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Waste ConnectionsWCN.TOBUYSep 22, 2014Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 19, 2026. Market Open.
Defensive. Their business model works in any business cycle, including a downturn. They have contracts with energy companies, which may suffer a bit, but garbage needs to be collected consistently. They run an efficient business and make accretive buys of companies. Has long owned this.
(Analysts’ price target is $211.10)The question was on comparing WSP Global and Waste Connections. The companies are very different. WCN is in the waste management business and WSP Global is more on the engineering side. Waste management is an important field and a consistent business. WCN traditionally has had an expensive valuation. Both are good companies. Hold or wait to buy.
Has done well. Classified as an industrial, but it doesn't have cyclicality. Pricing power and acquisitions drive the long-term growth. Operate in a lot of uncontested markets. Should continue growing at high single-digit pace. Zero product obsolescence. Sold, and high-graded his portfolio to WM instead. Both are good.
WCN vs. WM Fell last year, and now is picking up steam. It's more of a utility industrial than a cyclical. If you want cyclical, look at CAT or other industrial names. 28x forward earnings for 11% growth, so a bit rich for him. Fundamentally, a great business. WM has a better valuation than WCN and growth is about the same. To choose, he'd pick the larger one, which is WM.
Stock has had a bit of a rocky ride. They’ve had a history of missing their earnings’ forecasts. However, the last quarter they actually hit it out of the park. The company gave a pretty bullish forecast on conditions going forward. Commercial garbage is economically sensitive and now that the US economy is recovering again, the amount of commercial garbage is going up again. They are budgeting for acquisitions and he thinks they will grow that way as well as organically.