Casella Waste Systems (CWST) vs Waste Management (WM)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Waste Management (WM) has outperformed Casella Waste Systems (CWST) over the past year, losing 4.5% versus a loss of 8.3%. Over five years, WM leads with a +32.8% price change compared with +5.1% for CWST. Waste Management is the larger company by market cap ($83.98 billion vs $5.35 billion), about 15.7 times the size, while Casella Waste Systems is growing revenue faster (+18.0% vs +14.2%).
On valuation, Waste Management trades at a lower forward P/E (23.1x vs 57.3x for Casella Waste Systems). Waste Management pays a dividend yielding 1.68%, while Casella Waste Systems does not currently pay one. Waste Management converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 10.7% versus 0.4%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CWST | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $84.05 | $210.10 |
| Market cap | $5.35B | $83.98B |
| 1-day change | +0.39% | +0.56% |
| YTD return | -14.18% | -4.37% |
| 1-year return | -8.33% | -4.49% |
| 5-year return | +5.06% | +32.83% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 933.89 | 29.76 |
| Forward P/E | 57.26 | 23.12 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.09 | $7.06 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.68% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $3.54 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.84B | $25.20B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +17.95% | +14.24% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $7.87M | $2.71B |
| Gross margin | 33.77% | 40.44% |
| Operating margin | 3.47% | 17.09% |
| Net margin | 0.43% | 10.74% |
| 52-week high | $107.96 | $248.13 |
| 52-week low | $74.05 | $194.11 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.15% | -15.33% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.06% | +23.07% |
| Average volume | 572.35K | 2.06M |
| Shares outstanding | 62.65M | 399.72M |
| Employees | 5,600 | 60,500 |
| Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| Industry | Environmental Services | Environmental Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Waste Management is about 15.7 times larger than Casella Waste Systems by market value ($83.98B vs $5.35B).
- Casella Waste Systems trades at a higher earnings multiple (933.9x vs 29.8x trailing P/E).
- Waste Management offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.68% vs 0.00%).
- Waste Management is more profitable, keeping 10.7 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 0.4 cents for Casella Waste Systems.
About Casella Waste Systems
CWST stock →Casella Waste Systems, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a vertically integrated solid waste services company in the United States. The company offers resource management expertise and services primarily in the areas of solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling and organics services to residential, commercial, municipal, institutional, and industrial customers.
Utilities · Environmental Services · 5,600 employees
About Waste Management
WM stock →Waste Management, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides environmental solutions to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, and internationally. It offers collection services, including picking up and transporting waste and recyclable materials from where it was generated to a transfer station, recovery facility, or disposal site; owns and operates transfer stations; and owns, develops, and operates landfill gas-to-energy facilities that produce renewable electricity and renewable natural gas.
Utilities · Environmental Services · 60,500 employees
CWST vs WM FAQ
Which is bigger, Casella Waste Systems or Waste Management?
Waste Management (WM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $83.98B compared with $5.35B for Casella Waste Systems (CWST).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CWST or WM?
WM returned -4.49% over the past 12 months, compared with -8.33% for CWST (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CWST or WM?
WM has the lower trailing P/E at 29.8, versus 933.9 for CWST. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Casella Waste Systems or Waste Management?
Waste Management pays a dividend yielding 1.68%, while Casella Waste Systems does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Casella Waste Systems and Waste Management in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Environmental Services industry within the Utilities sector.