Based on the provided data and analysis, here is a direct assessment of WCN's valuation:
WCN appears to be overvalued based on multiple key metrics and recent analyst assessments. The stock's PE ratio of 49.15 for Q3 2024 is significantly above industry averages, even though it has shown some improvement from 55.89 in Q1 2024.
The EV/EBITDA multiple of 19.55 remains elevated compared to historical waste management industry standards, suggesting premium pricing.
Recent analyst actions reflect this valuation concern, with Jefferies lowering their price target from $225 to $210 on January 23, 2025, though maintaining a Strong Buy rating due to healthy pricing and margin expectations.
The company's price-to-sales ratio of 5.31 indicates investors are paying a substantial premium for each dollar of revenue, which is historically high for the waste management sector.