According to the company’s data sheet, the North American waste and recycling industry generates approximately $75 billion in total annual revenue – and Waste Management captures the largest share of that market. Approximately 80% of the company’s business comes from private industry contracts, with the remaining 20% originating in the public sector.We’ll start with the industry’s leader, Waste Management, Inc. In the business since 1968, this company is the largest environmental services firm in the US, wi ...

Core Insights - Technology stocks have experienced significant growth over the past decade due to their transformative impact on consumer behavior and daily life [1] - Simpler, non-tech businesses, particularly in the Consumer Staples sector, have also shown strong performance and resilience against market volatility [3][7] Group 1: Company Performance - Cintas (CTAS) has achieved an impressive +810% gain over the last decade, outperforming Meta Platforms (META), which gained +630% during the same period [4] - Cintas has delivered a +24.6% annualized return, demonstrating less volatility compared to tech stocks, especially during the market downturn in 2022 [4] - Waste Management (WM) has also shown strong performance, significantly outpacing the S&P 500's 320% gain over the last decade, while maintaining stability during market fluctuations [5] Group 2: Investment Perspective - The consistent nature of companies like Cintas and Waste Management provides a protective shield against market volatility, making them attractive investment options [3][7] - Investors do not need to rely solely on tech stocks for substantial returns, as these simpler companies have proven to deliver dependable growth by excelling in their core operations [9]