Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) Shares Up 7% Following Earnings Beat

Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN) shares shot up 7% on Thursday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The company traded as high as $166.87 and last traded at $167.3880. Approximately 482,609 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 70% from the average daily volume of 1,610,204 shares. The stock had previously closed at $156.51.

The business services provider reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $2.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.50 billion. Waste Connections had a net margin of 11.37% and a return on equity of 16.25%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.13 earnings per share.

Waste Connections Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 21st. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 6th will be given a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 6th. Waste Connections’s dividend payout ratio is 33.57%.

Trending Headlines about Waste Connections

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 EPS beat estimates — Waste Connections reported $1.23 EPS versus the $1.19 consensus, showing year‑over‑year EPS growth and helping reassure investors on profitability. Zacks: WCN Surpasses Q1 Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: Strong adjusted EBITDA and margins — Management said revenue and adjusted EBITDA came in above expectations and reported an adjusted EBITDA margin (management highlighted 32.5%), which supports operating leverage and free cash flow potential. BusinessWire: Q1 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend declared — Board approved a $0.35 quarterly cash dividend (payable May 21; record date May 6), signaling confidence in cash flow and returning capital to shareholders. That can support investor sentiment and income‑oriented demand. BusinessWire: Dividend Announcement
• Neutral Sentiment: Mixed coverage on revenue vs. estimates — some outlets and the company called revenue above expectations while others note differences versus analyst models; the split has produced both supportive and cautious analyst takes. Seeking Alpha: Revenue/Profit Coverage
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue short of some analyst consensus — reported revenue was $2.33B versus a ~$2.50B consensus cited by some services, which tempers the EPS beat and raises short‑term growth concerns. MarketBeat: Q1 Summary
• Negative Sentiment: Net income declined year‑over‑year — reported profit (about US$219.3M) was down from US$241.5M a year ago, a datapoint investors will watch for margin pressure or one‑time impacts. MSN: Q1 Profit Decline

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. BNP Paribas Exane assumed coverage on Waste Connections in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. They issued an “outperform” rating on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $205.00 target price (up from $200.00) on shares of Waste Connections in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $210.00 price target (down from $219.00) on shares of Waste Connections in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Citigroup restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $183.00 price objective (down from $196.00) on shares of Waste Connections in a report on Friday, January 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $205.00 target price on shares of Waste Connections and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Waste Connections currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $202.81.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Waste Connections

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WCN. City Holding Co. purchased a new position in Waste Connections during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC acquired a new position in Waste Connections during the third quarter worth $26,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new stake in Waste Connections in the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Waste Connections by 346.2% in the 4th quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC now owns 174 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Greykasell Wealth Strategies Inc. increased its stake in shares of Waste Connections by 555.2% in the 3rd quarter. Greykasell Wealth Strategies Inc. now owns 190 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 161 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.09% of the company’s stock.

Waste Connections Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $163.82 and a 200 day moving average price of $168.89. The firm has a market cap of $42.71 billion, a PE ratio of 40.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.61.

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.