We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Waste Connections Stock Slides 7% Since Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
Waste Connections beat Q4 earnings estimates, with revenues up 5% year over year.
WCN posted an operating loss of $199.1M as adjusted EBITDA fell 8% and margins narrowed.
Waste Connections expects 2026 revenues of $9.9-$9.95B and EBITDA of $3.3-$3.325B.
Waste Connections, Inc.’s (WCN - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2025 earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a slight margin and increased 11.2% year over year. The top line met the consensus estimate and grew 5% year over year.
The earnings beat failed to impress investors as the stock dipped 6.6% since the company released results on Feb. 11.
Over the past year, WCN shares have plummeted 14% compared with the industry's 3.5% dipand the 15.3% rally of the Zacks S&P 500 Composite.
Waste Connections, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
The company logged $1.7 billion in revenues from the Solid Waste Collection segment, which gained 5.8% year over year. For the Solid Waste Disposal and Transfer segment, revenues increased 5.4% from the year-ago quarter to $757.1 million. These segments improved on the back of solid core pricing.
The Solid Waste Recycling segment witnessed a 14.3% year-over-year decline in revenues. The figure came in at $51.2 million. For the E&P Waste Treatment, Recovery and Disposal segment, $171.1 million in revenues was recorded, marking a 16.9% year-over-year hike. The Intermodal and Other segment recorded $42.3 million in revenues, sliding 7.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Waste Connections’ Operating Results
Adjusted EBITDA in the reported quarter was $731.9 million, sinking 8% from the year-ago quarter. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 32.4%, declining 110 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2024.
The company recorded an operating loss of $199.1 million against an operating income of $420.8 million in the year-ago quarter.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Waste Connections exited the fourth quarter of 2025 with cash and cash equivalents of $46 million, down from $117.6 million in the preceding quarter. The long-term portion of debt and notes payable stood at $8.8 billion compared with $8 billion in the third quarter of 2025.
In the reported quarter, WCN generated $556.9 million in cash from operating activities. The adjusted free cash flow was $175.6 million. Capital expenditure totaled $261.1 million. The company paid out $89.9 million in dividends during the quarter.
WCN’s FY26 Outlook
For 2026, the company expected revenues of $9.9-$9.95 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is $9.95 billion. Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated to be $3.3-$3.325 billion.
Waste Connections carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present.
FISV’s adjusted earnings per share of $1.99 surpassed the consensus mark by 4.7% but declined 20.7% year over year. Adjusted revenues of $4.9 billion missed the consensus estimate by 1% and dipped 6.7% on a year-over-year basis.
Adjusted earnings were $3.42 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a slight margin and gaining 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Total revenues of $4.4 billion beat the consensus estimate by 2.8% and rose 10.1% from the year-ago quarter.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Waste Connections Stock Slides 7% Since Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates
Key Takeaways
Waste Connections, Inc.’s (WCN - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2025 earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a slight margin and increased 11.2% year over year. The top line met the consensus estimate and grew 5% year over year.
The earnings beat failed to impress investors as the stock dipped 6.6% since the company released results on Feb. 11.
Over the past year, WCN shares have plummeted 14% compared with the industry's 3.5% dipand the 15.3% rally of the Zacks S&P 500 Composite.
Waste Connections, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Waste Connections, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Waste Connections, Inc. Quote
WCN’s Q4 Segmental Information
The company logged $1.7 billion in revenues from the Solid Waste Collection segment, which gained 5.8% year over year. For the Solid Waste Disposal and Transfer segment, revenues increased 5.4% from the year-ago quarter to $757.1 million. These segments improved on the back of solid core pricing.
The Solid Waste Recycling segment witnessed a 14.3% year-over-year decline in revenues. The figure came in at $51.2 million. For the E&P Waste Treatment, Recovery and Disposal segment, $171.1 million in revenues was recorded, marking a 16.9% year-over-year hike. The Intermodal and Other segment recorded $42.3 million in revenues, sliding 7.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Waste Connections’ Operating Results
Adjusted EBITDA in the reported quarter was $731.9 million, sinking 8% from the year-ago quarter. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 32.4%, declining 110 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2024.
The company recorded an operating loss of $199.1 million against an operating income of $420.8 million in the year-ago quarter.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Waste Connections exited the fourth quarter of 2025 with cash and cash equivalents of $46 million, down from $117.6 million in the preceding quarter. The long-term portion of debt and notes payable stood at $8.8 billion compared with $8 billion in the third quarter of 2025.
In the reported quarter, WCN generated $556.9 million in cash from operating activities. The adjusted free cash flow was $175.6 million. Capital expenditure totaled $261.1 million. The company paid out $89.9 million in dividends during the quarter.
WCN’s FY26 Outlook
For 2026, the company expected revenues of $9.9-$9.95 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is $9.95 billion. Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated to be $3.3-$3.325 billion.
Waste Connections carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Earnings Snapshot
Fiserv, Inc. (FISV - Free Report) reported mixed fourth-quarter 2025 results.
FISV’s adjusted earnings per share of $1.99 surpassed the consensus mark by 4.7% but declined 20.7% year over year. Adjusted revenues of $4.9 billion missed the consensus estimate by 1% and dipped 6.7% on a year-over-year basis.
IQVIA Holdings Analytics Inc. (IQV - Free Report) posted impressive fourth-quarter 2025 results.
Adjusted earnings were $3.42 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a slight margin and gaining 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Total revenues of $4.4 billion beat the consensus estimate by 2.8% and rose 10.1% from the year-ago quarter.