Southwest Airlines Co vs Waste Management, Inc. — how do they compare? Southwest Airlines Co trades at $41.4 (market cap $20.41B), while Waste Management, Inc. trades at $208.3 (market cap $83.52B). The key difference: Waste Management, Inc. is far larger — about 4.1× Southwest Airlines Co's market cap, and Waste Management, Inc. pays the higher dividend (1.81%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Southwest Airlines Co for 65 Days and Waste Management, Inc. for 130 Days on average.
| LUV | WM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $20.41B | $83.52B |
Volume | 4,706,365 | 2,257,928 |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $54.80 | $246.51 |
52-Week Low | $29.67 | $196.77 |
Typical Hold Time | 65 Days | 130 Days |
Enterprise Value | $23.51B | $106.32B |
Dividend Yield | 1.73% | 1.81% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $41.36, down 2.57% with a bearish technical signal. The company shows mixed fundamentals with a P/E of 26.08 and net margin of 2.78%, while recent earnings beat expectations in Q2 2026. Cash flow trends improved significantly in 2026 projections. Analyst consensus is divided with 42% buy ratings and a $49.61 price target representing 20% upside potential.
LUV's transformation initiatives show promise with projected $2 billion EBIT from new fare structures, though high fuel costs and competitive pressures remain risks. The stock offers value with P/S of 0.73 and strong revenue growth outlook, but requires monitoring of Q3 2026 earnings due October 22 for confirmation of the turnaround trajectory.
WM trades at $210.10, up 1.07% with mixed technical signals showing bearish moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company demonstrates strong fundamentals with $25.2B revenue, 11.12% net margin, and robust cash flow generation. Recent earnings show two beats out of three quarters, while analyst consensus remains strongly positive with 57% buy ratings and no sell recommendations.
WM presents a compelling long-term investment with defensive business model and consistent profitability, though elevated debt levels and valuation multiples require monitoring. The stock offers dividend income with recent $0.95 payout, supported by pricing power and network scale advantages in the essential waste management industry.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic carrier in the United States, as measured by the number of originating passengers boarded. Southwest operates over 700 aircraft in an all-Boeing 737 fleet. Despite expanding into longer routes and business travel, the airline still specializes in short-haul leisure flights, using a point-to-point network. Southwest operates a low-cost carrier business model.
Read more on LUV →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 →