WCN

Get insights on thousands of stocks from the global community of over 7 million individual investors at Simply Wall St. Waste Connections stock has delivered a 36.0% total return over the past five years, yet the valuation checks send mixed messages today. The intrinsic value estimate based on a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model points to meaningful upside compared with the share price, while earnings based market multiples suggest the stock screens as expensive. Over five years, Waste Connections has returned 36.0%, which points to steady value creation for long term shareholders. For a company built around recurring waste management services, expectations for ongoing cash generation can support the DCF view. However, any pressure on pricing or operating costs may weigh on how much investors are willing to pay for that cash flow. The company scores 2 of 6 checks on valuation according to Simply Wall St. This means the broader set of tests leans more expensive than cheap, even with the DCF suggesting the stock is 38.1% below intrinsic value. The issue now is whether investors should treat the DCF implied discount as a genuine margin of safety or lean more on the richer market multiples and low overall value score when judging Waste Connections at around US$168.97 per share. Waste Connections delivered -6.5% returns over the last year. See how this stacks up to the rest of the Commercial Services industry. The Discounted Cash Flow model uses projected free cash flows to estimate what Waste Connections might be worth today based on those future dollars. For Waste Connections, the latest twelve month free cash flow is about $1.31b, which the model treats as growing over time rather than shrinking or recovering from a low base. On those assumptions, the DCF points to an estimated intrinsic value of about $272.93 per share. That compares with the current share price around $168.97, which implies a 38.1% discount to the model’s value estimate. The stock screens as expensive on earnings multiples, so readers may want to consider how comfortable they are with the growth built into the cash flow projections when weighing this intrinsic value gap. On the DCF numbers alone, Waste Connections stock appears undervalued relative to its projected cash generation. Our Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis suggests Waste Connections is undervalued by 38.1%. Track this in your watchlist or portfolio, or discover 49 more high quality undervalued stocks. Head to the Valuation section of our Company Report for more details on how we arrive at this Fair Value for Waste Connections. P/E suits Waste Connections because earnings remain a clear anchor for how the market prices a recurring services business. On this measure, the stock trades at about 40.2x earnings, which is well above the Commercial Services industry average of 18.7x and ahead of the peer group average of 30.3x. That places Waste Connections on a premium multiple compared with many similar companies. A fair P/E ratio based on the company’s profile is estimated at 25.8x. The current 40.2x level is therefore materially higher than this benchmark, which indicates that investors are paying a richer price for each dollar of Waste Connections earnings than the model suggests is typical for its risk and business characteristics. On the P/E yardstick, Waste Connections stock currently appears overvalued compared with both tailored and industry benchmarks. See what the numbers say about this price — find out in our valuation breakdown. Simply Wall St Narratives for Waste Connections help bridge the gap between the DCF signal and the richer P/E multiples. Each one outlines what growth, margins and earnings path would need to occur for Waste Connections' stock to be worth materially more or less than today’s price, and presents that fair value as a thesis about the business that you can follow over time on the Community page. One of the top community narratives on Waste Connections: 23% undervalued Read one of the top narratives on Waste Connections Do you think there's more to the story for Waste Connections? Head over to our Community to see what others are saying! Waste Connections sits between two conflicting valuation messages. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) intrinsic value estimate points to a sizeable discount, while the P/E view still flags the stock as overvalued compared with peers and tailored benchmarks. The low overall value score suggests investors should treat the DCF signal with caution and focus on what could undermine those cash flow assumptions. The key debate from here is whether Waste Connections can deliver the cash generation implied in the intrinsic value model or whether the current premium multiple already captures most of that optimism. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include WCN. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Waste Connections (WCN). Shares have added about 0.2% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Waste Connections due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Waste Connections, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late. Waste Connections reported impressive second-quarter 2026 results, wherein earnings and revenues outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimates. WCN reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.50 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.35 by 11.1%. Earnings increased 16.3% from $1.29 in the year-ago quarter. Revenues of $2.56 billion surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.53 billion by 1.1% and rose 6.4% year over year. Strong pricing and operational execution supported the results, although solid waste unit volumes declined 1.9%. Solid waste internal growth was 3.6% in the quarter. Core price increased 5.6%, while yield, which reflects the average price per unit of service after customer and business-mix changes, improved 4.6%. Fuel and material surcharges contributed 1.1%. Unit volumes fell 1.9%, reflecting sluggish construction activity and customer churn related partly to fuel surcharges. Roll-off pulls declined 2%, while rates per pull rose 5%. Landfill tons were nearly flat, as a 1% increase in construction and demolition volumes offset weaker special waste activity. Solid Waste Collection revenues increased 5.8% year over year to $1.78 billion. Solid Waste Disposal and Transfer revenues advanced 5.1% to $464.3 million. These businesses benefited from pricing, while softer volumes limited organic growth. Solid Waste Recycling revenues declined 8.1% to $61.4 million due to lower commodity values. E&P Waste Treatment, Recovery and Disposal revenues surged 18.3% to $201 million. Intermodal and Other revenues rose 18.3% to $51.3 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased 6.8% year over year to $840.1 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 10 basis points to 32.8%. Underlying margin expansion was 70 basis points, driven partly by improved employee retention, safety performance and lower risk-management costs. Fuel costs reduced the margin by approximately 40 basis points, while lower commodity values created a 20-basis-point drag. Management expects full-year core pricing of at least 5.5% and anticipates recovering elevated fuel expenses over time through surcharges. Operating expenses increased 6.2% to $1.48 billion. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 7.2% to $260.5 million. Reported operating income declined 4.8% to $437.6 million, reflecting $58.5 million in impairments and other operating items. Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $733.3 million in the quarter compared with $638.2 million a year earlier. The adjusted free cash flow increased 24.7% to $457.5 million, representing 17.9% of revenues. For the first six months of 2026, capital expenditure was $598.9 million. WCN also spent $614.5 million in share repurchases and $177.1 million in dividends. The company ended June with $98.2 million in cash and equivalents, and $9.28 billion in long-term debt. The company completed acquisitions representing approximately $100 million in annualized revenues during the first half. Another $30 million of exclusive-market franchise transactions was expected to close shortly, while management continued to anticipate an above-average acquisition year. WCN’s artificial intelligence pricing tool has generated roughly $20 million in annualized EBITDA benefits. Management is also testing AI-based routing technology and developing customer-service tools. Across seven programs, Waste Connections expects its $100-million AI investment to ultimately produce $100 million in EBITDA improvement as implementation progresses through 2028 and 2029. Waste Connections raised its 2026 revenue outlook to $10.02-$10.05 billion. Adjusted EBITDA is projected between $3.33 billion and $3.34 billion, implying a margin of 33.2% to 33.3%. The company maintained its adjusted free cash flow forecast of $1.4 billion to $1.45 billion, and capital expenditure projection of $1.25 billion. The outlook excludes acquisitions that may close during the remainder of the year. It turns out, fresh estimates have trended upward during the past month. At this time, Waste Connections has a average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a D. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy. Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in. Estimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, Waste Connections has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Clean Harbors, Inc. CLH shares have gained 13.3% in the past three months, extending a broader advance as operating results and the 2026 outlook improved. The recent move has fundamental support from earnings growth, disposal-network demand and higher guidance. Still, a premium valuation leaves less room for execution shortfalls and keeps the investment case balanced. Second-quarter earnings rose 36.4% year over year to $3.22 per share and topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.74 by 17.5%. Revenues increased 12% to $1.74 billion, exceeding the consensus mark of $1.63 billion by 6.8%. Profitability strengthened with the top line. Adjusted EBITDA climbed 21.6% to $409 million and the adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 190 basis points to 23.6%. Net income increased 34.3% to $170.5 million, while income from operations advanced 27.9% to $268.9 million. Environmental Services revenues rose 7.7% to $1.46 billion. Technical Services revenues increased 18% as disposal and recycling demand, project activity and acquisitions supported growth. Incinerator utilization reached 91% versus 86% a year earlier, while landfill volumes increased 7%. The demand picture includes remediation and PFAS-related work, plus a 10-year disposal contract valued at an estimated $600 million. The contract begins in the fourth quarter of 2026 and is expected to reach full capacity in 2030, adding a longer-duration element to the disposal-network story. Management raised the midpoint of 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance by $110 million to $1.38 billion. The new range is $1.35-$1.41 billion. It also lifted the midpoint of adjusted free cash flow guidance by $30 million to $550 million, within a $520-$580 million range. The third-quarter outlook points to continued momentum. Clean Harbors expects adjusted EBITDA to grow 24%-28% year over year, supported by emergency-response work, PFAS opportunities, reshoring activity and favorable demand for re-refined products. CLH trades at 15.8X EV/EBITDA versus 12.5X for its Zacks sub-industry and above its five-year median of 11.7X. The premium increases the importance of sustained earnings growth and delivery against the raised outlook if the recent share-price advance is to continue. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research GFL Environmental Inc. GFL is a large North American environmental-services company focused on solid waste management. Waste Connections, Inc. WCN provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer and disposal services, making both useful reference points for investors assessing the broader waste-services landscape. The 13.3% three-month gain is backed by better earnings, higher margins and stronger guidance, but valuation limits the case for extrapolating the advance without qualification. The operating setup remains favorable, while the premium multiple raises the bar for continued execution. CLH currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Clean Harbors also has a VGM Score of B, Growth Score of B, Momentum Score of B and Value Score of C. The B scores indicate favorable growth and momentum characteristics, while the C Value Score is more neutral. Combined with a Hold rank, the mix supports a measured stance rather than treating recent momentum as an automatic buying signal. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) : Free Stock Analysis Report GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Clean Harbors, Inc. CLH reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results, with both earnings and revenues surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The earnings beat failed to impress the market, as the stock has dipped 4.7% since the release of the results on July 29. CLH posted earnings of $3.22 per share, beating the consensus estimate of $2.74 by 17.5%. Revenues came in at $1.74 billion, exceeding the consensus mark of $1.63 billion by 6.8%. Earnings increased 36.4% year over year, while revenues rose 12%. The strong results reflected healthy disposal and recycling volumes, remediation and PFAS-related projects, strategic pricing initiatives and favorable market prices for re-refined products. Clean Harbors, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Clean Harbors, Inc. Quote Clean Harbors generated net income of $170.5 million, up 34.3% from $126.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Income from operations increased 27.9% year over year to $268.9 million. Gross profit rose 17.9% to $608.8 million, while the gross margin expanded to 35.1% from 33.3% a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA climbed 21.6% to $409 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 190 basis points to 23.6%, supported by stronger results across both operating segments. The company also maintained solid safety performance, with a year-to-date Total Recordable Incident Rate of 0.46. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $214.6 million from $186.2 million. Higher incentive compensation, insurance expenses, acquisition-related costs and strategic investments contributed to the increase. Environmental Services generated revenues of $1.46 billion, up 7.7% from the year-ago quarter. Segment adjusted EBITDA increased 8% to $406.1 million, while the adjusted EBITDA margin improved 10 basis points to 27.9%. Technical Services revenues rose 18%, driven by healthy demand for disposal and recycling services, project activity and acquisitions. A large-scale event contributed approximately $30 million to Technical Services revenues during the quarter. Incinerator utilization, including the new Kimball facility, increased to 91% from 86% a year earlier. The improvement reflected strength in the base business and project volumes. Landfill volumes jumped 7% on continued project wins. Safety-Kleen Environmental Services revenues advanced 11%, aided by pricing and higher volumes in containerized waste collection and vacuum services. Field Services revenues rose 3% despite a difficult year-over-year comparison that included major emergency-response projects. The segment has now delivered year-over-year adjusted EBITDA margin expansion for 17 consecutive quarters. Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions revenues surged 40.8% year over year to $278.4 million. The increase primarily resulted from a sharp rise in market prices for base and blended products amid global supply disruptions, along with higher charge-for-oil revenues. Segment adjusted EBITDA jumped 142.8% to $93 million, while its margin expanded to 33.4% from 19.4% in the prior-year period. The supply-constrained environment widened the company’s re-refining spread and significantly strengthened profitability. Clean Harbors collected 61 million gallons of waste oil compared with 64 million gallons a year earlier. Although collection volume declined, the company maintained a charge-for-oil rate that was considerably higher year over year. Blended products represented 21% of total volumes sold, up from 19% a year ago and 16% in the first quarter. Direct blended sales increased to 11% of total volumes from 9% in the year-ago quarter, reflecting new customer wins and closed-loop arrangements. The result significantly exceeded management’s expectations from the first-quarter earnings call, when it anticipated SKSS’ second-quarter growth to exceed 10% because of improving base oil prices. Cash provided by operating activities was $239.2 million, up from $208 million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted free cash flow increased to $135.7 million from $133.2 million. Capital expenditures, net of asset-sale proceeds, were $124 million compared with $87.3 million a year ago. Clean Harbors also repurchased $27.1 million of shares during the quarter, up from $12 million in the year-ago period. The company ended June with $408.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and $108.4 million in short-term marketable securities. Its current and long-term debt totaled approximately $2.77 billion. For the third quarter of 2026, Clean Harbors expects adjusted EBITDA to increase 24-28% year over year. Management anticipates continued strength across both operating segments, supported by emergency-response work, PFAS opportunities, reshoring activity and favorable demand for re-refined products. Following the strong first-half performance, the company raised the midpoint of its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance by $110 million. Clean Harbors now expects adjusted EBITDA of $1.35-$1.41 billion, with a midpoint of $1.38 billion. The company also increased the midpoint of its adjusted free cash flow outlook by $30 million. Adjusted free cash flow is now projected between $520 million and $580 million, with a midpoint of $550 million. The outlook includes anticipated GAAP net income of $481-$531 million and net cash from operating activities of $890 million to $1.01 billion. Clean Harbors carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Waste Connections, Inc. WCN reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.50 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.35 by 11.1%. Earnings increased 16.3% from $1.29 in the year-ago quarter. Revenues of $2.56 billion surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.53 billion by 1.1% and rose 6.4% year over year. Equifax Inc. EFX reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.25 per share, up 12.5% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.21 by 1.8%. Revenues increased 10.6% year over year to $1.7 billion and surpassed the consensus mark by a slight margin. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Equifax, Inc. (EFX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Gartner, Inc. IT reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results, with both earnings and revenues surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Adjusted earnings of $4.37 per share beat the consensus estimate of $3.77 by 15.9% and increased 23.8% from the year-ago quarter’s $3.53. The improvement reflected higher operating profit and a considerably lower diluted share count. Revenues of $1.68 billion surpassed the consensus mark of $1.65 billion by 1.8%. Reported revenues declined 0.6% year over year because the prior-year period included revenues from the divested Digital Markets operation. Adjusted revenues increased 2.8% on a reported basis and 1.8% on a foreign-currency-neutral basis. Gartner, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Gartner, Inc. Quote Global contract value reached $5.28 billion, increasing 1.7% year over year and 0.3% sequentially on a foreign-currency-neutral basis. The improvement from 1% year-over-year growth in the first quarter indicates that subscription demand is gradually stabilizing. Global Technology Sales contract value was approximately $4 billion, rising 1.1% year over year and remaining nearly flat sequentially. Global Business Sales contract value increased 3.3% year over year and 1.2% sequentially to $1.28 billion. Global wallet retention was 98.2%, up from 97.7% in the preceding quarter but below 101.3% a year earlier. Client retention improved sequentially to 85.2% from 85%, compared with 84.6% in the year-ago quarter. Contract value per enterprise advanced to $414,000 from $376,000 a year ago, partly offsetting a 4.5% decline in client enterprises to 12,775. Insights revenues increased 2.1% year over year, or 1% on a foreign-currency-neutral basis, to $1.29 billion. Segment contribution rose 4% to $999 million. The contribution margin expanded 150 basis points to 77.5%, demonstrating the scalability of Gartner’s subscription-oriented research platform. Conferences delivered the strongest revenue growth. Segment revenues advanced 15.5% year over year, or 14.2% on a foreign-currency-neutral basis, to $244 million. Contribution jumped 19.6% to $145 million, while the contribution margin expanded 210 basis points to 59.5%. Same-conference revenues increased 12%, although attendee levels declined 1.4%. Gartner held 18 destination conferences during the quarter compared with 19 a year earlier, while destination conference attendance decreased slightly to 28,057 from 28,295. Consulting remained the weakest segment. Revenues declined 8.8% year over year to $142 million, while contribution fell 12.6% to $54 million. The contribution margin contracted 170 basis points to 37.9%. Labor-based consulting revenues decreased 12.8% to $96 million, whereas contract optimization revenues increased 0.9% to $46 million. Consulting backlog rose 9.1% to $214 million, offering some support for future revenues. Billable headcount fell 11.3% to 842, while utilization improved 32 basis points to 65.1%. Adjusted EBITDA excluding the divested operation increased 6.4% year over year, or 4.4% on a foreign-currency-neutral basis, to $466 million. The corresponding margin expanded 90 basis points to 27.8%. GAAP operating income advanced 15.7% to $378.5 million. The operating margin improved to 22.6% from 19.4% a year earlier, aided by lower service, product-development and administrative expenses. Net income increased 14.4% to $275.5 million. Earnings climbed 33.1% to $4.14 per share, with the faster per-share increase supported by a reduction in shares to 66.6 million from 77.4 million. Operating cash flow rose 3.8% to $398 million. With capital expenditures declining to $20 million from $36 million, free cash flow increased 8.9% to $378 million. The trailing-12-month free cash flow was approximately $1.3 billion. Gartner repurchased 3.6 million shares for $547 million during the quarter. Year-to-date repurchases totaled approximately $1.08 billion. The company had about $1.2 billion remaining under its repurchase authorization as of July 31 after the board approved an additional $500 million in July. Gartner ended the quarter with $1.49 billion in cash and approximately $3 billion in debt. Gross debt to adjusted EBITDA was 1.8 times, while net leverage stood at 0.9 times. Gartner now expects 2026 adjusted revenues of at least $6.38 billion, compared with the previous outlook of $6.41 billion. Insights revenues are now projected to be at least $5.17 billion, down from the prior guidance of $5.20 billion. The outlooks for Conferences and Consulting revenues were maintained at no less than $695 million and $510 million, respectively. Despite the revenue adjustment, the company raised its profitability forecast. Adjusted EBITDA excluding the divested operation is now expected to be at least $1.57 billion, up from $1.55 billion. Adjusted EPS guidance for 2026 increased to a minimum of $14 from $13.25, while the free cash flow forecast rose to at least $1.19 billion from $1.16 billion. Gartner carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Waste Connections, Inc. WCN reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.50 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.35 by 11.1%. Earnings increased 16.3% from $1.29 in the year-ago quarter. Revenues of $2.56 billion surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.53 billion by 1.1% and rose 6.4% year over year. Equifax Inc. EFX reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.25 per share, up 12.5% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.21 by 1.8%. Revenues increased 10.6% year over year to $1.7 billion and surpassed the consensus mark by a slight margin. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Gartner, Inc. (IT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Equifax, Inc. (EFX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

TransUnion TRU reported impressive second-quarter 2026 results, with both earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. TRU’s adjusted earnings of $1.23 per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.9% and increased 13.9% from the year-ago quarter’s level. The performance extended the company’s strong start to 2026. Revenues of $1.31 billion surpassed the consensus estimate by 1.7% and rose 14.9% year over year. Organic constant-currency revenues grew 10% from the year-ago quarter, led by U.S. Financial Services and Emerging Verticals. The better-than-expected results impressed investors, as the stock has gained 8.4% since the company released results on July 28. TransUnion price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | TransUnion Quote TRU’s shares have plunged 12% over the past year compared with the industry’s 11.4% decrease. The Zacks S&P 500 Composite has risen 19.6% over the same time frame. U.S. Markets revenues increased 11% to $992.7 million. Financial Services revenues climbed 18% to $496.3 million, reflecting strength across credit and non-credit offerings, pricing actions and new client wins. Excluding FICO mortgage royalties, Financial Services growth was 10%. Credit Card and Banking revenues increased 6%, while Consumer Lending and Auto each grew 8%. Mortgage revenues advanced 37%, or 15% excluding the royalty benefit, despite a 7% decline in inquiries. Emerging Verticals revenues rose 9% to $353.9 million. Insurance delivered its eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, while technology, retail and e-commerce produced high-single-digit growth. Consumer Interactive revenues declined 3% to $142.5 million. Growth through indirect channels was offset by continued weakness in the direct-to-consumer business. International revenues increased 27% to $320.8 million, including the contribution from Trans Union de Mexico. On an organic constant-currency basis, growth accelerated to 6% from flat performance in the first quarter. Canada revenues rose 10% to $46.4 million, supported by financial services, fintech and insurance demand. The United Kingdom revenues increased 9% to $73.5 million, benefiting from market-share gains and new business across banking and fintech. India revenues returned to growth, rising 8% on a constant-currency basis, as credit volumes improved and new client wins strengthened. Latin America grew 5% organically, while Africa advanced 5%. Asia Pacific declined 7%, although management expects the region to return to growth in the second half. Trans Union de Mexico continued to perform ahead of the company’s acquisition assumptions. Management plans to expand its data coverage, introduce TruIQ analytics and eventually migrate the business to the OneTru platform. Adjusted EBITDA increased 12% to $456.1 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 90 basis points to 34.8%, with management attributing the decline entirely to FICO mortgage royalties. U.S. Markets adjusted EBITDA rose 7% to $361 million, while its margin declined to 36.4% from 37.9%. International adjusted EBITDA increased 27% to $136.8 million, while its margin held steady at 42.7%. GAAP net income attributable to TransUnion increased to $143.4 million from $109.6 million. Diluted GAAP earnings were 74 cents per share, up from 56 cents in the prior-year quarter. TransUnion ended June with $839.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and $5.59 billion in total debt. Its leverage ratio declined to 2.6X, supported by adjusted EBITDA growth. Cash provided by operating activities totaled $459.1 million in the first six months of 2026, up from $343.8 million a year earlier. Capital expenditures decreased to $134.4 million from $145.4 million. The company repurchased roughly $150 million of shares through July, including 2.1 million shares at an average price of about $71. Management expects second-half repurchases to be at least comparable to the first-half pace while continuing to target leverage below 2.5X. For the third quarter, TransUnion expects revenues to be between $1.292 billion and $1.310 billion, representing reported growth of 11-12%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is pegged at $1.31 billion. Organic constant-currency growth is projected at 6-8%. TRU guided its third-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings to be between $1.18 and $1.21 per share, with the midpoint of $1.195 per share being lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.23 per share. Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated to be between $455 million and $463 million, with a margin of 35.2-35.4%. For 2026, the company raised its revenue outlook to $5.127-$5.162 billion, implying growth of 12-13%. The midpoint of the guided range ($5.145 billion) is marginally higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.14 billion. Organic constant-currency growth remains projected at 8-9%. Adjusted EBITDA is expected between $1.807 billion and $1.827 billion. Adjusted earnings guidance increased to $4.75-$4.83 per share from the earlier range of $4.68-$4.75, reflecting stronger first-half execution and improved contributions from Mexico. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is pegged at $4.75 per share. TransUnion currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. WEX Inc. WEX reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results. WEX’s adjusted earnings of $5.35 per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.3% and increased 35.4% from the year-ago quarter. WEX’s revenues of $753.5 million topped the consensus estimate by 1.8% and improved 14.2% year over year. Waste Connections, Inc. WCN posted impressive second-quarter 2026 results. WCN’s adjusted earnings of $1.50 per share outpaced the consensus mark by 11.1% and rose 16.3% from the year-ago quarter. WCN’s total revenues of $2.56 billion surpassed the consensus mark by 1.1% and increased 6.4% year over year. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report TransUnion (TRU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) : Free Stock Analysis Report WEX Inc. (WEX) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Trane Technologies plc TT reported impressive second-quarter 2026 results, with both earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. TT’s adjusted earnings of $4.31 per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.9% and increased 11.1% from the year-ago quarter’s level. Revenues of $6.35 billion surpassed the consensus estimate by 2.9% and rose 10.6% year over year. Trane Technologies plc price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Trane Technologies plc Quote The results benefited from strong commercial HVAC demand and solid execution. Organic bookings increased 37%, while backlog reached a record $12.1 billion, up roughly 70% year over year and providing substantial visibility into future growth. TT’s shares have risen 2% over the past year against the industry’s 6% decline. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has risen 17.9% over the same time frame. Reported bookings climbed 39% to $7.82 billion, while the enterprise book-to-bill ratio was 123%. Each operating segment posted a ratio above 100%, indicating that new orders exceeded revenues during the quarter. Americas Commercial HVAC was the primary growth engine. Bookings advanced 50%, including a 130% increase in applied equipment orders. Demand remained broad-based across data centers, schools, offices, warehouses and high-tech industrial projects. The business exited the quarter with backlog up about 90%. Global applied bookings nearly doubled, while services continued to account for roughly one-third of total revenues. Services revenues have achieved a low-teens compound annual growth rate since 2020, strengthening the company’s recurring and higher-value revenue base. Organic revenues rose 9%, reflecting high-single-digit equipment growth and continued strength in services. Volume gains and positive pricing supported the top line, although inflation and elevated reinvestment limited profit conversion. Americas revenues increased 12% to $5.27 billion and advanced 11% organically. Commercial HVAC revenues grew in the low teens, led by applied solutions, which increased more than 40%. Residential HVAC revenues also rose in the low teens, while transport revenues declined by low double digits as expected. The company raised its 2026 residential revenue outlook to mid-single-digit growth following strong first-half performance and healthy channel inventories. Transport demand is expected to recover later in 2026, with healthier growth anticipated in the fourth quarter. Adjusted operating income increased 7% to $1.25 billion. However, the adjusted operating margin contracted 60 basis points to 19.7%, as inflation and increased investments more than offset volume growth and pricing. Adjusted EBITDA rose 7% to $1.34 billion, while the related margin declined 70 basis points to 21.1%. The company continued investing in production capacity, product innovation, factory automation and operational excellence to support its expanding backlog. GAAP operating income increased 5% to $1.22 billion, but the GAAP operating margin fell 100 basis points to 19.3%. GAAP continuing earnings were $4.20 per share, up 9% from the prior-year quarter. Americas adjusted operating income increased 11% to $1.17 billion. The adjusted operating margin declined 30 basis points to 22.1%, primarily reflecting accelerated business investments intended to support future growth. EMEA revenues fell 1% to $697.6 million and declined 4% organically. Adjusted operating income decreased 26% to $91.4 million, while the margin contracted 420 basis points to 13.1%. Conflict in the Middle East reduced operating income by approximately $30 million, prompting cost actions late in the quarter. Asia Pacific revenues increased 11% to $384.6 million and rose 10% organically. Organic bookings jumped 31%, supported by strong demand outside China. Adjusted operating income increased 8% to $80.8 million, though channel investments contributed to a 60-basis-point margin decline. Cash from continuing operating activities reached $1.73 billion in the first six months of 2026, up from $1.04 billion a year earlier. Free cash flow nearly doubled to $1.60 billion from $841.4 million, aided by improved working capital management. Trane Technologies ended June with $1.32 billion in cash and $4.62 billion in debt. Through July, it deployed or committed approximately $1.9 billion, including $690 million for dividends, $340 million for acquisitions and investments, and $840 million for share repurchases. The company remains on track to deploy $2.8-$3.3 billion of capital in 2026. Capital expenditures are expected to equal 2-3% of revenues as management expands capacity and supports innovation initiatives. Management now expects full-year reported revenue growth of approximately 11.5%, up from the prior projection of 9.5%. Organic revenue growth is forecast at roughly 9% compared with the earlier expectation of about 7%. Adjusted continuing earnings guidance increased to $15.20-$15.30 per share from $14.75-$14.95. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is pegged at $14.89 per share. The company expects third-quarter organic revenue growth of approximately 10% and adjusted earnings of about $4.70 per share. The raised outlook reflects record backlog, accelerating Commercial HVAC revenues and improving residential and transport trends. Management expects second-half organic revenue growth of approximately 11.5%, with adjusted earnings growth of about 23.5% at the guidance midpoint. Trane Technologies currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Recent Earnings Snapshots WEX Inc. WEX reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results. WEX’s adjusted earnings of $5.35 per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.3% and increased 35.4% from the year-ago quarter. WEX’s revenues of $753.5 million topped the consensus estimate by 1.8% and improved 14.2% year over year. Waste Connections, Inc. WCN posted impressive second-quarter 2026 results. WCN’s adjusted earnings of $1.50 per share outpaced the consensus mark by 11.1% and rose 16.3% from the year-ago quarter. WCN’s total revenues of $2.56 billion surpassed the consensus mark by 1.1% and increased 6.4% year over year. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Trane Technologies plc (TT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) : Free Stock Analysis Report WEX Inc. (WEX) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Verisk VRSK has reported second-quarter 2026 diluted adjusted earnings of $1.98 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.94 by 2.1%. The figure increased 5.3% from the year-ago quarter. Revenues of $806.3 million topped the consensus mark of $802.4 million by 0.5% and rose 4.3% year over year. Organic constant-currency growth was 5.8%, supported by an 8% increase in underlying subscription revenues and growth across both Underwriting and Claims. Verisk Analytics, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Verisk Analytics, Inc. Quote Underwriting revenues increased 3.5% year over year to $569 million. On an organic constant-currency basis, revenues advanced 5.6%. Growth reflected annual price increases tied to continued enhancements in the models and content supporting Verisk’s forms, rules and loss cost services. The company also benefited from sales of expanded catastrophe and risk solutions to new and existing customers. Claims revenues rose 6.3% year over year to $237 million. Organic constant-currency growth was 6.1%, outpacing the reported growth rate of the Underwriting business. The improvement was primarily driven by anti-fraud analytics, and property and restoration solutions. These offerings supported broader Insurance revenue growth as carriers continued using Verisk’s data and technology across underwriting and claims decisions. Adjusted EBITDA increased 4.2% year over year to $463.6 million. On an organic constant-currency basis, adjusted EBITDA grew 7.4%, reflecting revenue growth and continued cost discipline. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 57.5% compared with 57.6% in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA expenses increased to $342.7 million from $327.8 million, while operating income rose to $363.7 million from $354.3 million. Net income declined 9.8% year over year to $228.6 million. The net income margin contracted to 28.4% from 32.8%, while diluted GAAP earnings fell 3.3% to $1.75 per share. The decline reflected a higher effective tax rate, increased net interest expenses and legal fees connected with ongoing litigation. Net interest expenses increased to $52.8 million from $35.5 million, while the effective tax rate rose to 24.6% from 22.7%. Net cash provided by operating activities jumped 49.7% year over year to $366 million. The free cash flow increased 57.9% to $297.9 million despite capital expenditure rising 22% to $68.1 million. The cash flow improvement was primarily driven by higher operating profit and the timing of certain vendor and tax payments. Verisk ended June with $551.4 million in cash and cash equivalents compared with $2.18 billion at the end of 2025. The company entered a $200-million accelerated share repurchase program during the quarter. It received an initial delivery of 949,190 shares at an initial price of $179.10, representing roughly 85% of the aggregate purchase price. In the first six months of 2026, Verisk funded aggregate share repurchases of $1.9 billion and received an initial delivery of 8.5 million shares at an average price of $186.32. The company had $800 million remaining under its repurchase authorization at the quarter-end. Management said that Verisk continues to invest in proprietary datasets and deploy advanced artificial intelligence technologies across those assets. The strategy is aimed at generating differentiated insights and strengthening value for insurance clients. The company expects growth to return to levels consistent with its Investor Day targets during the second half of 2026. Verisk also approved another quarterly cash dividend of 50 cents per share, payable Sept. 30, to shareholders of record as of Sept. 15. Verisk maintained its 2026 revenue guidance of $3.19-$3.24 billion. Management expects adjusted EBITDA of $1.79-$1.83 billion and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 56-56.5%. Diluted adjusted earnings are projected between $7.45 and $7.75 per share. The company expects a tax rate of 23-26%, capital expenditure of $260-$280 million and interest expenses of $190-$200 million. VRSK carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. IQVIA Holdings Inc. IQV reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.15 per share, rising 12.1% year over year and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.02 by 4.3%. Revenues of $4.36 billion increased 8.7% and topped the consensus mark of $4.29 billion by 1.6%. Waste Connections, Inc. WCN reported impressive second-quarter 2026 results. WCN reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.50 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.35 by 11.1%. Earnings increased 16.3% from $1.29 in the year-ago quarter. Revenues of $2.56 billion surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.53 billion by 1.1% and rose 6.4% year over year. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Verisk Analytics, Inc. (VRSK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) : Free Stock Analysis Report IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Veralto VLTO reported impressive second-quarter 2026 results, with both earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. VLTO’s adjusted earnings of $1.11 per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11% and increased 19.4% from the year-ago quarter, aided by core sales growth, operating execution and tariff refunds. Veralto Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Veralto Corporation Quote Sales of $1.47 billion surpassed the consensus estimate by 2.5% and rose 7.6% year over year. Core sales grew 4.2%, led by Water Quality growth of 5.7%, while acquisitions and currency movements also supported the top line. VLTO’s shares have dipped 6.9% over the past year compared with the industry’s 9.3% decline. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has risen 18.7% over the same time frame. Core sales growth reflected a 3% contribution from pricing and a 1.2% increase in volume. Acquisitions added 2.4% to reported growth, driven mainly by In-Situ in Water Quality and GlobalVision in Product Quality and Innovation. Foreign-currency movements provided a 1 percentage point benefit. Recurring revenues grew at a high-single-digit rate and represented 62% of total sales, while non-recurring revenues advanced at a mid-single-digit pace. Water Quality sales increased 10.1% year over year to $908 million. Core sales rose 5.7%, acquisitions contributed 3.2% and favorable currency translation added 1.2%. Price and volume contributed 2.9% and 2.8%, respectively. Chemical water treatment solutions delivered 10.7% core growth, supported by broad-based industrial demand. The segment recorded double-digit growth across data centers, chemical processing, oil and gas and food and beverage markets. Adjusted operating profit increased 12.6% to $241 million, while the margin expanded 60 basis points to 26.5%. Product Quality and Innovation sales rose 3.8% to $566 million. Core sales increased 2%, acquisitions added 1.2% and currency provided a 0.6 percentage point benefit. Pricing contributed 3%, partly offset by a 1% volume decline. Marking and coding core sales grew 3.5%, with gains across equipment, consumables and services. However, lower sales of color-testing and packaging-inspection equipment weighed on packaging and color operations. Adjusted operating profit advanced 8.6% to $152 million and the adjusted margin increased 130 basis points to 26.9%. Adjusted operating profit increased 11.7% to $363 million. The adjusted operating margin expanded 90 basis points to 24.6%, while the adjusted gross margin improved 160 basis points to 61.6%. Refunds tied to tariffs previously collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act contributed 5 cents per share to adjusted earnings. They accounted for 110 basis points of gross-margin expansion, while price and volume leverage added another 50 basis points. Excluding the refunds, the underlying business generated 14% adjusted earnings growth. Reported operating profit was $315 million, up from $313 million in the year-ago quarter. The reported operating margin contracted to 21.4% from 22.8%, reflecting restructuring charges and other adjustments. Second-quarter costs included $29 million related to Veralto's 2026 Cost Optimization Program, $17 million of acquisition-related intangible amortization and $2 million associated with strategic initiatives. Reported net earnings increased to $241 million from $222 million, while diluted earnings rose to 98 cents from 89 cents. Operating cash flow totaled $340 million, compared with $339 million a year earlier. Capital expenditures were $12 million, resulting in free cash flow of $328 million and a conversion rate of 136% of net earnings. Veralto ended the quarter with $2.12 billion in cash, gross debt of $3.38 billion and net debt of $1.26 billion. During the quarter, it spent about $195 million to acquire GlobalVision, allocated $134 million to share repurchases and paid $32 million in dividends. For the third quarter of 2026, Veralto expects core sales growth of 4-5% and adjusted operating margin expansion of approximately 25 basis points. Adjusted earnings are projected between $1.06 and $1.09 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is pegged at $1.00 per share. For 2026, management raised its core sales growth forecast to 4-4.5% from 3-4.5%. Adjusted earnings guidance increased to $4.35-$4.43 from $4.20-$4.28, implying growth of 12% to 14%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is pegged at $4.24 per share. The company expects adjusted operating margin expansion of 25-50 basis points and free cash flow conversion above 100% of GAAP net earnings. Veralto currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. WEX Inc. WEX reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results. WEX’s adjusted earnings of $5.35 per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.3% and increased 35.4% from the year-ago quarter. WEX’s revenues of $753.5 million topped the consensus estimate by 1.8% and improved 14.2% year over year. Waste Connections, Inc. WCN posted impressive second-quarter 2026 results. WCN’s adjusted earnings of $1.50 per share outpaced the consensus mark by 11.1% and rose 16.3% from the year-ago quarter. WCN’s total revenues of $2.56 billion surpassed the consensus mark by 1.1% and increased 6.4% year over year. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Veralto Corporation (VLTO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) : Free Stock Analysis Report WEX Inc. (WEX) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Omnicom OMC reported impressive second-quarter 2026 results, with both earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. OMC’s adjusted earnings of $2.65 per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.4% and increased 29.3% from the year-ago quarter. Revenues of $6.56 billion surpassed the consensus estimate by 0.8% and rose 63.3% year over year. Omnicom Group Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Omnicom Group Inc. Quote The sharp rise in revenues reflects the contribution from the Interpublic Group acquisition. Core Operations delivered 6.1% organic growth, led by Integrated Media and Experiential businesses. OMC’s shares have gained 16% over the past year compared with the industry’s 29.4% growth. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has risen 18.6% over the same time frame. Core Operations revenues increased 7.2% year over year to $6 billion. Organic growth contributed $339 million, while favorable foreign-currency translation added $61.7 million. Core Operations exclude businesses already divested or classified as held for sale. Management attributed the performance to expanding services for existing clients and winning new business. Omnicom added work in sports, media, production, commerce, social and influencer marketing for clients including American Express, General Mills and Uber. New integrated media wins included Adidas, IBM and Subway. Integrated Media generated $3.15 billion, representing 52.5% of Core Operations revenues. The discipline recorded organic growth of slightly more than 10%, supported by demand for media, commerce, data, customer relationship management and consulting services. Advertising revenues were $942.6 million, or 15.7% of the total and declined by high single digits organically. Management linked the weakness partly to internal restructuring, brand realignment and the disposal of smaller, slower-growing operations. Public Relations contributed $679.1 million, accounting for 11.3% of Core Operations revenues, with mid-single-digit organic growth. Experiential & Other produced $669.2 million, or 11.2%, and grew more than 10% organically, aided by activity related to the FIFA World Cup. Health revenues were $555.9 million, representing 9.3% of the total and remaining flat organically. The varied performance highlights Omnicom's reliance on Integrated Media and Experiential operations to offset softness in Advertising. The United States generated $3.54 billion, or 59% of Core Operations revenues, and recorded high-single-digit organic growth. Latin America contributed $227.9 million and expanded more than 10%, making it a notable regional growth driver. Euro Markets and Other Europe produced $826.4 million, while the United Kingdom generated $554.8 million. Asia-Pacific revenues were $537.6 million, down slightly. Middle East and Africa revenues fell at a double-digit rate amid ongoing regional conflict. Adjusted EBITA from Core Operations increased 20.4% to $1.07 billion. The related margin expanded 190 basis points to 17.8%, primarily reflecting cost-reduction synergies tied to the Interpublic combination. On a consolidated basis, adjusted EBITA rose 83.7% to $1.13 billion, while the adjusted EBITA margin improved to 17.2% from 15.3%. Reported operating income increased to $922.5 million, supported by revenue growth and the acquisition. Operating expenses climbed to $5.64 billion, largely because of the Interpublic acquisition. The quarter included $40.1 million of integration and transaction costs and $47 million of severance and repositioning expenses. Net interest expense increased to $93.3 million from $40.7 million, mainly due to debt assumed in the acquisition and refinancing activities. The adjusted effective tax rate declined to 26% from 26.5% a year earlier. Following the first-half performance, management raised its 2026 organic revenue growth outlook for ongoing operations to 4.5-5% from 4%. The company also expects adjusted earnings growth of more than 15% for the year. Omnicom remains on track to achieve $900 million of cost-reduction synergies in 2026 and $1.5 billion by mid-2028. Management said slightly more than half of the 2026 target had been delivered through the first half. Free cash flow totaled $1.50 billion during the first six months of 2026. Cash and cash equivalents were $3.34 billion at quarter-end, while gross long-term debt was $10.18 billion. The company repurchased roughly $3 billion of shares in the first half. Omnicom expects another $500 million of repurchases during 2026 and plans to complete its $5 billion authorization by the end of the first quarter of 2027. Omnicom currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. WEX Inc. WEX reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results. WEX’s adjusted earnings of $5.35 per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.3% and increased 35.4% from the year-ago quarter. WEX’s revenues of $753.5 million surpassed the consensus estimate by 1.8% and improved 14.2% year over year. Waste Connections, Inc. WCN posted impressive second-quarter 2026 results. WCN’s adjusted earnings of $1.50 per share outpaced the consensus mark by 11.1% and rose 16.3% from the year-ago quarter. WCN’s total revenues of $2.56 billion surpassed the consensus mark by 1.1% and increased 6.4% year over year. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) : Free Stock Analysis Report WEX Inc. (WEX) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Robert Half Inc. RHI reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 26 cents per share, which matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate but declined 36.6% year over year. Revenues of $1.34 billion surpassed the consensus estimate by 0.8% but decreased 2.4% year over year. However, investors remain optimistic due to strong earnings guidance for the third quarter of 2026, as the stock has gained 5% since the company released results on July 23. Robert Half Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Robert Half Inc. Quote The company guided adjusted earnings per share between 45 cents and 53 cents, with the midpoint of 49 cents being higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 47 cents. Over the past year, RHI's shares have risen 3.5% compared with the industry's 3.7% growth. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has gained 18.4% during the said time frame. The earnings performance of the reported quarter reflected improving demand in Talent Solutions, partly offset by continued weakness at Protiviti and restructuring-related costs. Talent Solutions revenues totaled $865.4 million, down 1% year over year. Within the segment, Contract Talent Solutions revenues declined 1.6% to $747.4 million, while Permanent Placement Talent Solutions revenues increased 2.9% to $118 million, marking a return to year-over-year growth. Protiviti revenues fell 4.9% year over year to $471 million, reflecting ongoing softness in the U.S. financial services regulatory environment. Management noted that Talent Solutions delivered its third consecutive quarter of sequential revenue growth on an adjusted basis, while hiring demand continued to improve. Contract Talent Solutions' gross margin remained 39.1%, unchanged from the prior-year quarter. Overall, Talent Solutions’ gross margin improved to 47.4% from 47.1% a year ago. Protiviti's reported gross margin declined to 13.5% from 19.7%. On an adjusted basis, gross margin was 18.5%, down from 22.3%, reflecting approximately $7 million in severance costs related to restructuring actions. The company reported an operating loss of $62.3 million, against an operating income of $1.5 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted operating income was $38.6 million, representing 2.9% of revenues. The quarter included a $100.9 million gain from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts, fully offset by related compensation expenses, resulting in no impact on net income. The effective tax rate increased to 35% from 33% a year ago. Robert Half ended the quarter with $324.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared with $380.5 million a year earlier. Accounts receivable stood at $821.4 million. Cash flow from operations totaled $109 million in the quarter. The company paid a quarterly dividend of 59 cents per share, returning $59 million to its shareholders. For the third quarter of 2026, Robert Half expects revenues to be between $1.31 billion and $1.41 billion, with the midpoint of $1.36 billion in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. At the midpoint, management expects Talent Solutions revenue growth of about 3% year over year, while Protiviti revenues are projected to decline about 6%. Management noted improving hiring activity, with Contract Talent Solutions revenues down 1% in the first two weeks of July 2026 and Permanent Placement revenues up 4% during the first three weeks of the month. Currently, Robert Half carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Waste Connections, Inc. WCN reported impressive second-quarter 2026 results. WCN’s adjusted earnings of $1.50 per share outpaced the consensus mark by 11.1% and rose 16.3% from the year-ago quarter. Waste Connections’ total revenues of $2.56 billion surpassed the consensus mark by 1.1% and increased 6.4% year over year. Rollins, Inc. ROL posted unimpressive second-quarter 2026 results. ROL’s adjusted earnings of 32 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.9% but rose 6.7% year over year. Total revenues of $1.08 billion fell short of the consensus estimate by 1.7% but increased 7.9% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Robert Half Inc. (RHI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Rollins, Inc. (ROL) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation BAH reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 adjusted earnings of $1.81 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 21.5% and rose 22.3% year over year, driven by stronger profitability, a lower tax rate, a reduced share count and an unrealized investment gain. Revenues of $2.80 billion matched the consensus estimate but declined 4.2% year over year. The top line reflected continued weakness in Civil, while National Security grew. The quarterly book-to-bill ratio was 1.5X. The reported results did not impress investors. Moreover, the absence of second-quarter guidance and weak fiscal 2027 guidance disappointed the market, as the stock has declined 1.2% since the earnings release on July 24. Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation Quote Booz Allen guided fiscal 2027 adjusted earnings to be between $6.00 and $6.35 per share, with the midpoint of $6.175 being lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.20 per share. The company’s fiscal 2027 revenue guidance ranges from $11.2 billion to $11.7 billion, implying 0-4% growth. However, the midpoint ($11.45 billion) of the guided range is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.46 billion. Adjusted EBITDA increased 7.4% year over year to $334 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 130 basis points to 11.9%, reflecting improved contract execution, favorable timing of investment spending and early shifts toward outcomes-based fixed-price work. Adjusted net income rose 17.9% to $217 million. The quarter also included a $19 million pretax unrealized gain on a venture investment, which supported adjusted earnings growth alongside a lower tax rate and a reduced share count. National Security revenues increased 1.3% year over year to $2.03 billion. Management cited healthy demand, improving funding and stronger hiring activity as the company ramps up new work across defense, intelligence, cyber and advanced technology missions. Civil and Commercial revenues fell 16.4% to $772 million. The decline reflected prior-year contract reductions, lower Treasury-related work, fewer new program starts and smaller follow-on contracts. Management expects another sequential double-digit decline in Civil revenues in the second quarter before pressures begin to ease later in the year. Funded backlog increased 15.2% year over year to $4.66 billion, while total backlog rose 3.2% to $39.48 billion. The trailing 12-month book-to-bill ratio was 1.1X. The company also reported that funding increased 17% year over year in the quarter. Its pipeline of other transaction authority opportunities, which can provide faster and more flexible government procurement, grew 18%. Fixed-price contracts represented 21% of revenues, up from 18% a year earlier. Booz Allen deployed $447 million in capital during the quarter. Of this amount, $324 million went toward the Defy acquisition and venture investments, while $123 million was returned to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. The company expects to close its acquisition of Ultra I&C Mission Solutions in the second quarter. Management believes the transaction will broaden its defense technology portfolio across command-and-control software, ruggedized edge computing and encryption management. Net cash provided by operating activities increased 136.1% year over year to $281 million. Free cash flow surged 171.9% to $261 million, supported by strong collections and favorable timing. BAH ended the quarter with $540 million in cash and $2.0 billion in total liquidity. Total debt was $3.94 billion, while the net leverage ratio was 2.7X. Days sales outstanding increased seven days to 80 due to the revenue-recognition profile of the Defy business. Adjusted EBITDA is projected between $1.24 billion and $1.29 billion, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 11%. Free cash flow is forecasted to be between $825 million and $925 million. Management continues to expect growth to be weighted toward the second half, with National Security accelerating as new work ramps up. The company expects second-quarter growth and profitability to face pressure from Civil contract roll-offs and the end of some higher-margin programs. It anticipates backloaded investment spending while maintaining a cautious view of the government funding and award environment. Currently, Booz Allen carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Waste Connections, Inc. WCN reported impressive second-quarter 2026 results. WCN’s adjusted earnings of $1.50 per share outpaced the consensus mark by 11.1% and rose 16.3% from the year-ago quarter. WCN’s total revenues of $2.56 billion surpassed the consensus mark by 1.1% and increased 6.4% year over year. Rollins, Inc. ROL posted unimpressive second-quarter 2026 results. ROL’s adjusted earnings of 32 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.9% but rose 6.7% year over year. Total revenues of $1.08 billion fell short of the consensus estimate by 1.7% but increased 7.9% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (BAH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Rollins, Inc. (ROL) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research