WCN vs CLH vs WM vs RSG

For growth investors, Waste Management, Inc.

(WM) is the stronger pick with 14. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 4% for Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH). Republic Services, Inc. (RSG) offers the better valuation at 29. 4x trailing P/E (27. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) a "Buy" — based on 33 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.

On trailing P/E, Republic Services, Inc.

(RSG) is the cheapest at 29. 4x versus Clean Harbors, Inc. at 38. 7x. On forward P/E, Waste Management, Inc. is actually cheaper at 27. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Waste Connections, Inc. wins at 0. 70x versus Waste Management, Inc. 's 1. 97x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Clean Harbors, Inc.

(CLH) delivered a total return of +198. 8%, compared to +29. 2% for Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CLH returned +496. 4% versus WCN's +253. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Waste Management, Inc.

(WM) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 17β versus Clean Harbors, Inc. 's 0. 70β — meaning CLH is approximately -504% more volatile than WM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Republic Services, Inc. (RSG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 2% for Waste Management, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Waste Management, Inc.

(WM) is pulling ahead at 14. 2% versus 2. 4% for Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Waste Connections, Inc. grew EPS 74. 9% year-over-year, compared to -1. 9% for Clean Harbors, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WCN leads at 9. 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.

Republic Services, Inc.

(RSG) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 9% net margin versus 6. 5% for Clean Harbors, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RSG leads at 20. 0% versus 11. 2% for CLH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WCN leads at 39. 0%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 70x versus Waste Management, Inc. 's 1. 97x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Waste Management, Inc. (WM) trades at 27. 1x forward P/E versus 33. 4x for Clean Harbors, Inc. — 6. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WCN: 32. 9% to $204. 08.

In this comparison, WM (1.

5% yield), RSG (1. 2% yield), WCN (0. 9% yield) pay a dividend. CLH does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Republic Services, Inc.

(RSG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 15), 1. 2% yield, +353. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RSG: +353. 8%, CLH: +496. 4%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

WCN, WM, RSG pay a dividend while CLH 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.