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WCN vs. WM: Waste Connections vs. Waste Management Stock Comparison

How do Waste Connections (WCN) 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

Waste Connections (WCN) 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 Waste Connections (WCN) and Waste Management (WM)
Profile ItemWCNWM
NameWaste Connections Inc.Waste Management, Inc.
Country/RegionCanadaUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryCommercial Services & SuppliesCommercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryEnvironmental & Facilities ServicesEnvironmental & Facilities Services
Market Capitalization42.35 billion USD89.50 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMay 22, 1998June 22, 1988
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

WCN
WM
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Waste Connections (WCN) vs. Waste Management (WM): 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 Waste Connections (WCN) and Waste Management (WM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Waste Connections (WCN) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricWCNWM
Total Return (1Y)-10.19%-1.03%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

WCN
WM
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Waste Connections (WCN) vs. Waste Management (WM): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Waste Connections (WCN) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricWCNWM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.51%19.23%
Beta (5Y)0.490.44
Avg. Volume (3M)1.73M2.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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WCN 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.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) at 29.94% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Waste Connections (WCN) at 13.12% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WM.

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

13.12%

Max
53.04%
Q3
25.86%
Median
14.00%
WCN
13.12%
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%
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Waste Connections (WCN) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Waste Connections (WCN) at 10.97% and Waste Management (WM) at 10.99% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

10.97%

Max
26.63%
Q3
11.66%
WCN
10.97%
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%
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Waste Connections (WCN) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Waste Connections (WCN) at 18.75% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Waste Management (WM) at 17.52%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

18.75%

Max
38.33%
WCN
18.75%
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%
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Waste Connections (WCN) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Waste Connections (WCN) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricWCNWM
ROE (TTM)13.12%29.94%
ROA (TTM)5.47%6.60%
Net Margin (TTM)10.97%10.99%
Operating Margin (TTM)18.75%17.52%
Gross Margin (TTM)42.50%40.61%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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Waste Connections (WCN) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for Waste Connections (WCN) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricWCNWM
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.14%14.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.49%8.56%

EPS Growth

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Waste Connections (WCN) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for Waste Connections (WCN) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricWCNWM
EPS Growth (YoY)74.48%-1.62%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)8.78%7.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.69 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.

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.69

Max
3.17
Q3
2.04
Median
1.51
Q1
1.13
WCN
0.69
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
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Waste Connections (WCN) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Waste Connections (WCN) at 1.17 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Waste Management (WM) at 2.28 uses more debt funding than most peers.

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.17

Max
2.61
Q3
1.38
WCN
1.17
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
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Waste Connections (WCN) 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 Waste Connections (WCN) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricWCNWM
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.690.93
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.172.28
Net Debt / EBITDA3.042.97

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.80% and Waste Management (WM) at 1.53% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.80%

Max
4.01%
Q3
1.68%
WCN
0.80%
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%
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Waste Connections (WCN) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Waste Connections (WCN) at 32.44% 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.

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

32.44%

Max
90.59%
Q3
36.71%
WCN
32.44%
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%
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Waste Connections (WCN) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Waste Connections (WCN) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricWCNWM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.80%1.53%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)32.44%49.49%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Waste Management (WM) at 32.30 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Waste Connections (WCN) at 40.66 sits in the richer quartile — WCN needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

40.66

Max
67.48
WCN
40.66
Q3
35.82
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
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Waste Connections (WCN) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Waste Connections (WCN) at 4.41 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.

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.41

Max
6.61
WCN
4.41
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
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Waste Connections (WCN) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Waste Connections (WCN) at 5.17 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.

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

5.17

Max
12.70
Q3
6.61
WCN
5.17
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
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Waste Connections (WCN) vs. Waste Management (WM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Waste Connections (WCN) and Waste Management (WM)
MetricWCNWM
P/E Ratio (TTM)40.6632.30
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.413.52
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.178.95
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.50%2.39%