waste Management (WM) at 93.22% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover in its group.

RSG

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

35.41%

Max
90.59%
Q3
37.26%
RSG
35.41%
Median
15.87%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

93.22%

WM
93.22%
Max
90.59%
Q3
37.26%
Median
15.87%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Republic Services (RSG) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Republic Services (RSG) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRSGWM
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.16%1.58%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)35.41%93.22%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Republic Services (RSG) at 30.41 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Waste Management (WM) at 59.25 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for WM’s trailing earnings.

RSG

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

30.41

Max
49.50
Q3
31.36
RSG
30.41
Median
23.50
Q1
17.33
Min
6.47

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

59.25

WM
59.25
Max
49.50
Q3
31.36
Median
23.50
Q1
17.33
Min
6.47
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Republic Services (RSG) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Republic Services (RSG) at 3.89 and Waste Management (WM) at 3.50 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

3.89

Max
7.09
RSG
3.89
Q3
3.35
Median
1.39
Q1
0.74
Min
0.14

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.50

Max
7.09
WM
3.50
Q3
3.35
Median
1.39
Q1
0.74
Min
0.14
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Republic Services (RSG) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Republic Services (RSG) at 5.52 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Waste Management (WM) at 9.05 carries an above-peer premium to book — WM is pricier on assets.

RSG

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

5.52

Max
12.24
Q3
5.90
RSG
5.52
Median
2.99
Q1
1.66
Min
-4.66

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

9.05

Max
12.24
WM
9.05
Q3
5.90
Median
2.99
Q1
1.66
Min
-4.66
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Republic Services (RSG) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Republic Services (RSG) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricRSGWM
P/E Ratio (TTM)30.4159.25
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.893.50
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.529.05
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.95%2.62%