Here's What to Expect From Waste Management’s Next Earnings Report

Core Insights - Waste Management, Inc. (WM) is the largest integrated waste services and environmental solutions company in North America with a market cap of $88 billion, providing comprehensive waste and recycling services across the U.S. and Canada [1] Financial Performance - WM is expected to report an adjusted EPS of $1.97 for fiscal Q4 2025, reflecting a 15.9% increase from $1.70 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, analysts forecast an adjusted EPS of $7.52, which is a 4% increase from $7.23 in fiscal 2024, with projections of a further 10.2% rise to $8.29 in fiscal 2026 [3] Stock Performance - WM stock has increased by 6.2% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming compared to the S&P 500 Index's 17.1% return and the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund's 20.2% gain during the same period [4] Dividend and Share Repurchase - The company announced a 14.5% dividend increase for 2026, marking 23 consecutive years of annual dividend growth, with a new quarterly dividend of $0.945 per share, yielding approximately 1.7% [5] - WM has authorized a $3 billion share repurchase program and plans to return about 90% of free cash flow to shareholders over the next year, indicating strong cash flow generation and management confidence [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus view on WM stock is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating from analysts; 18 out of 28 analysts recommend a "Strong Buy," one suggests a "Moderate Buy," and nine provide a "Hold" rating [6] - The average analyst price target for Waste Management is $248.54, suggesting a potential upside of 15.1% from current levels [6]