Waste Connections, Inc.
WCN NYSE Refuse Systems Financials FY2016–FY2025
Last close · Oct 23, 2026
$186.60
0.9%What Waste Connections, Inc. does
No business description yet.
- Legal name
- Waste Connections, Inc.
- Fiscal year ends
- December 31, 2025
- Latest annual report
- 10-K · Feb 12, 2026
- Accession · CIK
- 0001104659-26-013700
0001318220
Revenue and margins
Waste Connections, Inc. had $9.5B of revenue in fiscal 2025, up 6.1% on the year before.
Net income and earnings per share
From fiscal 2016 to 2025, diluted EPS grew 16.3% a year. Loss periods are shown in red.
Returns on capital
After-tax operating income as a share of the money invested in the business: debt plus equity, minus cash.
Cash flow
Free cash flow was $1.2B in fiscal 2025, 13.0% of revenue. Cash from operations minus capital spending.
Dividends, buybacks and share count
Waste Connections, Inc. returned $839M to shareholders in fiscal 2025, 68% of free cash flow. The diluted share count fell 0.3%.
Balance sheet
Cash, debt and the ratios that show how comfortably Waste Connections, Inc. can carry it.
| Fiscal year end | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and short-term investments | $147M | $78.6M | $78.4M | $62.4M | $46.0M |
| Debt incl. finance leases | $5.1B | $6.9B | $6.8B | $8.1B | $8.8B |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 2.7x | 3.2x | 3.0x | 3.6x | 3.0x |
| Debt / equity | 0.7x | 1.0x | 0.9x | 1.0x | 1.1x |
| Interest coverage | 6.4x | 6.1x | 4.5x | 3.3x | 5.1x |
| Current ratio | 0.8x | 0.7x | 0.7x | 0.7x | 0.6x |
| Quick ratio | 0.8x | 0.7x | 0.7x | 0.7x | 0.6x |
| Total assets | $14.7B | $17.1B | $17.9B | $19.8B | $21.1B |
| Total liabilities | $7.7B | $10.0B | $10.2B | $12.0B | $12.9B |
| Shareholders' equity | $7.0B | $7.1B | $7.7B | $7.9B | $8.2B |
| Net debt (− = net cash) | $4.9B | $6.8B | $6.7B | $8.0B | $8.8B |
Insider trades
Open-market purchases and sales by officers, directors and 10% owners, from Form 4 filings. 'Plan' marks trades under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan.
Bought, 12 months
$0.0M
0 insiders
Sold, 12 months
$0.0M
0 insiders
Of sales under plans
—
$0.0M
No open-market insider trades in the last 12 months.
Piotroski F-score
Nine pass/fail tests of profitability, funding and efficiency. 8–9 is strong, 0–2 weak.
| Test | FY16 | FY17 | FY18 | FY19 | FY20 | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net income is positive | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cash from operations is positive | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Return on assets rose | — | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Cash from operations exceeds net income | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Debt fell relative to assets | — | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Current ratio rose | — | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Share count didn't rise | — | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Gross margin rose | — | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Revenue rose relative to assets | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| F-score | — / 3 | 7 / 9 | 5 / 9 | 5 / 9 | 5 / 9 | 7 / 9 | 6 / 9 | 6 / 9 | 5 / 9 | 6 / 9 |
| Accruals ratio | −4.9% | −5.3% | −7.0% | −7.4% | −8.7% | −7.5% | −7.5% | −7.8% | −8.5% | −6.5% |
| Altman Z'' | 1.81 | 2.21 | 2.23 | 2.17 | 2.01 | 2.02 | 1.78 | 1.81 | 1.57 | 1.77 |
10 years of figures
US$ millions unless stated. Hover a ratio's name for its definition.
| Fiscal year | FY16 | FY17 | FY18 | FY19 | FY20 | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income statement | ||||||||||
| Revenue | $3.4B | $4.6B | $4.9B | $5.4B | $5.4B | $6.2B | $7.2B | $8.0B | $8.9B | $9.5B |
| Gross profit | $1.4B | $1.9B | $2.1B | $2.2B | $2.2B | $2.5B | $2.9B | $3.3B | $3.7B | $4.0B |
| Operating income | $452M | $627M | $832M | $838M | $412M | $1.0B | $1.2B | $1.2B | $1.1B | $1.7B |
| Interest expense | $92.7M | $125M | $132M | $147M | $162M | $163M | $202M | $275M | $327M | $335M |
| Pretax income | $361M | $509M | $707M | $706M | $254M | $771M | $1.0B | $984M | $763M | $1.4B |
| Income tax | $114M | −$68.9M | $160M | $139M | $49.9M | $152M | $213M | $221M | $146M | $341M |
| Net income | $247M | $577M | $547M | $567M | $205M | $618M | $836M | $763M | $618M | $1.1B |
| Diluted EPS | $1.07 | $2.18 | $2.07 | $2.14 | $0.78 | $2.36 | $3.24 | $2.95 | $2.39 | $4.17 |
| Diluted shares | 0.23B | 0.26B | 0.26B | 0.26B | 0.26B | 0.26B | 0.26B | 0.26B | 0.26B | 0.26B |
| Cash flow | ||||||||||
| Cash from operations | $795M | $1.2B | $1.4B | $1.5B | $1.4B | $1.7B | $2.0B | $2.1B | $2.2B | $2.4B |
| Capital expenditure | $345M | $479M | $546M | $634M | $597M | $744M | $913M | $934M | $1.1B | $1.2B |
| Free cash flow | $451M | $708M | $865M | $906M | $811M | $954M | $1.1B | $1.2B | $1.2B | $1.2B |
| Depreciation and amortization | $464M | $632M | $680M | $744M | $752M | $813M | $919M | $1.0B | $1.2B | $1.2B |
| Stock-based compensation | $44.8M | $39.4M | $43.8M | $42.7M | $45.8M | $58.2M | $63.5M | $70.4M | $77.9M | $79.4M |
| Acquisitions | $17.1M | $411M | $830M | $737M | $389M | $960M | $2.2B | $677M | $2.1B | $818M |
| Share buybacks | — | — | $58.9M | — | $106M | $339M | $425M | $0.0M | $0.0M | $506M |
| Dividends paid | $92.5M | $132M | $153M | $175M | $200M | $220M | $243M | $271M | $302M | $334M |
| Dividends and buybacks | $92.5M | $132M | $211M | $175M | $306M | $559M | $668M | $271M | $302M | $839M |
| Balance sheet | ||||||||||
| Cash and short-term investments | $154M | $434M | $319M | $327M | $617M | $147M | $78.6M | $78.4M | $62.4M | $46.0M |
| Total debt | $3.6B | $3.9B | $4.2B | $4.4B | $4.7B | $5.0B | $6.9B | $6.8B | $8.1B | $8.8B |
| Finance lease liabilities | — | — | — | — | $3.8M | $10.5M | $11.5M | $10.0M | $9.2M | $16.0M |
| Current assets | $743M | $1.2B | $1.1B | $1.1B | $1.4B | $1.0B | $1.1B | $1.1B | $1.2B | $1.3B |
| Current liabilities | $692M | $803M | $887M | $1.0B | $1.0B | $1.2B | $1.5B | $1.7B | $1.9B | $2.1B |
| Property and equipment, net | $4.7B | $4.8B | $5.2B | $5.5B | $5.3B | $5.7B | $7.0B | $7.2B | $8.0B | $8.7B |
| Goodwill | $4.4B | $4.7B | $5.0B | $5.5B | $5.7B | $6.2B | $6.9B | $7.4B | $8.0B | $8.4B |
| Intangible assets | $1.1B | $1.1B | $1.1B | $1.2B | $1.2B | $1.4B | $1.7B | $1.6B | $2.0B | $2.0B |
| Total assets | $11.1B | $12.0B | $12.6B | $13.7B | $14.0B | $14.7B | $17.1B | $17.9B | $19.8B | $21.1B |
| Total liabilities | $5.4B | $5.7B | $6.2B | $6.8B | $7.1B | $7.7B | $10.0B | $10.2B | $12.0B | $12.9B |
| Shareholders' equity | $5.6B | $6.3B | $6.5B | $6.9B | $6.9B | $7.0B | $7.1B | $7.7B | $7.9B | $8.2B |
| Margins | ||||||||||
| Gross margin | 42.0% | 41.6% | 41.8% | 40.6% | 39.8% | 40.6% | 39.9% | 40.9% | 41.8% | 42.4% |
| Operating margin | 13.4% | 13.5% | 16.9% | 15.5% | 7.6% | 16.9% | 17.2% | 15.4% | 12.0% | 18.1% |
| EBITDA margin | 27.1% | 27.2% | 30.7% | 29.4% | 21.4% | 30.1% | 30.0% | 27.9% | 25.0% | 31.1% |
| Net margin | 7.3% | 12.5% | 11.1% | 10.5% | 3.8% | 10.0% | 11.6% | 9.5% | 6.9% | 11.4% |
| FCF margin | 13.3% | 15.3% | 17.6% | 16.8% | 14.9% | 15.5% | 15.4% | 14.9% | 13.2% | 13.0% |
| Returns | ||||||||||
| Return on capital | 3.4% | 6.4% | 6.2% | 6.1% | 3.0% | 7.0% | 7.1% | 6.7% | 5.4% | 7.6% |
| Return on capital employed | 4.3% | 5.6% | 7.1% | 6.6% | 3.2% | 7.7% | 8.0% | 7.6% | 6.0% | 9.0% |
| Return on equity | 4.4% | 9.7% | 8.6% | 8.5% | 3.0% | 8.9% | 11.9% | 10.3% | 7.9% | 13.4% |
| Return on assets | 2.2% | 5.0% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 1.5% | 4.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 3.3% | 5.3% |
| Return on tangible equity | 129.7% | 115.5% | 185.8% | 218.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Growth | ||||||||||
| Revenue growth | — | 37.2% | 6.3% | 9.5% | 1.1% | 13.0% | 17.2% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 6.1% |
| Net income growth | — | 134.0% | −5.2% | 3.7% | −63.9% | 202.0% | 35.2% | −8.7% | −19.0% | 74.3% |
| EPS growth | — | 103.7% | −5.0% | 3.4% | −63.6% | 202.6% | 37.3% | −9.0% | −19.0% | 74.5% |
| FCF growth | — | 57.1% | 22.2% | 4.7% | −10.4% | 17.6% | 16.3% | 7.5% | −1.7% | 5.3% |
| Share count change | — | 14.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | −0.3% | −0.7% | −1.4% | 0.0% | 0.2% | −0.3% |
| Financial health | ||||||||||
| Net debt / EBITDA | 3.8x | 2.8x | 2.5x | 2.6x | 3.5x | 2.7x | 3.2x | 3.0x | 3.6x | 3.0x |
| Debt / equity | 0.6x | 0.6x | 0.6x | 0.6x | 0.7x | 0.7x | 1.0x | 0.9x | 1.0x | 1.1x |
| Interest coverage | 4.9x | 5.0x | 6.3x | 5.7x | 2.5x | 6.4x | 6.1x | 4.5x | 3.3x | 5.1x |
| Current ratio | 1.1x | 1.5x | 1.2x | 1.1x | 1.4x | 0.8x | 0.7x | 0.7x | 0.7x | 0.6x |
| Quick ratio | 1.1x | 1.5x | 1.2x | 1.1x | 1.4x | 0.8x | 0.7x | 0.7x | 0.7x | 0.6x |
| Capital allocation | ||||||||||
| Capex / revenue | 10.2% | 10.4% | 11.1% | 11.8% | 11.0% | 12.1% | 12.7% | 11.6% | 11.8% | 12.5% |
| Stock comp / revenue | 1.3% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Payouts / FCF | 20.5% | 18.6% | 24.4% | 19.3% | 37.7% | 58.6% | 60.2% | 22.7% | 25.8% | 68.0% |
| Quality scores | ||||||||||
| Piotroski F-score | — | 7.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| Altman Z'' | 1.8 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.8 |
| Accruals ratio | −4.9% | −5.3% | −7.0% | −7.4% | −8.7% | −7.5% | −7.5% | −7.8% | −8.5% | −6.5% |
Source: SEC EDGAR XBRL filings (CIK 0001318220). Data updated October 24, 2026. Quarterly fourth quarters are the full year minus the first nine months. For information only — not investment advice. Check the original filings before relying on any figure.