UAL vs. WM: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at UAL and WM, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | UAL | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | United Airlines Holdings, Inc. | Waste Management, Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Passenger Airlines | Commercial Services & Supplies |
| Market Capitalization | 32.32 billion USD | 91.45 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 6, 2006 | June 22, 1988 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of UAL and WM by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | UAL | WM |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 0.71% | 1.26% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 26.99% | -3.03% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -1.04% | -0.58% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 135.75% | 8.42% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 13.06% | -0.93% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 2.82% | 12.50% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 5.22M | 2.07M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 7.44M | 1.71M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 51.60% | 16.48% |
| Beta | 1.51 | 0.66 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
UAL
26.43%
Passenger Airlines Industry
- Max
- 49.96%
- Q3
- 28.15%
- Median
- 15.41%
- Q1
- 8.29%
- Min
- -11.01%
UAL’s Return on Equity of 26.43% is on par with the norm for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
WM
31.93%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 31.93%
- Q3
- 18.03%
- Median
- 9.43%
- Q1
- 6.44%
- Min
- -9.69%
In the upper quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, WM’s Return on Equity of 31.93% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
UAL
5.71%
Passenger Airlines Industry
- Max
- 17.65%
- Q3
- 8.90%
- Median
- 5.80%
- Q1
- 2.02%
- Min
- -3.12%
UAL’s Net Profit Margin of 5.71% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Passenger Airlines industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
WM
11.36%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 17.53%
- Q3
- 9.01%
- Median
- 5.20%
- Q1
- 2.75%
- Min
- -2.31%
A Net Profit Margin of 11.36% places WM in the upper quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
UAL
8.62%
Passenger Airlines Industry
- Max
- 22.47%
- Q3
- 12.33%
- Median
- 8.62%
- Q1
- 4.43%
- Min
- -2.88%
UAL’s Operating Profit Margin of 8.62% is around the midpoint for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
WM
17.52%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 23.43%
- Q3
- 12.19%
- Median
- 8.10%
- Q1
- 3.18%
- Min
- -6.03%
An Operating Profit Margin of 17.52% places WM in the upper quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | UAL | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 26.43% | 31.93% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 4.41% | 6.42% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 5.71% | 11.36% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 8.62% | 17.52% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 64.15% | 39.72% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
UAL
0.70
Passenger Airlines Industry
- Max
- 1.46
- Q3
- 0.94
- Median
- 0.76
- Q1
- 0.54
- Min
- 0.17
UAL’s Current Ratio of 0.70 aligns with the median group of the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
WM
0.86
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 2.94
- Q3
- 1.89
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.53
WM’s Current Ratio of 0.86 falls into the lower quartile for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
UAL
2.02
Passenger Airlines Industry
- Max
- 9.80
- Q3
- 4.82
- Median
- 1.30
- Q1
- 0.89
- Min
- 0.00
UAL’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.02 is typical for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
WM
2.61
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 1.67
- Q3
- 1.08
- Median
- 0.73
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.00
With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.61, WM operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Commercial Services & Supplies industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
UAL
5.76
Passenger Airlines Industry
- Max
- 22.60
- Q3
- 16.29
- Median
- 6.75
- Q1
- 1.94
- Min
- -8.55
UAL’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.76 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
WM
6.82
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 24.70
- Q3
- 12.37
- Median
- 7.16
- Q1
- 2.69
- Min
- -10.97
WM’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 6.82 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | UAL | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.70 | 0.86 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.62 | 0.86 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 2.02 | 2.61 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 5.76 | 6.82 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
UAL
0.00%
Passenger Airlines Industry
- Max
- 6.71%
- Q3
- 3.95%
- Median
- 1.10%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UAL currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
WM
1.37%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 3.44%
- Q3
- 2.30%
- Median
- 1.37%
- Q1
- 0.63%
- Min
- 0.00%
WM’s Dividend Yield of 1.37% is consistent with its peers in the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
UAL
0.00%
Passenger Airlines Industry
- Max
- 71.59%
- Q3
- 38.54%
- Median
- 8.16%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UAL has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
WM
46.71%
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 137.88%
- Q3
- 72.93%
- Median
- 40.45%
- Q1
- 23.31%
- Min
- 0.00%
WM’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 46.71% is within the typical range for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | UAL | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 1.37% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 46.71% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
UAL
9.78
Passenger Airlines Industry
- Max
- 13.29
- Q3
- 11.94
- Median
- 8.78
- Q1
- 7.42
- Min
- 3.07
UAL’s P/E Ratio of 9.78 is within the middle range for the Passenger Airlines industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
WM
34.02
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 57.20
- Q3
- 37.10
- Median
- 22.38
- Q1
- 16.35
- Min
- 0.00
WM’s P/E Ratio of 34.02 is within the middle range for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
UAL
0.56
Passenger Airlines Industry
- Max
- 1.09
- Q3
- 0.74
- Median
- 0.61
- Q1
- 0.44
- Min
- 0.09
UAL’s P/S Ratio of 0.56 aligns with the market consensus for the Passenger Airlines industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
WM
3.86
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.64
- Q3
- 2.28
- Median
- 0.97
- Q1
- 0.64
- Min
- 0.00
WM’s P/S Ratio of 3.86 is in the upper echelon for the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
UAL
1.94
Passenger Airlines Industry
- Max
- 3.44
- Q3
- 2.89
- Median
- 1.84
- Q1
- 1.22
- Min
- 0.56
UAL’s P/B Ratio of 1.94 is within the conventional range for the Passenger Airlines industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
WM
10.01
Commercial Services & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 6.71
- Q3
- 4.38
- Median
- 2.39
- Q1
- 1.57
- Min
- 0.43
At 10.01, WM’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Commercial Services & Supplies industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | UAL | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 9.78 | 34.02 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 0.56 | 3.86 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 1.94 | 10.01 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 8.00 | 42.79 |