CWST vs. WM
CWST (Casella Waste Systems, Inc.) and WM (Waste Management, Inc.) are both stocks. Both operate in the Waste Management industry within the Industrials sector. Over the past 10 years, CWST returned 27.47%/yr vs 15.19%/yr for WM. At a 0.33 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
CWST vs. WM - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CWST achieves a -12.01% return, which is significantly lower than WM's 0.43% return. Over the past 10 years, CWST has outperformed WM with an annualized return of 27.47%, while WM has yielded a comparatively lower 15.19% annualized return.
CWST
- 1D
- 1.89%
- 1M
- -1.41%
- YTD
- -12.01%
- 6M
- -13.79%
- 1Y
- -26.86%
- 3Y*
- 0.21%
- 5Y*
- 6.01%
- 10Y*
- 27.47%
WM
- 1D
- 2.59%
- 1M
- 0.87%
- YTD
- 0.43%
- 6M
- 0.15%
- 1Y
- -5.27%
- 3Y*
- 11.43%
- 5Y*
- 11.30%
- 10Y*
- 15.19%
CWST vs. WM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CWST Casella Waste Systems, Inc. | -12.01% | -7.44% | 23.81% | 7.75% | -7.15% | 37.89% | 34.59% | 61.57% | 23.76% | 85.50% |
WM Waste Management, Inc. | 0.43% | 10.50% | 14.28% | 16.20% | -4.49% | 43.82% | 5.46% | 30.45% | 5.32% | 24.46% |
Correlation
The correlation between CWST and WM is 0.56, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.56 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.55 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.51 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 29, 1997 | 0.33 |
Over the past year, CWST and WM have become more correlated (0.56) than their long-term average of 0.33, meaning their price movements have been converging.
Fundamentals
CWST:
$5.48B
WM:
$88.50B
CWST:
$0.11
WM:
$6.91
CWST:
766.38
WM:
31.67
CWST:
2.92
WM:
3.48
CWST:
3.49
WM:
8.83
CWST:
$1.88B
WM:
$25.41B
CWST:
$248.24M
WM:
$5.61B
CWST:
$405.88M
WM:
$6.96B
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Return for Risk
CWST vs. WM — Risk / Return Rank
CWST
WM
CWST vs. WM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (CWST) and Waste Management, Inc. (WM). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| CWST | WM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.52 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.81 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.88 | 0.97 | -0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.74 | -0.32 | -0.43 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.25 | -0.68 | -0.57 |
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Drawdowns
CWST vs. WM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CWST drawdown since its inception was -98.52%, which is greater than WM's maximum drawdown of -77.85%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CWST and WM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CWST | WM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -98.52% | -77.85% | -20.67% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -36.33% | -16.70% | -19.63% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -37.72% | -18.14% | -19.58% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -37.72% | -18.14% | -19.58% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -37.72% | -30.07% | -7.65% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -28.40% | -10.49% | -17.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -52.99% | -17.68% | -35.31% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 21.57% | 7.73% | +13.84% |
Volatility
CWST vs. WM - Volatility Comparison
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (CWST) has a higher volatility of 9.67% compared to Waste Management, Inc. (WM) at 6.58%. This indicates that CWST's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than WM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CWST | WM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.67% | 6.58% | +3.09% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 27.50% | 14.22% | +13.28% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 33.78% | 19.24% | +14.54% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 27.30% | 18.65% | +8.65% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 30.90% | 19.57% | +11.33% |
Dividends
CWST vs. WM - Dividend Comparison
CWST has not paid dividends to shareholders, while WM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.62%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CWST Casella Waste Systems, Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
WM Waste Management, Inc. | 1.62% | 1.50% | 1.49% | 1.56% | 1.66% | 1.38% | 1.85% | 1.80% | 2.09% | 1.97% | 2.31% | 2.89% |
Financials
CWST vs. WM - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Casella Waste Systems, Inc. and Waste Management, Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
CWST vs. WM - Profitability Comparison
CWST - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Casella Waste Systems, Inc. reported a gross profit of 0.00 and revenue of 457.33M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 0.0%.
WM - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Waste Management, Inc. reported a gross profit of 0.00 and revenue of 6.23B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 0.0%.
CWST - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Casella Waste Systems, Inc. reported an operating income of 4.86M and revenue of 457.33M, resulting in an operating margin of 1.1%.
WM - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Waste Management, Inc. reported an operating income of 1.11B and revenue of 6.23B, resulting in an operating margin of 17.9%.
CWST - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Casella Waste Systems, Inc. reported a net income of -5.54M and revenue of 457.33M, resulting in a net margin of -1.2%.
WM - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Waste Management, Inc. reported a net income of 723.00M and revenue of 6.23B, resulting in a net margin of 11.6%.
Frequently Asked Questions
CWST and WM have a correlation of 0.56, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CWST has higher volatility (9.67%) compared to WM (6.58%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CWST dropped -98.52% vs WM's -77.85%.
WM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-0.28 vs -0.80), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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