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Waste Connections (TSE:WCN)
TSX:WCN
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Waste Connections (WCN) AI Stock Analysis

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TSE:WCN

Waste Connections

(TSX:WCN)

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Outperform 72 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:72Outperform
Price Target:
C$277.00
▲(11.06% Upside)
Waste Connections demonstrates strong financial performance and strategic growth initiatives, particularly in M&A and sustainability. However, high leverage, potential overvaluation, and economic uncertainties pose risks. The technical indicators suggest caution due to potential overbought conditions.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
The consistent revenue growth indicates strong demand for Waste Connections' services, reflecting effective market penetration and pricing strategies that support long-term business expansion.
M&A Strategy
The robust acquisition strategy enhances Waste Connections' market position and revenue base, providing a durable competitive advantage and supporting sustained growth through expanded service offerings and geographic reach.
Sustainability Achievements
Commitment to sustainability and safety not only enhances Waste Connections' brand reputation but also aligns with regulatory trends, potentially reducing future compliance costs and attracting environmentally conscious clients.
Negative Factors
Rising Debt Levels
Higher leverage can strain financial flexibility and increase risk, particularly in economic downturns, potentially impacting Waste Connections' ability to invest in growth opportunities or weather market fluctuations.
Volume Decline
Declining volumes, especially in cyclical sectors like construction, could signal weakening demand and pose challenges to maintaining revenue growth, impacting Waste Connections' operational efficiency and profitability.
Commodity Headwinds
Falling commodity prices can reduce revenue from recycling services, affecting Waste Connections' profitability and cash flow, potentially limiting its ability to invest in new initiatives or pay down debt.

Waste Connections (WCN) vs. iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC)

Waste Connections Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionWaste Connections, Inc. is a leading North American integrated waste services company providing solid waste collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling services. The company operates in both the municipal and commercial sectors, catering to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Waste Connections is known for its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, offering a range of services that include curbside collection, landfill operations, and recycling solutions across various regions.
How the Company Makes MoneyWaste Connections generates revenue primarily through its waste collection and disposal services, which include residential, commercial, and industrial waste management solutions. The company charges customers for waste collection services based on a variety of pricing structures, including flat fees, per-bag charges, or volume-based pricing. Key revenue streams also come from landfill operations, where Waste Connections earns income from tipping fees charged to customers for disposing of waste. Additionally, the company generates revenue from recycling services, which can provide a secondary income stream through the sale of recycled materials. Significant partnerships with municipalities for waste management contracts further bolster its revenue, as well as mergers and acquisitions that expand its operational footprint and customer base. Overall, Waste Connections' diverse service offerings and strategic positioning within the waste management industry contribute to its earnings.

Waste Connections Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 21, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 18, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong financial performance, strategic M&A activity, and improvements in sustainability and technology. However, the company faces challenges from commodity price declines, volume decreases, and economic uncertainty.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong EBITDA Margins
Adjusted EBITDA margins reached 33.8%, with underlying solid waste margin expansion of approximately 80 basis points.
M&A Activity and Revenue Growth
Acquisitions accounted for approximately $300 million in annualized revenues. Notable wins include two of the largest private companies in Florida.
Dividend Increase
The Board authorized an 11.1% increase to the regular quarterly cash dividend, marking the 15th consecutive annual double-digit increase.
Sustainability Achievements
Achieved a 19% reduction in emissions and improved safety incident rates, now down over 25% to historic lows.
Positive Free Cash Flow
Year-to-date adjusted free cash flow of $1.084 billion, on track for the full year outlook of $1.3 billion.
Technological Advancements
Investments in technology to enhance efficiency and customer experience, with early benefits in pricing retention.
Negative Updates
Commodity Headwinds
Continued decline in recycled commodities and renewable energy credits, ending the quarter down 30% to 35% year-over-year.
Volume Decline
Reported volumes were slightly better than expected but still down 2.7%, with ongoing sluggishness in cyclical activities like construction.
Chiquita Canyon Landfill Closure
Closure of Chiquita Canyon landfill since January 1, affecting volume and revenue figures.
Macro Uncertainty
Ongoing economic uncertainty and potential impacts from factors like a government shutdown or tariff changes.
Company Guidance
In the third quarter of 2025, Waste Connections, Inc. surpassed expectations with strong financial results driven by effective execution, reducing employee turnover, and achieving record low safety incident rates. Adjusted EBITDA margins reached 33.8%, reflecting a solid waste margin expansion of approximately 80 basis points. Revenue for the quarter was $2.458 billion, a 5.1% increase year-over-year, with core pricing at 6.3% and volumes down by 2.7%. The company highlighted a robust acquisition strategy, contributing about $300 million in annualized revenues year-to-date, and announced an 11.1% increase in its quarterly cash dividend. The company also emphasized its progress toward sustainability targets, including a 19% reduction in emissions and improved employee engagement. Looking forward, Waste Connections anticipates mid-single-digit revenue growth in 2026, driven by price-led organic growth in solid waste and benefits from 2025 acquisitions.

Waste Connections Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Waste Connections exhibits strong financial performance with solid revenue growth and profitability. The company maintains a healthy gross profit margin of 42.0% and a robust EBITDA margin of 25.43%. While the balance sheet shows stability, the debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09 suggests moderate leverage. Cash flow generation is strong, providing financial flexibility.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Waste Connections has demonstrated strong revenue growth, with the latest TTM revenue reaching $9.08 billion, a 1.75% increase from the previous year. The gross profit margin is healthy at 42.0%, and the net profit margin has slightly improved to 6.93%. Both EBIT and EBITDA margins are robust at 12.02% and 25.43%, respectively, indicating efficient operations and management control over expenses.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The company's debt-to-equity ratio stands at 1.09, indicating a moderate level of leverage. Return on equity (ROE) is 7.85%, reflecting a stable performance in generating returns on shareholder investments. The equity ratio is 39.57%, showing a balanced capital structure with a significant portion of assets financed by equity. The balance sheet demonstrates stability but suggests a watchful eye on debt levels.
Cash Flow
72
Positive
Waste Connections has shown consistent free cash flow generation, with a slight increase in free cash flow to $1.18 billion. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is strong at 3.62, indicating excellent cash generation relative to net income. Free cash flow to net income is 1.88, suggesting robust cash conversion and financial flexibility. The company maintains a solid cash flow position, supporting growth and operational investments.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue9.23B8.92B8.02B7.21B6.15B5.45B
Gross Profit3.88B3.73B3.28B2.88B2.50B2.17B
EBITDA2.36B2.25B2.26B2.17B1.89B1.17B
Net Income643.83M617.57M762.80M835.66M618.05M204.68M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets20.68B19.82B17.92B17.13B14.70B13.99B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments110.17M62.37M78.40M78.64M147.44M617.29M
Total Debt8.67B8.39B7.02B7.10B5.21B4.89B
Total Liabilities12.32B11.96B10.22B10.02B7.71B7.13B
Stockholders Equity8.35B7.86B7.69B7.11B6.99B6.86B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.14B1.17B1.19B1.11B953.91M743.96M
Operating Cash Flow2.31B2.23B2.13B2.02B1.70B1.41B
Investing Cash Flow-2.39B-3.16B-1.58B-3.09B-1.69B-1.05B
Financing Cash Flow150.59M944.95M-544.40M1.03B-499.50M-78.22M

Waste Connections Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price249.42
Price Trends
50DMA
246.25
Positive
100DMA
250.70
Negative
200DMA
258.98
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.10
Negative
RSI
56.76
Neutral
STOCH
77.79
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TSE:WCN, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 249.42 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 242.52, above the 50-day MA of 246.25, and below the 200-day MA of 258.98, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.10 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 56.76 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 77.79 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for TSE:WCN.

Waste Connections Risk Analysis

Waste Connections disclosed 38 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Waste Connections reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Waste Connections Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
72
Outperform
$62.63B72.437.61%0.71%10.49%-32.11%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
57
Neutral
C$3.94B21.0521.26%2.20%3.90%-57.75%
55
Neutral
$23.31B-0.03%0.13%-5.22%-129.20%
54
Neutral
C$49.09M-3.01%63.49%-133.70%
45
Neutral
C$417.19M3.71%81.27%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSE:WCN
Waste Connections
249.42
6.60
2.72%
TSE:BLM
BluMetric Environmental
1.42
0.66
86.84%
TSE:BQE
BQE Water
55.00
-12.00
-17.91%
TSE:SES
SECURE Waste Infrastructure
18.16
4.84
36.34%
TSE:GFL
GFL Environmental
64.40
8.79
15.81%
TSE:ANRG
Anaergia
2.47
1.45
142.16%

Waste Connections Corporate Events

Waste Connections Reports Strong Q3 2025 Results
Oct 23, 2025

Waste Connections, Inc. is an integrated solid waste services company operating in the non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, and disposal sector, serving approximately nine million customers across the U.S. and Canada. The company also focuses on resource recovery through recycling and renewable fuels generation.

Business Operations and StrategyStock BuybackDividendsFinancial Disclosures
Waste Connections Reports Strong Q3 2025 Financial Results
Positive
Oct 21, 2025

On October 21, 2025, Waste Connections announced its third quarter 2025 financial results, reporting revenue of $2.458 billion and net income of $286.3 million. The company exceeded expectations with an adjusted EBITDA of $830.3 million and increased its quarterly dividend by 11.1%. Waste Connections also completed share repurchases of approximately 1% of shares outstanding and closed or agreed to acquisitions totaling $300 million in annualized revenue. The results reflect superior execution in improving operating trends and cost management, positioning the company well for continued growth and shareholder returns.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:WCN) stock is a Buy with a C$270.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Waste Connections stock, see the TSE:WCN Stock Forecast page.

Financial Disclosures
Waste Connections Sets Date for Q3 2025 Earnings Release
Neutral
Sep 24, 2025

Waste Connections, Inc. announced it will release its third-quarter 2025 financial results on October 21, 2025, followed by an investor conference call on October 22. The company actively engages in investor conferences and presentations, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement. This announcement highlights Waste Connections’ ongoing efforts to maintain strong communication with investors and stakeholders, reinforcing its market position and commitment to sustainable growth.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:WCN) stock is a Hold with a C$192.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Waste Connections stock, see the TSE:WCN Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board Changes
Waste Connections Appoints New COO Amid Leadership Transition
Neutral
Aug 5, 2025

On July 31, 2025, Waste Connections, Inc. announced the appointment of Jason Craft as the new Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective August 9, 2025, succeeding Darrell W. Chambliss following his retirement. Mr. Craft, who has been with the company since 2003, will receive an annual base salary of $500,000 with a target annual bonus of 100% of his base salary, and will be eligible for equity awards valued at 225% of his base salary, highlighting the company’s strategic leadership transition and compensation alignment.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:WCN) stock is a Buy with a C$206.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Waste Connections stock, see the TSE:WCN Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board Changes
Waste Connections COO Darrell Chambliss Retires
Neutral
Jul 30, 2025

On July 24, 2025, Waste Connections, Inc. announced the retirement of Darrell W. Chambliss from his role as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, a position he held since 2003. Mr. Chambliss will transition to a new role as Senior Advisor with an annual base salary of $50,000, without eligibility for future bonus or equity awards, as per a new letter agreement. The company plans to appoint his successor soon.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:WCN) stock is a Buy with a C$230.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Waste Connections stock, see the TSE:WCN Stock Forecast page.

Waste Connections Reports Strong Q2 2025 Results
Jul 25, 2025

Waste Connections, Inc. is an integrated solid waste services company operating in the U.S. and Canada, providing non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, disposal, and resource recovery services. The company is known for its focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives.

Waste Connections Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights
Jul 25, 2025

The latest earnings call from Waste Connections, Inc. was marked by a largely positive sentiment, as the company reported revenue and EBITDA figures that exceeded expectations. Despite facing challenges such as volume declines in certain segments and commodity-driven headwinds, the company demonstrated strong acquisition and operational performance, taking proactive steps to mitigate these issues.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial DisclosuresM&A Transactions
Waste Connections Reports Strong Q2 2025 Results
Positive
Jul 23, 2025

On July 23, 2025, Waste Connections announced its second quarter results, reporting a revenue of $2.407 billion, which is a 7.1% increase from the previous year, and a net income of $290.3 million. The company highlighted improved employee retention and record safety performance as key factors driving better-than-expected results, despite economic sluggishness and tariff uncertainties. Waste Connections completed significant acquisition activity, contributing approximately $200 million in annualized revenue, and maintained its full-year 2025 outlook with projected revenue of $9.45 billion. The company remains well-positioned for further acquisitions and shareholder returns, with expectations of 6% revenue growth and a 50 basis point expansion in adjusted EBITDA margin.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:WCN) stock is a Buy with a C$206.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Waste Connections stock, see the TSE:WCN Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Oct 23, 2025