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Axxcess Wealth Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM – Free Report) by 18.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 12,212 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 2,719 shares during the quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Waste Management were worth $2,490,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of WM. Albion Financial Group UT increased its holdings in Waste Management by 36.5% during the 3rd quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 415 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $85,000 after acquiring an additional 111 shares in the last quarter. Sawyer & Company Inc acquired a new position in Waste Management during the third quarter worth about $937,000. Robbins Farley raised its position in Waste Management by 7.4% during the third quarter. Robbins Farley now owns 5,606 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,143,000 after acquiring an additional 388 shares during the last quarter. Benchmark Financial Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 3.5% in the third quarter. Benchmark Financial Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,246 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $458,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Diversify Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of Waste Management by 3.8% in the third quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 28,141 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $6,309,000 after purchasing an additional 1,040 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.40% of the company’s stock.

Waste Management Stock Performance Shares of NYSE WM opened at $238.67 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $95.40 billion, a PE ratio of 29.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.42. Waste Management, Inc. has a 12 month low of $194.11 and a 12 month high of $248.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $216.58 and a 200-day simple moving average of $222.21.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The business services provider reported $2.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $6.68 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.71 billion. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.11% and a return on equity of 31.68%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.92 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Waste Management, Inc. will post 8.09 earnings per share for the current year. Waste Management Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 11th were issued a dividend of $0.9450 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 11th. This represents a $3.78 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.6%. Waste Management’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 53.54%.

Insider Activity In other Waste Management news, CAO John Carroll sold 1,365 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $219.90, for a total value of $300,163.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 3,509 shares in the company, valued at $771,629.10. The trade was a 28.01% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.18% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes WM has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $270.00 to $235.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. Weiss Ratings raised Waste Management from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Friday, October 16th. Scotiabank increased their target price on Waste Management from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Waste Management from $252.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on Waste Management from $240.00 to $244.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $256.06.

View Our Latest Research Report on WM

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Waste Management, Inc, doing business as WM (NYSE:WM), is an environmental services company that provides waste collection, transportation, disposal, recycling and resource-recovery services. The company serves residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers through a network of collection operations, transfer stations, landfills, recycling facilities and other environmental infrastructure.

WM’s services include curbside and commercial waste collection, construction and demolition debris management, recycling, organics processing and landfill disposal.

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Key Takeaways WM's Q3 revenues are projected to rise 5.6% to $6.8B, while earnings are expected to grow 10.1% y/y.Recycling revenues are expected to jump 16.2%, fueled by new facilities, automation and higher productivity.Renewable energy revenues are likely to rise 39.4%, aided by production ramp-ups and landfill gas volumes.
WM (WM - Free Report) is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 27, after market close.

WM beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with an average earnings surprise of 0.6%.

WM’s Q3 ExpectationsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pinned at $6.8 billion, hinting at a 5.6% gain from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The consensus estimate for total collection and disposal segment revenues is set at $5.5 billion. It indicates a 4% increase from the year-ago quarter’s actual.

This segment is anticipated to contribute slightly below 82% to the top line in the third quarter of 2026. Growth across this segment is likely to have been driven by solid pricing execution, higher energy surcharge revenues, escalating industrial waste volumes and strategic buyouts.

For the recycling processing and sales segment, the consensus estimate for revenues is $432.2 million, indicating a 16.2% year-over-year increase. This segment is expected to account for 6.4% of revenues. Factors anticipated to have fueled this segment’s growth engine are strong performance at newly commissioned recycling facilities and higher productivity at existing automated plants.

Solid demand under Canada’s extended producer responsibility programs, supporting volumes and profitability strengthened by automation-backed efficiency gains, are other factors likely to have contributed to this segment’s growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the WM renewable energy segment’s revenues is $160.3 million, hinting at a 39.4% year-over-year jump. The WM renewable energy segment is anticipated to deliver 2.4% of the top line.

Continued production ramp-ups at newly commissioned facilities, coupled with high plant uptime and improving landfill gas volumes, are factors expected to have supported this segment to register lofty growth.

The consensus estimate for the WM healthcare solutions revenues suggests 2% year-over-year growth to $640.5 million, contributing 9.5% to revenues. Cross-selling initiatives and account wins are anticipated to have driven this segment’s growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the corporate and other segment, which contributes to a small fraction of the top line, is pinned at $7 million, suggesting no change from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.

The consensus estimate for earnings per share is set to increase 10.1% year over year to $2.18. The bottom line is expected to have improved on the back of a favorable price-to-cost spread facilitated by strong core pricing and prudent cost management. Continued investment in automation is likely to have curbed operating expenses, expanding margins.

What Our Model Predicts About WMOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for WM this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESPand a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

WM currently has an Earnings ESP of -0.35% and a Zacks Rank #3.

Stocks to ConsiderHere are a few stocks from the broader Business Services sector, which, according to our model, have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this season.

Visa (V - Free Report) : The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s fourth-quarter 2026 revenues is pinned at $12.1 billion, indicating 12.7% year-over-year growth. For earnings, the consensus estimate is pegged at $3.43 per share, implying a 15.1% jump from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The company beat the consensus estimate in all four quarters, with an average surprise of 2.8%.

V has an Earnings ESP of +0.66% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The company is scheduled to declare fourth-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 27.

NIQ Global Intelligence plc (NIQ - Free Report) : The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s third-quarter 2026 revenues is $1.1 billion, suggesting a 5.7% year-over-year rise. For earnings, the consensus estimate is kept at 24 cents, suggesting a whopping gain of 700% from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The company beat the consensus estimate in two of four quarters and missed twice, with an average surprise of 1.9%.

NIQ has an Earnings ESP of +5.93% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. The company is scheduled to declare third-quarter 2026 results on Nov. 12.

Waste Management (WM - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $231.73, moving +2.35% from the previous trading session. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.28%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 1.02%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 0.02%.

Heading into today, shares of the garbage and recycling hauler had gained 9.36% over the past month, outpacing the Business Services sector's gain of 0.6% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.67%.

Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Waste Management in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to be unveiled on October 27, 2026. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $2.18, marking a 10.1% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $6.8 billion, up 5.61% from the year-ago period.

Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $8.09 per share and revenue of $26.4 billion, indicating changes of +7.87% and +4.75%, respectively, compared to the previous year.

Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Waste Management. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.

Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Over the past month, there's been a 0.05% fall in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. Waste Management currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Valuation is also important, so investors should note that Waste Management has a Forward P/E ratio of 27.98 right now. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 26.87, which means Waste Management is trading at a premium to the group.

We can also see that WM currently has a PEG ratio of 2.89. The PEG ratio bears resemblance to the frequently used P/E ratio, but this parameter also includes the company's expected earnings growth trajectory. Waste Removal Services stocks are, on average, holding a PEG ratio of 2.85 based on yesterday's closing prices.

The Waste Removal Services industry is part of the Business Services sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 73, putting it in the top 30% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

To follow WM in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.

Waste Management (WM - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 27, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis garbage and recycling hauler is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.18 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +10.1%.

Revenues are expected to be $6.8 billion, up 5.6% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.23% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Waste Management?For Waste Management, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.35%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Waste Management will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Waste Management would post earnings of $1.99 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.02, delivering a surprise of +1.51%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Waste Management doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Key Takeaways Healthcare demand is supported by an aging population, medical needs and advances in diagnostics.Abbott, JNJ and Stryker offer exposure to medical devices, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.Waste Management and Republic Services benefit from recurring service demand and established networks. Artificial intelligence (AI) has dominated Wall Street's investment arena in 2026, supported by substantial spending on data centers, advanced semiconductors, cloud computing and related infrastructure. Investors have focused on companies positioned to monetize AI adoption, while expectations of productivity gains and future revenue growth have helped sustain interest in the technology sector. However, elevated valuations, capital expenditure requirements and uncertainty over the pace of returns have also made diversification an important consideration.

As investors prepare for 2027, opportunities beyond AI deserve attention. Macroeconomic uncertainty, borrowing costs and changing consumer spending patterns could influence corporate earnings and equity valuations across industries. Against this backdrop, businesses serving essential needs may offer a different combination of demand visibility and long-term growth potential. Healthcare and waste management stand out because their underlying demand is linked to demographics, public health and routine commercial activity rather than the technology investment cycle alone.

Healthcare: Demographic Trends Support Long-Term DemandHealthcare is supported by structural factors, including an aging population, ongoing medical needs and advances in diagnostics, medical devices and treatment. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the U.S. population aged 65 and older will increase by approximately 15% from 2027 to 2036. It also expects federal spending on major healthcare programs to rise as enrollment and healthcare costs increase. These trends suggest a long-term demand foundation.

Investors can consider established companies such as Abbott Laboratories (ABT - Free Report) , Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) and Stryker (SYK - Free Report) . Abbott offers exposure to medical devices, diagnostics and nutritional products, while Johnson & Johnson operates across pharmaceuticals and medical technology. Stryker provides medical and surgical equipment, including products used in hospital procedures. The companies’ diversified product portfolios and exposure to ongoing medical needs make them candidates for further research.

Nevertheless, healthcare is not immune to economic and policy risks. Pharmaceutical patent expirations, pricing pressures, regulatory changes, reimbursement constraints and research costs can affect profitability.

Waste Management: Essential Services Witness Recurring DemandWaste management provides another way to diversify beyond AI. Residential communities, commercial establishments and industrial facilities require regular waste collection, processing and disposal. This creates a recurring demand base, while established operators may benefit from route density, long-term customer relationships, landfill assets and pricing power.

The need to maintain environmental services and modernize infrastructure also supports the industry's long-term relevance. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that wastewater and stormwater infrastructure will require at least $630 billion in investment over 20 years. Although this estimate concerns water infrastructure rather than waste collection directly, it indicates the broader scale of investment needs across essential environmental services.

Waste Management (WM - Free Report) and Republic Services (RSG - Free Report) are two established companies currently in focus. Both provide waste collection and environmental services and serve commercial and residential customers. Their established service networks and recurring business activity offer potential advantages, although returns depend on execution, pricing, costs and valuation.

Waste Management (WM) was a big mover last session on higher-than-average trading volume. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions might help the stock continue moving higher in the near term.

In the latest close session, Waste Management (WM - Free Report) was up +1.85% at $215.75. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.11%. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.09%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 1.88%.

Shares of the garbage and recycling hauler witnessed a loss of 2.49% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Business Services sector with its loss of 0.76%, and the S&P 500's gain of 2.06%.

The upcoming earnings release of Waste Management will be of great interest to investors. The company's earnings report is expected on October 27, 2026. The company is expected to report EPS of $2.18, up 10.1% from the prior-year quarter. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $6.8 billion, up 5.6% from the year-ago period.

WM's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $8.12 per share and revenue of $26.4 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +8.27% and +4.74%, respectively.

Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Waste Management. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), possesses a remarkable history of outdoing, externally audited, with #1 stocks returning an average annual gain of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 0.04% downward. Waste Management currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Valuation is also important, so investors should note that Waste Management has a Forward P/E ratio of 26.07 right now. This represents a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 25.97.

We can additionally observe that WM currently boasts a PEG ratio of 2.69. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. WM's industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.69 as of yesterday's close.

The Waste Removal Services industry is part of the Business Services sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 60, this industry ranks in the top 25% of all industries, numbering over 250.

The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.

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What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.86% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Waste Management (WM - Free Report) Headquartered in Houston, TX, Waste Management, Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive environmental services in North America.Formerly known as USA Waste Services, Inc., the company changed its name to Waste Management, Inc. in 1998.

WM is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. WM has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 8.4% for the current fiscal year.

Three analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.00 to $8.13 per share. WM also boasts an average earnings surprise of +0.6%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, WM should be on investors' short list.

In the latest close session, Waste Management (WM - Free Report) was down 1.53% at $203.92. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.25%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 0.86%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 0.24%.

Prior to today's trading, shares of the garbage and recycling hauler had lost 5.77% lagged the Business Services sector's loss of 5.76% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.42%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Waste Management in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to go public on October 27, 2026. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $2.18, marking a 10.1% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $6.79 billion, up 5.34% from the year-ago period.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $8.13 per share and revenue of $26.35 billion, which would represent changes of +8.4% and +4.54%, respectively, from the prior year.

Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Waste Management. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.01% higher. Waste Management is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

In terms of valuation, Waste Management is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 25.48. This indicates a discount in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 25.62.

We can also see that WM currently has a PEG ratio of 2.61. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. WM's industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.61 as of yesterday's close.

The Waste Removal Services industry is part of the Business Services sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 63, this industry ranks in the top 26% of all industries, numbering over 250.

The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.

Waste Management (WM +0.32%) is the big dog among industrial companies that specialize in garbage, when you look at market cap or annual revenue. It has certainly lived up to the hype, as much as any trash company can be hyped -- by delivering a total return of nearly 290% over the past decade.

However, there's a much smaller, more specialized waste management company that's a better bet for investors right now. Clean Harbors (CLH -0.50%), based in Norwell, Massachusetts, focuses on end-to-end hazardous waste management, emergency spill response, industrial cleaning and maintenance, and recycling services.

Here are three reasons Clean Harbors is a better stock than Waste Management right now.

Image source: Getty Images.

Clean Harbors has a wider moat Waste Management primarily collects municipal solid waste and residential trash, a defensive, highly steady market, but one constrained by municipal caps and lower pricing power.

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Clean Harbors operates in a completely different regulatory tier, holding a dominant position in North American hazardous waste disposal, industrial treatment, and chemical incineration.

The company operates eight commercial hazardous-waste incinerators and multiple secure landfills for the disposal of materials covered by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials Act.

None of these secure landfills can be replicated by a new entrant under the current U.S. permitting policy.

Clean Harbors' existing infrastructure represents an almost irreplaceable asset footprint, giving it substantial pricing power that municipal waste operators cannot replicate.

Clean Harbors has stronger top-line revenue momentum Clean Harbors has demonstrated faster top-line sales velocity and faster earnings-per-share (EPS) growth than Waste Management, not just this year, but over the past five years. It is a smaller company with more room to grow.

In the second quarter, it reported $1.74 billion in revenue, up 12% year over year, with earnings per share (EPS) of $3.22, up 35.8% over the same period last year. It also increased 2026 guidance for adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), and adjusted free cash flow.

Waste Management's second-quarter revenue rose just 4% year over year to $6.68 billion, while its EPS fell 3% from the same period a year ago to $1.95. Instead of raising full-year guidance, the company trimmed it slightly for revenue and adjusted operating EBITDA.

Regulations are widening Clean Harbors' moat Environmental regulations are tightening rapidly, particularly around the remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), more commonly known as "forever chemicals."

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules mandating the safe disposal and destruction of toxic materials direct high-margin demand directly to Clean Harbors' specialized network.

While Waste Management primarily handles volume-based municipal solid waste, Clean Harbors benefits from high-value compliance mandates that industrial clients cannot defer.

Waste Management has one advantage Clean Harbors, though not as well known, has not gone unnoticed. Its shares are up more than 33% this year, while Waste Management's are down more than 5%.

Waste Management may be a better choice, though, for some income-oriented investors. It offers a dividend, which Clean Harbors does not, and the yield is above average at 1.77%.

However, for investors seeking alpha, earnings expansion, and tailwind exposure to federal environmental mandates, Clean Harbors presents the overall stronger buy opportunity right now.

Investors with an interest in Waste Removal Services stocks have likely encountered both Veolia Environnement SA (VEOEY - Free Report) and Waste Management (WM - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now? We'll need to take a closer look.

We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.

Veolia Environnement SA and Waste Management are sporting Zacks Ranks of #2 (Buy) and #3 (Hold), respectively, right now. This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that VEOEY is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.

Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.

The Style Score Value grade factors in a variety of key fundamental metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a number of other key stats that are commonly used by value investors.

VEOEY currently has a forward P/E ratio of 12.78, while WM has a forward P/E of 25.40. We also note that VEOEY has a PEG ratio of 1.42. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. WM currently has a PEG ratio of 2.60.

Another notable valuation metric for VEOEY is its P/B ratio of 1.78. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, WM has a P/B of 8.31.

These are just a few of the metrics contributing to VEOEY's Value grade of A and WM's Value grade of C.

VEOEY has seen stronger estimate revision activity and sports more attractive valuation metrics than WM, so it seems like value investors will conclude that VEOEY is the superior option right now.

At a time when the S&P 500 carries a dividend yield of just under 1.1%, nearly everything looks good by comparison, including the yield of almost 1.2% on the S&P Industrial Select Sector Index, which is home to the S&P 500's industrial members.

Admittedly, with 10-year Treasury yields hovering around 5%, some income investors may say there's not much to see in the industrial sector, but that's not the right approach. Actually, the sector's scant 1.2% yielddisguises its reputation as a legitimate destination for dependable dividend growth.

These two industrial stocks are dividend growth stars. Image source: Getty Images.

Industrial stocks account for 21.6%of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats® Index (the term Dividend Aristocrats® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC), or those members of the S&P 500 that have boosted payouts for at least 25 consecutive years. Only consumer staples account for a larger percentage of that gauge. Likewise, several industrial names are Dividend Kings, or firms with payout-increase streaks of at least 50 years.

The point is this sector isn't the highest-yielding group out there, but it's prime territory for investors seeking reliable payout growth. Illinois Tool Works (ITW -0.97%) and Waste Management (WM +0.10%) confirm as much.

Dividend royalty in the heartland Industrial conglomerate Illinois Tool Works yields 2.4%, so it's not a quintessential high-dividend stock, but with a streak of payout increases spanning 57 years, it is a Dividend King. Importantly, the dividend's five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% implies this industrial stock doesn't just deliver consistent income. It's an inflation fighter, too.

Another attractive trait of this stock is dividend safety. On a scale of "kind of safe," "safe," and "very safe," Illinois Tool Works is, in the eyes of some experts, in the "very safe" camp. That safety is further enhanced by operational excellence. In the second quarter, the company's operating margins jumped 40 basis points, with the year-to-date gain standing at 50 basis points through the first half.

That's impressive, given that Illinois Tool Works faced hurdles stemming from material inflation and employee expenses. Investors shouldn't overlook the importance of operating margins, as these metrics show how much revenue a company retains as profit after accounting for operating and production expenses.

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Think of operating margins as the opposite of golf. The higher the number, the better. Robust margins are often hallmarks of some well-known, glamorous growth stocks, but Illinois Tool Works proves that even an industrial conglomerate can master the margin game.

Further solidifying this dividend's reliability and safety is a free cash flow yield of 3.6%. That doesn't just support current payout obligations, it paves the way for future growth AND big-time share repurchases.

It'd be a waste to ignore this dividend stock There are higher-yielding, larger industrial companies by market cap than Waste Management, but that doesn't diminish the trash hauler's dividend growth potential. The 14.5% payout hike unveiled last December marked the 23rd consecutive year in which the company boosted its dividend. So it's just a matter of time before this stock becomes a Dividend Aristocrat®.

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So while waste hauling is far from a glamorous business, there's plenty of glamor associated with Waste Management's dividend growth trajectory. Uninitiated investors may also be overlooking the company's wide moat. Sure, owning landfills is a prosaic business, but establishing a dominant perch in that space isn't easy. Waste Management accomplished that objective.

Waste Management is also a small but growing play on natural gas demand, driven by its landfill gas-to-renewable natural gas business. That enterprise, which is considered a renewable energy outfit, could be a significant earnings contributor as soon as next year.

Improvements in free cash flow conversion and a dedicated share repurchase program, which reduce the number of shares outstanding, support Waste Management's status as a reliable industrial dividend grower.

Waste Management (WM +0.31%) provides investors with a degree of diversification from macroeconomic factors.

*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Sept. 20, 2026. The video was published on Sept. 22, 2026.

Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends WM. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

A biopharma giant, a chip maker, a delivery network, a trash hauler, and an oncology powerhouse walk into the same portfolio for one reason, and it has nothing to do with chasing the highest yield.

Diversifying income across genuinely uncorrelated cash-flow engines is more powerful than owning five versions of the same defensive stock. The five names below span biopharma, semiconductors, package delivery and waste management services, and their cash flows respond to completely different drivers: patent cliffs, chip cycles, freight volumes and municipal disposal contracts. The shared hook is durability. To frame the range, United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS | UPS Price Prediction) carries a 6.54% dividend yield at the high end while Waste Management sits at 1.62% at the low end, and every name in between is a proven cash generator.

AbbVie: Immunology Cash Flow Funding a Growing Payout AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) currently yields 2.63% on an annual dividend of $6.83 per share, with the board having declared a $1.73 quarterly payment that puts the annualized forward dividend at $6.92.

Safety comes from the immunology franchise now anchoring results. Second-quarter revenue was nearly $17 billion, up 10.2%, with Skyrizi at $5.5 billion (up 24%) and Rinvoq above $2.5 billion (up 23.7%) more than covering Humira erosion. Management raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $13.87 to $14.07 and pointed to “strong cash flows, balance sheet, and business outlook” supporting the payout. The dividend history shows successive annual bumps from $1.41 in 2022 to $1.48, $1.55, $1.64 and $1.73 through 2026, a consistent raise pattern since the 2013 spin-off.

Bull case: Skyrizi and Rinvoq are structurally accelerating, the Skyrizi composition-of-matter patent runs through 2033, and management continues to layer on deals like the $10.9 billion Apogee Therapeutics acquisition to extend the pipeline.

Risk: leverage is elevated after buybacks pushed book equity negative, and management is targeting a two-times net leverage ratio within two to three years of the Apogee close. Pipeline hiccups would tighten dividend headroom.

Merck: KEYTRUDA Cash Plus a Commitment to Raise Merck (NYSE:MRK) yields 2.31% on an annual dividend of $3.32 per share. The current quarterly is 85 cents, up from 81 cents in the 2024 to 2025 cycle and 77 cents the year before, an annual raise cadence that stretches back through the visible record.

The safety story starts with KEYTRUDA. Keytruda family sales rose 4% to $8.4 billion in the quarter, and CFO Caroline Litchfield said directly, “We remain committed to the dividend with the goal of increasing it over time.” Full-year non-GAAP revenue guidance sits at $66.3 billion to $67.3 billion, and Merck is on pace for approximately $3 billion in share repurchases this year alongside the dividend.

Bull case: CEO Robert Davis framed the loss-of-exclusivity risk plainly, calling the LOE “more of a hill than a cliff” and expecting “a shallow dip with a fast return back to growth.” The pipeline supporting that view includes a stated commercial opportunity “greater than $70 billion” from over 20 new products. Shares have run hard, up more than 38% year to date (YTD) as of midday Sept. 17, and more than 81% over the past year, so income buyers are paying up for the reset.

Risk: The KEYTRUDA patent transition is real, and GARDASIL weakness in China shows how quickly a franchise can move against Merck. A slower ramp on new launches would compress coverage during the transition.

Texas Instruments: Analog Cash Machine in Cycle Upturn Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN) yields 2.19% on an annual dividend of $5.62 per share. The current quarterly is $1.42, raised from $1.36 in the 2024 and early 2025 records and $1.30 in 2024, extending a long visible pattern of annual increases stretching back through 38 cents in 2016.

Coverage is improving fast because the analog cycle turned. Second-quarter revenue was $5.5 billion, up 23% year over year, with operating profit at $2.3 billion, or 42% of revenue, up 48% year-over-year. Trailing 12-month free cash flow reached $6.5 billion, up from $1.8 billion in the second quarter of 2025, and TXN paid $1.3 billion in dividends during the quarter. Management repeated its “commitment to return all free cash flow to shareholders.” The balance sheet holds $7 billion of cash and short-term investments against $14 billion of debt.

Bull case: CEO Haviv Ilan told analysts, “I think we are in the start of a cycle that is very, very broad,” with industrial up around 30% year on year and data-center revenue doubled year-over-year. The 300mm build-out is largely funded, freeing more free cash flow to fund the dividend as capex normalizes toward the $2 to $3 billion guided range.

Risk: semiconductor cyclicality cuts both ways. Shares are already up 46.38% YTD, and a stall in industrial or auto demand would slow the free-cash-flow rebuild that the dividend growth model depends on.

UPS: Ultra-High-Yield With a Transformation Overhang United Parcel Service is the ultra-high-yield name in the group at 6.54%, on an annual dividend of $6.56 per share. Investors need to understand what that yield reflects: the quarterly has been $1.64 across seven consecutive ex-dates from February 2025 through August 2026, so the streak is currently a hold rather than a fresh raise after the small move from $1.63 in 2024 to $1.64 in 2025.

The coverage math is tightening but still workable. Full-year 2026 guidance calls for adjusted diluted EPS of approximately $7.22, free cash flow of approximately $5.5 billion, and planned dividends of around $5.4 billion, subject to Board approval. Consolidated Q2 revenue was $22.8 billion, up 7.6%, with U.S. domestic operating margin up 100 basis points year-over-year and 400 basis points from the first quarter. UPS ended the quarter with $4.7 billion in cash and no outstanding commercial paper.

Bull case: The deliberate Amazon glide-down. Management removed approximately 2 million pieces per day of lower-quality Amazon volume and approximately $4.5 billion of related expense, calling the reconfiguration “a leaner, more automated, more agile network that will deliver operating leverage as volume grows.” Revenue per piece rose 9.3% year over year as mix shifted toward SMB and healthcare.

Risk: The dividend consumes nearly all guided free cash flow before the pension contribution, so any hiccup in the volume recovery or another quarter of heavy transformation charges would put the payout under fresh scrutiny.

Waste Management: Boring Cash Flow, Reliable Raises Waste Management (NYSE:WM) yields 1.78% on an annual dividend of $3.54 per share, with the current quarterly at 94 cents and an annualized forward dividend of $3.78. The dividend record shows steady annual increases: 75 cents quarterly in 2024, 82 cents in 2025 and 94 cents in 2026, with a continuous quarterly payment history extending back to 1999.

This is the most boring cash-flow profile in the group, which is the point. Q2 free cash flow was $1.10 billion, up 34.5% year over year, and first-half free cash flow reached $2.02 billion, growing more than 56%. Full-year guidance calls for FCF of $3.75 to $3.85 billion against total first-half returns of $1 billion in buybacks and $764 million in dividends. Leverage finished the quarter at 2.96 times, within the targeted range of 2.5x to 3x.

Bull case: Pricing power meeting automation. Core price was expected to exit 2026 above 5.5%, collection cost growth was held to less than 1.7% despite roughly 4% labor cost inflation, and recycling plus renewable energy operating EBITDA grew nearly 33%.

Risk: this is a low-growth income name. Shares are down 2.93% YTD, volumes ran -1.8% and Stericycle integration still carries costs. The tradeoff sits in the total-return contribution from price.

Putting the Basket Together Five industries, five distinct cash-flow engines, one shared attribute: each business generates enough operating cash to fund a dividend that has been raised on a regular cadence in the visible record. AbbVie and Merck lean on immunology and oncology franchises. Texas Instruments is riding the analog upcycle back to full free-cash-flow conversion. UPS offers the highest yield with the tightest coverage and Waste Management provides the steadiest, most defensive payout of the group.

If you want to extend this basket toward names with 50-plus-year raise streaks, we ranked ten of them by valuation in a free Dividend Kings report. Own them together and a patent setback, a chip downturn, a freight slowdown, or a bad recycling commodity year cannot take down the income stream at the same time.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Waste Management is a resilient, market-leading dividend player with strong diversification and secular tailwinds. WM's business model is insulated from macro volatility and AI disruption, supporting steady top- and bottom-line growth. Recent financials show margin expansion and disciplined cost management, with management transition risk seen as manageable.

In the latest close session, Waste Management (WM - Free Report) was up +2.17% at $218.09. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.48%. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.29%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.56%.

Shares of the garbage and recycling hauler witnessed a loss of 4.94% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Business Services sector with its loss of 2.87%, and the S&P 500's loss of 0.82%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Waste Management in its upcoming release. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $2.18, showcasing a 10.1% upward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $6.79 billion, indicating a 5.34% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $8.13 per share and revenue of $26.35 billion, which would represent changes of +8.4% and +4.54%, respectively, from the prior year.

Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Waste Management. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.

Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 0.11% downward. Waste Management is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

With respect to valuation, Waste Management is currently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 26.26. This indicates a premium in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 25.84.

It's also important to note that WM currently trades at a PEG ratio of 2.69. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. Waste Removal Services stocks are, on average, holding a PEG ratio of 2.68 based on yesterday's closing prices.

The Waste Removal Services industry is part of the Business Services sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 104, finds itself in the top 43% echelons of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.

California State Teachers Retirement System raised its holdings in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM – Free Report) by 26,113.1% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 121,870,338 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 121,405,416 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement System owned about 30.49% of Waste Management worth $27,162,461,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bey Douglas LLC increased its stake in Waste Management by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. Bey Douglas LLC now owns 1,233 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $271,000 after buying an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Waste Management by 10.2% in the first quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 485 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $111,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Waste Management by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 6,348 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,395,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Cornerstone Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of Waste Management by 1.6% during the first quarter. Cornerstone Advisory LLC now owns 2,973 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $683,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Coordinated Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in Waste Management by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Coordinated Financial Services Inc. now owns 1,386 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $305,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. 80.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have issued reports on WM shares. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Waste Management from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 25th. Oppenheimer reduced their target price on shares of Waste Management from $264.00 to $263.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Waste Management from $252.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce cut shares of Waste Management from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Scotiabank increased their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $258.89.

Read Our Latest Research Report on WM Waste Management Stock Down 0.0% Shares of WM opened at $218.90 on Tuesday. Waste Management, Inc. has a 52-week low of $194.11 and a 52-week high of $248.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $228.39 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $227.01. The company has a market capitalization of $87.50 billion, a PE ratio of 31.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.42.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The business services provider reported $2.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.04. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.11% and a return on equity of 31.68%. The firm had revenue of $6.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.71 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.92 earnings per share. Waste Management’s quarterly revenue was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 8.13 EPS for the current year.

Waste Management Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.945 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 11th. This represents a $3.78 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Waste Management’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.54%.

(Free Report)

Waste Management, Inc (NYSE: WM) is a leading provider of integrated waste management and environmental services in North America. The company offers end-to-end solutions that span collection, transfer, disposal and recycling, along with landfill operations and related infrastructure. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Waste Management serves a broad customer base that includes residential, commercial, industrial and municipal clients.

Core services include curbside and commercial waste collection, roll-off and temporary container services, materials recovery and recycling, and engineered landfill disposal.

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Waste Management (WM - Free Report) closed at $221.72 in the latest trading session, marking a +1.22% move from the prior day. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 1.06%. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 1.18%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 1.4%.

Shares of the garbage and recycling hauler have depreciated by 2.35% over the course of the past month, underperforming the Business Services sector's gain of 1.35%, and the S&P 500's gain of 2.46%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Waste Management in its upcoming earnings disclosure. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $2.18, marking a 10.1% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $6.79 billion, up 5.34% from the year-ago period.

WM's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $8.13 per share and revenue of $26.35 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +8.4% and +4.54%, respectively.

Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Waste Management. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.06% lower. At present, Waste Management boasts a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

In the context of valuation, Waste Management is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 26.95. This signifies a premium in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 26.39 for its industry.

We can also see that WM currently has a PEG ratio of 2.76. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. As the market closed yesterday, the Waste Removal Services industry was having an average PEG ratio of 2.76.

The Waste Removal Services industry is part of the Business Services sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 174, which puts it in the bottom 30% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.

WM's steady waste-service demand, pricing discipline and sustainability investments support growth, while high debt and tight liquidity limit flexibility.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $WM--WM (NYSE: WM) announced that Jim Fish, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, has advised the Board of his plan to retire from WM and resign from the Board, following more than a decade of distinguished service in those roles and more than 25 years with the company. In continuation of WM's robust succession planning process, the Board of Directors has appointed WM President John Morris to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, e.

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Waste Management (WM - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 6.5% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Waste Management due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Waste Management, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

WM Beats Q2 Earnings EstimatesWM reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.02 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.99 by 1.5%. Earnings increased 5.2% from the year-ago quarter’s $1.92.

Revenues rose 4% year over year to $6.68 billion but missed the consensus estimate of $6.71 billion by 0.4%. Disciplined pricing and operating efficiencies supported profitability, while Collection and Disposal volume declined 1.8%.

WM Benefits From Pricing & Cost DisciplineCore price increased 5.7% in the quarter, while Collection and Disposal yield improved 3.6%. Higher energy surcharges and increased volumes in the recycling and renewable energy businesses also supported revenue growth.

Collection and Disposal volume fell 1.8%, largely because wildfire cleanup work boosted the prior-year period. Excluding that activity, landfill volumes increased 1.7%, while Collection and Disposal volume declined 0.4%. The strategic exit from lower-margin residential contracts also weighed on volumes.

Waste Management Expands EBITDA MarginAdjusted operating EBITDA increased 5.5% year over year to $2.07 billion. Excluding wildfire cleanup contributions from the prior-year quarter, adjusted operating EBITDA growth was 9.1%.

The adjusted operating EBITDA margin expanded 40 basis points to 30.9%. The improvement came despite a 60-basis-point headwind from the comparison with wildfire cleanup work and a 40-basis-point drag from higher energy surcharges.

WM’s Collection Business Drives GrowthCollection and Disposal revenues increased 3.7% year over year to $5.48 billion. Commercial revenues rose to $1.49 billion from $1.40 billion, industrial revenues increased to $820 million from $790 million and residential revenues advanced to $911 million from $872 million.

The segment’s adjusted operating EBITDA increased $79 million to $2.12 billion. Favorable price-to-cost spread, lower frontline turnover and disciplined cost management helped offset the unfavorable comparison with wildfire cleanup contributions in the year-ago period.

Waste Management’s Sustainability Units GainRecycling Processing and Sales revenues increased to $403 million from $381 million. Renewable Energy revenues climbed to $157 million from $115 million, reflecting higher production following the completion of growth projects.

Combined adjusted operating EBITDA from the recycling and renewable energy businesses increased 32.5%, or $40 million. Higher recycling volumes, automation-related efficiencies and increased renewable natural gas production drove the improvement despite lower prices for recycled commodities, natural gas and renewable fuel credits.

WM Improves Healthcare ProfitabilityHealthcare Solutions revenues declined to $638 million from $646 million. However, the business generated adjusted operating EBITDA of $121 million, up from $110 million in the year-ago quarter.

The adjusted operating EBITDA margin expanded to 19% from 17%. Effective selling, general and administrative expense management and integration benefits from WM’s core Collection and Disposal operations supported the segment’s profitability.

Waste Management Keeps Expenses in CheckOperating expenses totaled $3.96 billion and represented 59.2% of revenues compared with 59.1% a year earlier. Cost controls and productivity initiatives largely offset higher fuel-related expenses.

Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses declined to $662 million from $672 million. The adjusted SG&A expense ratio improved 60 basis points to 9.9%, reflecting cost discipline and continued synergy capture within Healthcare Solutions.

WM Generates Strong Cash FlowNet cash provided by operating activities increased nearly 12% to $1.73 billion. Free cash flow jumped 34.5% to $1.10 billion, driven by operating EBITDA growth and working capital improvements.

WM returned $1.04 billion to shareholders during the quarter. This included $659 million in share repurchases and $379 million in cash dividends. The company also completed three renewable natural gas facilities and a new recycling facility in Denver.

Waste Management Updates Revenue OutlookWM reduced its revenue outlook to $26.28-$26.48 billion from the preceding quarter’s view of $26.43-$26.63 billion, reflecting lower volume expectations partly offset by higher energy surcharges.

Management maintained its 2026 adjusted operating EBITDA outlook of $8.15-$8.25 billion and free cash flow projection of $3.75-$3.85 billion. The adjusted operating EBITDA margin forecast was raised by 20 basis points to 31-31.2% from the preceding quarter’s view of 30.8-31%.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Waste Management has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a C. Following the exact same course, the stock has a score of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, Waste Management has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

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HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WM (NYSE: WM) today announced the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.945 per share payable September 25, 2026, to stockholders of record on September 11, 2026.

ABOUT WM

WM (WM.com) is North America's leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions. Previously known as Waste Management and based in Houston, Texas, WM is driven by commitments to put people first and achieve success with integrity. WM, through its subsidiaries, provides collection, recycling and disposal services to millions of residential, commercial, industrial, medical and municipal customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. With innovative infrastructure and capabilities in recycling, organics and renewable energy, WM provides environmental solutions to and collaborates with its customers in helping them pursue their sustainability goals. In North America, WM has the largest disposal network and collection fleet, is the largest recycler and is a leader in beneficial use of landfill gas, with a growing network of renewable natural gas plants and the most landfill gas-to-electricity plants, as well as the largest heavy-duty natural gas truck fleet in the industry. WM, through its subsidiaries, also provides collection and disposal services of regulated medical waste and secure information destruction services in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. To learn more about WM and the company's sustainability progress and solutions, visit Sustainability.WM.com.

More News From WM

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Advisors Preferred LLC purchased a new position in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 3,988 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $919,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of WM. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Waste Management in the 4th quarter worth $1,022,916,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of Waste Management by 279.0% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,075,906 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $236,387,000 after buying an additional 792,037 shares during the period. Diamant Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 23,051.5% during the first quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 770,945 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $17,716,000 after buying an additional 767,615 shares in the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. raised its position in Waste Management by 3,209.2% in the 3rd quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 681,366 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $150,466,000 after buying an additional 660,776 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Danske Bank A S bought a new stake in Waste Management in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $146,053,000. 80.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have recently weighed in on WM. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Waste Management from $252.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce downgraded shares of Waste Management from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Waste Management from $270.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $263.00 to $269.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 10th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on Waste Management from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.89.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Waste Management Waste Management Trading Up 0.0% Shares of Waste Management stock opened at $225.17 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $227.96 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $227.79. Waste Management, Inc. has a 1 year low of $194.11 and a 1 year high of $248.13. The company has a market capitalization of $90.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.87.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The business services provider reported $2.02 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.04. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.11% and a return on equity of 31.68%. The company had revenue of $6.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.71 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.92 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 8.13 EPS for the current year.

Waste Management Company Profile (Free Report)

Waste Management, Inc (NYSE: WM) is a leading provider of integrated waste management and environmental services in North America. The company offers end-to-end solutions that span collection, transfer, disposal and recycling, along with landfill operations and related infrastructure. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Waste Management serves a broad customer base that includes residential, commercial, industrial and municipal clients.

Core services include curbside and commercial waste collection, roll-off and temporary container services, materials recovery and recycling, and engineered landfill disposal.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Waste Management 3 Energy Stocks Raising Dividends as the Sector Surges 5 Reasons the S&P 500 Could Keep Rallying Through Year-End Walmart’s Post-Earnings Drop Could Be a Buying Opportunity The Trade Desk’s Earnings Miss Raises a Bigger Question About Its AI Future Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM – Free Report).

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BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM – Free Report) by 1.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 30,733,944 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 535,079 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. owned 7.69% of Waste Management worth $6,849,981,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Waste Management in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,022,916,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its stake in Waste Management by 279.0% during the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,075,906 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $236,387,000 after acquiring an additional 792,037 shares in the last quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Waste Management by 23,051.5% in the first quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 770,945 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $17,716,000 after acquiring an additional 767,615 shares during the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. boosted its stake in Waste Management by 3,209.2% in the third quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 681,366 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $150,466,000 after acquiring an additional 660,776 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Waste Management by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 38,990,067 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $8,566,508,000 after acquiring an additional 553,605 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.40% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Waste Management Here are the key news stories impacting Waste Management this week:

Positive Sentiment: Waste Management has generated a 58.6% total stock gain over the past five years, reflecting the company’s defensive business profile and relatively consistent long-term performance. Its discounted-cash-flow valuation was described as approximately in line with the share price, which may support the view that the stock is not materially overvalued under cash-flow assumptions. Where Does Waste Management (WM) Value Sit After A 59% Gain? Neutral Sentiment: Recent “waste management stocks” coverage provides general sector context but does not identify a new development specific to Waste Management that would materially change its earnings outlook. Waste Management Stocks To Consider – August 15th Negative Sentiment: The valuation analysis flags a low value score and indicates that earnings-based multiples place WM at a premium. With the stock trading near its 50-day and 200-day averages and at a forward earnings valuation that is not inexpensive, concerns about limited upside or elevated valuation could weigh on investor enthusiasm. Waste Management Stock Performance NYSE WM opened at $225.05 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $89.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.88, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.44. Waste Management, Inc. has a 52-week low of $194.11 and a 52-week high of $248.13. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $227.84 and its 200 day moving average price is $227.77. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24. Waste Management (NYSE:WM – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The business services provider reported $2.02 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.04. Waste Management had a return on equity of 31.68% and a net margin of 11.11%.The firm had revenue of $6.68 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.71 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.92 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Waste Management, Inc. will post 8.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently commented on WM shares. UBS Group lifted their target price on Waste Management from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce cut Waste Management from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Waste Management from $263.00 to $269.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Scotiabank boosted their price objective on Waste Management from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Waste Management from $252.00 to $261.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $258.89.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on WM

Waste Management Profile (Free Report)

Waste Management, Inc (NYSE: WM) is a leading provider of integrated waste management and environmental services in North America. The company offers end-to-end solutions that span collection, transfer, disposal and recycling, along with landfill operations and related infrastructure. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Waste Management serves a broad customer base that includes residential, commercial, industrial and municipal clients.

Core services include curbside and commercial waste collection, roll-off and temporary container services, materials recovery and recycling, and engineered landfill disposal.

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Warren Buffett may have retired as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA +0.07%) (BRKB -0.07%), but the legendary investor is still quite active. While serving as chairman of the Omaha-based holding company, Buffett continues to periodically give interviews to the financial media.

A prime example is back in May, when the Oracle of Omaha lamented the rise of "gambling culture" within the stock market, stating, "We've never had people in a more gambling mood than now." This isn't the first time Buffett has compared short-term speculation to gambling, but these remarks, along with others made in this interview, could provide insight into where markets are headed from here.

In the same interview, Buffett noted that, in such a gambling fever environment, "prices for an awful lot of things will look very silly." While not certain, the current "fast-money culture" could give way to a financial market correction.

With this in mind, it may be time to consider some safe, defensive stocks. Here are three that, while not part of the current Berkshire portfolio, could thrive if today's chancy, speculative market gives way to turbulence: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ +0.66%), PepsiCo (PEP +1.01%), and WM (WM +1.69%).

Image source: The Motley Fool.

1. Berkshire used to own defensive healthcare stock Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson was once a Warren Buffett stock. Berkshire began building a position in the diversified healthcare company back in 2006, holding it for many years, before divesting it in recent years, culminating in a full exit from its position in 2023.

With the stock rising nearly 75% since then, you may think it is overvalued at around $250 per share today, assuming Buffett's $150-per-share sale was based on valuation. However, given success thus far with the company's pivot toward oncology, a faster-growing segment of healthcare, its big run-up appears logical.

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272.91

Although pricier now than it was in 2023, if J&J's oncology catalyst continues to play out, the resulting earnings growth could help sustain or add to its valuation of around 22 times forward earnings. At the same time, J&J remains one of the highest-quality blue chip dividend stocks. One of the Dividend Kings, or companies that have raised their dividend payouts for at least 50 years, the company has raised its dividend every year for the past 65 years.

The stock currently has a 2% forward yield. Alongside a strong dividend growth track record, Johnson & Johnson also sports a AAA credit rating from S&P Global.

2. PepsiCo rivals a longtime Buffett holding Coca-Cola, a stock held by Berkshire Hathaway since the 1980s, may be the best known among the Warren Buffett investments. However, PepsiCo's shares have many of the qualities long seen in Coca-Cola's shares.

For instance, PepsiCo has a strong track record of dividend growth. A Dividend King, just like Coca-Cola, the company has raised its dividend yearly for the past 55 years. The consumer staples stock is also a prime example of the types of defensive names that perform strongly during market downturns.

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At the same time, PepsiCo may also beat Coca-Cola on fundamental-based investing metrics. The stock trades for only 16.5 times forward earnings, while Coca-Cola trades for over 26.5.

PepsiCo also has a higher forward dividend yield of 4.2%, more than double Coke's 2.4%. Yes, PepsiCo recently hit new 52-week lows as turnaround efforts struggle to counter macro headwinds in the near term. Even so, as those efforts stall, activist investor Elliott Management could further pressure the company to implement sweeping changes, such as selling off underperforming assets.

3. WM's "boring" business is a compelling buy-and-hold WM, formerly known as Waste Management, may be one of the few companies whose corporate name fully describes what it does. On the surface, it may sound like a dull business, but there are advantages to making this "boring stock" a core holding in both bullish and bearish markets. No matter the macroeconomic backdrop, someone has to take out the trash.

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The company has further leveraged the stability of the waste management business by aggressively acquiring other waste management companies. Long-term success with this "rollup" strategy has led to consistent earnings growth.

That said, valuation and yield are two trade-offs with this stock. Shares change hands for around 27 times forward earnings. WM's 1.6% forward yield is also much lower than many of the other blue chip dividend stocks listed previously.

Still, WM has built up a nearly two-decade dividend growth streak. Long-term analyst forecasts call for earnings growth to remain in the upper-single-digit/lower-double-digit range for years to come. This may help sustain WM's premium valuation, with the stock potentially rising in line with earnings growth.