why is WM "dividend princes"

Waste Management (WM) is often referred to as a "dividend prince" due to several key characteristics that demonstrate its strong commitment to returning value to shareholders through dividends: 1. **High Dividend Yield**: WM offers a dividend yield of 1.34% as of April 16, 2025. This is a competitive yield, especially in comparison to the average savings account or government bond yields, making it an attractive option for income-focused investors. |code|Ticker|Name|Date|Payout Ratio|Dividend Yield (TTM)|market_code| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |WM|WM.N|Waste Management|20240417|7.054729427486922|1.3918457433907347|169| |WM|WM.N|Waste Management|20240418|7.054729427486922|1.3991758911591163|169| |WM|WM.N|Waste Management|20240419|7.054729427486922|1.3856618534794998|169| |WM|WM.N|Waste Management|20240420|7.054729427486922||169| |WM|WM.N|Waste Management|20240421|7.054729427486922||169| |WM|WM.N|Waste Management|20240422|7.054729427486922|1.3833484315520648|169| |WM|WM.N|Waste Management|20240423|7.054729427486922|1.3750660982852765|169| |WM|WM.N|Waste Management|20240424|7.054729427486922|1.3642840849688733|169| |WM|WM.N|Waste Management|20240425|6.424486373021954|1.3497240244475788|169| |WM|WM.N|Waste Management|20240426|6.424486373021954|1.366426939552594|169| 2. **Consistent Dividend Payment History**: The company has a long history of paying dividends, with a continuous dividend duration of 27 years. This track record indicates stability and a commitment to returning capital to shareholders over an extended period. 3. **Dividend Growth**: WM has also demonstrated a dividend growth duration of 21 years, suggesting that the company has not only maintained but also increased its dividend payments over time. |code|Ticker|Name|Dividend Growth Duration|Dividend Continuous Duration|market_code| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |WM|WM.N|Waste Management|21|27|169| 4. **Institutional Confidence**: Institutional investors are showing confidence in WM by increasing their holdings. For example, MFA Wealth Services, MainStreet Investment Advisors LLC, and TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. have all purchased new positions in WM, highlighting the attractiveness of the stock for institutional investors. 5. **Financial Health**: Despite a payout ratio of -44.08%, which initially may raise concerns about the sustainability of dividends, the free cash flow of $396 million as of December 31, 2024 indicates that the company has the financial flexibility to support its dividend payments. In conclusion, WM's high dividend yield, consistent and growing dividend payments, institutional confidence, and financial health make it a compelling choice for investors seeking dividend-focused investments.