Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN) is EULAV Asset Management's 8th Largest Position

EULAV Asset Management increased its position in shares of Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN - Free Report) by 22.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 585,188 shares of the business services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 107,825 shares during the period. Waste Connections makes up 2.5% of EULAV Asset Management's portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest holding. EULAV Asset Management owned about 0.23% of Waste Connections worth $104,643,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Global Trust Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Waste Connections during the third quarter worth $36,000. Asset Dedication LLC purchased a new position in Waste Connections in the third quarter worth approximately $41,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC purchased a new position in Waste Connections in the first quarter worth approximately $43,000. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Waste Connections during the second quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, Kennebec Savings Bank acquired a new stake in Waste Connections during the third quarter worth approximately $47,000. 86.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Waste Connections from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Raymond James cut their price target on shares of Waste Connections from $208.00 to $205.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $205.00 price objective (up previously from $200.00) on shares of Waste Connections in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Eight Capital raised shares of Waste Connections to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Waste Connections from $199.00 to $201.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $195.56.

Waste Connections Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE WCN traded down $0.98 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $186.52. The company had a trading volume of 861,806 shares, compared to its average volume of 887,628. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. Waste Connections, Inc. has a 12-month low of $130.33 and a 12-month high of $188.53. The stock has a market cap of $48.13 billion, a PE ratio of 51.51, a P/E/G ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.72. The business's 50-day moving average is $180.90 and its 200 day moving average is $177.26.

Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The business services provider reported $1.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.30 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $2.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.30 billion. Waste Connections had a return on equity of 15.43% and a net margin of 10.81%. The firm's revenue was up 13.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.17 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Waste Connections, Inc. will post 4.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Waste Connections Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 7th were paid a dividend of $0.315 per share. This represents a $1.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.68%. This is an increase from Waste Connections's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 7th. Waste Connections's payout ratio is 34.62%.

Waste Connections Profile

Waste Connections, Inc provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, disposal, and resource recovery services in the United States and Canada. It offers collection services to residential, commercial, municipal, industrial, and exploration and production (E&P) customers; landfill disposal services; and recycling services for various recyclable materials, including compost, cardboard, mixed paper, plastic containers, glass bottles, and ferrous and aluminum metals.