WM (Waste Management Inc) vs S&P 500 Comparison

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Waste Management Inc
Glance View

Economic Moat

None

Market Cap

82.9B USD

Industry

Commercial Services & Supplies

Waste Management Inc., a stalwart of the waste and environmental services industry, operates in a manner akin to custodians of our modern civilization. Founded in 1968, Waste Management has become the largest waste disposal and recycling company in North America, tackling the formidable task of managing society's growing trash output. Their operations span from collection and disposal to recycling, all intricately tailored to promote a sustainable future. By strategically positioning an expansive network of landfills, transfer stations, and recycling processing facilities, the company ensures that waste is not only disposed of safely but repurposed wherever possible. Through partnerships with local governments and businesses, Waste Management provides tailored solutions that align with environmental regulations and community needs, thereby cementing its crucial role in waste mitigation and sustainability efforts. The economic engine of Waste Management revs on multiple fronts. Its primary revenue streams stem from waste collection, landfill operations, and recycling services. By charging customers for collection services and tipping fees for landfill use, Waste Management capitalizes on its ability to efficiently manage the journey of waste from curbside to final disposal. Furthermore, as recycling has gained momentum, the company has expanded its focus on recovering valuable materials, selling recycled commodities, and embracing renewable energy initiatives. This multi-faceted approach not only mitigates the environmental impacts of waste but also enhances profitability by tapping into the circular economy. Thus, Waste Management navigates the intersection of environmental responsibility and financial performance, striving to transform waste into a resource while ensuring steady returns for its stakeholders.

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WM Intrinsic Value

What is Intrinsic Value?

Economic Moat is a concept popularized by Warren Buffett to describe a company's durable competitive advantage. It represents the 'moat' that protects a company from competitors and helps it sustain profitability over the long term. Our analysis of the past 10 years showed that companies with a wide economic moat significantly outperformed the market, delivering +645% returns compared to +189% for the S&P 500.

Our research into Economic Moat performance spans the past 10 years and focuses on companies with a wide economic moat. For this analysis, we calculated the average stock price returns of these companies, comparing them to the performance of the S&P 500 index over the same period.

The results were compelling: wide moat stocks achieved a remarkable +645% average return, compared to +188% for the broader market. This difference highlights the long-term benefits of investing in businesses that can maintain their market position and pricing power over time.

Note: This research does not account for survivorship bias. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Determining whether a company has an economic moat requires both a deep dive into financial metrics and a qualitative assessment of its competitive position. Our analysts conduct a rigorous evaluation that focuses on identifying structural advantages that enable a company to sustain profitability and defend its market share over the long term.

The process begins with an analysis of a company’s historical financial performance. We assess how consistently the company has generated returns above its cost of capital and whether those returns have been stable or improving. However, financial performance alone doesn’t reveal the full picture. To understand the sources of these advantages, we evaluate five key drivers of economic moats:

Network Effect: We analyze whether the value of a company’s product or service grows as its user base expands. Platforms like payment systems or marketplaces benefit from this self-reinforcing.

Switching Costs: We assess whether customers face significant costs or disruptions when switching to a competitor’s product or service. High switching costs create customer stickiness and provide pricing power.

Intangible Assets: Strong brands, patents, and regulatory licenses can protect a company’s market position by creating barriers for competitors or enabling premium pricing. For example, a well-recognized consumer brand may command higher customer loyalty and margins.

Efficient scale: Occurs when a market is optimally served by one or a few players, making it unprofitable for new entrants to compete. This typically happens in industries with high fixed costs or geographic constraints, such as utilities or pipelines.

Cost Advantage: Companies with structural cost advantages can produce goods or services at a lower cost than their competitors, enabling them to offer competitive pricing or maintain higher margins. These advantages often arise from economies of scale, superior supply chain management, or proprietary technology. Firms like Walmart leverage their massive scale to negotiate better terms with suppliers, allowing them to undercut competitors on price.

By examining these factors in combination with a company’s financial performance and market positioning, we classify each company into one of three categories:

This rigorous evaluation ensures that our moat ratings are both comprehensive and reliable, giving investors the tools they need to make well-informed, long-term decisions.

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WM

vs

S&P 500

Stocks Performance
WM vs S&P 500

Performance Gap
WM vs S&P 500

Performance By Year
WM vs S&P 500

Competitors Performance
Waste Management Inc vs Peers

Waste Management Inc
Glance View

Company

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Tools

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WM vs S&P 500

Stocks Performance WM vs S&P 500

Performance Gap WM vs S&P 500

Performance By Year WM vs S&P 500

Competitors Performance Waste Management Inc vs Peers

Waste Management Inc Glance View

Company

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Tools

Stocks

WM

vs

S&P 500

Stocks Performance
WM vs S&P 500

Performance Gap
WM vs S&P 500

Performance By Year
WM vs S&P 500

Competitors Performance
Waste Management Inc vs Peers

Waste Management Inc
Glance View