RSG vs. WCN: Republic Services vs. Waste Connections Stock Comparison
How do Republic Services (RSG) and Waste Connections (WCN) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Republic Services (RSG) and Waste Connections (WCN) are both classified in the Environmental & Facilities Services sub-industry within the broader Commercial Services & Supplies industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | RSG | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Republic Services, Inc. | Waste Connections Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | Canada |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Commercial & Professional Services | Commercial & Professional Services |
| GICS Industry | Commercial Services & Supplies | Commercial Services & Supplies |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Environmental & Facilities Services | Environmental & Facilities Services |
| Market Capitalization | 65.56 billion USD | 42.35 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 1, 1998 | May 22, 1998 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | RSG | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -12.65% | -10.19% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | RSG | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.79% | 22.51% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.40 | 0.49 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.78M | 1.73M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Republic Services (RSG) at 18.35% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 13.12% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
18.35%
- Max
- 53.04%
- Q3
- 25.86%
- RSG
- 18.35%
- Median
- 14.00%
- Q1
- 2.97%
- Min
- -28.46%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
13.12%
- Max
- 53.04%
- Q3
- 25.86%
- Median
- 14.00%
- WCN
- 13.12%
- Q1
- 2.97%
- Min
- -28.46%
Net Margin (TTM)
Republic Services (RSG) at 12.99% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Waste Connections (WCN) at 10.97%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
12.99%
- Max
- 26.63%
- RSG
- 12.99%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -13.34%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
10.97%
- Max
- 26.63%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- WCN
- 10.97%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -13.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Republic Services (RSG) at 20.20% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 18.75% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
20.20%
- Max
- 38.33%
- RSG
- 20.20%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- Median
- 9.47%
- Q1
- 3.22%
- Min
- -4.52%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
18.75%
- Max
- 38.33%
- WCN
- 18.75%
- Q3
- 17.72%
- Median
- 9.47%
- Q1
- 3.22%
- Min
- -4.52%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | RSG | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 18.35% | 13.12% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.18% | 5.47% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 12.99% | 10.97% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 20.20% | 18.75% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 43.05% | 42.50% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | RSG | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 3.49% | 6.14% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.08% | 9.49% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | RSG | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 5.55% | 74.48% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.46% | 8.78% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Republic Services (RSG) at 0.67 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.69 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.67
- Max
- 3.17
- Q3
- 2.04
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.13
- RSG
- 0.67
- Min
- 0.45
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.69
- Max
- 3.17
- Q3
- 2.04
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.13
- WCN
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Republic Services (RSG) at 1.18 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 1.17 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.18
- Max
- 2.61
- Q3
- 1.38
- RSG
- 1.18
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.01
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.17
- Max
- 2.61
- Q3
- 1.38
- WCN
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | RSG | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.67 | 0.69 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.18 | 1.17 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.69 | 3.04 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Republic Services (RSG) at 1.14% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.80% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.14%
- Max
- 4.01%
- Q3
- 1.68%
- RSG
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.80%
- Max
- 4.01%
- Q3
- 1.68%
- WCN
- 0.80%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Republic Services (RSG) at 35.22% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 32.44% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
35.22%
- Max
- 90.59%
- Q3
- 36.71%
- RSG
- 35.22%
- Median
- 16.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
32.44%
- Max
- 90.59%
- Q3
- 36.71%
- WCN
- 32.44%
- Median
- 16.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | RSG | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.14% | 0.80% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 35.22% | 32.44% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Republic Services (RSG) at 30.53 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Waste Connections (WCN) at 40.66 sits in the richer quartile — WCN needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
30.53
- Max
- 67.48
- Q3
- 35.82
- RSG
- 30.53
- Median
- 20.98
- Q1
- 14.64
- Min
- 4.14
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
40.66
- Max
- 67.48
- WCN
- 40.66
- Q3
- 35.82
- Median
- 20.98
- Q1
- 14.64
- Min
- 4.14
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Republic Services (RSG) at 3.93 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 4.41 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
3.93
- Max
- 6.61
- RSG
- 3.93
- Q3
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.09
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
4.41
- Max
- 6.61
- WCN
- 4.41
- Q3
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.09
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Republic Services (RSG) at 5.48 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 5.17 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
RSG
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
5.48
- Max
- 12.70
- Q3
- 6.61
- RSG
- 5.48
- Median
- 3.22
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -4.70
WCN
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
5.17
- Max
- 12.70
- Q3
- 6.61
- WCN
- 5.17
- Median
- 3.22
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -4.70
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | RSG | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.53 | 40.66 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.93 | 4.41 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.48 | 5.17 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.76% | 2.50% |