CWST
IndustrialsCasella Waste Systems, Inc. · Waste Management · $5B
What is Casella Waste Systems, Inc.?
Casella Waste Systems is a vertically integrated solid waste services company focused exclusively on the northeastern United States. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, it serves residential, commercial, municipal, and industrial customers across the region.
Casella generates revenue by collecting, transferring, and disposing of non-hazardous solid waste across New England and nearby states. The company operates a network of collection routes, transfer stations, landfills, and recycling facilities. It also processes and markets recyclable materials — including metals, plastics, paper, and cardboard — and runs landfill gas-to-energy operations. A commodity brokerage arm rounds out its service portfolio, giving the business multiple revenue streams tied to regional waste flows.
Casella Waste Systems was founded in 1975 and operates out of Rutland, Vermont.
- Solid waste collection for residential and commercial customers
- Transfer station and landfill disposal services
- Recycling processing and recyclable commodity marketing
- Organics and food-waste diversion services
- Landfill gas-to-energy generation
Is CWST a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates CWST as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful headwinds across several key pillars.
The Growth pillar stands out as the clearest positive — Casella has expanded its footprint through acquisitions and organic volume gains in a region with limited landfill capacity, supporting a credible growth narrative. Valuation comes in at a Neutral rating, meaning the stock is neither clearly cheap nor obviously stretched relative to its fundamentals.
Quality, Moat, and Risk all register as Weak, pointing to concerns around capital efficiency, competitive differentiation, and balance-sheet or operational risk factors that investors should weigh carefully.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does CWST pay dividends?
No — Casella Waste Systems, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.
Casella Waste Systems does not currently pay a dividend. For a capital-intensive waste infrastructure business pursuing regional expansion, retaining cash to fund acquisitions and facility upgrades is a common strategic choice. Income-focused investors should be aware that CWST does not offer a dividend yield at this time.
When does CWST report earnings?
Casella Waste Systems reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
Revenue trends have generally reflected the company's acquisition-driven growth strategy in the Northeast, though margin pressures from recycling commodity volatility and operating costs remain ongoing factors to monitor. Growth has been a relative bright spot in the UQS profile.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Casella Waste Systems' investor relations page directly.
CWST Price History
+15.6% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Casella Waste Systems, Inc.?
Based on Casella Waste Systems, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
CWST Long-term Outlook
The fundamental outlook for CWST is shaped by a Good Growth pillar alongside Weak Quality and Risk ratings. The company's regional focus in the capacity-constrained Northeast provides a structural tailwind for volume growth, but weak capital efficiency and elevated risk factors temper the longer-term picture. Valuation at a Neutral level suggests the market has already priced in a reasonable portion of the growth story, leaving limited margin of safety if execution falters.
Growth drivers
- Acquisition-led expansion in a supply-constrained northeastern waste market
- Growing demand for organics diversion and recycling services
- Landfill gas-to-energy as an incremental revenue and sustainability lever
Key risks
- Recycling commodity price volatility compressing margins
- High capital requirements for landfill and infrastructure maintenance
- Integration risk from ongoing acquisition activity
CWST vs Peers
Casella competes in the environmental and waste services space alongside several larger and more diversified operators.
Secure focuses on energy-sector and industrial waste in western Canada, giving it a very different geographic and customer profile than Casella's northeastern US residential and municipal base.
GFL operates at a much larger scale across North America, offering a broader suite of environmental services and greater geographic diversification than Casella's regional model.
Clean Harbors specializes in hazardous waste and industrial services, occupying a distinct regulatory and technical niche compared to Casella's non-hazardous solid waste focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Casella Waste Systems do?
Casella Waste Systems provides vertically integrated solid waste services across the northeastern United States. Its operations span residential and commercial waste collection, transfer stations, landfill disposal, recycling processing, organics services, and landfill gas-to-energy generation. The company also markets recyclable commodities and operates a commodity brokerage business.
Does CWST pay dividends?
No, Casella Waste Systems does not currently pay a dividend. The company reinvests available capital into acquisitions and infrastructure to support its regional growth strategy. Investors seeking income from their waste-sector holdings should factor this into their assessment.
When does CWST report earnings?
Casella Waste Systems follows a standard quarterly earnings reporting schedule. The company does not pre-announce specific dates far in advance, so investors should check the investor relations section of the Casella website for the most current schedule and recent results.
Is CWST a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates CWST as Below Average, driven by Weak readings across Quality, Moat, and Risk pillars. Growth is the standout positive, and Valuation is Neutral. Whether the stock suits a particular investor depends on their tolerance for risk and their view on the company's regional expansion thesis. The full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.
Is CWST overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for CWST is rated Neutral, suggesting the stock is neither clearly cheap nor obviously expensive relative to its fundamentals. Given the Weak Quality and Risk scores, investors should consider whether the current price adequately compensates for those underlying concerns.
How does CWST compare to its competitors?
Casella is a regional specialist focused on the northeastern US, which differentiates it from larger, continent-wide operators like GFL Environmental. Compared to Clean Harbors, Casella targets non-hazardous waste rather than hazardous or industrial streams. Its smaller scale means less diversification but also a tighter regional competitive position.
What is CWST's market cap bracket?
Casella Waste Systems is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a tier that typically offers more growth potential than large-caps but with greater volatility and less financial flexibility than the industry's largest players.
Who founded Casella Waste Systems?
Casella Waste Systems was founded in 1975. Detailed founding history, including the names of its founders, is publicly available through the company's official website and press materials.
Is CWST a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, the UQS Score for CWST is Below Average, with Weak readings on Quality, Moat, and Risk. The Good Growth score shows the company is expanding, but durable long-term quality typically requires stronger capital efficiency and competitive moat characteristics than CWST currently demonstrates.
What is the main competitive advantage of Casella Waste Systems?
Casella's primary advantage is its dense, vertically integrated network in the northeastern US — a region with limited landfill capacity and high barriers to new entrants. This geographic concentration allows the company to control collection, transfer, and disposal within the same footprint, reducing reliance on third-party disposal.
What sector does CWST belong to?
Casella Waste Systems is classified in the Industrials sector, specifically within environmental and waste management services. The business is tied to regional economic activity and infrastructure spending, with some defensive characteristics given the essential nature of waste collection.
Is CWST a growth stock or value stock?
Based on UQS pillar labels, CWST leans toward a growth profile — the Growth pillar is rated Good, reflecting active acquisition and volume expansion. However, the Valuation pillar is Neutral rather than Attractive, so it does not screen as a deep-value opportunity. It occupies a middle ground between the two categories.
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Pro Analysis
CWST — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | 39.9 | 14.5 | 31.0 | 82.3 | 38.7 | 41.5 | 0.0 |
| May 20, 2026 | 39.9 | 14.5 | 31.0 | 82.3 | 38.7 | 41.6 | 0.0 |
| May 19, 2026 | 39.9 | 14.5 | 31.0 | 82.3 | 38.7 | 41.5 | 0.0 |
| May 16, 2026 | 39.9 | 14.5 | 31.0 | 82.3 | 38.7 | 41.7 | 0.0 |
| May 15, 2026 | 39.9 | 14.5 | 31.0 | 82.3 | 38.7 | 41.6 | 0.0 |
| May 11, 2026 | 39.9 | 14.5 | 31.0 | 82.3 | 38.7 | 41.7 | -1.4 |
| May 10, 2026 | 41.3 | 11.5 | 31.0 | 82.3 | 38.7 | 55.8 | +1.5 |
| May 8, 2026 | 39.8 | 6.5 | 31.0 | 80.9 | 37.8 | 57.1 | +0.4 |
| May 4, 2026 | 39.4 | 14.1 | 31.0 | 80.9 | 37.2 | 42.7 | +0.4 |
| May 3, 2026 | 39.0 | 14.1 | 31.0 | 78.9 | 37.2 | 42.6 | -0.1 |
CWST — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 14.5/100 (25%)Casella Waste Systems, Inc. currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 82.3/100 (20%)Casella Waste Systems, Inc. is growing rapidly with strong revenue and earnings expansion.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 38.7/100 (15%)Casella Waste Systems, Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 41.7/100 (15%)Casella Waste Systems, Inc. has a mixed valuation — some metrics suggest fair value while others appear stretched.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 31/100 (25%)Casella Waste Systems, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for CWST.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the CWST UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Casella Waste Systems, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Casella Waste Systems, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Casella Waste Systems, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.