Waste Connections (WCN) Beats Q2 2026 EPS by 11%, Raises Full-Year Guidance
As seen on the 24/7 Wall St. homepage on July 22, 2026.
Waste Connections beat consensus EPS by 11% with disciplined pricing pushing solid waste margins up 70 basis points despite fuel spikes and lower commodity values, prompting management to raise full-year guidance.
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Waste Connections reported Q2 2026 earnings per share of $1.50, clearing the consensus estimate of $1.36 by roughly 11%. Revenue came in at $2.56 billion, edging past the $2.54 billion estimate. The quarter marked a notable step up from Q2 2025's reported EPS of $1.29 and represents the strongest result in the eight-quarter history shown, suggesting the company's pricing discipline is gaining traction even in a challenging cost environment.
The standout detail from management's commentary was a 70-basis-point improvement in solid waste margins, achieved despite headwinds from fuel price spikes and softer commodity values. That kind of margin expansion while absorbing cost pressures points to pricing power holding firm across the company's service routes. The beat was large enough that management felt confident raising full-year guidance, a signal that the Q2 outperformance is not expected to be a one-quarter anomaly.
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Looking across recent quarters, Waste Connections has now beaten EPS estimates in seven of the past eight periods, with only Q4 2024 coming in slightly below at $1.16 versus an estimate of $1.19. The consistency of that track record, combined with a guidance raise, gives investors a cleaner read on the durability of the company's earnings trajectory heading into the second half of 2026.
Mentioned: WCN