Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) Sets New 52-Week High – What’s Next?

Shares of Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $195.64 and last traded at $195.05, with a volume of 1284433 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $192.83.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have weighed in on WCN. StockNews.com cut shares of Waste Connections from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Waste Connections from $205.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on Waste Connections from $192.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Waste Connections from $214.00 to $219.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Waste Connections from $225.00 to $210.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $202.43.

Waste Connections Stock Up 1.1 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $50.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 81.61, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.81. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $187.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is $182.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.65.

Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The business services provider reported $1.16 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.20 by ($0.04). Waste Connections had a return on equity of 15.54% and a net margin of 6.92%. Research analysts predict that Waste Connections, Inc. will post 5.28 EPS for the current year.

Waste Connections Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 27th were given a $0.315 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 27th. This represents a $1.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.65%. Waste Connections’s payout ratio is presently 52.72%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in WCN. Manchester Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Waste Connections in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its stake in Waste Connections by 153.3% in the fourth quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 152 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Waste Connections during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Waste Connections in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Waste Connections by 59.7% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 190 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. 86.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Waste Connections Company 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.