Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) Just Reported Third-Quarter Earnings: Have Analysts Changed Their Mind On The Stock?

Shareholders might have noticed that Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) filed its quarterly result this time last week. The early response was not positive, with shares down 6.7% to US$208 in the past week. The result was positive overall - although revenues of US$4.2b were in line with what the analysts predicted, Republic Services surprised by delivering a statutory profit of US$1.76 per share, modestly greater than expected. This is an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance in its report, look at what experts are forecasting for next year, and see if there has been any change to expectations for the business. Readers will be glad to know we've aggregated the latest statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their mind on Republic Services after the latest results.

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Taking into account the latest results, the most recent consensus for Republic Services from 20 analysts is for revenues of US$17.4b in 2026. If met, it would imply a modest 5.3% increase on its revenue over the past 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to accumulate 7.1% to US$7.29. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analysts had been anticipated revenues of US$17.5b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$7.43 in 2026. So it's pretty clear that, although the analysts have updated their estimates, there's been no major change in expectations for the business following the latest results.

See our latest analysis for Republic Services

There were no changes to revenue or earnings estimates or the price target of US$250, suggesting that the company has met expectations in its recent result. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. There are some variant perceptions on Republic Services, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at US$276 and the most bearish at US$189 per share. Analysts definitely have varying views on the business, but the spread of estimates is not wide enough in our view to suggest that extreme outcomes could await Republic Services shareholders.

One way to get more context on these forecasts is to look at how they compare to both past performance, and how other companies in the same industry are performing. It's pretty clear that there is an expectation that Republic Services' revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues to the end of 2026 expected to display 4.2% growth on an annualised basis. This is compared to a historical growth rate of 11% over the past five years. Compare this against other companies (with analyst forecasts) in the industry, which are in aggregate expected to see revenue growth of 6.0% annually. Factoring in the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that Republic Services is also expected to grow slower than other industry participants.

The Bottom Line

The most obvious conclusion is that there's been no major change in the business' prospects in recent times, with the analysts holding their earnings forecasts steady, in line with previous estimates. On the plus side, there were no major changes to revenue estimates; although forecasts imply they will perform worse than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on Republic Services. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. We have estimates - from multiple Republic Services analysts - going out to 2027, and you can see them free on our platform here.

That said, it's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Republic Services , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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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.