WM vs. AWK
WM (Waste Management, Inc.) and AWK (American Water Works Company, Inc.) are both stocks. WM operates in Waste Management (Industrials), while AWK operates in Utilities - Regulated Water (Utilities). Over the past 10 years, WM returned 15.16%/yr vs 7.12%/yr for AWK. Their 0.42 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.
Performance
WM vs. AWK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, WM achieves a 3.97% return, which is significantly lower than AWK's 4.25% return. Over the past 10 years, WM has outperformed AWK with an annualized return of 15.16%, while AWK has yielded a comparatively lower 7.12% annualized return.
WM
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- -1.67%
- 6M
- 2.79%
- YTD
- 3.97%
- 1Y
- 0.57%
- 3Y*
- 13.43%
- 5Y*
- 10.57%
- 10Y*
- 15.16%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.50%
AWK
- 1D
- -1.93%
- 1M
- -1.97%
- 6M
- 5.36%
- YTD
- 4.25%
- 1Y
- -5.50%
- 3Y*
- -0.08%
- 5Y*
- -2.62%
- 10Y*
- 7.12%
- ALL TIME*
- 13.51%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $350.60M | $305.70M | $284.77M | |
| $446.41M | $426.54M | $482.07M |
WM vs. AWK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WM Waste Management, Inc. | 3.97% | 10.50% | 14.28% | 16.20% | -4.49% | 43.82% | 5.46% | 30.45% | 5.32% | 24.46% |
AWK American Water Works Company, Inc. | 4.25% | 7.40% | -3.53% | -11.68% | -17.89% | 24.83% | 26.88% | 37.79% | 1.32% | 29.01% |
Correlation
The correlation between WM and AWK is 0.40, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.40 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.39 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.46 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.47 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 23, 2008 | 0.42 |
Fundamentals
WM:
$90.56B
AWK:
$26.66B
WM:
$7.06
AWK:
$5.78
WM:
32.09
AWK:
23.22
WM:
3.57
AWK:
4.96
WM:
9.20
AWK:
2.25
WM:
$25.67B
AWK:
$5.28B
WM:
$3.73B
AWK:
$2.35B
WM:
$6.62B
AWK:
$2.53B
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Return for Risk
WM vs. AWK — Risk / Return Rank
WM
AWK
WM vs. AWK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Waste Management, Inc. (WM) and American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK). 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.
| WM | AWK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.10 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.13 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.02 | 1.01 | +0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.03 | -0.12 | +0.14 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.06 | -0.20 | +0.26 |
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Drawdowns
WM vs. AWK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WM drawdown since its inception was -77.85%, which is greater than AWK's maximum drawdown of -37.10%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WM and AWK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WM | AWK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -77.85% | -37.10% | -40.75% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.70% | -15.45% | -1.25% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.14% | -18.99% | +0.85% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.14% | -37.10% | +18.96% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -30.07% | -37.10% | +7.03% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.33% | -21.67% | +14.34% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.64% | -9.61% | -8.03% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.86% | 8.86% | -1.00% |
Volatility
WM vs. AWK - Volatility Comparison
Waste Management, Inc. (WM) has a higher volatility of 8.87% compared to American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) at 8.37%. This indicates that WM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than AWK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| WM | AWK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.87% | 8.37% | +0.50% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.76% | 16.93% | -1.17% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.33% | 22.74% | -2.41% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.01% | 23.04% | -4.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.73% | 23.83% | -4.10% |
Dividends
WM vs. AWK - Dividend Comparison
WM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.56%, less than AWK's 2.52% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AWK American Water Works Company, Inc. | 2.52% | 2.49% | 2.41% | 2.10% | 1.68% | 1.25% | 1.40% | 1.59% | 1.96% | 1.77% | 2.02% | 2.23% |
WM Waste Management, Inc. | 1.56% | 1.50% | 1.49% | 1.56% | 1.66% | 1.38% | 1.85% | 1.80% | 2.09% | 1.97% | 2.31% | 2.89% |
Financials
WM vs. AWK - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Waste Management, Inc. and American Water Works Company, 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
WM vs. AWK - Profitability Comparison
WM - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Waste Management, Inc. reported a gross profit of -2.53B and revenue of 6.68B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was -37.9%.
AWK - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, American Water Works Company, Inc. reported a gross profit of 874.00M and revenue of 1.36B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 64.5%.
WM - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Waste Management, Inc. reported an operating income of 1.25B and revenue of 6.68B, resulting in an operating margin of 18.8%.
AWK - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, American Water Works Company, Inc. reported an operating income of 542.00M and revenue of 1.36B, resulting in an operating margin of 40.0%.
WM - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Waste Management, Inc. reported a net income of 785.00M and revenue of 6.68B, resulting in a net margin of 11.7%.
AWK - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, American Water Works Company, Inc. reported a net income of 315.00M and revenue of 1.36B, resulting in a net margin of 23.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions
WM and AWK have a correlation of 0.40, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
WM has higher volatility (8.87%) compared to AWK (8.37%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WM dropped -77.85% vs AWK's -37.10%.
WM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.02 vs -0.08), 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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