Recent financial analysis reveals a significant adjustment in earnings expectations for Waste Management (WM), as leading analysts recalibrate their forecasts amidst evolving market dynamics, impacting the overall investment landscape for business services providers.
Specifically, analysts at William Blair have revised their Q3 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Waste Management, signaling a shift in their outlook. This revised forecast, issued in a recent research note, now projects WM to achieve $2.01 per share, a decrease from their earlier estimate of $2.17. Despite this adjustment to the earnings forecasts, William Blair maintains an “Outperform” rating on the Waste Management stock, reflecting underlying confidence in the company’s long-term prospects.
The broader consensus among analysts pegs Waste Management’s current full-year earnings at $7.70 per share, indicating a generally optimistic but cautious market sentiment. William Blair further extended its projections, issuing estimates for Q4 2025 earnings at $1.96 EPS, Q3 2026 at $2.36 EPS, and Q4 2026 at $2.30 EPS, providing a comprehensive outlook on the company’s future financial performance and potential investment opportunities.
This re-evaluation by William Blair follows a series of diverse research reports from other prominent investment analysis firms. Notably, Hsbc Global Res upgraded Waste Management shares from “hold” to “strong-buy,” and Seaport Res Ptn also moved to a “hold” rating. Conversely, Robert W. Baird increased its price target but maintained a “neutral” stance, while Citigroup raised its price objective and reiterated a “buy” rating. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating with a specific target price, highlighting the varied expert opinions on WM’s valuation and potential.
Collectively, these analyst actions demonstrate a mixed but predominantly positive sentiment, with eight firms holding a “hold” rating, thirteen assigning a “buy,” and two issuing a “strong buy.” MarketBeat.com’s aggregate data reflects this, showing an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $254.35 for Waste Management. The company’s stock opened at $228.89, navigating between its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages, indicating a period of stabilization within its trading range and influencing investment forecasts.
Delving into the company’s financial health, Waste Management boasts a market capitalization of $92.20 billion, supported by key valuation metrics such as a P/E ratio of 33.96 and a P/E/G ratio of 2.81. Its beta of 0.64 suggests lower volatility compared to the broader market. Furthermore, the firm’s debt-to-equity ratio, quick ratio, and current ratio provide insights into its financial leverage and liquidity, while its one-year low and high prices define its recent trading boundaries for the business services sector.
Waste Management’s recent earnings report showcased a positive beat, with the company reporting $1.92 earnings per share for the quarter, surpassing analyst consensus estimates. This performance was underpinned by robust revenue figures that also exceeded expectations, reflecting strong operational execution. Institutional investors and hedge funds have shown significant activity, with notable increases in holdings by firms like Brighton Jones LLC, Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG, and Wellington Management Group LLP, underscoring continued institutional interest and confidence in WM earnings.
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, reinforcing its commitment to shareholder returns. This consistent dividend payout underscores Waste Management’s robust financial position and its ability to generate sustainable cash flow. Through its comprehensive environmental solutions, Waste Management, Inc. serves a broad spectrum of residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal clients across the United States and Canada, operating an extensive network of collection services, transfer stations, material recovery facilities, and landfill sites, where landfill gas is repurposed for renewable energy generation, solidifying its position within the business services sector.
