Waste Management’s 338th-Ranked $320M Surge Drives 14.25% YTD Gains, Outperforming S&P 500

On August 4, 2025, Waste Management (WM) rose 0.73% with a trading volume of $320 million, ranking 338th in the U.S. equity market. The stock’s performance followed a robust second-quarter earnings report, where revenue grew 19% year-on-year to $6.43 billion, driven by higher pricing and operational efficiency. Earnings per share (EPS) reached $1.80, up from $1.69 in the prior year, though profit margins dipped to 11% from 13% due to increased expenses. Analysts highlighted the company’s automation initiatives and strong demand for waste services as key growth drivers.

Recent reports underscored Waste Management’s resilience amid broader market volatility. Institutional ownership remains strong, with 83% of shares held by large investors, suggesting potential sensitivity to large-scale trading activity. Additionally, CEO performance was praised for navigating cost pressures and maintaining steady cash flow. However, a downward revision to full-year revenue guidance by 0.5% signaled cautious optimism about future growth. The stock’s 14.25% year-to-date return outpaced the S&P 500’s 7.62%, reflecting investor confidence in its defensive positioning within the industrials sector.

The strategy of purchasing the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day delivered a 166.71% return from 2022 to the present, outperforming the benchmark return of 29.18% by 137.53%. This underscores the role of liquidity concentration in short-term stock performance, particularly in volatile markets. The success of such a strategy highlights the amplified price movements often observed in high-volume stocks, where institutional and algorithmic trading activity can significantly influence outcomes.