Waste Management, Inc. vs Xcel Energy Inc — how do they compare? Waste Management, Inc. trades at $227.38 (market cap $90.68B), while Xcel Energy Inc trades at $78.1 (market cap $48.51B). The key difference: Waste Management, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Xcel Energy Inc pays the higher dividend (3.05%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| WM | XEL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $90.68B | $48.51B |
Sector | Industrials | Utilities |
52-Week High | $246.51 | $83.91 |
52-Week Low | $196.77 | $71.75 |
Enterprise Value | $113.47B | $86.82B |
Dividend Yield | 1.56% | 3.05% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
WM trades at $226.6, down 0.47% over 24 hours, with a bullish technical signal and support near $226. The stock shows strong profitability with a 40.6% gross margin and 11.12% net margin, though its P/E of 59.74 is elevated. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations at $2.02 per share, and analyst consensus is a buy with a $263.43 price target. Cash flow from operations grew to $6.04B in 2025, but net cash flow was negative $190M due to investments.
Outlook is positive with revenue growth and margin stability, but risks include high valuation and debt levels. The stock offers upside to the consensus target, supported by institutional confidence and consistent earnings beats, though investors should monitor volume trends and interest rate impacts on borrowing costs.
XEL trades at $78.09, up 1.59% today, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q2 2026 with EPS of $0.93, driven by infrastructure investments. The company maintains solid fundamentals, including a 15.28% net income margin and a $0.59 quarterly dividend, while analyst consensus is bullish with a $93.80 price target.
Outlook is positive due to strong earnings growth and a $60 billion capital plan supporting future expansion, but risks include regulatory pushback and high debt levels. The stock offers stability with a 2.87% dividend yield, though technical resistance near $79 may limit near-term gains.
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 →Xcel Energy manages utilities serving 3.7 million electric customers and 2.1 million natural gas customers in eight states. Its utilities are Northern States Power, which serves customers in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan
Read more on XEL →