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WMWaste Management, Inc.

Debt to Equity Ratio: 2.28

Is the debt to equity ratio high or low?

The debt to equity ratio of 2.28 is in line with its 5-year average of 2.21, around the middle of its 5-year range (1.80–2.90).

As of Monday, June 29, 2026. 7.88% below its 12-month average of 2.48.

Debt to Equity

WM Debt to Equity Ratio

2.28

Reported quarterly debt to equity ratio; no daily interpolation.

+26.79% 5Y
WM Debt to Equity Ratio

WM Average Debt to Equity Ratio Chart

WM Debt to Equity Ratio

WM Current vs Average Debt to Equity Ratio Chart

WM Debt to Equity Ratio Metrics

DEBT TO EQUITY RATIO

2.28

DEBT TO EQUITY RATIO AVG TTM

2.48

DEBT TO EQUITY RATIO AVG 3Y

2.34

DEBT TO EQUITY RATIO AVG 5Y

2.14

DEBT TO EQUITY RATIO AVG 10Y

1.98

DEBT TO EQUITY RATIO AVG 15Y

1.82

DEBT TO EQUITY RATIO AVG 20Y

1.72

CURRENT VS TTM AVG

-7.88%

CURRENT VS 3Y AVG

-2.32%

CURRENT VS 5Y AVG

+6.65%

CURRENT VS 10Y AVG

+15.32%

CURRENT VS 15Y AVG

+25.61%

CURRENT VS 20Y AVG

+33.08%

WM Competitors' Debt to Equity Ratio

NAMEMARKET CAPDEBT TO EQUITY RATIOTTM3Y5Y
Waste Management, Inc. (WM)$89.70B2.282.482.342.14
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)vs ›$89.93B1.461.141.080.89
CSX Corporation (CSX)vs ›$89.21B1.471.501.511.44
Johnson Controls International plc (JCI)vs ›$85.70B0.870.730.640.57
General Dynamics Corporation (GD)vs ›$94.13B0.380.430.510.62
3M Company (MMM)vs ›$84.72B2.753.162.732.28
Cummins Inc. (CMI)vs ›$95.36B0.660.700.790.71
United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS)vs ›$80.64B1.991.761.568.38
Emerson Electric Co. (EMR)vs ›$79.99B0.680.540.630.69
Bloom Energy Corporation (BE)vs ›$78.22B3.893.313.134.82

Financial Health

Debt/Equity

2.28

Current Ratio

0.89

Debt to Equity Ratio Formula & Definition

Debt to Equity measures financial leverage by comparing total debt to shareholders' equity.

Expanded definitions: Investopedia, Wikipedia, Corporate Finance Institute

Debt to Equity Ratio FAQ

What is the debt to equity ratio for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The debt to equity ratio for WM stock is 2.28.
Is Waste Management, Inc.'s debt to equity ratio high or low?
The debt to equity ratio of 2.28 is in line with its 5-year average of 2.21, around the middle of its 5-year range (1.80–2.90).
What is the TTM average debt to equity ratio for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The TTM average debt to equity ratio for WM stock is 2.48.
What is the 3Y average debt to equity ratio for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The 3Y average debt to equity ratio for WM stock is 2.34.
What is the 5Y average debt to equity ratio for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The 5Y average debt to equity ratio for WM stock is 2.14.
What is the 10Y average debt to equity ratio for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The 10Y average debt to equity ratio for WM stock is 1.98.
What is the 15Y average debt to equity ratio for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The 15Y average debt to equity ratio for WM stock is 1.82.
What is the 20Y average debt to equity ratio for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The 20Y average debt to equity ratio for WM stock is 1.72.

WM Debt to Equity Ratio History

DATEDEBT TO EQUITY RATIO
2026-03-312.28
2025-12-312.29
2025-09-302.45
2025-06-302.61
2025-03-312.76
2024-12-312.90
2024-09-302.09
2024-06-302.25
2024-03-312.27
2023-12-312.35
2023-09-302.22
2023-06-302.22
2023-03-312.26
2022-12-312.19
2022-09-302.01
2022-06-301.99
2022-03-311.89
2021-12-311.88
2021-09-301.82
2021-06-301.80
2021-03-311.82
2020-12-311.85
2020-09-301.46
2020-06-301.86
2020-03-311.99
2019-12-311.91
2019-09-301.97
2019-06-301.97
2019-03-311.62
2018-12-311.60
2018-09-301.61
2018-06-301.62
2018-03-311.65
2017-12-311.58
2017-09-301.77
2017-06-301.65
2017-03-311.64
2016-12-311.76
2016-09-301.73
2016-06-301.83
2016-03-311.81
2015-12-311.68
2015-09-301.73
2015-06-301.69
2015-03-311.66
2014-12-311.61
2014-09-301.89
2014-06-301.67
2014-03-311.78
2013-12-311.79
2013-09-301.50
2013-06-301.50
2013-03-311.57
2012-12-311.56
2012-09-301.59
2012-06-301.59
2012-03-311.60
2011-12-311.61
2011-09-301.62
2011-06-301.44
2011-03-311.46
2010-12-311.42
2010-09-301.47
2010-06-301.57
2010-03-311.42
2009-12-311.41
2009-09-301.33
2009-06-301.36
2009-03-311.42
2008-12-311.41
2008-09-301.43
2008-06-301.47
2008-03-311.55
2007-12-311.44
2007-09-301.40
2007-06-301.36
2007-03-311.42
2006-12-311.34
2006-09-301.40
2006-06-301.38
2006-03-311.42
2005-12-311.42
2005-09-301.37
2005-06-301.36
2005-03-311.41
2004-12-311.43
2004-09-301.50
2004-06-301.51
2004-03-311.59
2003-12-311.53
2003-09-301.53
2003-06-301.51
2003-03-311.56
2002-12-311.56
2002-09-301.58
2002-06-301.63

About Waste Management, Inc.

Waste Management, Inc. (WM) functions as a premier provider of environmental waste solutions across North America, serving a diverse client base that includes residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers. The company's core operations involve comprehensive collection services, which include gathering and transporting both waste materials and recyclables from their initial point of generation to designated transfer stations, material recovery facilities (MRFs), or final disposal sites. Waste Management maintains an extensive network of facilities, owning, developing, and operating landfill gas-to-energy plants within the United States, in addition to managing numerous transfer stations. As of December 31, 2021, its substantial infrastructure consisted of 255 solid waste landfills, 5 secure hazardous waste landfills, 96 material recovery facilities, and 340 transfer stations. Beyond primary collection and disposal, WM offers services in materials processing and commodities recycling. This extends to recycling brokerage, where they handle the marketing of recyclable goods for third-party entities, alongside providing various other strategic business solutions. Its service portfolio also encompasses construction and remediation projects, the responsible management of fly ash and other residues generated from coal and fuel combustion, and specialized in-plant services offering full-spectrum waste management consulting. Furthermore, the company delivers tailored disposal solutions for oil and gas exploration and production activities. Originally incorporated in 1987 as USA Waste Services, Inc., the company rebranded to Waste Management, Inc. in 1998. Its corporate headquarters are situated in Houston, Texas.

Houston, TX
61,700 employees
Industrials / Waste Management
Sector
Industrials
Industry
Waste Management
CEO
James C. Fish Jr.