Key Takeaways
- Waste Management (WM) reported a robust Q2 2025, with revenue climbing 19% year-over-year to $6.43 billion and adjusted EPS reaching $1.92, surpassing analyst expectations.
- A U.S. trade court has temporarily declined to reinstate the "de minimis" tariff exemption for low-value shipments, maintaining the current tariff landscape for goods, particularly those from China and Hong Kong.
- The ongoing legal battle over the "de minimis" rule continues to impact e-commerce businesses and global supply chains, with the exemption for China and Hong Kong having been eliminated since May 2, 2025.
Waste Management (WM) has announced strong financial results for the second quarter of 2025, exceeding market expectations. The company reported revenue of $6.43 billion, a 19% increase year-over-year, and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.92, outperforming the average analyst estimate of $1.89. Net income for the quarter stood at $726 million, or $1.80 per share.
This strong performance was driven by significant growth across its segments, with the Collection Segment increasing by 13.7% year-over-year and Landfill and Transfer segments seeing rises of 9.5% and 12.1% respectively. Waste Management's Renewable Energy segment also surged by 36.2% year-over-year, underscoring its strategic pivot towards waste-to-energy solutions and aligning with a growing market for green economy initiatives. Analysts had projected Waste Management to report EPS of $7.57 for Q2 2025 on revenue of $6.3 billion, indicating a 4.7% and 17.4% increase, respectively.
In trade news, a U.S. trade court has opted not to reinstate the "de minimis" tariff exemption for low-value shipments, for now. This exemption previously allowed packages valued at $800 or less to enter the U.S. without being subject to tariffs, a provision that has been particularly beneficial for e-commerce companies shipping low-cost goods directly to consumers. The Trump administration's executive order, which went into effect on May 2, 2025, eliminated this exemption for goods originating from China and Hong Kong.
The ongoing legal challenge against this decision highlights the complexities and financial implications for businesses relying on these cross-border shipments. While the "de minimis" exemption remains in effect for goods from most other countries, its removal for China and Hong Kong means all shipments from these regions, regardless of value, are now subject to applicable duties and taxes. This move was partly aimed at combating deceptive shipping practices and the smuggling of illicit substances.

Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.