RSG vs. WM: Republic Services vs. Waste Management Stock Comparison

September 14, 2026

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 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	68.21 billion USD	85.32 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

RSG

GSPC

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)
Metric	RSG	WM
Total Return (1Y)	-2.97%	-1.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	16.10%	12.37%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	13.81%	8.38%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RSG

GSPC

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)
Metric	RSG	WM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	19.15%	20.12%
Beta (5Y)	0.39	0.42
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-22.54%	-18.14%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.49M	2.12M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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)
Metric	RSG	WM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.37	-0.27
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.55	-0.38

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: 24.59%
RSG: 18.15%
Median: 14.07%
Q1: 1.35%
Min: -31.64%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

29.84%

Max: 46.24%
WM: 29.84%
Q3: 24.59%
Median: 14.07%
Q1: 1.35%
Min: -31.64%

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: 26.63%
RSG: 12.94%
Q3: 11.10%
Median: 5.53%
Q1: 0.74%
Min: -13.84%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

11.12%

Max: 26.63%
WM: 11.12%
Q3: 11.10%
Median: 5.53%
Q1: 0.74%
Min: -13.84%

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: 38.33%
RSG: 20.43%
Q3: 18.61%
Median: 10.05%
Q1: 4.72%
Min: -12.00%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

18.99%

Max: 38.33%
WM: 18.99%
Q3: 18.61%
Median: 10.05%
Q1: 4.72%
Min: -12.00%

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)
Metric	RSG	WM
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.

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.

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)
Metric	RSG	WM
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: 3.11
Q3: 1.98
Median: 1.49
Q1: 1.15
RSG: 0.64
Min: 0.45

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.91

Max: 3.11
Q3: 1.98
Median: 1.49
Q1: 1.15
WM: 0.91
Min: 0.45

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: 0.93
Q1: 0.30
Min: 0.00

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.35

WM: 2.35
Max: 2.35
Q3: 1.26
Median: 0.93
Q1: 0.30
Min: 0.00

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)
Metric	RSG	WM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.64	0.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.19	2.35
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.70	2.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Republic Services (RSG) at 1.13% and Waste Management (WM) at 1.66% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

RSG

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.13%

Max: 4.22%
Q3: 1.88%
RSG: 1.13%
Median: 0.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.66%

Max: 4.22%
Q3: 1.88%
WM: 1.66%
Median: 0.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Waste Management (WM) at 50.07% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

RSG

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

35.41%

Max: 90.59%
Q3: 37.26%
RSG: 35.41%
Median: 15.78%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

50.07%

Max: 90.59%
WM: 50.07%
Q3: 37.26%
Median: 15.78%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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)
Metric	RSG	WM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.13%	1.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	35.41%	50.07%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Republic Services (RSG) at 31.55 and Waste Management (WM) at 30.19 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.

RSG

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

31.55

Max: 48.00
RSG: 31.55
Q3: 30.15
Median: 23.05
Q1: 15.26
Min: 6.84

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

30.19

Max: 48.00
WM: 30.19
Q3: 30.15
Median: 23.05
Q1: 15.26
Min: 6.84

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 4.04 and Waste Management (WM) at 3.32 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

4.04

Max: 6.97
RSG: 4.04
Q3: 3.29
Median: 1.39
Q1: 0.72
Min: 0.14

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.32

Max: 6.97
WM: 3.32
Q3: 3.29
Median: 1.39
Q1: 0.72
Min: 0.14

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 5.66 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Waste Management (WM) at 8.60 carries an above-peer premium to book — WM is pricier on assets.

RSG

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

5.66

Max: 11.69
RSG: 5.66
Q3: 5.66
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.62
Min: -4.18

WM

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

8.60

Max: 11.69
WM: 8.60
Q3: 5.66
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.62
Min: -4.18

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)
Metric	RSG	WM
P/E Ratio (TTM)	31.55	30.19
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.04	3.32
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.66	8.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.85%	2.75%