Zacks Research Analysts Reduce Earnings Estimates for WCN

Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN - Free Report) - Research analysts at Zacks Research decreased their Q3 2025 earnings estimates for Waste Connections in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, May 14th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the business services provider will post earnings of $1.44 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $1.49. The consensus estimate for Waste Connections' current full-year earnings is $5.28 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Waste Connections' Q3 2026 earnings at $1.50 EPS and Q4 2026 earnings at $1.53 EPS.

Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The business services provider reported $1.13 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.07 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $2.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.22 billion. Waste Connections had a net margin of 6.92% and a return on equity of 15.54%. Waste Connections's revenue was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.04 EPS.

Several other research analysts have also issued reports on WCN. Scotiabank upped their target price on Waste Connections from $192.00 to $207.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on Waste Connections from $225.00 to $210.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $221.00 price objective on shares of Waste Connections in a research report on Friday, April 25th. William Blair initiated coverage on shares of Waste Connections in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. They set an "outperform" rating on the stock. Finally, Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Waste Connections from $209.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $208.21.

Waste Connections Stock Down 0.2%

Shares of WCN stock traded down $0.37 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $195.67. 1,168,491 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 999,339. Waste Connections has a fifty-two week low of $160.34 and a fifty-two week high of $201.66. The stock's 50 day moving average is $193.06 and its 200-day moving average is $186.62. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. The company has a market cap of $50.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 81.87, a P/E/G ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.66.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Waste Connections

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC boosted its holdings in Waste Connections by 4.6% during the first quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 1,278 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $249,000 after buying an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its stake in shares of Waste Connections by 8.8% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 705 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $121,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. MWA Asset Management boosted its stake in shares of Waste Connections by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. MWA Asset Management now owns 4,783 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $934,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Tranquility Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Waste Connections by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Tranquility Partners LLC now owns 4,354 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $850,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the period. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC increased its stake in shares of Waste Connections by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 14,247 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $2,445,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.09% of the company's stock.

Waste Connections Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 22nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 7th will be given a dividend of $0.315 per share. This represents a $1.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.64%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 7th. Waste Connections's dividend payout ratio is currently 51.85%.

About Waste Connections

Waste Connections, Inc provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, disposal, and resource recovery services in the United States and Canada. It offers collection services to residential, commercial, municipal, industrial, and exploration and production (E&P) customers; landfill disposal services; and recycling services for various recyclable materials, including compost, cardboard, mixed paper, plastic containers, glass bottles, and ferrous and aluminum metals.