WM
Waste Management, Inc. Industrials - Waste Management Investor Relations →
Waste Management, Inc. (WM) closed at $228.77 as of 2026-05-01, trading 19.9% above its 200-week moving average of $190.79. The stock is currently moving closer to the line, down from 20.6% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 50, indicating neutral momentum.
Trading volume is running at 1.1x of its 14-week average, which is in the normal range. The balance between buying and selling volume (1.02 ratio) is neutral — neither side is clearly dominating.
Over the past 1927 weeks of data, WM has crossed below its 200-week moving average 10 times. On average, these episodes lasted 35 weeks. Historically, investors who bought WM at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +15.8%.
With a market cap of $91.9 billion, WM is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 2.3%. Return on equity stands at 29.9%, indicating strong profitability. The stock trades at 9.2x book value.
Over the past 33.3 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in WM would have grown to $3055, compared to $2973 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 10.8% vs 10.7% for the index — confirming WM as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been growing at a 13.1% compound annual rate, with 4 consecutive years of positive cash generation.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
Growth of $100: WM vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After WM Crosses Below the Line?
Across 9 historical episodes, buying WM when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +14.8% after 12 months (median +9.0%), compared to +11.9% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 67% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +67.6% vs +35.4% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment WM crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
WM has crossed below its 200-week MA 10 times with an average 1-year return of +15.8% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1989 | Jun 1990 | 53 | 43.9% | -11.1% | +18231.9% |
| Nov 1993 | Nov 1993 | 4 | 2.7% | +34.9% | +3875.6% |
| May 1994 | Jul 1994 | 12 | 10.9% | +28.7% | +3410.4% |
| Nov 1994 | Apr 1995 | 19 | 21.2% | +80.6% | +3448.1% |
| Jul 1999 | May 2003 | 201 | 63.1% | -41.0% | +1166.2% |
| Dec 2007 | Jan 2008 | 4 | 3.6% | +12.3% | +1092.5% |
| Oct 2008 | Dec 2008 | 12 | 19.7% | +15.9% | +1304.7% |
| Jan 2009 | Nov 2009 | 41 | 27.7% | +6.7% | +1017.8% |
| Aug 2011 | Sep 2011 | 6 | 5.3% | +19.5% | +972.0% |
| Nov 2011 | Nov 2011 | 1 | 2.0% | +11.4% | +963.1% |
| Average | 35 | — | +15.8% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WM below its 200-week moving average?
No. Waste Management, Inc. (WM) is currently 19.9% above its 200-week moving average of $190.79. It would need to fall to $190.79 to cross below the line.
What is WM's 200-week moving average price?
Waste Management, Inc.'s 200-week moving average is $190.79 as of 2026-05-01. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when WM drops below its 200-week moving average?
WM has crossed below its 200-week moving average 10 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +15.8%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 35 weeks on average.
Is WM a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about WM as of 2026-05-01: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 50. Free cash flow yield is 2.3%. Return on equity is 29.9%. Price-to-book is 9.2x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does WM compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 33.3 years, $100 invested in WM would have grown to $3055, compared to $2973 for the S&P 500. That's 10.8% annualized vs 10.7% for the index. WM has outperformed the broader market over this period.
Does WM pay a dividend?
Yes. Waste Management, Inc. currently pays a dividend yield of 149.00%.
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of week of 2026-05-01