TSE:WCN

Waste Connections (WCN.TO)

216.40
+2.33 (1.09%)
as of Jun 5, 2026, 8:00:00 pm Market Open.
282 watching
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Investor Insights
star iconJun 5, 2026, 12:00 am

This summary was created by AI, based on 14 opinions in the last 12 months.

Waste Connections (WCN) is regarded as a fundamentally solid company within the waste management sector, characterized by steady earnings and growth potential. Despite its strong operational track record and disciplined management, the stock is seen as expensive, trading at a forward PE of 27x, which has made some investors cautious. Analysts agree that while WCN has avenues for growth through acquisitions and a solid market position, the current market sentiments lean towards finding more exciting investment opportunities. The potential for double-digit earnings growth and the company’s commitment to employee safety and solid cash flows provides a robust long-term investment case, yet, the stock has been facing downward pressure partly due to challenges like environmental concerns and rising fuel costs. Overall, while potentially offering good long-term returns through stability, there's a consensus that it may be best to seek a pullback before entering a position.

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Consensus
Hold
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Valuation
Overvalued
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Similar
WM
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Feb 04/21, Up 27%) Best in class in the world from track record in M&A, pricing power, marketing, and growth profile. Resilient demand and pricing power in face of interest rate hikes and situation in Ukraine. Deserves its premium. He's buying on pullbacks.
DON'T BUY
Waste management is not a growth story. The industry tends to grow by consolidation. As economic activity picks up, so will the waste business.
DON'T BUY
Dividend growth? Hoping for growth in the dividend, but it hasn't grown the way he'd like. Fuel and labour costs are increasing. Stable, well run. High multiple and low yield, which is a caution signal, but money keeps flowing in. A basic need, but price is too high for the return. Yield is 0.6%.
DON'T BUY

WCN vs. WM Fell last year, and now is picking up steam. It's more of a utility industrial than a cyclical. If you want cyclical, look at CAT or other industrial names. 28x forward earnings for 11% growth, so a bit rich for him. Fundamentally, a great business. WM has a better valuation than WCN and growth is about the same. To choose, he'd pick the larger one, which is WM.

BUY
Allan Tong’s Discover Picks Of course, nobody knew that a once-in-a-century pandemic would trigger that recession, but WCN survived the pandemic to emerge with a 21.1% gain since my original pick. This figure excludes the dividend, which currently pays 0.67%, and it beats the TSX by 5%. Read Looking back after 100 weeks of Hot TSX Stocks: BAM, Rails, Garbage for our full analysis.
BUY
Likes it. Modelling earnings growth at 19%. Trades at 23.5x 2022 compared to peers at 31x. Price target is $160USD. A great position to have. Has more to go. A very well run business.
TOP PICK
Barbell approach to navigating economic uncertainty over the next 12-18 months. Defensible, resilient cashflows. On the other hand, if the economy takes off, there will be more waste from industry. Best in class management and EBITDA margins, free cashflow. In a good position to do some M&A. Yield is 0.84%. (Analysts’ price target is $145.35)
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Oct 24/19, Up 11%) They lowered guidance during the lockdown, then revised their guidance back up a few moths later because they saw robust recovery. Waste collection is resilient and will prosper regardless of who will be the US president or trade tensions. SO, WM is well-positioned in a highly fragmented industry that encourages accretive buys.
PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Jul 30/19, Up 12%) Death, taxes and garbage are life's certainties. He's long owned this. WCN continues to do well, though there will be softness from commercial activity, though consider all the cardboard boxes from Amazon deliveries. Still a good company. Well-managed.

DON'T BUY
A tricky one. He's torn. It checks most of his boxes, but not one: they hold a lot of debt. Their growth has been spectacular, but fueled by debt. He doesn't know the debt repayment details offhand. He prefers a stock with less debt. That said, the garbage business will be stable during this pandemic.
BUY
This stock has performed well over the past few years. Now the market is saying this is still an essential business. The challenge is not getting caught in thinking you have missed the bottom. There is nothing wrong buying in here. He is just focusing on health care and tech at the moment.
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Mar 18/19, Down 1%) It is the most profitable waste collection company in North America. He thinks it is a stable business.
TOP PICK
They have an 8% year over year increase in sales. 10% earnings growth, free cash flow up 6%. Earnings estimates have been increased by 2% in the last couple of months. (Analysts’ price target is $143.72)
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Apr 01/19, Up 19%) A commodity space but it is well managed. The management team has been there since 20 years. They have owned it since the acquisition of Progressive Waste Connections. They are great at acquisitions and they convert cashflow to free cashflows. It has had 17 years of positive shareholder returns.
PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Oct 24/19, Up 9%) It is a core holding for his fund. It provides defense to a portfolio. The US market is still very fragmented so they can make more acquisitions. He would be adding meaningfully on any pullback.
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