Zacks Research Analysts Decrease Earnings Estimates for WCN

Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research decreased their Q2 2025 earnings estimates for Waste Connections in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, May 14th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the business services provider will earn $1.26 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate 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.

Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) last issued 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 firm had revenue of $2.23 billion for 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%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.04 earnings per share.

WCN has been the topic of several other reports. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of Waste Connections from $225.00 to $210.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 30th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Waste Connections from $214.00 to $216.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $221.00 price objective on shares of Waste Connections in a report on Friday, April 25th. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded shares of Waste Connections to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Waste Connections from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Waste Connections presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $208.21.

Waste Connections Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of NYSE WCN opened at $191.94 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $192.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $186.31. Waste Connections has a fifty-two week low of $160.34 and a fifty-two week high of $201.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $49.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 80.31, a P/E/G ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.65.

Waste Connections Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 22nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 7th will be paid a $0.315 dividend. This represents a $1.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 7th. Waste Connections’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.85%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Waste Connections

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

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.