Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN) has earned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-one research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, fourteen have issued a buy recommendation and three have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $202.00.

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Waste Connections from $210.00 to $195.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Barclays set a $180.00 price objective on shares of Waste Connections and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $211.00 price objective on shares of Waste Connections in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Weiss Ratings cut Waste Connections from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 13th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $208.00 price target (up from $206.00) on shares of Waste Connections in a research report on Friday, April 24th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Waste Connections

In related news, VP James Little sold 2,605 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.98, for a total transaction of $427,167.90. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 34,395 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,640,092.10. This represents a 7.04% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Patrick James Shea sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.26, for a total transaction of $1,171,950.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 19,737 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,084,103.62. This trade represents a 27.54% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 17,605 shares of company stock worth $2,822,923. Company insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Waste Connections

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. City Holding Co. acquired a new position in shares of Waste Connections during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC acquired a new stake in Waste Connections in the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new stake in Waste Connections in the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC raised its position in Waste Connections by 1,166.7% in the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 190 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the period. Finally, Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in Waste Connections by 346.2% in the fourth quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC now owns 174 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.09% of the company’s stock.

Waste Connections Stock Up 0.3%

WCN opened at $170.09 on Thursday. Waste Connections has a 12 month low of $146.89 and a 12 month high of $191.91. The business has a 50-day moving average of $158.98 and a two-hundred day moving average of $163.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 0.69 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $43.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.49.

Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 22nd. The business services provider reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.04. Waste Connections had a net margin of 10.97% and a return on equity of 16.49%. The business had revenue of $2.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.50 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.13 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Waste Connections will post 5.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Waste Connections Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 21st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 6th were paid a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 6th. Waste Connections’s payout ratio is currently 34.15%.

Waste Connections Company Profile

Waste Connections (NYSE: WCN) is a North American integrated waste services company that provides a range of solid waste and environmental services to municipal, commercial, industrial and residential customers. The company offers collection, transportation, transfer, disposal and recycling services, and operates an extensive network of transfer stations and disposal facilities. Waste Connections positions itself as a provider of infrastructure-driven waste solutions across many regions of the United States and Canada.

The company’s operating activities include routine curbside and commercial collection, roll-off and container services, operation of landfills and transfer stations, and recycling and resource recovery programs.