WM, North America's leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions, operates primarily in the United States and Canada. The company manages waste from collection to disposal, while also recovering valuable resources and creating renewable energy . WM owns or operates the largest network of landfills in North America and manages transfer stations to efficiently transport waste. Their business is divided into four reportable segments: Collection and Disposal - East Tier, Collection and Disposal - West Tier, Recycling Processing and Sales, and WM Renewable Energy .
- Collection and Disposal - Provides comprehensive waste management services, including Commercial, Industrial, Residential, and Other Collection services, as well as Landfill and Transfer operations, across the East and West Tiers .
- Recycling Processing and Sales - Manages the processing and sale of recyclable materials, contributing to resource recovery and sustainability efforts .
- WM Renewable Energy - Focuses on creating renewable energy from waste, supporting environmental sustainability and energy recovery .
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| Name | Position | External Roles | Short Bio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
James C. Fish, Jr. ExecutiveBoard | President, CEO, and Director | Director of Caterpillar Inc. | CEO since 2016, with over 20 years at WM. Previously held roles such as CFO and SVP of Eastern Group. Focuses on sustainability, digital transformation, and inclusion. | View Report → |
Charles C. Boettcher Executive | EVP, Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer | None mentioned | Oversees corporate development and legal functions. Held various legal leadership roles at WM since 2017. | |
Christopher P. DeSantis Executive | SVP – Operations | None mentioned | Joined WM in 2009. Promoted to SVP – Operations in October 2023 after serving as Area VP – New England. | |
Devina A. Rankin Executive | EVP and CFO | None mentioned | CFO since 2017. Oversees financial strategy and risk management. Signed certifications as CFO as of October 2024. | |
Donald J. Smith Executive | SVP – Operations | None mentioned | Joined WM in 2012. Promoted to SVP – Operations in January 2023 after serving as Area VP – Texas & Oklahoma Area. | |
Johnson Varkey Executive | SVP and Chief Information Officer | None mentioned | CIO since January 2024. Previously VP – Enterprise Digital Services. | |
Michael J. Watson Executive | SVP and Chief Customer Officer | None mentioned | Chief Customer Officer since 2018. Focuses on customer experience and operational excellence. | |
Rafael E. Carrasco Executive | SVP – Enterprise Strategy | None mentioned | Joined WM in 2017. Previously SVP – Operations and Area VP for Greater Mid-Atlantic Area. Focuses on strategic initiatives. | |
Tara J. Hemmer Executive | SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer | None mentioned | Leads WM's sustainability initiatives, including $2.5B investments in recycling and renewable energy. Former SVP – Operations. | |
Andr\u00e9s R. Gluski Board | Director | President and CEO of AES Corporation; Chairman of Council of the Americas | Director since 2015. Expertise in energy policy, sustainability, and governance. | |
Bruce E. Chinn Board | Director | Chairman of AIChE Foundation; Board Member of Alliance to End Plastic Waste | Director since February 2023. Former CEO of Chevron Phillips Chemical. Expertise in sustainability and renewable energy. | |
Kathleen M. Mazzarella Board | Non-Executive Chair of the Board | Chairman, President, and CEO of Graybar Electric; Director at Cigna and Core & Main | Director since 2015. Became Non-Executive Chair in May 2023. Extensive leadership experience and governance expertise. | |
Maryrose T. Sylvester Board | Director | Director at Harley-Davidson, Vontier, and Flex Ltd. | Director since 2021. Former U.S. Managing Director at ABB Ltd. Expertise in technology and sustainability. | |
Thomas L. Bené Board | Director | President and CEO of Breakthru Beverage Group | Joined WM's Board in March 2024. Former CEO of Sysco Corporation and National Restaurant Association. | |
Victoria M. Holt Board | Director | Director at Piper Sandler, A. O. Smith, and Flex Ltd. | Director since 2013. Former CEO of Proto Labs. Expertise in innovation and risk management. | |
William B. Plummer Board | Director | Director at Global Payments Inc. | Director since 2019. Former CFO of United Rentals. Expertise in finance, M&A, and risk management. |
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Given that your leverage is expected to rise to 3.6x after the Stericycle acquisition and recent tuck-in acquisitions, how do you plan to manage debt reduction while continuing to invest in growth opportunities and return value to shareholders, especially considering the temporary suspension of your share repurchase program?
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With certain segments of your collection volumes trending behind full-year expectations, particularly in industrial and roll-off services, what specific strategies are you implementing to mitigate these volume declines, and how confident are you in the sustainability of your cost optimization efforts?
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Considering softness in industrial volumes and potential economic uncertainties, how confident are you in maintaining your pricing power to sustain margin expansion into 2025, and what factors could impact your ability to do so?
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How might the upcoming election outcomes impact your renewable natural gas (RNG) business, particularly regarding RIN pricing and the regulatory environment, and how does this influence your investment plans for RNG projects?
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With the planned acquisition of Stericycle introducing medical waste as a new vertical, what integration risks do you foresee, and how do you plan to address potential cultural and operational challenges to ensure the projected financial and strategic benefits are realized?
Research analysts who have asked questions during WASTE MANAGEMENT earnings calls.
James Schumm
TD Cowen
6 questions for WM
Konark Gupta
Scotiabank
6 questions for WM
Noah Kaye
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
6 questions for WM
Toni Kaplan
Morgan Stanley
6 questions for WM
Trevor Romeo
William Blair
6 questions for WM
Bryan Burgmeier
Citigroup Inc.
5 questions for WM
Kevin Chiang
CIBC Capital Markets
5 questions for WM
Faiza Alwy
Deutsche Bank
4 questions for WM
Sabahat Khan
RBC Capital Markets
4 questions for WM
Stephanie Moore
Jefferies
4 questions for WM
Tobey Sommer
Truist Securities, Inc.
4 questions for WM
Tyler Brown
Raymond James Financial, Inc.
4 questions for WM
David Manthey
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
3 questions for WM
Jerry Revich
Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
3 questions for WM
Brian Butler
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
2 questions for WM
Patrick Brown
Raymond James
2 questions for WM
Rob Wertheimer
Melius Research LLC
2 questions for WM
Tami Zakaria
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
2 questions for WM
George Bancroft
Gabelli Funds
1 question for WM
Harold Ander
Jefferies
1 question for WM
Shlomo Rosenbaum
Stifel Financial Corp.
1 question for WM
Shlomo Rosenbaum
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
1 question for WM
Stephanie Benjamin Moore
Jefferies
1 question for WM
Notable M&A activity and strategic investments in the past 3 years.
| Company | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
Stericycle, Inc. | 2024 | Waste Management, Inc. acquired all outstanding shares of Stericycle for a total enterprise value of approximately $7.2 billion (including $1.4 billion of net debt) at $62.00 per share in cash, expecting annual cost synergies over $125 million while expanding its healthcare and regulated medical waste businesses; the deal was announced on June 3, 2024, and closed on November 4, 2024. |
Tuck-in acquisitions in New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Arizona | 2024 | Waste Management completed solid waste and recycling tuck-in acquisitions with a total consideration of $780 million (comprising primarily cash and minor purchase price holdbacks) to strategically expand its operations in key growth markets and enhance customer relationships, aligning with its broader operational synergies. |
Solid Waste and Recycling Acquisitions | 2023 | In 2023, Waste Management’s acquisitions were completed with a total consideration of $138 million (plus additional related considerations in prior periods), with allocations to property, intangible assets, and tax-deductible goodwill arising from expected integration synergies; these transactions remain in the measurement period for potential adjustments. |
Seven Businesses in the Solid Waste Segment | 2022 | The acquisition of seven businesses for $216 million involved $202 million in cash, $14 million in holdbacks, and allocations to property, customer relationships, and significant tax-deductible goodwill driven by synergy expectations, with additional holdback payments related to prior year acquisitions and ongoing measurement period adjustments. |
Recent press releases and 8-K filings for WM.
- Third-quarter operating EBITDA rose over 15%, and free cash flow grew nearly 33%, driven by collection and disposal growth with MSW up 5% and special waste volumes up 5.5% year-over-year.
- WM raised its full-year operating EBITDA margin guidance to 29.6%–30.2%, reflecting continued execution and expected strong Q4 performance.
- The integration of WM Healthcare Solutions into its 16-area structure is delivering cross-selling gains, highlighted by one hospital customer increasing annual spend by over $5 million.
- Sustainability segments performed strongly: recycling EBITDA increased 18% despite a 35% drop in recycled commodity prices, and renewable natural gas contributions rose on new facilities.
- For 2026, WM anticipates free cash flow approaching $3.8 billion, benefiting from reduced capital spending post-investments and synergy carryover.
- Q3 operating EBITDA margin of 30.6% (legacy business at 32%) delivered record quarterly profitability, with operating EBITDA up >15% YoY, powered by MSW volume +5% and special waste +5.5%.
- Through first nine months of 2025, generated $4.35 billion in cash from operations (+12%), spent $2.34 billion on capital investments, and produced $2.11 billion in free cash flow (+13.5%) with a Q3 FCF conversion rate of ~42%.
- Full-year 2025 revenue now expected at the low end of guidance, while margin forecast increased to 29.6%–30.2%; 2026 free cash flow projected at $3.8 billion and leverage stood at 3.3×, targeting 2.5–3× by mid-2026.
- WM Healthcare Solutions has been fully integrated into the company’s 16-area structure; segment margins have improved to 17.5%, with synergy capture exceeding initial expectations despite moderating revenue growth due to customer credits and deferred price increases.
- CFO Devina Rankin is retiring after 23 years, marking a forthcoming management change.
- 3Q operating EBITDA rose over 15%; margin reached 30.6% (legacy 32%), and free cash flow grew nearly 33%, with 42% FCF conversion.
- Core collection & disposal drove growth: segment EBITDA margin hit a record 38.4%, core price +6%, yield 3.8%, while volumes climbed (MSW +5%, special waste +5.5%, industrial +1.2%).
- WM Healthcare Solutions integration is on track: synergies exceeded targets, segment margin improved to 17.5%, with ERP-related customer credits and deferred price increases expected to stabilize in 2026.
- Sustainability businesses showed resilience: recycling EBITDA rose 18% amid a 35% drop in commodity prices; RNG production doubled YTD with 2026 RINs priced at $220–$230, and 2026 free cash flow is guided near $3.8 billion.
- Waste Management’s Q3 2025 revenue was $6.443 billion, up 14.9% year-over-year; adjusted operating EBITDA was $1.970 billion with a 30.6% margin.
- Reported net income was $603 million; diluted EPS was $1.49, and adjusted EPS was $1.98.
- In the quarter, the company generated $1.592 billion in operating cash flow and $821 million in free cash flow.
- Waste Management reaffirmed its 2025 guidance: adjusted operating EBITDA of $7.475–7.625 billion, free cash flow of $2.8–2.9 billion, and total revenue of $25.275 billion.
- WM reported Q3 revenue of $6.44 B, up 14.9% Y/Y, and adjusted operating EBITDA of $1.97 B, compared to $1.71 B in Q3 2024, yielding a 30.6% margin .
- Collection & Disposal segment achieved a record 38.4% adjusted operating EBITDA margin, driven by disciplined pricing and technology enhancements.
- Completed four sustainability growth projects—two renewable natural gas facilities and two recycling initiatives—bringing RNG projects to 10/20 and recycling projects to 31/39 of their original plans.
- Reaffirmed full-year 2025 guidance: $7.475–7.625 B adjusted operating EBITDA, $2.8–2.9 B free cash flow, approx. $25.275 B revenue, and raised margin outlook to 29.6–30.2%.
- WM delivered a healthy top- and bottom-line beat, driving the stock up over 3% on the quarter’s results.
- CEO Jim Fish labeled WM a “forever stock”, emphasizing consistent performance year in, year out and a buy-and-hold strategy.
- The Stericycle acquisition boosted healthcare solutions EBITDA margins by 170 bps, while core pricing and cost controls further lifted overall gross margins.
- Commercial and industrial segments—especially construction & demolition—have improved sequentially for four consecutive quarters, with June the strongest month in Q2, indicating economic resilience.
- Industry-wide landfill airspace is declining over the next 15 years, but WM holds the best-located sites in 9 of the 10 largest U.S. MSAs with longer remaining lives, providing a strategic advantage.
- 2027 targets: Revenue of $28.5 – 29.25 billion and adjusted operating EBITDA of $8.85 – 9.15 billion.
- Sustainability investments: $3 billion committed to recycling plant automation and renewable natural gas, aiming for 14–15% revenue growth in the sustainability segment and 35% labor reduction in automated plants.
- Healthcare unit expansion: Acquired Stericycle as a tuck-in to capture waste services from an aging population, positioning the healthcare solutions business for secular growth.
- Solid waste M&A: Expects 0.5–1% of revenue growth from additional tuck-in deals in the fragmented traditional solid waste market.
- Automation roadmap: Deploying side-loader trucks to eliminate hard-to-fill roles and targeting fully autonomous collection vehicles within two years to boost efficiency and safety.
- Operating EBITDA grew by over 12% year-over-year, driven by strong performance in collection, disposal, and sustainability businesses, with recycling and renewable energy margins up by over 20%.
- The company advanced its cost optimization efforts, achieving operating expenses at 60.5% of revenue (a 40 basis point improvement) and reducing labor dependencies through automation, supporting robust EBITDA margin expansion.
- A healthy M&A pipeline is in place with expectations to close over $500 million in solid waste acquisitions, alongside proactive integration of WM Healthcare Solutions and Stericycle synergies.
- Revenue reached $6,018 million with a 16.7% increase year-over-year, indicating robust top-line growth.
- WM Healthcare Solutions delivered $95 million in adjusted operating EBITDA, highlighting the success of its new business segment.
- The results reflect strong operational performance and disciplined cost management, with management expressing confidence in achieving the 2025 outlook.
- WM plans to invest approximately $3 billion in a sustainability strategy from 2022-2026, aiming to add 39 recycling facilities and 20 RNG facilities across the U.S.
- The company has grand opening events for four projects, including new or upgraded recycling sites near Baltimore and Central Texas, and RNG facilities in Chicago and Philadelphia, with over $323 million in executed investments.
- Upgrades involve state-of-the-art technology such as artificial intelligence and automation to boost recycling capacity and renewable natural gas production.