Waste Management, IncNYSE: WM
Industrials · Environmental & Facilities Services
$229.19
-1.44%
Vol: 1.9M
Research Digest
Friday, May 1, 2026
WM Q1 2026 EPS beats by 4%, raises FY guidance on strong core business and recycling growth.
Waste Management Q1 2026 (April 27) EPS $1.81 vs $1.74 forecast (4.02% surprise). Operating revenues grew to $6,227M from $6,018M YoY, net income +723M. Operating EBITDA grew nearly 6% on collection/disposal performance plus sustainability growth. Maintains positive 2026 outlook: full-year EPS $8.11 and revenue $26.4-$26.6B (~20% growth from 2025's $22B). Healthcare Solutions EBITDA +18.4% post-Stericycle acquisition. RBC Capital raised PT to $240, TD Cowen to $275.
Previous Market Intelligence
13 daysApr 30Waste Management beat Q1 EPS estimates; adjusted EBITDA grew 5.9% with 70bps margin expansion and $920M free cash flow (nearly doubled YoY).Positive▶
Waste Management announced Q1 2026 results with adjusted EPS of $1.81 beating estimates, revenue of $6.23B slightly missing expectations. Adjusted operating EBITDA grew 5.9% with 70 basis points margin expansion. Generated $920M free cash flow (nearly doubling prior year) and returned $730M to shareholders through dividends and repurchases. Recycling EBITDA grew 18% despite 27% commodity price decline, while renewable energy EBITDA more than doubled. Company plans to manage 50% more waste by 2030. Stock rose 1.3% to $230.31 on earnings.
Apr 16Waste Management Q1 Earnings April 28; Smart Waste Market Growth AcceleratesPositive▶
Waste Management preparing for Q1 2026 earnings report on April 28 with analyst forecasts of EPS $1.76 and revenue $6.3 billion, representing 5.39% YoY EPS increase. Smart waste management market growing from $2.95B (2025) to $3.38B (2026) at 14.4% CAGR, reaching $5.81B by 2030, driven by IoT sensors and AI analytics. Barclays maintained Buy rating; Wells Fargo added WM to Q2 Tactical Ideas List. Stock price $224.30 with P/E 33.90 and 1.5% dividend yield; market cap $90.73B. Robeco Institutional Asset Management reduced position by 43.6% in Q4 2025. Industry growth supported by circular economy investments and smart collection technology expansion from $2.59B (2025) to $2.75B (2026).
Apr 15Waste Management prepares Q1 earnings April 28 with expected 5.39% EPS growth; renewable natural gas expansion continues.Neutral▶
Waste Management is gearing up for Q1 2026 earnings release on April 28 with analyst expectations for EPS of $1.76 and revenue of $6.3 billion. The company's strategic expansion into renewable natural gas is positioning it as a meaningful participant in the energy transition, with plans to invest billions in 20 new RNG plants expected to add $450-500M in annual EBITDA. A new $3 billion share repurchase authorization was announced in December.
Apr 14Waste Management to report Q1 2026 earnings April 28-29 with 5.39% EPS growth expected; 18 of 28 analysts recommend Strong Buy.Positive▶
Waste Management is gearing up for Q1 2026 earnings on April 28 with analysts forecasting $1.76 EPS (+5.39% YoY). WM remains a stable defensive play with 23 straight years of dividend increases and a new $3 billion share repurchase program. Out of 28 analysts, 18 rate Strong Buy with average price target of $255.72 (9.7% upside).
Apr 13Waste Management awaits Q1 earnings with raised guidance and strong analyst support ahead of April 28 report.Positive▶
WM is preparing for Q1 2026 earnings on April 28 with expectations for $1.76 EPS and $6.3B revenue. JPMorgan raised price target to $270 from $265 with Overweight rating. The company announced $3B share repurchase authorization and marked 23 consecutive years of dividend increases. Moderate Buy consensus with target of $254.82.
Apr 10Waste Management targets $19 billion free cash flow through 2029 as global waste generation set to surge 50% by 2050.Positive▶
Waste Management could generate as much as $19 billion in free cash flow from 2025 through 2029. World Bank predicts global waste generation will increase 50% by 2050 creating long-term growth tailwinds. Global waste management market reached $1.64 trillion in 2025 and projects to reach $2.08 trillion by 2033. Barclays maintains Buy rating, WM added to Wells Fargo Q2 Tactical Ideas List. CIBC raised price target to $244 from $242.
Apr 9Waste Management maintains solid market position with dividend focus and renewable energy expansion, analyst upgrades noted.Neutral▶
Waste Management stock trades at $235.20 with P/E of 35.14 and a 3.42 dividend yield. Newbridge Financial increased its holdings by 109.7% during Q4, bringing position to 5,431 shares. CIBC raised price target to $244 from $242 while maintaining Neutral rating. Wells Fargo added WM to Q2 Tactical Ideas List, and Barclays maintains Buy rating. WM was included in Josh Brown's "Best Stocks in the Market" list in February 2026. The company continues renewable energy expansion while maintaining strong waste management operations across North America.
Apr 8Waste Management Reports Record 31.3% EBITDA Margin Following Stericycle IntegrationPositive▶
Waste Management achieved record profitability with a 31.3% EBITDA margin in Q4 2025, driven by Stericycle integration. The company trades at $233.90 with a P/E multiple of 35.14 and dividend yield of 1.5%. Wells Fargo raised price target to $273 from $250 in March. CIBC raised price target to $244 from $242 maintaining Neutral rating. The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.945 per share. Strong margin expansion continues despite integration challenges and high debt levels.
Apr 7Waste Management announces 14.5% dividend increase and $3B buyback amid strong waste sector momentumPositive▶
Waste Management announced 14.5% increase in 2026 dividend to $3.78 annually and authorized $3B share repurchase, extending 23-year dividend increase streak. Company declared $0.945 quarterly dividend. WM benefits from inflation-related pricing, ongoing M&A activity and expansion into renewable energy targeting growth through 2028. CIBC maintains Neutral rating with $244 PT (raised from $242). Analyst consensus rates WM a Buy with $255.16 average 12-month PT (+9.14% upside).
Apr 6Waste Management Wells Fargo price target raised to $273 from $250; company expands renewable energy and recycling initiativesPositive▶
Waste Management price target raised to $273 from $250 at Wells Fargo on March 18, 2026. Company achieved best-ever operating expenses as percentage of revenue in Q4 and full year through operational excellence focus. Expanding into renewable natural gas and recycling, recasting traditional waste hauler as energy transition participant. UNIQLO partnership launches UNtrash It Program for clothing waste in NYC, LA, Dallas (March 24, 2026). Six business segments: Collection, Landfill, Transfer, Recycling, Healthcare Solutions, Renewable Energy. Ahead of upcoming earnings release as investors assess cost controls and forecast revisions.
Apr 3Wells Fargo raises PT to $273, adds WM to Q2 Tactical Ideas List as recycled commodity prices jump 10% YTD.Positive▶
Waste Management reported Q4 2025 earnings with $1.93 EPS and $6.31B revenue. Wells Fargo maintained Overweight with raised $273 price target, highlighting 1.0% per-unit cost reduction YoY and potential >100 bps margin uplift. Recycled commodity prices up 10% YTD. Company investing billions in 20 renewable natural gas plants.
Apr 2Waste Management raised dividend 13.8% to $0.945 per share on March 27; Wells Fargo raised target to $273 despite valuation headwinds.Neutral▶
Waste Management declared quarterly dividend of $0.945 per share, up from prior $0.83, effective March 27, 2026. Wells Fargo raised price target to $273 from $250 in March 2026. Stock trading $228.89 on April 1 with 20% bounce from October lows. Downgraded from buy to hold due to stretched 32x P/E valuation above 5-year average. Q1 2026 revenue $6.31B vs. $6.39B estimates, down 7.1% YoY. Company maintains strong 10.74% net margin and 32.45% return on equity. Upcoming Q1 earnings release April 28, 2026. Frank Rimerman Advisors raised position 141.2% in Q4. Market cap $92.32B with long-term growth tied to renewable energy expansion.
Apr 1Waste Management raises quarterly dividend to $0.945 per share and sees short interest surge 19.3% in March; Wells Fargo raises PT to $273.Mixed▶
Waste Management announced a quarterly dividend increase to $0.945 per share. Short interest surged 19.3% in March. Wells Fargo raised price target to $273 from $250. The company prepares for earnings report on April 28.
Sector Peers
| Company | Price | Day | 1M | Fwd P/E | Beta | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMWASTE | $229.19 | -1.44% | -0.5% | 25.1x | 0.55 | $93.8B |
| RSGREPUBLIC | $206.73 | -1.19% | -5.3% | 26.0x | 0.54 | $64.6B |
| ROLROLLINS | $54.92 | -1.45% | +3.0% | 40.0x | 0.84 | $26.8B |
| VLTOVERALTO | $87.48 | -0.82% | -0.6% | 19.0x | 1.15 | $21.7B |
| CATCATERPILLAR | $890.93 | +0.09% | +23.4% | 31.8x | 1.52 | $414.2B |
| GEGENERAL | $287.56 | -0.82% | +0.4% | 33.4x | 1.43 | $302.9B |
Key Fundamentals
RSI (14-Day)
52-Week Range
Moving Averages
Price between 50d and 200d. Testing 50d support.