VLTO vs. WM: Veralto vs. Waste Management Stock Comparison
How do Veralto (VLTO) 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
Veralto (VLTO) 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.
Waste Management (WM) has more than two decades of public-market history since June 22, 1988, whereas Veralto (VLTO) listed on October 4, 2023 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | VLTO | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Veralto Corporation | 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 | 28.47 billion USD | 93.95 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 4, 2023 | June 22, 1988 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | VLTO | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 20.35% | 19.43% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.78% | 13.45% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -- | 9.97% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | VLTO | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.45% | 21.31% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.45 | 0.37 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -27.09% | -18.14% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.77M | 2.24M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | VLTO | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.66 | 0.71 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.04 | 1.07 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Veralto (VLTO) at 32.96% and Waste Management (WM) at 31.68% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
VLTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
32.96%
- Max
- 47.06%
- VLTO
- 32.96%
- Q3
- 25.43%
- Median
- 14.11%
- Q1
- 3.92%
- Min
- -20.15%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
31.68%
- Max
- 47.06%
- WM
- 31.68%
- Q3
- 25.43%
- Median
- 14.11%
- Q1
- 3.92%
- Min
- -20.15%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Veralto (VLTO) at 17.27% and Waste Management (WM) at 11.78% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
VLTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
17.27%
- Max
- 23.28%
- VLTO
- 17.27%
- Q3
- 11.35%
- Median
- 5.65%
- Q1
- 0.87%
- Min
- -8.60%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
11.78%
- Max
- 23.28%
- WM
- 11.78%
- Q3
- 11.35%
- Median
- 5.65%
- Q1
- 0.87%
- Min
- -8.60%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Veralto (VLTO) at 19.42% and Waste Management (WM) at 19.08% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
VLTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
19.42%
- Max
- 38.50%
- VLTO
- 19.42%
- Q3
- 18.84%
- Median
- 10.40%
- Q1
- 5.59%
- Min
- -12.00%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
19.08%
- Max
- 38.50%
- WM
- 19.08%
- Q3
- 18.84%
- Median
- 10.40%
- Q1
- 5.59%
- Min
- -12.00%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | VLTO | WM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 32.96% | 31.68% |
| ROA (TTM) | 9.96% | 6.69% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 17.27% | 11.78% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 19.42% | 19.08% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 59.84% | 40.39% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Waste Management (WM) at 14.24% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Veralto (VLTO) at 5.97% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WM.
EPS Growth
Both Veralto (VLTO) at 12.57% 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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | VLTO | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.97% | 14.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.16% | 8.56% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 12.57% | -1.62% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.16% | 7.52% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Veralto (VLTO) at 2.03 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Waste Management (WM) at 0.82 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WM.
VLTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.03
- Max
- 3.63
- Q3
- 2.14
- VLTO
- 2.03
- Median
- 1.55
- Q1
- 1.09
- Min
- 0.45
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.82
- Max
- 3.63
- Q3
- 2.14
- Median
- 1.55
- Q1
- 1.09
- WM
- 0.82
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Veralto (VLTO) at 0.97 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Waste Management (WM) at 2.37 uses more debt funding than most peers.
VLTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.97
- Max
- 2.37
- Q3
- 1.25
- VLTO
- 0.97
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
2.37
- WM
- 2.37
- Max
- 2.37
- Q3
- 1.25
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | VLTO | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.03 | 0.82 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.97 | 2.37 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.99 | 2.94 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Veralto (VLTO) at 0.45% and Waste Management (WM) at 1.52% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
VLTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.45%
- Max
- 4.33%
- Q3
- 1.80%
- Median
- 0.60%
- VLTO
- 0.45%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.52%
- Max
- 4.33%
- Q3
- 1.80%
- WM
- 1.52%
- Median
- 0.60%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Veralto (VLTO) at 12.84% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Waste Management (WM) at 48.03% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
VLTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
12.84%
- Max
- 99.58%
- Q3
- 41.99%
- Median
- 17.27%
- VLTO
- 12.84%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -17.94%
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
48.03%
- Max
- 99.58%
- WM
- 48.03%
- Q3
- 41.99%
- Median
- 17.27%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -17.94%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | VLTO | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.45% | 1.52% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 12.84% | 48.03% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Veralto (VLTO) at 28.91 and Waste Management (WM) at 31.01 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
VLTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
28.91
- Max
- 49.47
- Q3
- 33.76
- VLTO
- 28.91
- Median
- 24.16
- Q1
- 16.01
- Min
- 1.89
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
31.01
- Max
- 49.47
- Q3
- 33.76
- WM
- 31.01
- Median
- 24.16
- Q1
- 16.01
- Min
- 1.89
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Veralto (VLTO) at 4.91 and Waste Management (WM) at 3.60 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
VLTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
4.91
- Max
- 7.17
- VLTO
- 4.91
- Q3
- 3.35
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.11
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
3.60
- Max
- 7.17
- WM
- 3.60
- Q3
- 3.35
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Veralto (VLTO) at 8.82 and Waste Management (WM) at 9.52 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
VLTO
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
8.82
- Max
- 11.25
- VLTO
- 8.82
- Q3
- 6.08
- Median
- 2.92
- Q1
- 1.55
- Min
- -2.78
WM
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
9.52
- Max
- 11.25
- WM
- 9.52
- Q3
- 6.08
- Median
- 2.92
- Q1
- 1.55
- Min
- -2.78
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | VLTO | WM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 28.91 | 31.01 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.91 | 3.60 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 8.82 | 9.52 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.68% | 2.64% |