Waste Management, Inc. vs Western Union Co — how do they compare? Waste Management, Inc. trades at $217.2 (market cap $87.05B), while Western Union Co trades at $6.95 (market cap $2.18B). The key difference: Waste Management, Inc. is far larger — about 39.9× Western Union Co's market cap, and Western Union Co pays the higher dividend (13.43%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| WM | WU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $87.05B | $2.18B |
Sector | Industrials | Technology |
52-Week High | $246.51 | $10.28 |
52-Week Low | $196.77 | $6.36 |
Enterprise Value | $109.85B | $2.09B |
Dividend Yield | 1.74% | 13.43% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
WM trades at $217.78, down 0.55% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported mixed Q2 2026 earnings, beating EPS estimates but missing Q4 2025. Revenue grew to $25.20B in 2025, with strong profitability margins. Analysts maintain a buy consensus with a $263.43 price target, though technical indicators show near-term pressure.
The outlook is supported by steady waste-service demand and sustainability investments, but high debt levels and valuation concerns pose risks. CEO transition adds uncertainty, while institutional buying signals confidence. Upside exists if execution aligns with analyst targets, but investors should weigh premium valuation against growth sustainability.
Western Union (WU) trades at $7.00, down 2.51% on the day, reflecting a bearish technical trend and mixed earnings performance with recent quarterly misses. Valuation metrics appear attractive with a P/E of 5.65 and P/S of 0.55, but revenue has declined from $4.5B in 2022 to $4.05B in 2025. The company is pursuing a $200 million cost-saving plan by 2027 and expanding its retail footprint through partnerships like Total Wireless, while its pending acquisition of Intermex faces regulatory scrutiny.
The outlook is cautious due to declining revenue, integration risks from the Intermex deal, and a high dividend yield that some analysts view as unsustainable. Near-term catalysts include regulatory approvals for the acquisition and execution of cost-cutting initiatives, but competitive pressures and margin compression pose significant risks to shareholder value.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Western Union provides domestic and international money transfers through its global network of about 500,000 outside agents. It is the largest money transfer company in the world and one of only a few companies with a truly global agent network.
Read more on WU →