Autozone Inc vs Waste Management, Inc. — how do they compare? Autozone Inc trades at $3,042 (market cap $50.09B), while Waste Management, Inc. trades at $226.76 (market cap $90.58B). The key difference: Waste Management, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Waste Management, Inc. pays a 1.56% dividend while Autozone Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AZO | WM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $50.09B | $90.58B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Industrials |
52-Week High | $4.35K | $246.51 |
52-Week Low | $2.92K | $196.77 |
Enterprise Value | $62.46B | $113.37B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.56% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AutoZone (AZO) trades at $3,127.29, up 1.88% recently, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support. Revenue grew to $18.94B in 2025, though net income margin dipped to 13.19%. The company maintains robust cash flow from operations and recently authorized a $1.5B stock buyback, signaling confidence. Key resistance lies near $3,160, with support at $3,063.
Outlook remains positive with 73% analyst buy ratings and a $3,730 consensus price target, implying ~19% upside. Risks include margin pressure from rising costs and competitive threats. Earnings beats in recent quarters support growth, but investors should monitor execution on international expansion and capex efficiency.
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
AutoZone is the premier seller of aftermarket automotive parts, tools, and accessories to do-it-yourself customers in the United States. The company derives an increasing proportion of its sales from domestic commercial customers, although its presence in its home market is still dominated by its do-it-yourself operation, which accounts for nearly 75% of sales in country. AutoZone also has a growing presence in Mexico and Brazil. AutoZone had 6,767 stores in the U.S. (6,051), Mexico (664), and Brazil (52) as of the end of fiscal 2021.
Read more on AZO →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 →