Shareholders appeared unconcerned with Waste Connections, Inc.'s (NYSE:WCN) lackluster earnings report last week. We did some digging, and we believe the earnings are stronger than they seem.

View our latest analysis for Waste Connections

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

For anyone who wants to understand Waste Connections' profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by US$146m due to unusual items. It's never great to see unusual items costing the company profits, but on the upside, things might improve sooner rather than later. When we analysed the vast majority of listed companies worldwide, we found that significant unusual items are often not repeated. And, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. Assuming those unusual expenses don't come up again, we'd therefore expect Waste Connections to produce a higher profit next year, all else being equal.

That might leave you wondering what analysts are forecasting in terms of future profitability. Luckily, you can click here to see an interactive graph depicting future profitability, based on their estimates.

Our Take On Waste Connections' Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Waste Connections' earnings over the last year, you could argue that we can expect an improved result in the current quarter. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that Waste Connections' statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! And it's also good to see that its earnings per share have improved a bit over the last three years. Of course, we've only just scratched the surface when it comes to analysing its earnings; one could also consider margins, forecast growth, and return on investment, among other factors. If you'd like to know more about Waste Connections as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing. At Simply Wall St, we found 1 warning sign for Waste Connections and we think they deserve your attention.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Waste Connections' profit. But there is always more to discover if you are capable of focussing your mind on minutiae. For example, many people consider a high return on equity as an indication of favorable business economics, while others like to 'follow the money' and search out stocks that insiders are buying. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks with high insider ownership.

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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.