Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) Issues Earnings Results

Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The business services provider reported $1.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.52 by $0.06, FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $2.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.60 billion. Waste Connections had a return on equity of 17.65% and a net margin of 11.40%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 23.8% compared to the same quarter last year.

Waste Connections Stock Up 10.4%

NYSE:WCN opened at $185.70 on Friday. Waste Connections has a twelve month low of $146.89 and a twelve month high of $186.93. The firm has a market capitalization of $46.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $161.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $161.56.

Waste Connections Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 19th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 5th will be given a dividend of $0.3850 per share. This is a positive change from Waste Connections’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 5th. This represents a $1.54 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. Waste Connections’s payout ratio is presently 33.73%.

More Waste Connections News

Here are the key news stories impacting Waste Connections this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Quarterly results exceeded expectations. Waste Connections reported adjusted EPS of $1.58, ahead of the $1.52 consensus estimate, while revenue reached $2.64 billion versus expectations of approximately $2.60 billion. Revenue growth, stronger operating execution, and improved landfill volumes supported the beat. Waste Connections Beats Q3 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Management raised its full-year outlook. The company cited sequential improvement in solid-waste unit volumes, particularly at landfills, as well as favorable commodity-related revenue trends. Operating profit and net income also grew strongly year over year. Waste Connections Reports Third Quarter Results and Raises Full-Year Outlook
• Positive Sentiment: The quarterly dividend was increased 10%. Waste Connections raised its dividend to $0.385 per share from $0.350, equivalent to $1.54 annually, with payment scheduled for November 19 to shareholders of record as of November 5. The increase signals confidence in cash generation and adds to the stock’s shareholder-return appeal. Waste Connections Announces 10% Dividend Increase
• Positive Sentiment: Acquisitions continue to support growth. The company is using cash flow from acquired operations to expand profits while returning more capital to shareholders. Why Waste Connections Stock Is Up Today
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and insider selling remain risks. At a reported price-to-earnings ratio near 45, expectations are elevated. Recent insider activity also showed substantially more sales than purchases, although such transactions may reflect routine diversification rather than a change in business outlook.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on WCN shares. Weiss Ratings upgraded Waste Connections from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Thursday, October 15th. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $210.00 target price (up from $200.00) on shares of Waste Connections in a research report on Friday, July 24th. UBS Group upgraded Waste Connections from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $176.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Friday, September 18th. Raymond James Financial set a $189.00 price target on Waste Connections in a research report on Friday, October 9th. Finally, Wolfe Research initiated coverage on shares of Waste Connections in a research note on Tuesday, September 15th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $204.00 price target for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $198.28.

Insider Activity at Waste Connections

In related news, SVP Philip Rivard sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $166.57, for a total value of $416,425.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $122,262.38. This trade represents a 77.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Robert Cloninger sold 2,811 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.02, for a total transaction of $480,737.22. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 11,666 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,995,119.32. The trade was a 19.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Waste Connections Company Profile

Waste Connections, Inc is a North American provider of solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services. The company serves residential, commercial, industrial and construction customers, offering scheduled and on-demand collection as well as waste management solutions tailored to municipalities and businesses.

Its operations include local collection fleets, transfer stations, recycling and resource-recovery facilities, and landfills. Waste Connections also provides non-hazardous oilfield waste services, including the collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste generated by energy-production activities.

Founded in 1997, Waste Connections has grown through a combination of internal development and acquisitions.