Waste Connections (WCN) 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
Waste Management (WM) has outperformed Waste Connections (WCN) over the past year, losing 4.5% versus a loss of 10.9%. Over five years, WM leads with a +32.8% price change compared with +19.3% for WCN. Waste Management is the larger company by market cap ($83.98 billion vs $38.92 billion), about 2.2 times the size.
On valuation, Waste Management trades at a lower forward P/E (23.1x vs 24.9x for Waste Connections). Waste Management offers the higher dividend yield (1.68% vs 0.88%). Waste Connections converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 11.4% 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 | WCN | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $154.69 | $210.10 |
| Market cap | $38.92B | $83.98B |
| 1-day change | -0.30% | +0.56% |
| YTD return | -11.79% | -4.37% |
| 1-year return | -10.94% | -4.49% |
| 5-year return | +19.27% | +32.83% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 37.36 | 29.76 |
| Forward P/E | 24.92 | 23.12 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.14 | $7.06 |
| Dividend yield | 0.88% | 1.68% |
| Annual dividend | $1.37 | $3.54 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $9.47B | $25.20B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.14% | +14.24% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.08B | $2.71B |
| Gross margin | 42.37% | 40.44% |
| Operating margin | 18.06% | 17.09% |
| Net margin | 11.37% | 10.74% |
| 52-week high | $179.74 | $248.13 |
| 52-week low | $146.89 | $194.11 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.94% | -15.33% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +29.83% | +23.07% |
| Average volume | 1.25M | 2.05M |
| Shares outstanding | 251.57M | 399.72M |
| Employees | 24,214 | 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 2.2 times larger than Waste Connections by market value ($83.98B vs $38.92B).
- Waste Connections trades at a higher earnings multiple (37.4x vs 29.8x trailing P/E).
- Waste Management grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+14.24% vs +6.14%).
About Waste Connections
WCN stock →Waste Connections, Inc. provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, and disposal services in the United States and Canada.
Utilities · Environmental Services · 24,214 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
WCN vs WM FAQ
Which is bigger, Waste Connections or Waste Management?
Waste Management (WM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $83.98B compared with $38.92B for Waste Connections (WCN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, WCN or WM?
WM returned -4.49% over the past 12 months, compared with -10.94% for WCN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, WCN or WM?
WM has the lower trailing P/E at 29.8, versus 37.4 for WCN. 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, Waste Connections or Waste Management?
Waste Management has the higher yield at 1.68%, compared with 0.88% for Waste Connections.
Are Waste Connections and Waste Management in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Environmental Services industry within the Utilities sector.