Zacks Research Cuts Earnings Estimates for Waste Connections

Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research lowered their FY2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Waste Connections in a report issued on Wednesday, March 5th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the business services provider will post earnings per share of $5.20 for the year, down from their previous forecast of $5.35. The consensus estimate for Waste Connections’ current full-year earnings is $5.28 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Waste Connections’ Q1 2026 earnings at $1.34 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $1.55 EPS and Q3 2026 earnings at $1.60 EPS.

Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The business services provider reported $1.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.20 by ($0.04). Waste Connections had a net margin of 6.92% and a return on equity of 15.54%.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Truist Financial restated a “buy” rating and issued a $210.00 target price (up previously from $200.00) on shares of Waste Connections in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on Waste Connections from $205.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Citigroup increased their target price on Waste Connections from $195.00 to $196.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Waste Connections from $214.00 to $219.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective 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. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $202.43.

Waste Connections Trading Up 1.4 %

Shares of Waste Connections stock opened at $188.35 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $182.76 and its 200 day moving average is $182.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $48.61 billion, a PE ratio of 78.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.81. Waste Connections has a 1 year low of $160.34 and a 1 year high of $194.83. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03.

Institutional Trading of Waste Connections

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Versor Investments LP grew its stake in Waste Connections by 75.1% during the third quarter. Versor Investments LP now owns 8,221 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,470,000 after purchasing an additional 3,527 shares during the period. Blueshift Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Waste Connections during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $552,000. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Waste Connections in the 3rd quarter valued at $2,503,000. Barclays PLC lifted its position in shares of Waste Connections by 34.3% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 303,040 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $54,190,000 after acquiring an additional 77,466 shares during the period. Finally, Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Waste Connections by 65.6% during the third quarter. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,034 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $543,000 after acquiring an additional 1,202 shares in the last quarter. 86.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Waste Connections Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.315 per share. This represents a $1.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 27th. Waste Connections’s dividend payout ratio is presently 52.72%.

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.