WCN
NYSE · Commercial Services & Supplies
Waste Connections Inc
$157.18
+0.12 (+0.08%)
Performance
1D
—
1W
—
1M
—
3M
-11.96%
6M
-9.82%
1Y
-18.94%
YTD
-9.73%
Open$156.95
Previous Close$157.06
Day High$159.50
Day Low$156.95
52W High$284.73
52W Low$211.93
Volume—
Avg Volume439.6K
Market Cap56.90B
P/E Ratio38.61
EPS$4.17
SectorCommercial Services & Supplies
Technical Indicators
Full analysis →
SMA 50
$170.15
Below
SMA 200
$178.56
Below
RSI (14)
48.2
Neutral
Trend
Death Cross
Bearish
Analyst Ratings
Strong Buy
20 analysts
Price Target
-45.4% upside
Current
$157.18
$157.18
Target
$85.79
$85.79
$56.78
$85.79 avg
$116.42
Key Financials
| FY 2026 | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 12.66B | 11.56B | 41.20B |
| Net Income | 1.44B | 1.18B | 2.11B |
| Profit Margin | 11.4% | 10.8% | 5.1% |
| EBITDA | 3.97B | 3.45B | 2.97B |
| Free Cash Flow | — | — | 2.20B |
| Rev Growth | +9.5% | +9.5% | +7.0% |
| Debt/Equity | 1.07 | 1.07 | 0.63 |
Dividend
Dividend Yield0.81%
Annual Dividend$1.30
Payout Ratio31.0%
Frequencyquarterly
Ex-DividendApr 18, 2026
Pay DateMay 5, 2026
About Waste Connections Inc
Waste Connections, Inc. is a North American integrated solid waste services company headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, providing non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling services across the United States and Canada. The company operates primarily in exclusive and secondary markets, targeting regions with less competition than major metropolitan areas. Waste Connections is one of the largest solid waste companies in North America, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Its strategy of focusing on markets with limited competition provides stable, recurring revenue streams and strong operating margins.
Commercial Services & Supplies Peers
| Symbol | Name | Price | Change | P/E | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WM | Waste Management Inc | $226.51 | +0.74% | 35.8 | 96.82B |
| CTAS | Cintas Corp | $168.85 | -4.52% | 43.1 | 81.79B |
| RSG | Republic Services Inc | $217.27 | +0.80% | 33.4 | 71.33B |
| CPRT | Copart Inc | $33.03 | -0.15% | 22.9 | 36.45B |
| ROL | Rollins Inc | $52.81 | -1.25% | 48.5 | 25.55B |
| RBA | Rb Global Inc | $98.12 | +0.67% | 41.6 | 24.47B |
WCN Frequently Asked Questions
What does Waste Connections do?
Waste Connections collects, transfers, and disposes of solid waste across the United States and Canada, but with a deliberate geographic strategy that sets it apart: the company focuses on secondary and exclusive markets — smaller cities and rural areas where competition is limited and pricing power is stronger. This contrasts with rivals who fight for market share in dense urban corridors. The company also extracts value from its landfills through resource recovery operations, and its Canadian segment adds meaningful geographic diversification.
Is WCN stock a good investment?
Waste collection is about as defensive a business as exists — communities need garbage hauled regardless of economic conditions, and long-term contracts with municipalities provide revenue visibility. Waste Connections has consistently delivered above-peer margin expansion through pricing discipline and operating leverage. The valuation reflects this quality, typically trading at a premium to free cash flow compared with industrial peers. Interest rate sensitivity matters because the company regularly issues debt to finance acquisitions, but its track record of integrating deals has been strong.
Who are Waste Connections' main competitors?
Waste Management and Republic Services are the two dominant players in U.S. solid waste, both larger than Waste Connections by revenue. GFL Environmental competes directly in Canada and has expanded aggressively into the U.S. through acquisitions. Casella Waste Systems serves the Northeast. In specific regional markets, private haulers and municipal services also compete, though Waste Connections often operates in markets where such competition is structurally limited.
Does Waste Connections pay dividends?
Waste Connections pays a quarterly cash dividend that it has increased consistently as earnings and free cash flow have grown. The yield is modest, reflecting that the stock trades at a valuation that prices in reliable growth rather than income. Management supplements dividends with acquisitions-led growth, deploying capital into tuck-in and larger deals in its preferred secondary markets rather than prioritizing large buybacks. The dividend is viewed as a secondary return mechanism behind growth-oriented capital deployment.
What is the current share price of WCN?
WCN last closed at $157.18, up 0.08% in the most recent trading session. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between a low of $211.93 and a high of $284.73. The current price represents 0% of its 52-week range, which helps investors gauge where the stock sits relative to its recent trading history.
Is WCN rated a buy or sell by analysts?
Among 20 analysts covering WCN, the consensus rating is Strong Buy — 17 rate it a buy, 3 hold, and 0 sell. The average price target sits at $85.79, implying 45% downside from the current price. Keep in mind that analyst targets reflect 12-month expectations and can shift quickly after earnings reports or major company events.
What are Waste Connections Inc's earnings?
Waste Connections Inc generated $12.66B in revenue during fiscal year 2026, with $1.44B reaching the bottom line as net income. The net profit margin of 11.4% is solid for its sector.
How is WCN valued compared to earnings?
WCN trades at a P/E ratio of 38.61 on trailing earnings of $4.17 per share. That's above the S&P 500 historical average, suggesting the market expects above-average earnings growth ahead. Comparing this multiple against Commercial Services & Supplies sector peers gives better context than the broad market alone, since P/E norms vary significantly across industries.
What is WCN's return over the past year?
Performance varies across timeframes, reflecting shifting market conditions. Returns by timeframe: -11.96% (3M), -9.82% (6M), -18.94% (1Y), -9.73% (YTD). Comparing these figures against the S&P 500 and sector benchmarks helps determine whether WCN is outperforming or lagging the broader market.