American Electric Power Company Inc vs Waste Management, Inc. — how do they compare? American Electric Power Company Inc trades at $123.61 (market cap $66.87B), while Waste Management, Inc. trades at $226 (market cap $90.58B). The key difference: Waste Management, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and American Electric Power Company Inc pays the higher dividend (3.09%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AEP | WM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $66.87B | $90.58B |
Sector | Utilities | Industrials |
52-Week High | $138.69 | $246.51 |
52-Week Low | $106.44 | $196.77 |
Enterprise Value | $119.77B | $113.37B |
Dividend Yield | 3.09% | 1.56% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
No Aura AI signal available yet.
WM trades at $227.68, down 0.58% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages and oversold RSI levels. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $2.02, beating estimates, with revenue growth to $25.2 billion in 2025. Valuation ratios are elevated, with a P/E of 59.96 and P/S of 16.1, reflecting premium pricing. Recent news highlights margin gains and institutional activity, including Bank of America reducing holdings by 6.1% in Q1 2026 (Defense World, 2026-08-01).
The outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $263.43, implying 15.7% upside, driven by pricing discipline and technology investments. Risks include high debt levels, with a debt-to-asset ratio of 53.62% in 2024, and softer volume trends. Earnings momentum from recent beats supports growth, but margin pressures and economic sensitivity could limit gains.
Trailing returns across standard periods
American Electric Power is one of the largest regulated utilities in the United States, providing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. About 43% of AEP's of capacity is coal, with the remainder from a mix of natural gas (27%), renewable energy and hydro (19%), nuclear (7%), and demand response (4%). Vertically integrated utilities, transmission and distribution, and generation and marketing support earnings.
Read more on AEP →Waste Management ranks as the largest integrated provider of traditional solid waste services in the United States, operating approximately 260 active landfills and about 340 transfer stations. The company serves residential, commercial, and industrial end markets and is also a leading recycler in North America.
Read more on WM →