Republic Services (RSG) vs Waste Management (WM)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Republic Services (RSG) has outperformed Waste Management (WM) over the past year, losing 2.9% versus a loss of 4.0%. Over five years, RSG leads with a +69.2% price change compared with +32.1% for WM. Waste Management is the larger company by market cap ($83.98 billion vs $66.40 billion), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, Waste Management trades at a lower forward P/E (23.1x vs 26.9x for Republic Services). Waste Management offers the higher dividend yield (1.68% vs 1.15%). Republic Services converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 11.2% versus 10.7%.
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 | RSG | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $216.84 | $210.10 |
| Market cap | $66.40B | $83.98B |
| 1-day change | +0.31% | +0.56% |
| YTD return | +2.01% | -4.90% |
| 1-year return | -2.95% | -3.96% |
| 5-year return | +69.25% | +32.10% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 30.76 | 29.76 |
| Forward P/E | 26.90 | 23.12 |
| EPS (TTM) | $7.05 | $7.06 |
| Dividend yield | 1.15% | 1.68% |
| Annual dividend | $2.50 | $3.54 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $19.03B | $25.20B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +3.31% | +14.24% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $2.14B | $2.71B |
| Gross margin | 49.39% | 40.44% |
| Operating margin | 17.35% | 17.09% |
| Net margin | 11.24% | 10.74% |
| 52-week high | $233.42 | $248.13 |
| 52-week low | $196.41 | $194.11 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -7.10% | -15.33% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.05% | +23.07% |
| Average volume | 1.45M | 2.05M |
| Shares outstanding | 306.21M | 399.72M |
| Employees | 42,000 | 60,500 |
| Sector | Industrials | Utilities |
| Industry | Waste Management | 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 grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+14.24% vs +3.31%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Republic Services in Industrials and Waste Management in Utilities.
About Republic Services
RSG stock →Republic Services, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, offers environmental services in the United States and Canada. It is involved in the collection and processing of recyclable, solid waste, and industrial waste materials; transportation and disposal of non-hazardous and hazardous waste streams; and other environmental solutions.
Industrials · Waste Management · 42,000 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
RSG vs WM FAQ
Which is bigger, Republic Services or Waste Management?
Waste Management (WM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $83.98B compared with $66.40B for Republic Services (RSG).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, RSG or WM?
RSG returned -2.95% over the past 12 months, compared with -3.96% for WM (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, RSG or WM?
WM has the lower trailing P/E at 29.8, versus 30.8 for RSG. 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, Republic Services or Waste Management?
Waste Management has the higher yield at 1.68%, compared with 1.15% for Republic Services.
Are Republic Services and Waste Management in the same industry?
No. Republic Services is in the Industrials sector, while Waste Management is in Utilities.