Waste Management, Inc. vs Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock — how do they compare? Waste Management, Inc. trades at $217.51 (market cap $86.24B), while Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock trades at $39.82 (market cap $11.31B). The key difference: Waste Management, Inc. is far larger — about 7.6× Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock's market cap, and Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock pays the higher dividend (3.62%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Waste Management, Inc. for 131 Days and Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock for 0 Days on average.
| WM | WTRG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $86.24B | $11.31B |
Volume | 1,938,815 | 2,459,172 |
Sector | Industrials | Utilities |
52-Week High | $246.51 | $42.00 |
52-Week Low | $196.77 | $36.25 |
Typical Hold Time | 131 Days | 0 Days |
Enterprise Value | $109.04B | $19.82B |
Dividend Yield | 1.75% | 3.62% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Waste Management (WM) trades at $211.83, up 0.33% with a bullish technical signal despite mixed moving averages. 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, with Q3 2026 results pending. Analyst consensus is strongly positive with 54% buy ratings and no sell recommendations.
WM presents a compelling investment case with consistent revenue growth, strong profitability metrics, and defensive business model. However, elevated valuation multiples (P/E 29.96) and rising debt levels warrant caution. The stock offers stability through economic cycles but faces margin pressure from cost inflation and competitive threats in waste management services.
WTRG trades at $39.29, up 0.36% with neutral technical signals. The stock shows mixed earnings performance with two beats and one miss in recent quarters, while maintaining strong profitability margins (21.6% net income margin). Analyst consensus is bullish with a $44.50 price target, supported by ongoing acquisitions and pending merger developments with American Water.
The stock presents a stable utility investment with moderate growth potential through strategic acquisitions, though near-term earnings volatility and integration risks from the pending merger warrant caution. Current valuation at 20.15 P/E appears reasonable given the company's consistent cash flow generation and defensive sector positioning.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Essential Utilities Inc. is a holding company for regulated water, wastewater, and natural gas utilities, operating under the Aqua and Peoples brands. It serves customers across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, and Kentucky.
Read more on WTRG →