VRSK vs. WCN: Verisk Analytics vs. Waste Connections Stock Comparison
How do Verisk Analytics (VRSK) 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
Verisk Analytics (VRSK) and Waste Connections (WCN) both fall under the Commercial & Professional Services industry group, but VRSK is classified in Professional Services while WCN is classified in Commercial Services & Supplies.
| Profile Item | VRSK | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Verisk Analytics, Inc. | Waste Connections, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | Canada |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Commercial & Professional Services | Commercial & Professional Services |
| GICS Industry | Professional Services | Commercial Services & Supplies |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Research & Consulting Services | Environmental & Facilities Services |
| Market Capitalization | 26.25 billion USD | 47.31 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 7, 2009 | May 22, 1998 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | VRSK | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -4.66% | 15.20% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -4.19% | 14.07% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.60% | 7.98% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | VRSK | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 36.08% | 25.62% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.65 | 0.41 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -50.81% | -24.90% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.25M | 1.56M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | VRSK | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.25 | 0.43 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.35 | 0.69 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Waste Connections (WCN) earns 14.19% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Verisk Analytics (VRSK) has no ROE this period.
VRSK
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
--
- Max
- 47.06%
- Q3
- 25.43%
- Median
- 14.11%
- Q1
- 3.92%
- Min
- -20.15%
- VRSK
- --
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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 27.68% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Waste Connections (WCN) at 11.40% also retains a top-quartile share.
VRSK
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
27.68%
- VRSK
- 27.68%
- Max
- 23.28%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 45.16% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Waste Connections (WCN) at 20.77% also operates in the top quartile.
VRSK
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
45.16%
- VRSK
- 45.16%
- Max
- 38.50%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | VRSK | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 14.19% |
| ROA (TTM) | 16.56% | 5.68% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 27.68% | 11.40% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 45.16% | 20.77% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 70.17% | 42.62% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 6.63% 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.
EPS Growth
Waste Connections (WCN) at 74.48% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at -3.43% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for WCN.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | VRSK | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.63% | 6.14% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.16% | 9.49% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -3.43% | 74.48% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.60% | 8.78% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 1.07 and Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.67 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
VRSK
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
1.07
- Max
- 3.63
- Q3
- 2.14
- Median
- 1.55
- Q1
- 1.09
- VRSK
- 1.07
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Waste Connections (WCN) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24 against its industry range, while Verisk Analytics (VRSK) reports no figure this period.
VRSK
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
--
- Max
- 2.37
- Q3
- 1.25
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
- VRSK
- --
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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | VRSK | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.07 | 0.67 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 1.24 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.65 | 3.01 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 0.92% and Waste Connections (WCN) at 0.73% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
VRSK
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
0.92%
- Max
- 4.33%
- Q3
- 1.80%
- VRSK
- 0.92%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 29.55% 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.
VRSK
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
29.55%
- Max
- 99.58%
- Q3
- 41.99%
- VRSK
- 29.55%
- Median
- 17.27%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | VRSK | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.92% | 0.73% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 29.55% | 31.39% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 31.00 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.
VRSK
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
31.00
- Max
- 49.47
- Q3
- 33.76
- VRSK
- 31.00
- Median
- 24.16
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Waste Connections (WCN) at 4.76 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Verisk Analytics (VRSK) at 8.26 prices even higher, above its industry range.
VRSK
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
8.26
- VRSK
- 8.26
- Max
- 7.17
- Q3
- 3.35
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Verisk Analytics (VRSK) reports a negative P/B ratio of -23.56, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Waste Connections (WCN) reports 6.00, ranking against industry peers normally.
VRSK
Commercial & Professional Services industry group
-23.56
- Max
- 11.25
- Q3
- 6.08
- Median
- 2.92
- Q1
- 1.55
- Min
- -2.78
- VRSK
- -23.56
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | VRSK | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 31.00 | 42.39 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.26 | 4.76 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -23.56 | 6.00 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.57% | 2.28% |