WM WM is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 27, after market close.
WM beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with an average earnings surprise of 0.6%.
Waste Management, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
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WM’s Q3 Expectations
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pinned at $6.8 billion, hinting at a 5.6% gain from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The consensus estimate for total collection and disposal segment revenues is set at $5.5 billion. It indicates a 4% increase from the year-ago quarter’s actual.
This segment is anticipated to contribute slightly below 82% to the top line in the third quarter of 2026. Growth across this segment is likely to have been driven by solid pricing execution, higher energy surcharge revenues, escalating industrial waste volumes and strategic buyouts.
For the recycling processing and sales segment, the consensus estimate for revenues is $432.2 million, indicating a 16.2% year-over-year increase. This segment is expected to account for 6.4% of revenues. Factors anticipated to have fueled this segment’s growth engine are strong performance at newly commissioned recycling facilities and higher productivity at existing automated plants.
Solid demand under Canada’s extended producer responsibility programs, supporting volumes and profitability strengthened by automation-backed efficiency gains, are other factors likely to have contributed to this segment’s growth.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the WM renewable energy segment’s revenues is $160.3 million, hinting at a 39.4% year-over-year jump. The WM renewable energy segment is anticipated to deliver 2.4% of the top line.
Continued production ramp-ups at newly commissioned facilities, coupled with high plant uptime and improving landfill gas volumes, are factors expected to have supported this segment to register lofty growth.
The consensus estimate for the WM healthcare solutions revenues suggests 2% year-over-year growth to $640.5 million, contributing 9.5% to revenues. Cross-selling initiatives and account wins are anticipated to have driven this segment’s growth.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the corporate and other segment, which contributes to a small fraction of the top line, is pinned at $7 million, suggesting no change from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
The consensus estimate for earnings per share is set to increase 10.1% year over year to $2.18. The bottom line is expected to have improved on the back of a favorable price-to-cost spread facilitated by strong core pricing and prudent cost management. Continued investment in automation is likely to have curbed operating expenses, expanding margins.
What Our Model Predicts About WM
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for WM this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESPand a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
WM currently has an Earnings ESP of -0.35% and a Zacks Rank #3.
Stocks to Consider
Here are a few stocks from the broader Business Services sector, which, according to our model, have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this season.
Visa V: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s fourth-quarter 2026 revenues is pinned at $12.1 billion, indicating 12.7% year-over-year growth. For earnings, the consensus estimate is pegged at $3.43 per share, implying a 15.1% jump from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The company beat the consensus estimate in all four quarters, with an average surprise of 2.8%.
V has an Earnings ESP of +0.66% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The company is scheduled to declare fourth-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 27.
NIQ Global Intelligence plc NIQ: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s third-quarter 2026 revenues is $1.1 billion, suggesting a 5.7% year-over-year rise. For earnings, the consensus estimate is kept at 24 cents, suggesting a whopping gain of 700% from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The company beat the consensus estimate in two of four quarters and missed twice, with an average surprise of 1.9%.
NIQ has an Earnings ESP of +5.93% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. The company is scheduled to declare third-quarter 2026 results on Nov. 12.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).