Three Quality Companies for Long-Term Investment
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 5 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy WM?
Source: Fool
- Buffett's Investment Choice: Berkshire Hathaway, under new CEO Greg Abel, continues its share buyback strategy, expected to remain in good shape for the future due to its subsidiaries in stable industries like transportation and energy, generating billions in annual dividend income.
- Otis's Stable Income: Otis Worldwide, focusing on elevators, has a market value of nearly $31 billion with a recent dividend yield of 2.2%, doubling its payout over the past five years; despite slow growth, its maintenance revenue increased by 7% year-over-year, providing a reliable income stream for retirement.
- Leader in Waste Management: WM, as America's largest solid waste services company, has averaged nearly 14% annual growth over the past 15 years, with a dividend yield of 1.45% and a 10% average annual increase in payouts over the last five years, expected to reward shareholders long-term despite a slightly elevated current P/E ratio.
- Market Attractiveness Analysis: Berkshire's P/E ratio stands at 21.6, Otis at 17.7, and WM at 28.2; while WM appears slightly overvalued, the stability and consistent returns of these companies in their respective sectors make them compelling long-term investment options.
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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.
- Buffett's Succession: Berkshire Hathaway has appointed Greg Abel as the new CEO, who is expected to continue Buffett's share repurchase strategy, enhancing the company's long-term value and ensuring robust growth for decades to come.
- Otis Growth: Otis Worldwide, specializing in elevators since 1853, has a market value nearing $31 billion, with a recent dividend yield of 2.2% and a doubling of its dividend over the past five years, indicating a stable income stream and long-term investment appeal.
- WM's Steady Performance: As America's largest solid waste services company, WM has averaged nearly 14% annual growth over the past 15 years, with a dividend yield of 1.45% and an average annual increase of 10% over the last five years, showcasing its sustained demand and profitability in waste collection and recycling services.
- Investment Outlook: Although Berkshire Hathaway did not make the Motley Fool's list of the top 10 stocks, its long-term stability and strong dividend income still make it a noteworthy investment choice, especially in a rapidly changing market environment.
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- Buffett's Investment Choice: Berkshire Hathaway, under new CEO Greg Abel, continues its share buyback strategy, expected to remain in good shape for the future due to its subsidiaries in stable industries like transportation and energy, generating billions in annual dividend income.
- Otis's Stable Income: Otis Worldwide, focusing on elevators, has a market value of nearly $31 billion with a recent dividend yield of 2.2%, doubling its payout over the past five years; despite slow growth, its maintenance revenue increased by 7% year-over-year, providing a reliable income stream for retirement.
- Leader in Waste Management: WM, as America's largest solid waste services company, has averaged nearly 14% annual growth over the past 15 years, with a dividend yield of 1.45% and a 10% average annual increase in payouts over the last five years, expected to reward shareholders long-term despite a slightly elevated current P/E ratio.
- Market Attractiveness Analysis: Berkshire's P/E ratio stands at 21.6, Otis at 17.7, and WM at 28.2; while WM appears slightly overvalued, the stability and consistent returns of these companies in their respective sectors make them compelling long-term investment options.
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- 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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