A O Smith Corp vs Waste Management, Inc. — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $59.36 (market cap $8.33B), while Waste Management, Inc. trades at $235.48 (market cap $93.70B). The key difference: Waste Management, Inc. is far larger — about 11.2× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and A O Smith Corp pays the higher dividend (2.35%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | WM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.33B | $93.70B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $246.51 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $196.77 |
Enterprise Value | $8.78B | $116.43B |
Dividend Yield | 2.35% | 1.52% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
A.O. Smith (AOS) trades at $60.44, up 2.41% today, with a bearish technical signal despite recent leadership changes. The company reported mixed Q1 2026 earnings, missing EPS estimates at $0.85 versus $0.94 expected, while maintaining solid profitability with a 13.84% net margin. Cash flow trends show improving operations, and the stock offers a dividend with a recent $0.36 payout announced.
The outlook is cautious due to earnings volatility and bearish technicals, but valuation appears reasonable with a P/E of 16.12. Risks include China market weakness and competitive pressures, while analyst consensus leans hold with a $68 price target suggesting modest upside potential from current levels.
WM trades at $233.33, up 0.72% today, showing steady performance near its 52-week high. The stock maintains a bullish technical signal with strong moving average support. Fundamentally, revenue grew to $25.20B in 2025 with a net income margin of 10.99%, though recent quarters show mixed earnings results. Analyst consensus remains positive with a $263.57 price target. The company continues its dividend payments, with the next $0.95 dividend scheduled for June 2026.
Outlook: WM's defensive business model and pricing power provide stability, but elevated valuation ratios (P/E 33.77) pose risks if growth slows. Upside potential exists if the company meets Q2 2026 earnings expectations. Key risks include debt levels and economic sensitivity. Wall Street's strong buy sentiment (57% buy ratings) supports a cautiously optimistic view.
Trailing returns across standard periods
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →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 →