GFL
GFL Environmental Inc.
Waste Management
Market Cap$12.80B
5Y Perf.+93.0%
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Stock Comparison
GFL vs WM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WM
Waste Management, Inc.
Waste Management
Market Cap$90.54B
5Y Perf.+110.3%
GFL vs WM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | GFL | WM |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Waste Management | Waste Management |
| Market Cap | $12.80B | $90.54B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6.70B | $25.41B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $209M | $2.79B |
| Gross Margin | 20.6% | 32.1% |
| Operating Margin | 5.5% | 18.5% |
| Forward P/E | 39.7x | 27.4x |
| Total Debt | $7.93B | $22.91B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $86M | $201M |
GFL vs WM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
GFL
WM
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| GFL Environmental I… (GFL) | 100 | 193.0 | +93.0% |
| Waste Management, I… (WM) | 100 | 210.3 | +110.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: GFL vs WM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: WM leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. GFL Environmental Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
GFL
GFL Environmental Inc.
The Defensive Pick
GFL is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.20, current ratio 0.58x
- Lower D/E ratio (106.0% vs 229.3%)
Best for: sleep-well-at-night
WM
Waste Management, Inc.
The Income Pick
WM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 24 yrs, beta -0.17, yield 1.5%
- Rev growth 14.2%, EPS growth -1.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.6%
- 312.0% 10Y total return vs GFL's 122.7%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WM | 14.2% revenue growth vs GFL's 7.8% |
| Value | WM | Lower P/E (27.4x vs 39.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | WM | 11.0% margin vs GFL's 3.1% |
| Stability / Safety | GFL | Lower D/E ratio (106.0% vs 229.3%) |
| Dividends | WM | 1.5% yield, 24-year raise streak, vs GFL's 0.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WM | -2.9% vs GFL's -28.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WM | 6.1% ROA vs GFL's 1.1%, ROIC 10.7% vs 1.6% |
GFL vs WM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
GFL vs WM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLWMLAGGINGGFL
GFLGFL Environmental Inc.
0leads
WMWaste Management, Inc.
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs GFLMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
WM5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
WM5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WM6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
WM2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
WM2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WM is the larger business by revenue, generating $25.4B annually — 3.8x GFL's $6.7B. WM is the more profitable business, keeping 11.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GFL's 3.1%.
| Metric | GFLGFL Environmental… | WMWaste Management,… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.7B | $25.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.7B | $7.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $209M | $2.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $87M | $3.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.6% | +32.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.5% | +18.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.1% | +11.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.3% | +12.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.4% | +3.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -107.3% | +13.3% |
WM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — GFL and WM each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 5.0x trailing earnings, GFL trades at a 85% valuation discount to WM's 33.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, WM's 15.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GFL's 15.2x.
| Metric | GFLGFL Environmental… | WMWaste Management,… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $12.8B | $90.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $18.6B | $113.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 5.05x | 33.51x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 39.74x | 27.43x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.44x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.22x | 15.16x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.64x | 3.59x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.55x | 9.08x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 99.94x | 32.15x |
Evenly matched — GFL and WM each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WM leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WM delivers a 28.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $29 in annual profit, vs $3 for GFL. GFL carries lower financial leverage with a 1.06x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WM's 2.29x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GFL scores 8/9 vs WM's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | GFLGFL Environmental… | WMWaste Management,… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.7% | +28.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.1% | +6.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.6% | +10.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.0% | +11.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.06x | 2.29x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.8B | $22.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $86M | $201M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $7.9B | $22.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.59x | 4.89x |
WM leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WM five years ago would be worth $16,864 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,327 for GFL. Over the past 12 months, WM leads with a -2.9% total return vs GFL's -28.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WM at 11.6% vs GFL's 1.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GFLGFL Environmental… | WMWaste Management,… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -13.6% | +3.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -28.1% | -2.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +4.5% | +38.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +13.3% | +68.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +122.7% | +312.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +1.5% | +11.6% |
WM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WM is the less volatile stock with a -0.17 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GFL's 0.20 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WM currently trades 90.5% from its 52-week high vs GFL's 71.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | GFLGFL Environmental… | WMWaste Management,… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.20x | -0.17x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $52.00 | $248.13 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $36.67 | $194.11 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +71.1% | +90.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 33.5 | 47.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.1M | 2.0M |
WM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
WM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GFL as "Buy" and WM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 53.2% upside for GFL (target: $57) vs 12.6% for WM (target: $253). For income investors, WM offers the higher dividend yield at 1.47% vs GFL's 0.16%.
| Metric | GFLGFL Environmental… | WMWaste Management,… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $56.67 | $252.86 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 18 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.2% | +1.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 24 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.08 | $3.30 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +17.0% | 0.0% |
WM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
WM leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallWaste Management, Inc. (WM)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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GFL vs WM: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GFL or WM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Waste Management, Inc.
(WM) is the stronger pick with 14. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 8% for GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL). GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL) offers the better valuation at 5. 0x trailing P/E (39. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL) a "Buy" — based on 18 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — GFL or WM?
On trailing P/E, GFL Environmental Inc.
(GFL) is the cheapest at 5. 0x versus Waste Management, Inc. at 33. 5x. On forward P/E, Waste Management, Inc. is actually cheaper at 27. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GFL or WM?
Over the past 5 years, Waste Management, Inc.
(WM) delivered a total return of +68. 6%, compared to +13. 3% for GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WM returned +312. 0% versus GFL's +122. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — GFL or WM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Waste Management, Inc.
(WM) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 17β versus GFL Environmental Inc. 's 0. 20β — meaning GFL is approximately -213% more volatile than WM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 106% versus 2% for Waste Management, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — GFL or WM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Waste Management, Inc.
(WM) is pulling ahead at 14. 2% versus 7. 8% for GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: GFL Environmental Inc. grew EPS 573. 5% year-over-year, compared to -1. 6% for Waste Management, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WM leads at 8. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — GFL or WM?
GFL Environmental Inc.
(GFL) is the more profitable company, earning 58. 0% net margin versus 10. 7% for Waste Management, Inc. — meaning it keeps 58. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WM leads at 18. 3% versus 5. 2% for GFL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WM leads at 29. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is GFL or WM more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Waste Management, Inc.
(WM) trades at 27. 4x forward P/E versus 39. 7x for GFL Environmental Inc. — 12. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GFL: 53. 2% to $56. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — GFL or WM?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Waste Management, Inc. (WM) offers the highest yield at 1. 5%, versus 0. 2% for GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL).
09Is GFL or WM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Waste Management, Inc.
(WM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 17), 1. 5% yield, +312. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WM: +312. 0%, GFL: +122. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between GFL and WM?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: GFL is a mid-cap deep-value stock; WM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. WM pays a dividend while GFL does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(GFL: 5.4% · WM: 3.5%)Net Margin>
%
(GFL: 3.1% · WM: 11.0%)P/E Ratio<
x
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