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TRU vs. WCN: TransUnion vs. Waste Connections Stock Comparison

How do TransUnion (TRU) 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

TransUnion (TRU) and Waste Connections (WCN) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but TRU is classified in Professional Services while WCN is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies.

Company profile comparison for TransUnion (TRU) and Waste Connections (WCN)
Profile ItemTRUWCN
NameTransUnionWaste Connections, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesCanada
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesCommercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryResearch & Consulting ServicesEnvironmental & Facilities Services
Market Capitalization15.48 billion USD47.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 25, 2015May 22, 1998
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

TRU
WCN
GSPC
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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for TransUnion (TRU) and Waste Connections (WCN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for TransUnion (TRU) and Waste Connections (WCN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for TransUnion (TRU) and Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricTRUWCN
Total Return (1Y)3.77%15.20%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)16.74%14.07%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.77%7.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

TRU
WCN
GSPC
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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for TransUnion (TRU) and Waste Connections (WCN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

TransUnion (TRU) has an aggressive beta of 1.52, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Waste Connections (WCN) is defensive at 0.41 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for TransUnion (TRU) and Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricTRUWCN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.86%25.62%
Beta (5Y)1.520.41
Max Drawdown (5Y)-63.37%-24.90%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.74M1.56M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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TRU and WCN are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for TransUnion (TRU) and Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricTRUWCN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.010.43
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.020.69

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both TransUnion (TRU) at 16.96% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 14.19% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

16.96%

Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
TRU
16.96%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

14.19%

Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
WCN
14.19%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%
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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both TransUnion (TRU) at 15.83% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 11.40% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

15.83%

Max
23.28%
TRU
15.83%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

11.40%

Max
23.28%
WCN
11.40%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%
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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both TransUnion (TRU) at 20.36% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 20.77% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.36%

Max
38.50%
TRU
20.36%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.77%

Max
38.50%
WCN
20.77%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%
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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for TransUnion (TRU) and Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricTRUWCN
ROE (TTM)16.96%14.19%
ROA (TTM)5.25%5.68%
Net Margin (TTM)15.83%11.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.36%20.77%
Gross Margin (TTM)58.82%42.62%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both TransUnion (TRU) at 9.38% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 6.14% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both TransUnion (TRU) at 60.00% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 74.48% sit in the top peer quartile for EPS growth, so each is compounding per-share earnings faster than typical industry peers.

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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for TransUnion (TRU) and Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricTRUWCN
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.38%6.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.25%9.49%
EPS Growth (YoY)60.00%74.48%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)18.34%8.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

TransUnion (TRU) at 2.03 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.67 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WCN.

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.03

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
TRU
2.03
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
Min
0.45

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.67

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
WCN
0.67
Min
0.45
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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both TransUnion (TRU) at 1.10 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 1.24 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.10

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
TRU
1.10
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.24

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
WCN
1.24
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for TransUnion (TRU) and Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricTRUWCN
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.030.67
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.101.24
Net Debt / EBITDA2.903.01

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both TransUnion (TRU) at 0.62% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.73% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.62%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
TRU
0.62%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.73%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
WCN
0.73%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both TransUnion (TRU) at 11.92% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 31.39% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

11.92%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
Median
17.27%
TRU
11.92%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

31.39%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
WCN
31.39%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%
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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for TransUnion (TRU) and Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricTRUWCN
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.62%0.73%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)11.92%31.39%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

TransUnion (TRU) at 19.75 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Waste Connections (WCN) at 42.39 sits in the richer quartile — WCN needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

19.75

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
Median
24.16
TRU
19.75
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

42.39

Max
49.47
WCN
42.39
Q3
33.76
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

TransUnion (TRU) at 3.07 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Waste Connections (WCN) at 4.76 sits in the pricier quartile — WCN costs more per dollar of sales.

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.07

Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
TRU
3.07
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.76

Max
7.17
WCN
4.76
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11
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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both TransUnion (TRU) at 3.19 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 6.00 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.19

Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
TRU
3.19
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78

WCN

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

6.00

Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
WCN
6.00
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78
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TransUnion (TRU) vs. Waste Connections (WCN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for TransUnion (TRU) and Waste Connections (WCN)
MetricTRUWCN
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.7542.39
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.074.76
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.196.00
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.91%2.28%