What is Waste Management Predictability Rank?
3.5 (5)
Warren Buffett said many times that the companies he likes are:
1. Simple businesses that he understands
2. that have predictable and proven earnings and
3. with economic moat
4. those can be bought at a reasonable price.
It is hard to quantify "simple businesses that he (Buffett) understands", so we will focus on the other three characteristics instead. In GuruFocus Research: What worked in the market from 1998-2008? Part I: Introduction of Predictability Rank, we will show that the businesses that have predictable and proven earnings are usually also simple businesses that an average person could understand.
GuruFocus conducted a back test study of Warren Buffett's strategy of "buying good companies at fair prices" for the years from 1998-2008.
Waste Management Predictability Rank Calculation
In our database there are 2403 stocks that have been traded from Jan. 2, 1998 to Aug. 31, 2008. We have the complete 10-year financial data and trading prices of these companies for this period. We rank the predictability of these companies based on the consistency of their revenue per share and EBITDA (earning before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) per share over the past ten fiscal years, and study the correlation between the stock performances and the predictability of the business.
Our study may be subject to these biases and assumptions:
Dividend yields are not counted for investment returns
Effects of price changes due to spin-offs may not be fully adjusted
Study is subjected to survivorship bias due to de-listing, bankruptcy, LBO, M&A, etc.
The correlation between business predictability and investment returns of a company is showed below.
Correlation Between Business Predictability and Investment Returns
| Predictables | Non-Predictable | All stocks |
|---|
| Total Number of stocks | 570 | 1833 | 2403 |
| Total Lost Money | 61 | 830 | 891 |
| Total Lost More Than 50% | 18 | 412 | 430 |
| Total Lost More Than 90% | 4 | 86 | 90 |
| Average Gain | 260.6% | 100.0% | 138.1% |
| Median Gain | 150.0% | 13.0% | 39.0% |
| Maximum Gain | 2852.0% | 11483.0% | 11483.0% |
| Maximum Loss | -100.0% | -100.0% | -100.0% |
| Annualized Average Gain | 12.7% | 6.7% | 8.4% |
| Annualized Median Gain | 8.9% | 1.1% | 3.1% |
For the 570 predictable companies, we have seen strong correlation between the predictability of businesses and the stock performances over the past 10 years, regardless of the valuation of business at 1998. Accordingly, we have ranked the business predictability from 5-star to 1-star, as shown in this table.
| Predictability Rank | 5-Star | 4.5-Star | 4-Star | 3.5-Star | 3-Star | 2.5-Star | 2-Star | 1-Star (non-predictable) | Average among all |
|---|
| % Out of All 2403 Stocks |
3.3% |
2.9% |
3.7% |
3.3% |
3.3% |
3.7% |
3.3% |
76.3% |
100% |
| % that are in Loss (10y) |
3% |
10% |
8% |
9% |
11% |
18% |
16% |
45% |
37% |
| Average Gain (10y) |
364.6% |
330.9% |
278.0% |
235.1% |
243.5% |
227.8% |
154.8% |
100.0% |
138.1% |
| Median Gain (10y) |
238.5% |
193.5% |
171.0% |
159.0% |
132.5% |
113.5% |
87.0% |
13.0% |
39.0% |
| Maximum Gainer |
2228.0% |
2547.0% |
2452.0% |
2852.0% |
2432.0% |
1892.0% |
1807.0% |
11483.0% |
11483.0% |
| Maximum Loser |
-82.0% |
-53.0% |
-67.0% |
-100.0% |
-83.0% |
-100.0% |
-78.0% |
-100.0% |
-100.0% |
| Annualized Average Gain |
15.4% |
14.6% |
13.2% |
12.0% |
12.2% |
11.7% |
9.1% |
6.7% |
8.4% |
| Annualized Median Gain |
12.1% |
10.6% |
9.8% |
9.3% |
8.2% |
7.3% |
6.0% |
1.1% |
3.1% |
For detailed information about each predictability rank, please go to GuruFocus Research: What worked in the market from 1998-2008? Part I: Introduction of Predictability Rank
Also read:
Part II: What worked in the market from 1998-2008? Part II: Role of Valuations
Part III: Intrinsic Value, Discounted Cash Flow and Margin of Safety
Waste Management (Waste Management) Business Description
Traded in Other Exchanges
Address
800 Capitol Street, Suite 3000, Houston, TX, USA, 77002
WM ranks as the largest integrated provider of traditional solid waste services in the United States, operating 259 active landfills and about 337 transfer stations. The company serves residential, commercial, and industrial end markets and is also a leading recycler in North America.
Executives
| Charles C Boettcher |
officer: Sr VP Chief Legal Officer |
800 CAPITOL STREET 3000, HOUSTON TX 77002 |
| Fish James C Jr |
officer: SVP, Eastern Group |
800 CAPITOL STREET 3000, HOUSTON TX 77002 |
| John C Pope |
director |
810 S. RIDGE RD, LAKE FOREST IL 60045 |
| John A. Carroll |
officer: VP & Chief Accounting Officer |
800 CAPITOL STREET 3000, HOUSTON TX 77002 |
| Tara J. Hmmer |
officer: SVP Operat Safety Envir Compl |
800 CAPITOL STREET 3000, HOUSTON X1 77002 |
| Michael J. Watson |
officer: Sr. VP-Chief Customer Officer |
800 CAPITOL STREET 3000, HOUSTON TX 77002 |
| Christopher P. Desantis |
officer: SVP Operations - East |
800 CAPITOL STREET 3000, HOUSTON TX 77002 |
| Bruce E. Chinn |
director |
800 CAPITOL STREET 3000, HOUSTON TX 77002 |
| John J Morris |
officer: Chief Strategy Officer |
800 CAPITOL STREET 3000, HOUSTON TX 77002 |
| Devina A Rankin |
officer: VP & Treasurer |
800 CAPITOL STREET 3000, HOUSTON TX 77002 |
| Rafael Carrasco |
officer: SVP Operations |
800 CAPITOL STREET 3000, HOUSTON TX 77002 |
| Kelly C. Rooney |
officer: SVP Chief People Officer |
800 CAPITOL STREET #3000, HOUSTON TX 77002 |
| Leslie K Nagy |
officer: VP & Chief Accounting Officer |
5 GREENWAY PLAZA, SUITE 100, HOUSTON TX 77046 |
| Donald J Smith |
officer: Sr. VP - Operations |
800 CAPITOL STREET 3000, HOUSTON TX 77002 |
| Nikolaj H Sjoqvist |
officer: SVP, Chief Digital Officer |
800 CAPITOL STREET 3000, HOUSTON X1 77002 |
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