Zacks Research Expects Weaker Earnings for Waste Connections

Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN - Free Report) - Zacks Research reduced their Q2 2025 earnings estimates for Waste Connections in a research note issued on Wednesday, May 14th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the business services provider will earn $1.26 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $1.35. The consensus estimate for Waste Connections' current full-year earnings is $5.28 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Waste Connections' Q4 2025 earnings at $1.30 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $5.12 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $1.23 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $1.46 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $5.72 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $1.38 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $6.48 EPS.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Waste Connections from $225.00 to $210.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Waste Connections from $214.00 to $219.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Waste Connections from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. William Blair initiated coverage on Waste Connections in a report on Thursday, April 3rd. They set an "outperform" rating on the stock. Finally, Scotiabank increased their price target on Waste Connections from $192.00 to $207.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Waste Connections presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $208.21.

Waste Connections Stock Up 2.4%

Shares of NYSE WCN opened at $190.78 on Friday. 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 $49.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 79.82, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.66. Waste Connections has a 12 month low of $160.34 and a 12 month high of $201.66. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $192.44 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $186.23.

Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The business services provider reported $1.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.07 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $2.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations 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% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.04 earnings per share.

Waste Connections Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 22nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 7th will be given a $0.315 dividend. This represents a $1.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 7th. Waste Connections's payout ratio is currently 51.85%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Waste Connections

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Manchester Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Waste Connections in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Private Trust Co. NA increased its holdings in Waste Connections by 153.3% in the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 152 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares during the last quarter. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Waste Connections in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new position in Waste Connections in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Waste Connections by 59.7% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 190 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. 86.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Waste Connections Company Profile

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.

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