Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q1 behind us, let’s have a look at Waste Connections (NYSE: WCN) and its peers.
Waste management companies can possess licenses permitting them to handle hazardous materials. Furthermore, many services are performed through contracts and statutorily mandated, non-discretionary, or recurring, leading to more predictable revenue streams. However, regulation can be a headwind, rendering existing services obsolete or forcing companies to invest precious capital to comply with new, more environmentally-friendly rules. Lastly, waste management companies are at the whim of economic cycles. Interest rates, for example, can greatly impact industrial production or commercial projects that create waste and byproducts.
The 8 waste management stocks we track reported a slower Q1. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.7%.
Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 9.1% on average since the latest earnings results.
Best Q1: Waste Connections (NYSE: WCN)
Operating a network of municipal solid waste landfills in the U.S. and Canada, Waste Connections (NYSE: WCN) is North America's third-largest waste management company providing collection, disposal, and recycling services.
Waste Connections reported revenues of $2.37 billion, up 6.4% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 0.8%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a narrow beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Waste Connections achieved the biggest analyst estimate beat of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 8.4% since reporting and currently trades at $169.67.
Is now the time to buy Waste Connections? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Republic Services (NYSE: RSG)
Processing several million tons of recyclables annually, Republic (NYSE: RSG) provides waste management services for residences, companies, and municipalities.
Republic Services reported revenues of $4.11 billion, up 2.6% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. The business had a satisfactory quarter with a decent beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 11.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $224.39.
Is now the time to buy Republic Services? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q1: Perma-Fix (NASDAQ: PESI)
Tackling hazardous waste challenges since 1990, Perma-Fix (NASDAQ: PESI) provides environmental waste treatment services.
Perma-Fix reported revenues of $11.13 million, down 20.1% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 14.4%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Perma-Fix delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth among its peers. Interestingly, the stock is up 10.9% since the results and currently trades at $14.35.
Read our full analysis of Perma-Fix’s results here.
Quest Resource (NASDAQ: QRHC)
Recycling corporate waste to help companies be more sustainable, Quest Resource (NASDAQ: QRHC) is a provider of waste and recycling services.
Quest Resource reported revenues of $61.74 million, down 9.8% year on year. This result missed analysts’ expectations by 0.7%. It was a softer quarter as it also produced EPS in line with analysts’ estimates and EBITDA in line with analysts’ estimates.
The stock is up 25.9% since reporting and currently trades at $1.36.
Read our full, actionable report on Quest Resource here, it’s free.
Waste Management (NYSE: WM)
Headquartered in Houston, Waste Management (NYSE: WM) is a provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America.
Waste Management reported revenues of $6.23 billion, up 3.5% year on year. This print came in 0.9% below analysts’ expectations. Overall, it was a slower quarter as it also recorded a slight miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
The stock is up 3.1% since reporting and currently trades at $234.45.
Read our full, actionable report on Waste Management here, it’s free.
Market Update
Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.
Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.
By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Growth Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
