WM Waste Management

XNYS Sideways Alert

Industrials

· How we analyze

About the company

Waste Management is a waste disposal company from Houston. The company collects waste from households and businesses and operates landfills, recycling facilities and plants that recover gas from landfills. Medical waste was added recently through Stericycle. As of Oct 13, 2026

Fact sheet (from the annual report) Waste management · Houston, USA

Waste Management is a holding company whose subsidiaries collect, transfer, landfill and process waste and recover resources. Besides the regional segments East Tier and West Tier for collection and disposal, there are segments for recycling processing, Renewable Energy and Healthcare Solutions. Commercial customers typically have fixed-term service agreements with fees based, for example, on collection frequency, container type and the type, volume or weight of the waste. From landfill gas, the Renewable Energy segment generates electricity for utilities, among other things, or upgrades it to pipeline-quality natural gas for gas suppliers. Since the acquisition of Stericycle in November 2024, the Healthcare Solutions segment has offered services for regulated medical waste and secure document destruction.

Automatically summarized from SEC annual report (10-K, filed Feb 9, 2026) (website of the US Securities and Exchange Commission) · reviewed Oct 15, 2026

Price performance at a glance

Last 30 trading days
  • Today −2.2%
  • 7 days +1.8%
  • 30 days +14.0%
  • 1 year +10.3%
Day range (last trading day)
−0.8%Price at 31% of the range+1.7%
52-week range
−17.7%Price at 77% of the range+5.2%
Distance from the all-time high
−5.0%

Our own calculation from the exchange’s daily candles, as of Oct 27, 2026. “All-time” applies since the start of this series, not to the whole market. Changes in percent; the TradingView chart shows prices. “Today” = change of the last trading day versus the previous day. Not investment advice.

Where is the price relative to the buy zone?

No buy zone

There is currently no buy zone for this symbol under our Elliott rule. One only forms when the price pulls back after a strong rise.

An observation, not investment advice

Automated analysis (rule-based)

How we analyze

Timeframe 4 hours · As of Oct 27, 2026

Elliott wave analysis Waste Management (4-hour candles): Flat (type known only after C), Corrective pattern (upward), C in progress (3 of 3 guidelines); no buy zone of the rule on this timeframe. Candlestick chart WM with 203 4-hour candles from Jun 3, 2026, 19:30 to Oct 27, 2026, 18:30. No buy zone of the rule on this timeframe – only the Elliott count: Flat (type known only after C), Corrective pattern (upward), C in progress (3 of 3 guidelines) (B = 133% of A; C = 117% of A), invalid on a close below the end of B. Alternative: Impulse, Impulse pattern (downward), Wave 2 in progress (1 of 3 guidelines). Fibonacci target zones for this count from Watcher. No value axis. Automated analysis (rule-based), not investment advice. WM · 4-hour candles · Automated analysis (rule-based) No buy zone of the rule – Elliott count only Fibonacci target zones for this count from Watcher invalid on a close below the end of B 0 A B C in progress (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) Jul Aug Sep Oct last candle Oct 27, 2026, 18:30 · not investment advice Without a buy zone of the rule: no value axis
  • 4-hour candles (green = close above open, red = below)
  • Elliott count (thin gold line, waves in circles; dashed circle = still in progress; small = subwaves; red dashed = invalidation level)
  • Watcher Fibonacci target zones for this count from Watcher

Elliott count: Flat (type known only after C), Corrective pattern (upward), C in progress (3 of 3 guidelines) · B = 133% of A; C = 117% of A

Alternative (not drawn): Impulse, Impulse pattern (downward), Wave 2 in progress (1 of 3 guidelines)

Note: Flat type (regular, expanded, running) can only be decided once C is complete.

Note: Structure ambiguous: leg A, B can also be read as three- or five-part.

Elliott count calculated automatically by fixed Elliott rules, not investment advice – display only, our buy zones do not use it. Provisional: The count can change with new candles.

Scenarios

Timeframe 4 hours · As of Oct 27, 2026 · from the Elliott count in the analysis chart

Weighting Main scenario: ahead (3 of 3 guidelines, strong) · Alternative: behind (1 of 3, weak)

Weighting by guidelines met – not a probability.

Main scenario

ahead strong · 3 of 3 guidelines

As long as the 4-hour close stays above the end of B, this applies: flat countermove upward in three waves (Flat, type known only after C), C in progress – count points to rising prices.

Invalid if the 4-hour close is below the end of B

Alternative

behind weak · 1 of 3 guidelines

If that breaks, the alternative moves to the front: Downward move in five waves (Impulse) – count points to falling prices, as long as the 4-hour close stays below the start of wave 1.

Invalid if the 4-hour close is above the start of wave 1

Watcher Fibonacci target zones and levels for this count – as a help for your own review – from Watcher.

Fundamental analysis

Waste Management · Sector Industrials · amounts in USD

Information only – does not affect the other analysis methods, not investment advice. Source: SEC filings, As of Feb 9, 2026.

Quality checks

Four angles on the annual figures. Each check counts how many disclosed criteria are met – criteria without data do not count. The bars show where the company ranks on each figure among the stocks we cover and within its sector.

Fiscal year to Dec 31, 2025

Quality 7 of 8 met

  • met: Gross margin above 40% 40.4%
  • met: Operating margin above 15% 17.1%
  • met: Net margin above 10% 10.7%
  • met: Return on equity above 15% 27.1%
  • met: Free cash flow margin above 10% 11.2%
  • met: Profit in each of the last 5 fiscal years 5 of 5
  • met: Free cash flow positive in each of the last 3 fiscal years 3 of 3
  • not met: Equity ratio above 30% 21.8%
Gross margin

40.4% Fiscal year 2025

Rank 36 of 100: higher than 36% of 153 peers (All). medium.

Rank 80 of 100: higher than 80% of 22 peers (Sector). strong.

Median Industrials: 35.4%

Share of revenue left after the direct cost of the products sold.

Operating margin

17.1% Fiscal year 2025

Rank 51 of 100: higher than 51% of 192 peers (All). medium.

Rank 66 of 100: higher than 66% of 28 peers (Sector). medium.

Median Industrials: 10.4%

Operating income divided by revenue: what the core business earns before interest and taxes.

Net margin

10.7% Fiscal year 2025

Rank 40 of 100: higher than 40% of 237 peers (All). medium.

Rank 40 of 100: higher than 40% of 34 peers (Sector). medium.

Median Industrials: 12.9%

Profit after all costs, interest and taxes divided by revenue.

Return on equity

27.1% Fiscal year 2025

Rank 69 of 100: higher than 69% of 218 peers (All). strong.

Rank 52 of 100: higher than 52% of 32 peers (Sector). medium.

Median Industrials: 26.3%

Net income divided by equity at fiscal year end.

Return on assets

5.9% Fiscal year 2025 (total assets at year end)

Rank 50 of 100: higher than 50% of 238 peers (All). medium.

Rank 37 of 100: higher than 37% of 34 peers (Sector). medium.

Median Industrials: 7.5%

Net income divided by total assets at fiscal year end.

Equity ratio

21.8% Fiscal year 2025

Rank 29 of 100: higher than 29% of 239 peers (All). weak.

Rank 34 of 100: higher than 34% of 34 peers (Sector). medium.

Median Industrials: 33.2%

Equity as a share of total assets. Usually low for banks.

Free cash flow margin

11.2% Fiscal year 2025

Rank 44 of 100: higher than 44% of 213 peers (All). medium.

Rank 52 of 100: higher than 52% of 32 peers (Sector). medium.

Median Industrials: 10.5%

Free cash flow divided by revenue.

Free cash flow

2.8B USD Fiscal year 2025

Operating cash flow minus capital expenditure on property and equipment.

Growth 7 of 7 met

  • met: Over 3 years, revenue grew by more than 5% per year +8.6%
  • met: Over 5 years, revenue grew by more than 5% per year +10.6%
  • met: Over 10 years, revenue grew by more than 5% per year +6.9%
  • met: Over 3 years, EPS grew by more than 5% per year +7.5%
  • met: Over 5 years, EPS grew by more than 5% per year +13.7%
  • met: Revenue rose in at least 4 of the last 5 fiscal years 5 of 5
  • met: Revenue rose in the last fiscal year +14.2%
Revenue growth 3 years

+8.6% per year

Rank 49 of 100: higher than 49% of 230 peers (All). medium.

Rank 52 of 100: higher than 52% of 32 peers (Sector). medium.

Median Industrials: +8.5%

Average growth per year over 3 fiscal years.

Revenue growth 5 years

+10.6% per year

Rank 49 of 100: higher than 49% of 217 peers (All). medium.

Rank 65 of 100: higher than 65% of 30 peers (Sector). medium.

Median Industrials: +9.2%

Average growth per year over 5 fiscal years.

Revenue growth 10 years

+6.9% per year

Rank 50 of 100: higher than 50% of 157 peers (All). medium.

Rank 88 of 100: higher than 88% of 21 peers (Sector). strong.

Median Industrials: +4.5%

Average growth per year over 10 fiscal years.

EPS growth 3 years

+7.5% per year

Rank 38 of 100: higher than 38% of 157 peers (All). medium.

Rank 37 of 100: higher than 37% of 23 peers (Sector). medium.

Median Industrials: +10.7%

Growth of earnings per share per year, adjusted for stock splits.

EPS growth 5 years

+13.7% per year

Rank 50 of 100: higher than 50% of 146 peers (All). medium.

Rank 50 of 100: higher than 50% of 21 peers (Sector). medium.

Median Industrials: +13.7%

Growth of earnings per share per year, adjusted for stock splits.

EPS growth 10 years

+15.0% per year

Rank 71 of 100: higher than 71% of 140 peers (All). strong.

Rank 79 of 100: higher than 79% of 21 peers (Sector). strong.

Median Industrials: +8.1%

Growth of earnings per share per year, adjusted for stock splits.

Dividend 7 of 7 met

  • met: Pays a dividend 3.30 USD
  • met: Payout ratio at most 60% of earnings 49%
  • met: Dividend paid in each of the last 5 fiscal years 5 of 5
  • met: Dividend per share never lowered in the last 5 fiscal years Dividend per share as filed with the SEC, including special dividends; a one-off higher prior year does not count as a cut. never
  • met: Dividend per share higher than 5 years ago +8.6%
  • met: Free cash flow per share covers the dividend 2.1x
  • met: Dividends paid over the last 5 years covered by free cash flow 53% of free cash flow
Payout ratio

49% Fiscal year 2025

Dividend per share divided by earnings per share.

Dividend growth 5 years

+8.6% per year

Rank 50 of 100: higher than 50% of 118 peers (All). medium.

Rank 63 of 100: higher than 63% of 20 peers (Sector). medium.

Median Industrials: +7.7%

Growth of the dividend per share per year.

Free cash flow coverage

2.1x Fiscal year 2025

Free cash flow per share divided by dividend per share. From 1x the dividend is covered.

Financial strength 3 of 6 met

  • not met: Piotroski F-Score at least 7 of 9 6 of 9
  • not met: Long-term debt no higher than equity 2.22
  • not met: Current assets cover current liabilities 0.89
  • met: Positive equity 10.0B USD
  • met: In 5 years, share count up by at most 5% −4.9%
  • met: Free cash flow positive in the last fiscal year 2.8B USD
Piotroski F-Score

6 of 9 Fiscal year 2025

Rank 45 of 100: higher than 45% of 134 peers (All). medium.

Rank 45 of 100: higher than 45% of 20 peers (Sector). medium.

Median Industrials: 6.0 of 9

Nine yes/no tests on profit, cash flow, debt, liquidity and efficiency compared with the prior year.

Debt / equity

2.22 at fiscal year end

Rank 10 of 100: lower than 10% of 199 peers (All). weak.

Rank 17 of 100: lower than 17% of 32 peers (Sector). weak.

Median Industrials: 0.62

Long-term financial debt divided by equity.

Liquidity (current ratio)

0.89 at fiscal year end

Rank 16 of 100: higher than 16% of 215 peers (All). weak.

Rank 14 of 100: higher than 14% of 33 peers (Sector). weak.

Median Industrials: 1.22

Current assets divided by current liabilities.

Change in share count

−4.9% in 5 years

Rank 62 of 100: lower than 62% of 199 peers (All). medium.

Rank 47 of 100: lower than 47% of 29 peers (Sector). medium.

Median Industrials: −5.4%

Change in diluted share count. Negative = share buybacks, positive = new shares.

The 9 criteria of the Piotroski F-Score
  • met: Profit in the last fiscal year (positive return on assets)
  • met: Positive operating cash flow
  • not met: Return on assets higher than the prior year
  • met: Operating cash flow higher than net income
  • met: Long-term debt relative to total assets fell
  • met: Liquidity (current assets / current liabilities) rose
  • not met: No additional shares (diluted share count did not rise)
  • met: Gross margin higher than the prior year
  • not met: Revenue relative to total assets higher than the prior year

Last fiscal year compared with the one before. Returns and revenue per total assets use total assets at the start of the year; leverage = long-term financial debt divided by total assets at year end; new shares via the average diluted share count.

Price-based criteria (P/E, dividend yield) are shown to signed-in users.

Computed automatically from SEC annual reports – not investment advice. Describes the reported figures; points are not a rating of the stock. Rank 0–100 against the 239 stocks we cover and against the sector (from 5 peers); the stronger side is always on the right.

In short

  • Light green: Revenue grew over 5 years (+10.6% per year), at least as fast as the sector median.
  • Light green: Net income (total) grew over 5 years (+12.6% per year), at least as fast as the sector median; per share +13.7% per year.
  • Light yellow: Net margin 10.7%, below the sector median (11.1%).
  • Light red: Debt much higher than usual in the sector.
  • Light green: Profit in each of the last 10 fiscal years.

Summarized from the lights below. Describes the reported figures – not a recommendation to buy or sell.

RevenueNet income Net margin (below) in USD
  1. Fiscal year 2016 (Jan 1, 2016 – Dec 31, 2016): Revenue 13.6B USD · Net income 1.2B USD · Net margin 8.7%
  2. Fiscal year 2017 (Jan 1, 2017 – Dec 31, 2017): Revenue 14.5B USD · Net income 1.9B USD · Net margin 13.5%
  3. Fiscal year 2018 (Jan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2018): Revenue 14.9B USD · Net income 1.9B USD · Net margin 12.9%
  4. Fiscal year 2019 (Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2019): Revenue 15.5B USD · Net income 1.7B USD · Net margin 10.8%
  5. Fiscal year 2020 (Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020): Revenue 15.2B USD · Net income 1.5B USD · Net margin 9.8%
  6. Fiscal year 2021 (Jan 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2021): Revenue 17.9B USD · Net income 1.8B USD · Net margin 10.1%
  7. Fiscal year 2022 (Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022): Revenue 19.7B USD · Net income 2.2B USD · Net margin 11.4%
  8. Fiscal year 2023 (Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023): Revenue 20.4B USD · Net income 2.3B USD · Net margin 11.3%
  9. Fiscal year 2024 (Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024): Revenue 22.1B USD · Net income 2.7B USD · Net margin 12.4%
  10. Fiscal year 2025 (Jan 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025): Revenue 25.2B USD · Net income 2.7B USD · Net margin 10.7%

Fiscal year 2025 (Jan 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025): Revenue 25.2B USD · Net income 2.7B USD · Net margin 10.7%

Figures over time

Where the money of a fiscal year goes and how margins, returns, balance sheet, cash flow and share count developed over up to 10 years. Each chart has one sentence saying what the trend shows.

Money flow in fiscal year 2025

Of 100 USD of revenue, 40.4 USD gross profit, 17.1 USD operating income and 10.7 USD net income remained.

Money flow as a table
Fiscal year 2025, amounts in USD, share of revenue
ItemAmountof revenue
Revenue25.2B USD100.0%
Gross profit10.2B USD40.4%
Cost of revenue15.0B USD59.6%
Operating income4.3B USD17.1%
Operating expenses5.9B USD23.3%
Net income2.7B USD10.7%
Taxes717.0M USD2.8%
Interest & other883.0M USD3.5%

Taxes, interest and other items are not available separately in the SEC data; they are combined as the difference.

Margins

The operating margin rose in 5 years from 16.0% to 17.1%.

Gross marginOperating marginNet margin
  1. Fiscal year 2016: Gross margin 37.6% · Operating margin 16.9% · Net margin 8.7%
  2. Fiscal year 2017: Gross margin 37.7% · Operating margin 18.2% · Net margin 13.5%
  3. Fiscal year 2018: Gross margin 38.0% · Operating margin 18.7% · Net margin 12.9%
  4. Fiscal year 2019: Gross margin 38.6% · Operating margin 17.5% · Net margin 10.8%
  5. Fiscal year 2020: Gross margin 38.6% · Operating margin 16.0% · Net margin 9.8%
  6. Fiscal year 2021: Gross margin 38.0% · Operating margin 16.5% · Net margin 10.1%
  7. Fiscal year 2022: Gross margin 37.6% · Operating margin 17.1% · Net margin 11.4%
  8. Fiscal year 2023: Gross margin 38.3% · Operating margin 17.5% · Net margin 11.3%
  9. Fiscal year 2024: Gross margin 39.3% · Operating margin 18.4% · Net margin 12.4%
  10. Fiscal year 2025: Gross margin 40.4% · Operating margin 17.1% · Net margin 10.7%

Returns

Return on equity rose in 5 years from 20.1% to 27.1%.

Return on equityReturn on assets
  1. Fiscal year 2016: Return on equity 22.3% · Return on assets 5.7%
  2. Fiscal year 2017: Return on equity 32.4% · Return on assets 8.9%
  3. Fiscal year 2018: Return on equity 30.7% · Return on assets 8.5%
  4. Fiscal year 2019: Return on equity 23.6% · Return on assets 6.0%
  5. Fiscal year 2020: Return on equity 20.1% · Return on assets 5.1%
  6. Fiscal year 2021: Return on equity 25.5% · Return on assets 6.2%
  7. Fiscal year 2022: Return on equity 32.7% · Return on assets 7.1%
  8. Fiscal year 2023: Return on equity 33.4% · Return on assets 7.0%
  9. Fiscal year 2024: Return on equity 33.3% · Return on assets 6.2%
  10. Fiscal year 2025: Return on equity 27.1% · Return on assets 5.9%

Equity and long-term debt

The equity ratio fell in 5 years from 25.4% to 21.8%.

EquityLong-term debt in USD Long-term debt, depending on the filing, includes the current portion or leases.
  1. Fiscal year 2016: Equity 5.3B USD · Long-term debt 8.9B USD
  2. Fiscal year 2017: Equity 6.0B USD · Long-term debt 8.8B USD
  3. Fiscal year 2018: Equity 6.3B USD · Long-term debt 9.6B USD
  4. Fiscal year 2019: Equity 7.1B USD · Long-term debt 13.3B USD
  5. Fiscal year 2020: Equity 7.5B USD · Long-term debt 13.3B USD
  6. Fiscal year 2021: Equity 7.1B USD · Long-term debt 12.7B USD
  7. Fiscal year 2022: Equity 6.8B USD · Long-term debt 14.6B USD
  8. Fiscal year 2023: Equity 6.9B USD · Long-term debt 15.9B USD
  9. Fiscal year 2024: Equity 8.3B USD · Long-term debt 22.5B USD
  10. Fiscal year 2025: Equity 10.0B USD · Long-term debt 22.2B USD

Liquidity (current ratio)

The current ratio fell in 5 years from 1.00 to 0.89.

Current ratio
  1. Fiscal year 2016: Current ratio 0.85
  2. Fiscal year 2017: Current ratio 0.80
  3. Fiscal year 2018: Current ratio 0.85
  4. Fiscal year 2019: Current ratio 1.97
  5. Fiscal year 2020: Current ratio 1.00
  6. Fiscal year 2021: Current ratio 0.75
  7. Fiscal year 2022: Current ratio 0.81
  8. Fiscal year 2023: Current ratio 0.90
  9. Fiscal year 2024: Current ratio 0.76
  10. Fiscal year 2025: Current ratio 0.89

Cash flow

Free cash flow rose in 5 years from 1.8B USD to 2.8B USD.

Operating cash flowCapital expenditureFree cash flow in USD
  1. Fiscal year 2016: Operating cash flow 3.0B USD · Capital expenditure 1.3B USD · Free cash flow 1.7B USD
  2. Fiscal year 2017: Operating cash flow 3.2B USD · Capital expenditure 1.6B USD · Free cash flow 1.6B USD
  3. Fiscal year 2018: Operating cash flow 3.6B USD · Capital expenditure 1.7B USD · Free cash flow 1.9B USD
  4. Fiscal year 2019: Operating cash flow 3.9B USD · Capital expenditure 1.8B USD · Free cash flow 2.1B USD
  5. Fiscal year 2020: Operating cash flow 3.4B USD · Capital expenditure 1.6B USD · Free cash flow 1.8B USD
  6. Fiscal year 2021: Operating cash flow 4.3B USD · Capital expenditure 2.0B USD · Free cash flow 2.3B USD
  7. Fiscal year 2022: Operating cash flow 4.5B USD · Capital expenditure 2.8B USD · Free cash flow 1.7B USD
  8. Fiscal year 2023: Operating cash flow 4.7B USD · Capital expenditure 2.9B USD · Free cash flow 1.8B USD
  9. Fiscal year 2024: Operating cash flow 5.4B USD · Capital expenditure 3.2B USD · Free cash flow 2.2B USD
  10. Fiscal year 2025: Operating cash flow 6.0B USD · Capital expenditure 3.2B USD · Free cash flow 2.8B USD

Share count

The share count fell in 5 years by 4.9% (mostly through share repurchases).

Diluted share count
  1. Fiscal year 2016: Diluted share count 446.5M
  2. Fiscal year 2017: Diluted share count 441.9M
  3. Fiscal year 2018: Diluted share count 432.2M
  4. Fiscal year 2019: Diluted share count 427.5M
  5. Fiscal year 2020: Diluted share count 425.1M
  6. Fiscal year 2021: Diluted share count 422.9M
  7. Fiscal year 2022: Diluted share count 415.0M
  8. Fiscal year 2023: Diluted share count 406.9M
  9. Fiscal year 2024: Diluted share count 403.4M
  10. Fiscal year 2025: Diluted share count 404.2M

From annual reports filed with the SEC (10-K, 20-F, 40-F) as first reported, share count adjusted for splits; obvious filing errors (e.g. wrong unit, outliers against both neighbouring years) are hidden. Describes the reported figures – not investment advice.

Dividends and share repurchases

How much the company returns to its shareholders – as dividends or by repurchasing its own shares – and whether free cash flow supports it.

Dividend per share
3.30 USD · Fiscal year 2025
Dividend growth per year
3 y +8.3%5 y +8.6%10 y +7.9%
Years without a cut
at least 10 as far as the data goes
Payout ratio
of earnings 49% of free cash flow 47%
To shareholders (5 years)
10.1B USD 44% through repurchases
Share count over 5 years
−4.9% fewer shares – each share is a larger stake

Dividend per share

The dividend per share rose in 5 years from 2.18 USD to 3.30 USD.

Dividend per share USD per share Per share as filed with the SEC, including special dividends; obvious filing errors are hidden.
  1. Fiscal year 2016: Dividend per share 1.64 USD
  2. Fiscal year 2017: Dividend per share 1.70 USD
  3. Fiscal year 2018: Dividend per share 1.86 USD
  4. Fiscal year 2019: Dividend per share 2.05 USD
  5. Fiscal year 2020: Dividend per share 2.18 USD
  6. Fiscal year 2021: Dividend per share 2.30 USD
  7. Fiscal year 2022: Dividend per share 2.60 USD
  8. Fiscal year 2023: Dividend per share 2.80 USD
  9. Fiscal year 2024: Dividend per share 3.00 USD
  10. Fiscal year 2025: Dividend per share 3.30 USD

Payout ratios

The payout ratio fell in 5 years from 61.9% to 49.3%.

Payout ratio (earnings)Payout ratio (free cash flow)
  1. Fiscal year 2016: Payout ratio (earnings) 61.9% · Payout ratio (free cash flow) 43.8%
  2. Fiscal year 2017: Payout ratio (earnings) 38.5% · Payout ratio (free cash flow) 46.5%
  3. Fiscal year 2018: Payout ratio (earnings) 41.8% · Payout ratio (free cash flow) 42.2%
  4. Fiscal year 2019: Payout ratio (earnings) 52.4% · Payout ratio (free cash flow) 42.5%
  5. Fiscal year 2020: Payout ratio (earnings) 61.9% · Payout ratio (free cash flow) 51.0%
  6. Fiscal year 2021: Payout ratio (earnings) 53.6% · Payout ratio (free cash flow) 42.2%
  7. Fiscal year 2022: Payout ratio (earnings) 48.2% · Payout ratio (free cash flow) 62.4%
  8. Fiscal year 2023: Payout ratio (earnings) 49.5% · Payout ratio (free cash flow) 62.3%
  9. Fiscal year 2024: Payout ratio (earnings) 44.1% · Payout ratio (free cash flow) 56.0%
  10. Fiscal year 2025: Payout ratio (earnings) 49.3% · Payout ratio (free cash flow) 47.4%

What goes back to shareholders

Over 5 years, 10.1B USD went back to shareholders, 44% of it through share repurchases. That is 94% of the free cash flow of those years.

Dividends paidShare repurchasesNew shares issued (including employee plans)Free cash flow in USD
  1. Fiscal year 2016: Dividends paid 726.0M USD · Share repurchases 725.0M USD · New shares issued (including employee plans) not available · Free cash flow 1.7B USD
  2. Fiscal year 2017: Dividends paid 750.0M USD · Share repurchases 750.0M USD · New shares issued (including employee plans) not available · Free cash flow 1.6B USD
  3. Fiscal year 2018: Dividends paid 802.0M USD · Share repurchases 1.0B USD · New shares issued (including employee plans) not available · Free cash flow 1.9B USD
  4. Fiscal year 2019: Dividends paid 876.0M USD · Share repurchases 248.0M USD · New shares issued (including employee plans) not available · Free cash flow 2.1B USD
  5. Fiscal year 2020: Dividends paid 927.0M USD · Share repurchases 402.0M USD · New shares issued (including employee plans) not available · Free cash flow 1.8B USD
  6. Fiscal year 2021: Dividends paid 970.0M USD · Share repurchases 1.4B USD · New shares issued (including employee plans) not available · Free cash flow 2.3B USD
  7. Fiscal year 2022: Dividends paid 1.1B USD · Share repurchases 1.5B USD · New shares issued (including employee plans) not available · Free cash flow 1.7B USD
  8. Fiscal year 2023: Dividends paid 1.1B USD · Share repurchases 1.3B USD · New shares issued (including employee plans) not available · Free cash flow 1.8B USD
  9. Fiscal year 2024: Dividends paid 1.2B USD · Share repurchases 262.0M USD · New shares issued (including employee plans) not available · Free cash flow 2.2B USD
  10. Fiscal year 2025: Dividends paid 1.3B USD · Share repurchases not available · New shares issued (including employee plans) not available · Free cash flow 2.8B USD

Dividends paid, repurchases and new shares issued from the cash flow statement of annual reports filed with the SEC (as first reported). Describes the reported figures – not investment advice.

Valuation over time

Price-based valuation (P/E, P/S, price/free cash flow and dividend yield per fiscal year, compared with its own average) for signed-in users.

Sector comparison

Waste Management next to 8 stocks of the sector Industrials we cover that are closest in revenue. Click a column header to sort the table.

Sector comparison WM, sector Industrials; last row: sector median
Symbol Revenue (FY) Growth 5 yrsGross marginOp. marginNet marginROEEquity ratioFCF marginPiotroski
PWR Quanta Services 28.5B USD +20.5%15.0%5.7%3.6%11.5%35.9%5.7%5/9
ETN Eaton Corporation 27.4B USD +9.0%37.6%–14.9%21.0%47.1%12.9%6/9
WM Waste Management this stock 25.2B USD +10.6%40.4%17.1%10.7%27.1%21.8%11.2%6/9
MMM 3M 24.9B USD −5.0%39.9%18.6%13.0%69.1%12.5%5.6%5/9
UNP Union Pacific Corporation 24.5B USD +4.6%–40.2%29.1%38.7%26.5%22.4%–
JCI Johnson Controls 23.6B USD +1.1%36.4%–13.9%25.5%34.1%9.0%6/9
ADP Automatic Data Processing 21.9B USD +7.9%46.4%–20.1%73.2%9.5%23.9%8/9
PH Parker Hannifin 21.5B USD +8.4%37.7%23.6%17.0%23.7%49.9%18.2%9/9
TT Trane Technologies 21.3B USD +11.4%–18.6%13.7%34.0%40.1%13.2%–
Median of the sector 34 symbols 24.1B USD +9.2%35.4%10.4%12.9%26.3%33.2%9.7%6/9

Growth 5 yrs = revenue growth per year over 5 fiscal years · Op. margin = operating margin · ROE = return on equity · FCF = free cash flow · Piotroski = F-Score (only with all 9 criteria).

Figures of the last fiscal year from SEC annual reports (peers as of Oct 28, 2026). Median across all companies of the sector we cover (from 5 stocks; several share classes of one company count once). Signed-in users also see P/E, P/S and dividend yield in the comparison. Describes the reported figures – not investment advice.

Key figures with traffic lights

Each light follows a simple, disclosed rule. The comparison is with the sector median of all 90 symbols in the Industrials sector on our list (current members of the S&P 500 and other lists).

Revenue growth

Light green: above sector

+10.6% per year, last 5 years

Sector Industrials: median +8.0% (82 symbols)

What does this mean? Revenue: over 5 years it grew by 10.6% per year on average – at least as fast as the median company in the sector (+8.0%).

Light rule: Green: grows at least as fast as the sector median (without a sector comparison: grows) · Yellow: grows more slowly · Red: shrinks.

Net income (total)

Light green: above sector

+12.6% per year, last 5 years

Sector Industrials: median +10.0% (66 symbols)

per share: +13.7% per year (5 years, split-adjusted)

What does this mean? Total net income: over 5 years it grew by 12.6% per year on average – at least as fast as the median company in the sector (+10.0%).

Light rule: Green: grows at least as fast as the sector median (without a sector comparison: grows) · Yellow: grows more slowly · Red: shrinks.

Net margin

Light yellow: below sector

10.7% last fiscal year

Sector Industrials: median 11.1% (88 symbols)

What does this mean? Of every 100 USD in revenue, 10.74 USD remained as profit – less than the median company in the sector (11.1%). Five years ago the margin was 9.8%.

Light rule: Green: at least the sector median (without a sector comparison: profit) · Yellow: profit, but below the median · Red: loss.

Debt / equity

Light red: much higher

2.24 latest balance sheet

Sector Industrials: median 0.58 (77 symbols)

What does this mean? For every 1 USD of equity there is 2.24 USD of financial debt – more than twice as much as the median company in the sector (0.58). More debt amplifies good and bad years alike.

Light rule: Green: at most the sector median · Yellow: up to twice the median · Red: more than twice · Gray: without a sector comparison.

Payout ratio

Light green: covered

49% Dividend / earnings per share

Sector Industrials: median 35% (65 symbols)

What does this mean? Of every 1 USD of earnings per share, 0.49 USD went to shareholders as a dividend. The rest stays in the company. Median company in the sector: 35%.

Light rule: Green: up to 60% of earnings · Yellow: up to 100% · Red: more than earnings or a dividend despite a loss · Gray for real estate (REITs). The sector median is for comparison only.

Profitable years

Light green: profit every year

10 of 10 fiscal years with a profit

What does this mean? In 10 of the last 10 fiscal years the bottom line showed a profit. There were no losses in this period.

Light rule: Green: profit in every year · Yellow: one loss year · Red: several loss years (at least 3 years needed).

Last fiscal year and 13F

Information, not a trading signal · Source: SEC EDGAR
Revenue (FY)
25.2B USD
Revenue vs. prior year
+14.2%
Net income (FY)
2.7B USD
Net income vs. prior year
−1.4%
EPS (FY)
6.70 USD
13F funds with a position
0 of 9
Funds vs. prior quarter
±0
Shares held vs. prior quarter
–
Fiscal year to Dec 31, 2025 · 10-K filed Feb 9, 2026 · Balance sheet Jun 30, 2026 (filed Jul 29, 2026) · Price-based figures (P/E, P/S, dividend yield, market cap) only when logged in. · Values as first reported; debt = reported financial debt (US GAAP: long-term). 13F: reporting date Jun 30, 2026, 9 tracked funds have filed (latest Aug 14, 2026), filed with up to 45 days of delay. Stock positions only; comparison with Mar 31, 2026 only across funds that filed for both quarters.
All figures as a table
Fiscal years (amounts in USD, per share in USD)
YearEndRevenueNet income MarginEarnings per shareDividend per sharePayout
2025Dec 31, 2025 25.2B2.7B 10.7% 6.70 3.30 49%
2024Dec 31, 2024 22.1B2.7B 12.4% 6.81 3.00 44%
2023Dec 31, 2023 20.4B2.3B 11.3% 5.66 2.80 49%
2022Dec 31, 2022 19.7B2.2B 11.4% 5.39 2.60 48%
2021Dec 31, 2021 17.9B1.8B 10.1% 4.29 2.30 54%
2020Dec 31, 2020 15.2B1.5B 9.8% 3.52 2.18 62%
2019Dec 31, 2019 15.5B1.7B 10.8% 3.91 2.05 52%
2018Dec 31, 2018 14.9B1.9B 12.9% 4.45 1.86 42%
2017Dec 31, 2017 14.5B1.9B 13.5% 4.41 1.70 39%
2016Dec 31, 2016 13.6B1.2B 8.7% 2.65 1.64 62%
Quarters (amounts in USD, per share in USD)
QuarterEndRevenueNet income MarginEarnings per shareDividend per sharePayout
Q2/26Jun 30, 2026 6.7B785.0M 11.7% 1.95 0.95 48%
Q1/26Mar 31, 2026 6.2B723.0M 11.6% 1.79 0.95 53%
Q4/25*Dec 31, 2025 6.3B742.0M 11.8% – 0.83 –
Q3/25Sep 30, 2025 6.4B603.0M 9.4% 1.49 0.83 55%
Q2/25Jun 30, 2025 6.4B726.0M 11.3% 1.80 0.83 46%
Q1/25Mar 31, 2025 6.0B637.0M 10.6% 1.58 0.83 52%
Q4/24*Dec 31, 2024 5.9B598.0M 10.1% – 0.75 –
Q3/24Sep 30, 2024 5.6B760.0M 13.5% 1.88 0.75 40%
Q2/24Jun 30, 2024 5.4B680.0M 12.6% 1.69 0.75 44%
Q1/24Mar 31, 2024 5.2B708.0M 13.7% 1.75 0.75 43%
Q4/23*Dec 31, 2023 5.2B493.0M 9.4% – 0.70 –
Q3/23Sep 30, 2023 5.2B663.0M 12.8% 1.63 0.70 43%

* Q4 derived: fiscal year minus the 9-month value (EPS cannot be derived this way); may be distorted by restatements.

How we calculate: values as first reported to the SEC (later corrections are left out), a fixed order of reporting tags per figure, partial sums are never added up. Growth per year over 5 years (otherwise 3 years). Quarters are labeled by the calendar quarter in which they end.

Insiders

All insider transactions
Insider purchases and sales on the market over 3, 6 and 12 months
PeriodPurchasesSalesNet
3 months $00 people $300.2K1 person −$300.2K
6 months $00 people $885.5K2 people −$885.5K
12 months $392.8K1 person $24.2M12 people −$23.8M

Latest transactions

  • Sep 4, 2026 Carroll John A. Officer Open-market sale 1,365 shares · $300.2K · SEC
  • Jun 5, 2026 Carrasco Rafael Officer Open-market sale 2,655 shares · $585.3K · SEC
  • Mar 9, 2026 Reed David L. Chief financial officer (CFO) Open-market sale · 10b5-1 plan 75 shares · $18.4K · SEC
  • Mar 9, 2026 Morris John J Officer Open-market sale · 10b5-1 plan 4,211 shares · $1.0M · SEC
  • Mar 9, 2026 Varkey Johnson Officer Open-market sale · 10b5-1 plan 121 shares · $29.7K · SEC
  • Mar 9, 2026 Carroll John A. Officer Open-market sale · 10b5-1 plan 47 shares · $11.5K · SEC

Source: mandatory filings with the SEC (Form 4), open-market purchases and sales only. General information, not investment advice.

Trend score +20

Price vs. EMA 50+15
Price vs. EMA 200+15
EMA 50 vs. EMA 200-20
ADX (trend strength)+15
Highs and lows-20
Relative strength+15

Volatility and trend strength

ADX 14 (trend strength)35.1
Rel. strength 60 d+3.1%

ATR and moving averages as price values only when logged in.

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