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WMWaste Management, Inc.

Return on Equity (ROE): 27.88%

Is the return on equity (ROE) high or low?

The return on equity (ROE) of 27.88% is in line with its 5-year average of 28.67%, around the middle of its 5-year range (20.08%–33.38%).

As of Monday, June 29, 2026. 7.67% below its 12-month average of 30.20%.

Return on Equity (ROE)

WM Return on Equity (ROE) Chart

27.11%

Annual fiscal-year return on equity; no daily interpolation.

+92.41% 10Y
WM Return on Equity (ROE)

WM Average Return on Equity (ROE) Chart

WM Return on Equity (ROE)

WM Current vs Average Return on Equity (ROE) Chart

WM Return on Equity (ROE) Metrics

RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE)

27.88%

RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) AVG TTM

30.20%

RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) AVG 3Y

31.61%

RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) AVG 5Y

28.67%

RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) AVG 10Y

26.83%

RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) AVG 15Y

22.68%

RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) AVG 20Y

21.67%

CURRENT VS TTM AVG

-7.67%

CURRENT VS 3Y AVG

-11.81%

CURRENT VS 5Y AVG

-2.76%

CURRENT VS 10Y AVG

+3.92%

CURRENT VS 15Y AVG

+22.93%

CURRENT VS 20Y AVG

+28.69%

WM Competitors' Return on Equity (ROE)

NAMEMARKET CAPRETURN ON EQUITY (ROE)TTM3Y5Y
Waste Management, Inc. (WM)$90.57B27.88%30.20%31.61%28.67%
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)vs ›$89.36B68.43%74.22%84.28%70.97%
United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS)vs ›$91.86B33.30%34.47%41.51%76.82%
CSX Corporation (CSX)vs ›$88.56B22.47%24.86%28.23%27.01%
General Dynamics Corporation (GD)vs ›$93.76B16.65%16.79%16.85%17.68%
Cummins Inc. (CMI)vs ›$94.64B21.64%30.72%23.43%23.51%
3M Company (MMM)vs ›$85.54B85.41%88.87%17.87%25.53%
Johnson Controls International plc (JCI)vs ›$84.44B26.12%18.02%14.16%11.60%
Emerson Electric Co. (EMR)vs ›$80.37B12.04%10.21%28.87%27.03%
Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR)vs ›$103.22B12.33%11.93%11.21%10.77%

Return Analysis

ROE

27.9%

ROA

6.1%

Return on Equity (ROE) Formula & Definition

ROE = Net Income / Total Shareholders' Equity

Return on equity measures how efficiently a company generates profit from shareholders' equity. Higher ROE indicates better capital efficiency.

Expanded definitions: Investopedia, Wikipedia, Corporate Finance Institute

Return on Equity (ROE) FAQ

What is the return on equity (ROE) for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The return on equity (ROE) for WM stock is 27.88%.
Is Waste Management, Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) high or low?
The return on equity (ROE) of 27.88% is in line with its 5-year average of 28.67%, around the middle of its 5-year range (20.08%–33.38%).
What is the TTM average return on equity (ROE) for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The TTM average return on equity (ROE) for WM stock is 30.20%.
What is the 3Y average return on equity (ROE) for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The 3Y average return on equity (ROE) for WM stock is 31.61%.
What is the 5Y average return on equity (ROE) for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The 5Y average return on equity (ROE) for WM stock is 28.67%.
What is the 10Y average return on equity (ROE) for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The 10Y average return on equity (ROE) for WM stock is 26.83%.
What is the 15Y average return on equity (ROE) for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The 15Y average return on equity (ROE) for WM stock is 22.68%.
What is the 20Y average return on equity (ROE) for Waste Management, Inc. (WM)?
The 20Y average return on equity (ROE) for WM stock is 21.67%.

WM Return on Equity (ROE) History

DATERETURN ON EQUITY (ROE)
2025-12-3127.11%
2024-12-3133.28%
2023-12-3133.38%
2022-12-3132.68%
2021-12-3125.49%
2020-12-3120.08%
2019-12-3123.63%
2018-12-3130.68%
2017-12-3132.38%
2016-12-3122.31%
2015-12-3114.09%
2014-12-3122.13%
2013-12-311.72%
2012-12-3112.86%
2011-12-3115.83%
2010-12-3115.22%
2009-12-3115.82%
2008-12-3118.42%
2007-12-3120.08%
2006-12-3118.47%
2005-12-3119.31%
2004-12-3115.73%
2003-12-3111.32%
2002-12-3115.49%
2001-12-319.33%
2000-12-31-2.02%
1999-12-31-9.03%
1998-12-31-17.63%
1997-12-3110.16%
1996-12-312.85%

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.