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WASTE MANAGEMENT (WM)

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Earnings summaries and quarterly performance for WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Research analysts who have asked questions during WASTE MANAGEMENT earnings calls.

JS

James Schumm

TD Cowen

6 questions for WM

Also covers: CLH, CWST, GFL +5 more
KG

Konark Gupta

Scotiabank

6 questions for WM

Also covers: CAE, CNI, CP +4 more
Noah Kaye

Noah Kaye

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

6 questions for WM

Also covers: AAON, AMRC, BWA +16 more
TK

Toni Kaplan

Morgan Stanley

6 questions for WM

Also covers: ADT, ARMK, BFAM +18 more
Trevor Romeo

Trevor Romeo

William Blair

6 questions for WM

Also covers: AMN, ASGN, CCRN +9 more
Bryan Burgmeier

Bryan Burgmeier

Citigroup Inc.

5 questions for WM

Also covers: AVY, GFL, OI +4 more
KC

Kevin Chiang

CIBC Capital Markets

5 questions for WM

Also covers: CAE, CP, GFL +4 more
Stephanie Moore

Stephanie Moore

Jefferies

5 questions for WM

Also covers: APG, ARCB, ARMK +30 more
Faiza Alwy

Faiza Alwy

Deutsche Bank

4 questions for WM

Also covers: ABM, ADV, ARMK +16 more
Sabahat Khan

Sabahat Khan

RBC Capital Markets

4 questions for WM

Also covers: ACM, ATS, DOOO +9 more
Tobey Sommer

Tobey Sommer

Truist Securities, Inc.

4 questions for WM

Also covers: AMN, AMTM, ASGN +26 more
Tyler Brown

Tyler Brown

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

4 questions for WM

Also covers: CLH, CWST, MLM +7 more
David Manthey

David Manthey

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

3 questions for WM

Also covers: AIT, BECN, BLDR +13 more
JR

Jerry Revich

Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

3 questions for WM

Also covers: AGCO, ALSN, ATMU +28 more
BB

Brian Butler

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

2 questions for WM

Also covers: CLH, CWST, GEF +8 more
PB

Patrick Brown

Raymond James

2 questions for WM

Also covers: BLX, CLH, CWST +8 more
Rob Wertheimer

Rob Wertheimer

Melius Research LLC

2 questions for WM

Also covers: ALSN, AME, CAT +11 more
TZ

Tami Zakaria

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

2 questions for WM

Also covers: ADM, AGCO, ALSN +23 more
GB

George Bancroft

Gabelli Funds

1 question for WM

Also covers: CR, DCO, GHM +2 more
HA

Harold Ander

Jefferies

1 question for WM

SR

Shlomo Rosenbaum

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

1 question for WM

Also covers: ARMK, CCCS, CLVT +15 more
SR

Shlomo Rosenbaum

Stifel Financial Corp.

1 question for WM

Also covers: FDS, NIQ, SPGI

Recent press releases and 8-K filings for WM.

WM announces 14.5% dividend hike and $3 billion buyback for 2026
WM
Dividends
Share Buyback
  • WM’s Board approved a 14.5% increase in the 2026 quarterly dividend to $0.945 per share, marking the 23rd consecutive year of dividend growth and raising the annual rate to $3.78.
  • The board authorized a $3 billion share repurchase program for 2026, replacing the remaining $1.5 billion authorization from 2023.
  • Management plans to return roughly 90% of 2026 free cash flow to shareholders through dividends and buybacks, while targeting $100–$200 million in tuck-in acquisitions.
  • WM expects to end 2025 with a leverage ratio of 3.1x after $1 billion of debt reduction, will resume repurchases post-Q4 2025 results, and aims for a 2.5x–3.0x leverage range in 2026.
Dec 15, 2025, 9:15 PM
Waste Management details margin expansion and free cash flow strategy at Goldman Sachs conference
WM
Guidance Update
New Projects/Investments
M&A
  • Legacy Waste Management margins are up 300 bps since 2022, driven by technology investments, route optimization, higher-margin renewable natural gas projects and increasing landfill pricing as capacity tightens.
  • Collection productivity is improving through dynamic routing and replacing rear loaders (700 homes/day) with automated side loaders (900–1,000 homes/day), with the residential fleet conversion about 70% complete.
  • The Stericycle acquisition is on track for $250 million of annual cost synergies (double the original estimate), cutting SG&A from ~25% to ~17% of revenue, with a pathway to mid-20s% margins over the next 2–3 years; billing-related revenue credits will reverse as a 2026 tailwind.
  • Sustainability CapEx peaks in 2025 to support landfill gas projects (currently $150–160 million EBITDA, rising to $470–500 million by 2027) and recycling plant rebuilds (29 of 31 complete), enabling free cash flow to ramp to about $3.8 billion in 2026, with balanced allocation including dividends and share buybacks.
Dec 3, 2025, 2:15 PM
WM expands curbside recycling to include to-go cups
WM
New Projects/Investments
  • WM now accepts polypropylene plastic and paper to-go cups in curbside recycling across more local programs in the U.S.
  • Change targets a Widely Recyclable designation for plastic cups (>60% curbside coverage) and a Check Locally designation for paper cups (≥20% community acceptance) from How2Recycle
  • WM is investing $1.4 billion in new recycling infrastructure across North America to boost processing capacity for these materials
  • Partnerships with Starbucks, The Recycling Partnership, How2Recycle, NextGen Consortium, municipalities and the National League of Cities support guideline updates and awareness efforts
Nov 12, 2025, 2:00 PM
Waste Management outlines growth and integration strategy at Baird Global Industrial Conference
WM
M&A
New Projects/Investments
  • WM operates about 15,000 collection vehicles, 262 landfills, 350 transfer facilities, and serves over 20 million customers (16 million residential) following last year’s Stericycle acquisition.
  • In Q3, collection and disposal margins hit a record 38.4%, legacy business margins were 32%, and overall margins exceeded 30%; the company targets 5–7% annual EBITDA growth with 50 bps margin improvement and $100–200 million of M&A per year.
  • Synergies from the Stericycle deal have been increased from $125 million to $300 million by end-2027, with ERP stabilization expected by mid-2026 under WM’s operational model.
  • The WM Healthcare segment has an addressable cross-sell market of over $2 billion, and SG&A has been reduced from the upper 20s % of revenue to 19%, reflecting secular growth outpacing core MSW collection.
  • Sustainability investments include roughly $1.5 billion in recycling automation and completion of 20 RNG plants on schedule; from 2026, WM plans to shift toward a harvesting cycle with $400 million+ in capital deployment aimed at returning cash to shareholders.
Nov 11, 2025, 4:15 PM
Waste Management reports Q3 2025 results
WM
Earnings
Guidance Update
CFO Change
  • 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.
Oct 28, 2025, 2:00 PM
Waste Management reports Q3 2025 results
WM
Earnings
Guidance Update
CFO Change
  • 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.
Oct 28, 2025, 2:00 PM
Waste Management reports Q3 2025 earnings
WM
Earnings
Guidance Update
  • 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.
Oct 28, 2025, 2:00 PM
Waste Management announces Q3 2025 earnings
WM
Earnings
Guidance Update
  • 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.
Oct 27, 2025, 8:40 PM
Waste Management announces Q3 2025 earnings
WM
Earnings
Guidance Update
New Projects/Investments
  • 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%.
Oct 27, 2025, 8:30 PM
Waste Management reports strong quarter and endorses long-term hold thesis
WM
Earnings
Guidance Update
  • 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.
Jul 30, 2025, 12:00 AM