📊 WM Key Takeaways
Is Waste Management Inc. (WM) a Good Investment?
Waste Management demonstrates strong operational profitability with a 17.1% operating margin and robust free cash flow generation of $2.8B, supported by 14.2% revenue growth. However, the elevated leverage position (2.22x debt-to-equity) and tight liquidity (0.89x current ratio) require monitoring, though the 8.6x interest coverage ratio indicates manageable debt servicing capacity.
Waste Management shows strong core fundamentals with double-digit revenue growth, healthy operating profitability, and solid free cash flow generation. The business appears high quality and resilient, but flat net income, elevated leverage, and weak liquidity keep the outlook from being more aggressive.
Why Buy Waste Management Inc. Stock? WM Key Strengths
- Strong revenue growth of 14.2% YoY demonstrates resilient business demand and pricing power
- Healthy operating margin of 17.1% with net margin of 10.7% reflects operational efficiency and scale
- Solid free cash flow of $2.8B (11.2% FCF margin) provides flexibility for debt reduction and capital allocation
- Exceptional ROE of 27.1% indicates efficient use of shareholder capital despite leverage
- Adequate interest coverage ratio of 8.6x suggests manageable debt servicing despite high leverage
- Strong revenue growth of 14.2% with maintained operating margin of 17.1%
- Robust cash generation with $6.04B operating cash flow and $2.82B free cash flow
- High returns on equity and assets, indicating efficient use of capital in a stable business model
WM Stock Risks: Waste Management Inc. Investment Risks
- High leverage with debt-to-equity ratio of 2.22x and long-term debt of $22.2B creates refinancing and economic cycle risk
- Weak current ratio of 0.89x indicates potential short-term liquidity constraints and limited financial flexibility
- Low cash position of $201M relative to debt obligations limits ability to absorb operational disruptions
- Flat net income growth (−0.0% YoY) despite strong revenue growth suggests margin compression or increased operating costs
- Capital expenditure of $3.2B represents 12.7% of operating cash flow, limiting cash available for debt reduction
- High leverage with debt-to-equity of 2.22x and $22.20B in long-term debt
- Current ratio of 0.89x indicates limited near-term balance sheet flexibility
- Net income was essentially flat and diluted EPS declined 1.6%, suggesting growth is not fully translating to shareholders
Key Metrics to Watch
- Debt-to-equity ratio trend and absolute debt reduction progress to improve financial flexibility
- Operating margin stability and ability to maintain pricing power amid potential economic slowdown
- Free cash flow conversion and allocation between debt reduction and shareholder returns
- Current ratio and working capital trends to assess short-term liquidity health
- Revenue growth sustainability and market pricing dynamics in refuse and recycling services
- Free cash flow conversion after capital expenditures
- Debt reduction and interest coverage trend
Waste Management Inc. (WM) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
The current ratio below 1.0x warrants monitoring of short-term liquidity.
WM Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
WM vs Market Sector: How Waste Management Inc. Compares
How Waste Management Inc. compares to Market sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is Waste Management Inc. Stock Overvalued? WM Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, Waste Management Inc. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Market sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
Waste Management Inc. Balance Sheet: WM Debt, Cash & Liquidity
WM Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: Waste Management Inc.'s revenue has grown significantly by 41% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $5.66 reflects profitable operations.
WM Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
WM Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $5.6B | $603.0M | $1.49 |
| Q2 2025 | $5.4B | $680.0M | $1.69 |
| Q1 2025 | $5.2B | $637.0M | $1.58 |
| Q3 2024 | $5.2B | $663.0M | $1.63 |
| Q2 2024 | $5.1B | $615.0M | $1.51 |
| Q1 2024 | $4.9B | $533.0M | $1.30 |
| Q3 2023 | $5.1B | $639.0M | $1.54 |
| Q2 2023 | $5.0B | $587.0M | $1.41 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
Waste Management Inc. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
WM SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Waste Management Inc. (CIK: 0000823768)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about WM
What is the AI rating for WM?
Waste Management Inc. (WM) has a Combined AI Rating of BUY from Claude (BUY) and ChatGPT (BUY) with 81% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are WM's key strengths?
Claude: Strong revenue growth of 14.2% YoY demonstrates resilient business demand and pricing power. Healthy operating margin of 17.1% with net margin of 10.7% reflects operational efficiency and scale. ChatGPT: Strong revenue growth of 14.2% with maintained operating margin of 17.1%. Robust cash generation with $6.04B operating cash flow and $2.82B free cash flow.
What are the risks of investing in WM?
Claude: High leverage with debt-to-equity ratio of 2.22x and long-term debt of $22.2B creates refinancing and economic cycle risk. Weak current ratio of 0.89x indicates potential short-term liquidity constraints and limited financial flexibility. ChatGPT: High leverage with debt-to-equity of 2.22x and $22.20B in long-term debt. Current ratio of 0.89x indicates limited near-term balance sheet flexibility.
What is WM's revenue and growth?
Waste Management Inc. reported revenue of $25.2B.
Does WM pay dividends?
Waste Management Inc. pays dividends, with $1,334.0M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find WM SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for Waste Management Inc. (CIK: 0000823768) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is WM's EPS?
Waste Management Inc. has a diluted EPS of $6.70.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
Is WM a good stock to buy right now?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in April 2026, Waste Management Inc. has a BUY rating with 81% confidence. The AI analysis suggests favorable fundamentals based on SEC filings. This is not investment advice.
Is WM stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for WM: ROE of 27.1% (sector avg: 15%), net margin of 10.7% (sector avg: 12%). Higher ROE suggests strong returns relative to peers.
Should I buy WM stock in 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives Waste Management Inc. a combined BUY rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability at or below sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is WM's free cash flow?
Waste Management Inc.'s operating cash flow is $6.0B, with capital expenditures of $3.2B. FCF margin is 11.2%.
How does WM compare to other Market stocks?
Vs Default sector averages: Net margin 10.7% (avg: 12%), ROE 27.1% (avg: 15%), current ratio 0.89 (avg: 1.8).
Is Waste Management Inc. carrying too much debt?
WM has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.22x, which is above the Market sector average of 0.7x. Combined with a current ratio below 1, this warrants careful monitoring of the balance sheet.
Why is WM's return on equity (ROE) so high?
Waste Management Inc. has a return on equity of 27.1%, significantly above the Market sector average of 15%. A high ROE indicates the company is efficient at generating profits from shareholder equity. This is supported by a 10.7% net margin.