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CWST vs WCN
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Casella Waste Systems (CWST) vs. Waste Connections (WCN) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Casella Waste Systems (CWST) and Waste Connections (WCN) operate in the waste management sector, with WCN representing a significantly larger market capitalization and broader geographic footprint.
- Recent market activity shows both stocks trailing broader market benchmarks year-to-date, with CWST exhibiting higher volatility in its price movements compared to WCN.
- WCN demonstrates stronger profitability metrics, including a higher profit margin and consistent earnings per share, while CWST trades at an elevated trailing price-to-earnings ratio due to lower current earnings.
- Analyst price targets suggest upside potential for both, with average targets above recent closing levels, though forward valuations differ notably between the two.
- Sector exposure remains aligned for both companies, focused on solid waste collection, recycling, and disposal services amid steady demand drivers in residential and commercial markets.
- Relative performance data indicates WCN has maintained more stable returns over multi-year periods, while CWST shows stronger five-year total returns in available metrics.
Introduction
Investors and traders often compare stocks within the same industry to evaluate relative strengths in business scale, financial stability, and market positioning. Casella Waste Systems (CWST) and Waste Connections (WCN) both provide essential waste management services, making them relevant for those seeking exposure to the industrials sector. This comparison appeals to portfolio managers assessing defensive holdings, growth-oriented investors monitoring sector trends, and active traders analyzing momentum and valuation differentials in the current environment.
CWST Overview and Recent Performance
Casella Waste Systems (CWST), a vertically integrated solid waste services provider headquartered in Vermont, delivers collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal solutions primarily across the northeastern and midwestern United States. In recent market activity, the stock closed at 95.70 on July 17, 2026, reflecting a decline amid broader session movements, with a market capitalization of approximately 6.09 billion. Year-to-date returns stood at 2.29 percent, underperforming the S&P 500, while the one-year return reached 12.65 percent. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio appears elevated at around 870, influenced by an earnings per share of 0.11, with upcoming earnings scheduled for early August 2026. Recent sentiment has been shaped by operational scale in recycling and sustainability initiatives, alongside analyst targets averaging 111.20.
WCN Overview and Recent Performance
Waste Connections (WCN) operates as a major provider of non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling services across the United States and Canada, serving diverse customer segments including exploration and production activities. The stock closed at 171.91 on July 17, 2026, down during the session, with a market capitalization of about 43.68 billion. Year-to-date performance registered 1.54 percent, also trailing the S&P 500 benchmark, and the one-year return was 5.09 percent. Metrics include a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of approximately 42, earnings per share of 4.09, and a forward dividend yield near 0.81 percent. Recent market positioning reflects steady demand for core services, with analyst targets averaging 203.40 and a lower beta indicating relative price stability compared to sector peers.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
In business model terms, both companies focus on waste collection and disposal, yet Waste Connections (WCN) maintains a larger scale with operations spanning the U.S. and Canada plus exposure to energy sector waste streams, contrasting Casella Waste Systems (CWST)’s more regional emphasis. Growth drivers for each include recycling demand and sustainability trends, though WCN’s diversified customer base may offer broader resilience. Recent momentum shows CWST with comparatively higher short-term price swings, while WCN exhibits lower beta at 0.48 versus 0.74, suggesting differing risk profiles. Valuation contrasts are evident in forward price-to-earnings ratios and profitability, with WCN posting a 10.97 percent profit margin against CWST’s lower figure. Sector exposure aligns closely in waste management, but market sentiment reflects analyst preference for stability in the larger entity amid current economic conditions. Trade-offs center on scale and dividend access versus potential for higher relative returns in smaller operations.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors including trend consistency, earnings stability, and relative positioning, Tickeron’s AI would likely assign a probabilistic preference toward Waste Connections (WCN) in the current environment. Its lower beta, established dividend, and stronger profitability metrics provide a foundation for more consistent performance patterns compared to Casella Waste Systems (CWST), which faces elevated valuation multiples and upcoming earnings uncertainty. This assessment draws from verifiable financial data and market metrics rather than forward projections.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is CWST is a StrongBuy and WCN is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
CWST’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileWCN’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- CWST’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- WCN’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
CWST’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while WCN’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CWST’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- WCN’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
CWST (@Environmental Services) experienced а -9.89% price change this week, while WCN (@Environmental Services) price change was -3.64% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Environmental Services industry was -6.89%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.71%, and the average quarterly price growth was -11.23%.
Reported Earning Dates
CWST is expected to report earnings on Aug 06, 2026.
WCN is expected to report earnings on Oct 28, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Environmental Services (-6.89% weekly)Environmental Services includes companies that collect and dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Their services include removal of toxic waste from soil, removing medical waste etc. Some companies also operate incinerators, sewerage systems, waste treatment plants, and landfills. Demand for waste management is likely to rise with increasing urbanization/industrialization. Waste Management, Inc., Republic Services, Inc., Waste Connections, Inc. and Tetra Tech, Inc. are some of the major companies in this business.
| CWST | WCN | CWST / WCN | |
| Capitalization | 5.69B | 42.8B | 13% |
| EBITDA | 386M | 2.99B | 13% |
| Gain YTD | -8.076 | -3.786 | 213% |
| P/E Ratio | 812.64 | 40.97 | 1,984% |
| Revenue | 1.88B | 9.61B | 20% |
| Total Cash | 127M | 112M | 113% |
| Total Debt | 1.24B | 9.43B | 13% |
CWST | WCN | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 78 | 72 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 96 Overvalued | 43 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 67 | 46 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 91 | 63 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 55 | 51 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 12 | 91 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 55 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
WCN's Valuation (43) in the Environmental Services industry is somewhat better than the same rating for CWST (96). This means that WCN’s stock grew somewhat faster than CWST’s over the last 12 months.
WCN's Profit vs Risk Rating (46) in the Environmental Services industry is in the same range as CWST (67). This means that WCN’s stock grew similarly to CWST’s over the last 12 months.
WCN's SMR Rating (63) in the Environmental Services industry is in the same range as CWST (91). This means that WCN’s stock grew similarly to CWST’s over the last 12 months.
WCN's Price Growth Rating (51) in the Environmental Services industry is in the same range as CWST (55). This means that WCN’s stock grew similarly to CWST’s over the last 12 months.
CWST's P/E Growth Rating (12) in the Environmental Services industry is significantly better than the same rating for WCN (91). This means that CWST’s stock grew significantly faster than WCN’s over the last 12 months.
| CWST | WCN | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 51% | 2 days ago 44% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 47% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 74% | 2 days ago 41% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 72% | 2 days ago 38% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 45% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 40% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 12 days ago 62% | 9 days ago 46% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 3 days ago 46% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 49% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 31% |
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CWST and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, CWST has been loosely correlated with WM. These tickers have moved in lockstep 52% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if CWST jumps, then WM could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To CWST | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CWST | 100% | -0.44% | ||
| WM - CWST | 52% Loosely correlated | +0.38% | ||
| GWAV - CWST | 9% Poorly correlated | -3.77% | ||
| NVRI - CWST | 5% Poorly correlated | -1.92% | ||
| PESI - CWST | 5% Poorly correlated | -3.23% | ||
| QRHC - CWST | 2% Poorly correlated | N/A | ||
More | ||||
WCN and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, WCN has been closely correlated with RSG. These tickers have moved in lockstep 74% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if WCN jumps, then RSG could also see price increases.