Avient Corporation vs Waste Management, Inc. — how do they compare? Avient Corporation trades at $45.09 (market cap $4.17B), while Waste Management, Inc. trades at $227.54 (market cap $90.68B). The key difference: Waste Management, Inc. is far larger — about 21.7× Avient Corporation's market cap, and Avient Corporation pays the higher dividend (2.42%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AVNT | WM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $4.17B | $90.68B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $45.69 | $246.51 |
52-Week Low | $27.48 | $196.77 |
Enterprise Value | $5.62B | $113.47B |
Dividend Yield | 2.42% | 1.56% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Avient (AVNT) trades at $44.80, down 1.86% today, with strong technical momentum indicated by bullish moving averages. The company demonstrates solid fundamentals with Q2 2026 EPS of $0.96 beating expectations by $0.07, marking the third consecutive earnings beat. Revenue growth of 5.8% to $917 million in Q2 2026 and improved net income margin of 5.1% reflect operational strength. Analyst consensus remains positive with 60% buy ratings and a $49.00 price target representing 9.4% upside potential.
Avient presents a favorable investment case with consistent earnings outperformance and positive analyst sentiment. The stock offers dividend income with recent $0.28 quarterly payments. Key risks include potential margin pressure from input costs and market volatility. Technical indicators show near-term overbought conditions with RSI at 78.87, suggesting possible consolidation before further upside toward the $49 consensus target.
WM trades at $226.6, down 0.47% over 24 hours, with a bullish technical signal and support near $226. The stock shows strong profitability with a 40.6% gross margin and 11.12% net margin, though its P/E of 59.74 is elevated. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations at $2.02 per share, and analyst consensus is a buy with a $263.43 price target. Cash flow from operations grew to $6.04B in 2025, but net cash flow was negative $190M due to investments.
Outlook is positive with revenue growth and margin stability, but risks include high valuation and debt levels. The stock offers upside to the consensus target, supported by institutional confidence and consistent earnings beats, though investors should monitor volume trends and interest rate impacts on borrowing costs.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Avient Corporation is a global leader in specialized and sustainable material solutions. Formed from the legacy of PolyOne and Clariant’s masterbatch business, it provides highly engineered polymer formulations, color systems, and advanced composites that enhance the performance and sustainability of products in industries like healthcare, defense, and consumer packaging.
Read more on AVNT →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 →