Bill Gates' Wealth and Investment Strategy
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy WM?
Source: Fool
- Wealth Management of Philanthropy: Bill Gates' foundation manages a stock portfolio worth approximately $36 billion, primarily invested in Berkshire Hathaway (25.4%), providing substantial financial support for addressing global health and poverty issues.
- Berkshire Hathaway's Performance: Despite a decline in Berkshire Hathaway's stock price following Warren Buffett's resignation, the company maintains liquid assets totaling $373 billion, demonstrating resilience amid market fluctuations, while new CEO Abel actively seeks investment opportunities to enhance shareholder value.
- WM's Expansion and Growth: WM has driven its adjusted operating margin from 15.1% to 17.1% through the acquisition of Stericycle, rebranded as WM Healthcare Solutions, and expects a 29% growth in free cash flow in 2026, showcasing strong growth potential in the waste management sector.
- Canadian National Railway's Challenges and Opportunities: Despite tariff pressures, Canadian National Railway achieved a 2% revenue increase by boosting grain shipments and intermodal opportunities, with management planning to reduce capital expenditures to support stock buybacks, anticipating improvements in operating ratios and revenue in the future.
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Analyst Views on WM
Wall Street analysts forecast WM stock price to rise
20 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 233.100
Low
223.00
Averages
247.61
High
266.00
Current: 233.100
Low
223.00
Averages
247.61
High
266.00
About WM
Waste Management, Inc. is a provider of environmental solutions. The Company provides collection, recycling, and disposal services to millions of residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout the United States and Canada. Its segments include East Tier, West Tier, Recycling Processing and Sales, WM Renewable Energy, and WM Healthcare Solutions. East Tier primarily consists of geographic areas located in the Eastern U.S., the Great Lakes region and all of Canada. The West Tier primarily includes geographic areas located in the Western U.S., including the upper Midwest region and British Columbia, Canada. Recycling Processing and Sales includes the processing and sales of materials collected from residential, commercial, and industrial customers. WM Renewable Energy develops, operates, and promotes projects for the beneficial use of landfill gas. WM Healthcare Solutions includes Regulated Waste and Compliance Services and Secure Information Destruction services.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Wealth Management of Philanthropy: Bill Gates' foundation manages a stock portfolio worth approximately $36 billion, primarily invested in Berkshire Hathaway (25.4%), providing substantial financial support for addressing global health and poverty issues.
- Berkshire Hathaway's Performance: Despite a decline in Berkshire Hathaway's stock price following Warren Buffett's resignation, the company maintains liquid assets totaling $373 billion, demonstrating resilience amid market fluctuations, while new CEO Abel actively seeks investment opportunities to enhance shareholder value.
- WM's Expansion and Growth: WM has driven its adjusted operating margin from 15.1% to 17.1% through the acquisition of Stericycle, rebranded as WM Healthcare Solutions, and expects a 29% growth in free cash flow in 2026, showcasing strong growth potential in the waste management sector.
- Canadian National Railway's Challenges and Opportunities: Despite tariff pressures, Canadian National Railway achieved a 2% revenue increase by boosting grain shipments and intermodal opportunities, with management planning to reduce capital expenditures to support stock buybacks, anticipating improvements in operating ratios and revenue in the future.
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- Industry Leader: Waste Management (WM) holds an 18% market share in the $125 billion waste and recycling industry in the U.S. and Canada, supported by its 262 solid waste landfills, which solidifies its leading position in the sector.
- Renewable Natural Gas Leader: WM is a pioneer in renewable natural gas with eight plants operational and twelve more planned, converting gases from landfills into fuel, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability.
- Award-Winning Culture: Republic Services (RSG), the second-largest player in waste collection, boasts 207 landfills and consistent revenue growth, earning numerous accolades for its corporate culture and sustainability efforts, reflecting its strong market presence.
- Successful Acquisition Strategy: Waste Connections (WCN) has achieved a staggering 594-bagger return over the past 25 years by focusing on secondary markets with less competition through a decentralized acquisition strategy, showcasing its robust growth potential and market adaptability.
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- Price Dip Analysis: WM's stock has retreated 3.5% over the month ending April 2, currently sitting 5.1% below its 52-week high, indicating a relatively shallow pullback that attracts risk-averse investors.
- Strong Performance: Last year, WM reported $25.2 billion in revenue, a significant increase from $14.91 billion in 2018, showcasing its robust fundamentals and outperforming both the industrial sector and the S&P 500 over the past decade.
- Shareholder Return Initiatives: In December, WM announced a new $3 billion share repurchase program while increasing its quarterly dividend for the 23rd consecutive year, reflecting the company's commitment to returning capital to shareholders and boosting long-term investor confidence.
- Future Cash Flow Outlook: WM is projected to generate up to $19 billion in free cash flow from 2025 to 2029, which will support its ability to make strategic acquisitions and enhance shareholder rewards, further solidifying its market leadership.
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- Stable Stock Performance: Waste Management (WM) has shown impressive performance over the past decade, with revenue reaching $25.2 billion last year, a 68.5% increase from $14.91 billion in 2018, indicating strong growth potential in the waste management sector.
- Shareholder Return Initiatives: WM unveiled a $3 billion share repurchase program last December while raising its quarterly dividend for the 23rd consecutive year, which not only boosts investor confidence but also underscores the company's commitment to enhancing long-term shareholder value.
- Debt Management Outlook: As of the third quarter of fiscal 2025, WM's debt stood at $23.4 billion, with expectations that its leverage ratio will fall into the desired range of 2.5x to 3x this year, indicating improvements in financial management.
- Free Cash Flow Potential: WM is projected to generate up to $19 billion in free cash flow from 2025 to 2029, which will support the company's acquisition strategies and shareholder return plans, further solidifying its market leadership.
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- Earnings Outlook: CIBC Capital Markets has released a preview of the solid waste sector's earnings for Q1 2026, expecting stable overall performance that reflects ongoing demand for waste management services in the market.
- Market Trend Insights: The report highlights that growth in the solid waste industry is primarily driven by accelerated urbanization and environmental policy initiatives, which will create new business opportunities for related companies.
- Investor Focus: CIBC advises investors to pay attention to leading firms in the waste management sector, believing these companies will hold advantageous positions in future market competition, particularly in terms of technological innovation and service optimization.
- Industry Risk Assessment: While the overall outlook is optimistic, CIBC also cautions investors to be aware of potential policy changes and market fluctuations, as these factors could impact earnings in the solid waste sector.
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- RTX Defense Advantage: As the U.S. military seeks to replenish its arsenal post-Iran war, RTX, the parent company of Raytheon, is poised to benefit from increased defense spending, currently valued at $263 billion with a dividend yield of 1.39%.
- Aviation Engine Market: RTX's business in aviation engines and control systems locks in years of revenue from jet engine sales, with only 40% of estimated 2026 earnings allocated for dividends, indicating strong financial health.
- WM Waste Management Stability: WM operates the largest landfill network in the U.S., maintaining a steady business model with a 23-year history of dividend increases, currently valued at $95 billion and a dividend yield of 1.45%, showcasing robust profitability.
- Industry Growth Potential: Analysts forecast WM's annualized earnings growth of 11% to 12% over the next three to five years, making its current stock price of $235.20 and a P/E ratio of 28 times a fair value for long-term investors.
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