Republic Services

RSG

Market cap $70.7B

RSG shares outperform the industry and S&P as earnings outlook, dividend hikes and buybacks boost appeal despite rising costs.

Republic Services Inc. NYSE: RSG delivered a mixed fourth-quarter earnings report on Feb. 17. Earnings per share (EPS) of $1.76 were above the forecasted $1.62 and 8% higher year-over-year (YOY).

Republic Services Inc (NYSE: RSG) reported worse-than-expected fourth-quarter sales results and issued FY26 guidance below estimates on Tuesday.

RSG tops Q4 EPS estimates but misses on revenues, while issuing 2026 guidance below consensus expectations.

The Zacks Waste Removal Services industry is anticipated to gain from the rising need for ESG Goals, technological developments and innovation in WTE technology. CWST, RSG and CLH are well-poised to gain from growing demands.

Republic Services experienced significant price volatility over the past year, with minimal net gains versus the S&P 500. Republic's share price dropped over 20% late last year after weak Q3 earnings, primarily due to declining volumes, but has since recovered. My valuation analysis focuses on free cash flow yield versus historical averages, and right now the stock quite appealing.

Republic Services, Inc. (RSG) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

While the top- and bottom-line numbers for Republic Services (RSG) give a sense of how the business performed in the quarter ended December 2025, it could be worth looking at how some of its key metrics compare to Wall Street estimates and year-ago values.

Republic Services (RSG) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.76 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.62 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.58 per share a year ago.

Fourth Quarter Earnings Per Share of $1.76  Expanded Fourth Quarter Net Income Margin 50 Basis Points and Adjusted EBITDA Margin 30 Basis Points Generated Cash Flow from Operations of $4.30 Billion and Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $2.43 Billion in 2025 Exceeded Full-Year 2025 Adjusted Earnings Per Share and Adjusted Free Cash Flow Guidance Invested $1.1 Billion in Value-Creating Acquisitions and Returned $1.6 Billion to Shareholders in 2025 PHOENIX, Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) today reported net income of $545 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2025, versus $512 million, or $1.63 per diluted share, for 2024. Excluding certain expenses and other items, on an adjusted basis, net income for the three months ended December 31, 2025, was $547 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, versus $497 million, or $1.58 per diluted share, for the comparable 2024 period.