Waste Management, Inc. (WM)

Waste Management, Inc. experienced several stock events over the past six months (April 2025 - October 2025). WM announced mixed Q3 2025 earnings, missing analyst estimates, which led to a stock dip, while Q2 2025 earnings surpassed expectations. A quarterly dividend of $0.825 per share was announced and paid on September 26, 2025. CFO Devina Rankin announced her retirement, with David Reed named as her successor. WM completed new renewable natural gas facilities and recycling projects, advancing its sustainability investments. WM's stock reached an all-time high of $242.58 on June 3, 2025, but retreated 9.4% by October 5, 2025, though it was up 8.9% year-to-date.

Demand for Waste Management's products and services exhibits seasonality, influenced by climate, holidays, and deadlines. Extreme weather conditions can cause operational challenges and potential slowdowns in waste collection.

Waste Management, Inc. (WM) is a leading provider of comprehensive waste management and environmental services across North America, operating within the environmental services sector and the waste management industry. WM offers a wide range of services, including waste collection, recycling, and waste-to-energy projects. In November 2024, WM acquired Stericycle, expanding its services to include medical waste disposal and paper shredding.

WM's operations span across North America, serving approximately 21 million customers in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The company has a vast infrastructure network, including transfer stations, landfill disposal sites, recycling plants, beneficial-use landfill gas projects, and independent power production plants. WM operates the largest trucking fleet in the waste industry, with 26,000 collection and transfer vehicles.

In the past year, Waste Management has continued to build on its reputation as a leader in environmental services and sustainability. WM was recognized as one of the 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies for the 16th consecutive time. The company's focus on sustainability, including investments in recycling and renewable energy, has positively impacted its brand image. WM released its 2025 Sustainability Report in July 2025. The acquisition of Stericycle reinforces WM's position as a comprehensive environmental solutions provider.

Waste Management (WM) is primarily owned by institutional shareholders (80.64%), with smaller percentages held by retail investors (18.29%) and company insiders (1.07%). Major institutional owners include Vanguard Group Inc, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, BlackRock Inc, State Street Corp, and Geode Capital Management LLC.