WM vs WCN: which was the better investment?
Waste Management, Inc. against Waste Connections, Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 22, 1998 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did WM beat WCN?
No — measured from May 22, 1998 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, WCN came out ahead: $692,172 versus $92,552 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 16.2% annual return against 8.2%.
What would $10,000 in WM be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Waste Management, Inc. (WM) on May 22, 1998 would be worth about $92,552 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 825.5% (8.2% per year). The same $10,000 in WCN would be worth $692,172.
Which was riskier — WM or WCN?
WM swung with an annualized volatility of 26.8% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -77.8%; WCN ran at 30.3% volatility with a -68.9% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.23 for WM vs 0.47 for WCN.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 22, 1998 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with WM vs WCN. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.