We recently compiled a list of the Best TSX Stocks To Invest In Now. In this article, we will look at where Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) ranks among the best TSX stocks to invest in now.
Canada’s Economy Shows Signs of Stabilization
According to Deloitte, the Canadian economy is showing signs of stabilisation after three years of turmoil, with inflation steadily declining since June 2022. Canada’s economy grew stronger in the first half of 2024 than previously forecast, but the pace of recovery is expected to be limited in the second half of the year due to slower household spending. The updated forecast projects real GDP growth of 1.2% for 2024, followed by 2.6% growth in 2025, with real GDP per person falling by 1.6% in 2024 before clawing back to gain 1.1% growth in 2025.
The Bank of Canada has begun to ease its monetary policy, paving the way for stronger economic growth. However, the pace of monetary easing is uncertain, and weak investment and productivity performance continue to pose a risk to Canada’s long-term economic outlook. The Bank of Canada is expected to cut interest rates at a gradual pace, with a rate cut in September followed by another in December and March. The overnight rate is expected to settle at a neutral level of 2.75% by the end of next year, assuming inflation continues to decrease and returns to the 2% target by the second quarter of next year.
Business sentiment in Canada is beginning to recover, with improved confidence across regions and sectors. However, business investment has been weak, directly impacting productivity and living standards. Since the 2014 commodity price crash, labour productivity in Canada has remained flat, while unit labour costs have increased by over 30%.
The economy’s current challenge is generating enough jobs to keep up with Canada’s rapidly growing population. Despite a strong pace of growth, employment has not kept up with population growth over the past 12 months, resulting in a rise in the unemployment rate. Wage growth slowed dramatically in the first quarter of 2024, and slower wage growth is expected to be the norm this year and next.
Canadian households are the most indebted in the G7, and the increases in interest rates since 2022 have hit their pocketbooks. Real consumer spending per person has fallen in five of the last six quarters, and the effect on home-building has been even more dramatic. However, consumer spending and residential investment are expected to increase as interest rate decreases work to restore demand.
Economist Predicts Stronger Economic Growth for Canada
James Orlando, a senior economist at TD Bank, is optimistic about Canada’s economic growth prospects, particularly in light of the recent interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada. According to Orlando, Canada’s economic growth has consistently lagged behind the United States, but a change in interest rate policy could help close the gap. The Bank of Canada’s decision to cut interest rates is expected to lead to lower mortgage rates and increased consumer spending. This, in turn, could boost economic growth and help Canada catch up with the United States.
Orlando notes that the Canadian economy is highly sensitive to interest rates, particularly in the housing market. With high levels of debt and a reliance on variable-rate mortgages, Canadians are more likely to feel the pinch of higher interest rates. However, with the Bank of Canada’s rate cuts, Orlando expects to see increased investment in the housing market and potentially improved affordability. While affordability is still a concern, Orlando believes that the rate cuts will help to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.
Orlando also notes that the Canadian economy is expected to benefit from increased investment in areas such as the green transition and the production of electric vehicles. With a growing population and a need for more housing, Orlando expects to see increased investment in the housing market and other areas of the economy. While there are still challenges ahead, Orlando believes that the Bank of Canada’s rate cuts and the resulting economic stimulus will help to drive growth and create jobs in the Canadian economy.
While Canada’s economy is showing signs of stabilisation, the economy still faces significant challenges, including weak investment and productivity performance, a rapidly growing population, and high household debt levels. However, with the Bank of Canada easing its monetary policy and interest rates expected to decrease, consumer spending and residential investment are expected to increase, paving the way for stronger economic growth in the long term. With that in context, let’s take a look at the 8 best TSX stocks to invest in now.
Our Methodology
For this article, we used Finviz and Yahoo Finance stock screeners plus online rankings to compile an initial list of the 40 largest companies in Canada by market cap. From that list, we narrowed our choice down to the 8 stocks that were the most widely held by hedge funds, as of Q2 of 2024. The list is sorted in ascending order of the number of hedge fund investors in each stock.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN)
Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 50
Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) is a Canadian integrated waste services company that provides solid waste collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling services. Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) operates across the U.S. and Canada and is known for its decentralized business model that focuses on local management and high margins. Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) serves both residential and commercial customers and has long-term contracts and a steady demand for waste management.
In Q2, Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) reported a 11.2% revenue growth and 16.4% increase in EBITDA. The company’s solid waste margin improved by 80-90bps, driven by the termination of unprofitable contracts, optimization of third-party cost structures, and easing cost inflation.
Waste Connections’ (NYSE:WCN) strong pricing realization and robust M&A pipeline are key drivers of its growth. The company has terminated low-margin contracts, resulting in a better margin profile and lower volume growth. Its M&A strategy, focused on small and tuck-in deals, has generated cost and revenue synergies, the company has spent $1.5 billion on acquisitions this year.
Despite these acquisitions, Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) maintains a robust balance sheet, with debt leverage of 2.67x and sufficient capital for future acquisitions, share buybacks, and dividend payouts. The company’s disciplined pricing policy and focus on contract renewals and new contracts are expected to drive pricing growth, while volume growth is expected to revert to historical average levels.
Based on these factors, analysts expect that Waste Connections’ (NYSE:WCN) revenue will grow by 10.5% annually, with an operating margin of 22.8% by FY33. TimesSquare Capital stated the following regarding Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter:
“Many of our Industrials positions provide necessary business-to-business operational services, highly technical components, automation & efficiency improvements, or essential infrastructure services. Adding value to the strategy was Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE:WCN), which collects, transfers, recycles, and disposes of waste for municipalities and businesses in the U.S. and Canada. Revenues and earnings topped expectations, as did management’s initial guidance for 2024. The company projects near-term growth in volumes and pricing, which recent acquisitions should make more than likely. As Waste Connection’s shares climbed 15%, we trimmed our holdings.”
The company’s strong growth prospects, combined with its robust balance sheet and disciplined pricing policy, make it a compelling investment opportunity. In the second quarter, Waste Connections’ (NYSE:WCN) stock was held by 50 hedge funds with stakes worth $1.52 billion.
Overall WCN ranks 3rd on our list of the best TSX stocks to invest in now. While we acknowledge the potential of WCN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than WCN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure. None. This article is originally published on Insider Monkey.
