Bill Gates has high stakes in recycling business

16 % of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust is invested in Waste Management (that’s the actual name of the company)

Waste Management

Gates has a soft spot for boring companies with strong recurring revenue, which is the very definition of Waste Management (NYSE: WM). If you have any doubt, consider this: The Gates Trust has a stake of more than 35 million shares of Waste Management stock worth $7.3 billion.

Beyond just trash collection, Waste Management owns a number of reclamation stations that recover glass, paper, metal, and plastics and redirect them for recycling. The company also operates a number of landfills where it collects landfill gases to generate electricity and power vehicles.

In the second quarter, revenue grew 5.5% year over year, while its adjusted operating EBITDA increased 10%.

Let’s not forget the dividend. Waste Management has increased its payout for 15 consecutive years, with a current yield of 1.43%. And with a payout ratio of 46%, there’s plenty more where that came from.

Home