UnitedHealth Group Inc vs Waste Management, Inc. — how do they compare? UnitedHealth Group Inc trades at $436.35 (market cap $382.83B), while Waste Management, Inc. trades at $233.17 (market cap $96.00B). The key difference: UnitedHealth Group Inc is far larger — about 4× Waste Management, Inc.'s market cap, and UnitedHealth Group Inc pays the higher dividend (2.2%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| UNH | WM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $382.83B | $96.00B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $431.68 | $246.51 |
52-Week Low | $237.77 | $196.77 |
Enterprise Value | $429.52B | $118.73B |
Dividend Yield | 2.2% | 1.48% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) trades at $426.09, up 0.64% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support. The stock shows consistent earnings beats, with Q2 2026 EPS of $6.38 surpassing expectations of $4.94. Revenue growth remains robust, reaching $447.57 billion in 2025, though net margins have compressed to 2.68%. Recent corporate actions include a $2.32 dividend and ongoing share repurchases, while news highlights operational streamlining like reduced pediatric prior authorizations.
UNH's outlook is positive, driven by aging demographics and tech innovation in healthcare, offering upside to the $467.12 consensus target. Risks include regulatory scrutiny, as seen in Massachusetts' Medicaid lawsuit, and margin pressure from rising costs. Institutional sentiment is strongly bullish, with 82.69% of analysts rating it a buy, supporting long-term growth prospects amid sector tailwinds.
WM (Waste Management) trades at $233.18, down 2.56% on the day, but remains near its 52-week high of $248.13. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with strong moving averages, while fundamentals reveal steady revenue growth to $25.20 billion in 2025 and a robust 10.99% net income margin. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 2026, though Q3 and Q4 2025 results missed. Analyst sentiment is positive with a consensus buy rating and $263.57 price target, supported by a reliable dividend and strong cash flow from operations of $6.04 billion.
Outlook: WM's dominant market position, pricing power, and renewable energy initiatives support long-term growth, but high debt levels and competitive pressures pose risks. The stock offers value for income and growth investors, with potential upside to analyst targets if execution remains solid amid economic uncertainties.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers, providing medical benefits to 50 million members globally, including 5 million outside the U.S. at the end of 2021. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in managed care. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's continued investments in its Optum franchises have created a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from medical and pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.
Read more on UNH →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 →