Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) Reaches New 52-Week High After Earnings Beat

Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The company traded as high as $179.57 and last traded at $180.1170, with a volume of 165,673 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $168.28.

The business services provider reported $1.58 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.52 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $2.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.60 billion. Waste Connections had a return on equity of 17.31% and a net margin of 10.86%. The company’s revenue was up 23.8% compared to the same quarter last year.

Waste Connections Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 19th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.3850 per share. This represents a $1.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. 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. Waste Connections’s payout ratio is presently 33.73%.

Trending Headlines about Waste Connections

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q3 earnings and revenue beat estimates: Adjusted earnings rose to $1.58 per share, above the $1.52–$1.54 analyst estimates and up from $1.44 a year earlier. Revenue reached approximately $2.64 billion, exceeding expectations near $2.60–$2.61 billion and increasing 23.8% year over year. Waste Connections Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results and Raises Full Year Outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Improving operating trends lifted the outlook: Management cited stronger operational execution, improving landfill activity, a 70-basis-point sequential improvement in solid-waste volumes, and higher commodity-related revenue. The company also raised its full-year outlook, signaling confidence in continued growth. Waste Connections raises outlook as landfill volumes improve
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend increased 10%: Waste Connections raised its quarterly dividend from $0.35 to $0.385 per share, equivalent to $1.54 annually and a yield of approximately 0.9%. The dividend is payable November 19 to shareholders of record November 5. Waste Connections Announces 10.0% Increase in Quarterly Dividend
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation remains demanding: WCN trades at roughly 40.6 times earnings, with a PEG ratio near 3.0. Strong results and guidance support the premium, but the valuation leaves less room for disappointment.
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling is a cautionary signal: Recent reported insider transactions show substantially more sales than purchases over the past six months, although such activity may reflect compensation or portfolio diversification rather than a change in business expectations.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on WCN shares. TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $210.00 price objective (up from $200.00) on shares of Waste Connections in a report on Friday, July 24th. Raymond James Financial set a $189.00 target price on Waste Connections in a research report on Friday, October 9th. Citigroup decreased their target price on Waste Connections from $182.00 to $175.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 15th. Weiss Ratings raised Waste Connections from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 15th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Waste Connections from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the company from $176.00 to $200.00 in a research report on Friday, September 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Waste Connections has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $198.61.

Insider Transactions at Waste Connections

In other news, SVP Robert Cloninger sold 2,811 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $171.02, for a total transaction of $480,737.22. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 11,666 shares in the company, valued at $1,995,119.32. This represents a 19.42% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Philip Rivard sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 734 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $122,262.38. This trade represents a 77.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Waste Connections

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Group One Trading LLC acquired a new position in shares of Waste Connections during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Waste Connections by 1,166.7% during the 1st 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 last quarter. Western Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Waste Connections during the 1st quarter valued at $41,000. Johnson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Waste Connections during the 2nd quarter valued at $45,000. Finally, Wellington Altus USA Inc. raised its position in shares of Waste Connections by 205.6% in the second quarter. Wellington Altus USA Inc. now owns 275 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 185 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.09% of the company’s stock.

Waste Connections Price Performance

The company’s 50-day moving average price is $160.94 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $161.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.66. The company has a market capitalization of $45.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.49.

About Waste Connections

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.