WM vs. GWW
WM (Waste Management, Inc.) and GWW (W.W. Grainger, Inc.) are both stocks. Both are in the Industrials sector — WM in Waste Management, GWW in Industrial Distribution. Over the past 10 years, WM returned 15.36%/yr vs 21.41%/yr for GWW. At a 0.31 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
WM vs. GWW - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, WM achieves a 0.71% return, which is significantly lower than GWW's 30.92% return. Over the past 10 years, WM has underperformed GWW with an annualized return of 15.36%, while GWW has yielded a comparatively higher 21.41% annualized return.
WM
- 1D
- 0.30%
- 1M
- 0.26%
- YTD
- 0.71%
- 6M
- 2.63%
- 1Y
- -5.72%
- 3Y*
- 12.33%
- 5Y*
- 11.14%
- 10Y*
- 15.36%
GWW
- 1D
- 0.15%
- 1M
- 3.41%
- YTD
- 30.92%
- 6M
- 29.19%
- 1Y
- 24.72%
- 3Y*
- 22.36%
- 5Y*
- 24.71%
- 10Y*
- 21.41%
WM vs. GWW - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WM Waste Management, Inc. | 0.71% | 10.50% | 14.28% | 16.20% | -4.49% | 43.82% | 5.46% | 30.45% | 5.32% | 24.46% |
GWW W.W. Grainger, Inc. | 30.92% | -3.41% | 28.21% | 50.53% | 8.75% | 28.80% | 22.85% | 22.25% | 21.69% | 4.35% |
Correlation
The correlation between WM and GWW is 0.27, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.27 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.32 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.40 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 30, 1991 | 0.31 |
The correlation between WM and GWW shifts across timeframes, from 0.27 (1 year) to 0.40 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
WM:
$88.75B
GWW:
$62.37B
WM:
$6.91
GWW:
$37.26
WM:
31.76
GWW:
35.32
WM:
2.60
GWW:
2.04
WM:
3.49
GWW:
3.42
WM:
8.86
GWW:
15.87
WM:
$25.41B
GWW:
$18.38B
WM:
$5.61B
GWW:
$7.20B
WM:
$6.96B
GWW:
$2.82B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
WM vs. GWW — Risk / Return Rank
WM
GWW
WM vs. GWW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Waste Management, Inc. (WM) and W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW). 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 | GWW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.24 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.66 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.96 | 1.19 | -0.23 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.36 | 1.64 | -2.00 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.79 | 3.20 | -3.99 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
WM vs. GWW - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WM drawdown since its inception was -77.85%, which is greater than GWW's maximum drawdown of -56.73%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WM and GWW.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| WM | GWW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -77.85% | -56.73% | -21.12% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.70% | -13.92% | -2.78% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.14% | -24.50% | +6.36% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.14% | -24.50% | +6.36% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -30.07% | -41.60% | +11.53% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.24% | -1.05% | -9.19% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.69% | -11.01% | -6.68% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.58% | 7.61% | -0.03% |
Volatility
WM vs. GWW - Volatility Comparison
Waste Management, Inc. (WM) has a higher volatility of 6.13% compared to W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) at 4.85%. This indicates that WM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than GWW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| WM | GWW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.13% | 4.85% | +1.28% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.08% | 17.85% | -3.77% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.03% | 24.78% | -5.75% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.62% | 24.68% | -6.06% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.54% | 28.52% | -8.98% |
Dividends
WM vs. GWW - Dividend Comparison
WM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.61%, more than GWW's 0.70% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GWW W.W. Grainger, Inc. | 0.70% | 0.88% | 0.76% | 0.88% | 1.22% | 1.23% | 1.45% | 1.68% | 1.90% | 2.14% | 2.08% | 2.27% |
WM Waste Management, Inc. | 1.61% | 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. GWW - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Waste Management, Inc. and W.W. Grainger, 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. GWW - Profitability Comparison
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%.
GWW - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, W.W. Grainger, Inc. reported a gross profit of 1.90B and revenue of 4.74B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 40.0%.
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%.
GWW - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, W.W. Grainger, Inc. reported an operating income of 793.00M and revenue of 4.74B, resulting in an operating margin of 16.7%.
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%.
GWW - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, W.W. Grainger, Inc. reported a net income of 555.00M and revenue of 4.74B, resulting in a net margin of 11.7%.
Frequently Asked Questions
WM and GWW have a correlation of 0.27, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
WM has higher volatility (6.13%) compared to GWW (4.85%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WM dropped -77.85% vs GWW's -56.73%.
GWW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.92 vs -0.32), 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.
Find the right allocation for WM and GWW
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer