Zacks Research Expects Lower Earnings for Waste Connections

Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN) – Analysts at Zacks Research lowered their Q1 2025 earnings estimates for Waste Connections in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, March 5th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the business services provider will earn $1.01 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $1.17. The consensus estimate for Waste Connections’ current full-year earnings is $5.28 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Waste Connections’ Q2 2025 earnings at $1.35 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $1.49 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $1.34 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $1.37 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $5.86 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $6.72 EPS.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price 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. StockNews.com cut Waste Connections from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Citigroup raised their target price on Waste Connections from $195.00 to $196.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on Waste Connections from $192.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, CIBC reduced their price objective on Waste Connections from $215.00 to $212.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Waste Connections presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $202.43.

Waste Connections Trading Down 0.3 %

NYSE:WCN opened at $190.12 on Thursday. The company’s 50 day moving average is $182.14 and its 200-day moving average is $182.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. Waste Connections has a 12 month low of $160.34 and a 12 month high of $194.83. The firm has a market cap of $49.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 79.55, a P/E/G ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.81.

Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The business services provider reported $1.16 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%.

Institutional Trading of Waste Connections

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WCN. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its holdings in shares of Waste Connections by 8.8% during the fourth quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 705 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $121,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC lifted its holdings in Waste Connections by 0.4% during 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 during the last quarter. Oarsman Capital Inc. boosted its position in Waste Connections by 41.4% in the fourth quarter. Oarsman Capital Inc. now owns 222 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Waste Connections by 59.7% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 190 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Integrated Advisors Network LLC increased its holdings in shares of Waste Connections by 5.5% during the fourth quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC now owns 1,562 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $268,000 after buying an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.09% of the company’s stock.

Waste Connections Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 27th will be paid a $0.315 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 27th. This represents a $1.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.66%. Waste Connections’s dividend payout ratio is currently 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.