10 Best Stocks to Buy According to Bill Gates

3. Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM)

Stake Value as of Q4 2024: $6,504,568,276

Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management environmental services in North America. The company serves more than 20 million residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers through its Collection, Landfill, Transfer, Recycling, and Other lines of business.

Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) had an impressive Q4 2024 with revenue of around $5.9 billion, up 13% YoY,  driven by a strong market demand, ongoing asset network expansions, and efficiencies in Collection and Disposal services. However, the company’s still adjusted EPS slipped by 2.3% to $1.70, affected by elevated operational costs. WMI showed a strong financial performance in 2024, as its operating cash flow grew more than 14% to $5.39 billion, and free cash flow before sustainability growth investments reached $3.27 billion, marking a 22.5% increase over 2023. The company returned $1.47 billion to its shareholders last year, including more than $1.2 billion in dividends. WMI recently raised its dividend by 10%, marking its 22nd straight annual dividend raise.

Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) continued to grow its portfolio with an impressive shopping spree in 2024. The company closed $800 million worth of acquisitions in the first three quarters of last year, before acquiring Stericycle (the largest medical waste management company in North America) for $7.2 billion in Q4, all while also funding $950 million in sustainability growth initiatives. The company is now expecting synergies worth $250 million from the Stericycle acquisition by 2027 and is confident it will deliver up to $100 million even in 2025.