Republic Services, Inc. · RSG · FY2026 Q1 · Calendar Q2 2026

Republic Services Beats Q1 Estimates on Pricing Power and Margin Expansion

Republic Services delivered a Q1 2026 beat driven by disciplined pricing and margin expansion despite fuel price spikes and weather disruptions. The company is executing on multiple growth levers: AI-driven pricing and routing via the RISE platform, renewable natural gas projects, polymer centers, and a strategic acquisition pipeline exceeding $1 billion. With $984 million in free cash flow and $507 million returned to shareholders in the quarter, management is balancing growth investment with capital returns. The stock dipped 1.6% on an abnormal basis post-earnings but subsequently drifted positive, suggesting the market is digesting the results without alarm. The maintained full-year guidance and confident tone indicate management sees the growth path intact.

Reported After market closeNYSEIndustrials $66.65B market cap
100quality score

Company context

Snapshot as of publication

Republic Services, Inc., along with its subsidiaries, delivers comprehensive environmental services across the United States. The company specializes in the collection and processing of recyclable materials, alongside the gathering, transfer, and responsible disposal of non-hazardous solid waste, in addition to other environmental solutions. Its collection activities encompass curbside pickups, facilitating transport to transfer stations, landfills, or recycling facilities; the provision of waste and recycling containers; and compactor rentals. Beyond collection, Republic Services engages in the processing and sale of commodities such as old corrugated containers, newsprint, aluminum, and glass.…

Earnings scorecard

Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS $1.70 Consensus $2
EPS surprise +3.7% Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue $4.11B Consensus $4.10B
Revenue surprise +0.4% Reported versus consensus

Earnings History

Estimate Beat Miss Match
RSG EPS earnings history estimate and actual scatter chart 8 reported fiscal quarters and 4 future estimate-only quarters. Q4 '23 estimate $1.29 Q4 '23 actual $1.41, beat Q1 '24 estimate $1.35 Q1 '24 actual $1.45, beat Q2 '24 estimate $1.53 Q2 '24 actual $1.61, beat Q3 '24 estimate $1.61 Q3 '24 actual $1.81, beat Q2 '25 estimate $1.77 Q2 '25 actual $1.77, match Q3 '25 estimate $1.83 Q3 '25 actual $1.90, beat Q4 '25 estimate $1.62 Q4 '25 actual $1.76, beat Q1 '26 estimate $1.64 Q1 '26 actual $1.70, beat Q2 '26 estimate $1.82 Q3 '26 estimate $1.93 Q4 '26 estimate $1.83 Q1 '27 estimate $1.86

Analyst Consensus ?

ConsensusBuy34 ratings
Bullish1955.9%
Neutral1544.1%
Bearish00.0%

Analyst 52W Price Targets

$221.04Current
$140Low
$233.17Average
$270High

Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Jul 29, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.

Firm-level rating actions

FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.

FirmRatingPrior ratingActionDate
Citigroup Buy BuyMaintainJul 10, 2026
UBS Neutral NeutralMaintainMay 12, 2026
Barclays Equal Weight Equal WeightMaintainMay 11, 2026
Argus Research Hold BuyDowngradeMay 11, 2026
RBC Capital Outperform OutperformMaintainMay 8, 2026
Baird Neutral NeutralMaintainApr 16, 2026
JP Morgan Neutral NeutralMaintainApr 10, 2026
Wells Fargo Overweight OverweightMaintainMar 18, 2026
Morgan Stanley Equal Weight Equal WeightMaintainFeb 18, 2026
BMO Capital Outperform OutperformMaintainFeb 18, 2026
Oppenheimer Outperform OutperformMaintainJan 23, 2026
Scotiabank Sector Perform Sector PerformMaintainJan 21, 2026
Bernstein Market Perform Market PerformMaintainJan 5, 2026
B of A Securities Buy BuyMaintainDec 22, 2025
Stifel Buy BuyMaintainOct 31, 2025
Raymond James Outperform OutperformMaintainJul 22, 2025
Truist Securities Buy BuyMaintainApr 22, 2025
CIBC Sector Outperform NeutralUpgradeMar 4, 2025
Goldman Sachs Buy BuyMaintainFeb 18, 2025
Jefferies Buy BuyMaintainJan 23, 2025
Deutsche Bank Buy HoldUpgradeDec 10, 2024
TD Cowen Hold HoldMaintainAug 5, 2024
Stifel Nicolaus Buy HoldUpgradeApr 29, 2019
KeyBanc Equal Weight Sector WeightMaintainFeb 5, 2019
Bank of America Neutral BuyDowngradeOct 24, 2018
Argus Buy HoldUpgradeMay 10, 2018
Credit Suisse Neutral NeutralMaintainFeb 12, 2018
Macquarie Neutral NeutralMaintainAug 25, 2016
Sterne Agee CRT Neutral NeutralMaintainMar 22, 2016
Imperial Capital Outperform OutperformMaintainJun 5, 2014
Wedbush Neutral OutperformDowngradeNov 4, 2013
Wunderlich Securities Buy BuyMaintainJul 31, 2013
Wunderlich Buy BuyMaintainJul 31, 2013
BB&T Capital Buy HoldUpgradeMar 13, 2013
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Named analyst price targets

Upside is calculated against the persisted current price $221.04. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.

FirmAnalyst52W targetPrice when postedUpsideDate
UBSJon Windham$223$197.73 +0.9%May 12, 2026
BarclaysAnalyst unavailable$233$200.02 +5.4%May 11, 2026
CIBCKevin Chiang$249$200.48 +12.6%May 8, 2026
BarclaysAnalyst unavailable$227$219.5 +2.7%Feb 23, 2026
BMO CapitalAnalyst unavailable$248$211.33 +12.2%Feb 18, 2026
Morgan StanleyAnalyst unavailable$225$212.45 +1.8%Feb 18, 2026
OppenheimerAnalyst unavailable$255$215.75 +15.4%Jan 23, 2026
ScotiabankAnalyst unavailable$242$212.97 +9.5%Jan 21, 2026
BarclaysAnalyst unavailable$236$210.96 +6.8%Jan 20, 2026
UBSAnalyst unavailable$220$210.2 -0.5%Jan 5, 2026
Goldman SachsAdam Bubes$255$219 +15.4%Nov 24, 2025
Wells FargoJerry Revich$238$206.02 +7.7%Nov 13, 2025
JefferiesStephanie Moore$248$205.28 +12.2%Nov 3, 2025
Raymond JamesPatrick Tyler Brown$240$206.35 +8.6%Oct 31, 2025
ScotiabankAnalyst unavailable$246$208.68 +11.3%Oct 31, 2025
Robert W. BairdAnalyst unavailable$240$209.62 +8.6%Oct 31, 2025
OppenheimerAnalyst unavailable$256$209.92 +15.8%Oct 31, 2025
UBSJon Windham$240$221.03 +8.6%Oct 16, 2025
ScotiabankAnalyst unavailable$250$225.16 +13.1%Oct 10, 2025
Raymond JamesAnalyst unavailable$260$224.15 +17.6%Oct 6, 2025
Stifel NicolausAnalyst unavailable$257$229.06 +16.3%Sep 29, 2025
BarclaysAnalyst unavailable$240$226.71 +8.6%Sep 18, 2025
BMO CapitalAnalyst unavailable$284$231.69 +28.5%Jul 30, 2025
UBSAnalyst unavailable$260$231.69 +17.6%Jul 30, 2025
Seaport GlobalJOhn Mazzoni$270$250.85 +22.1%May 6, 2025
RBC CapitalAnalyst unavailable$266$243.56 +20.3%Apr 25, 2025
Morgan StanleyAnalyst unavailable$245$243.56 +10.8%Apr 25, 2025
Robert W. BairdDavid Manthey$245$243.56 +10.8%Apr 25, 2025
CIBCAnalyst unavailable$264$235.76 +19.4%Mar 5, 2025
Argus ResearchJohn Eade$260$231.37 +17.6%Feb 18, 2025
JefferiesStephanie Moore$235$198.81 +6.3%Oct 30, 2024
Truist FinancialTobey Sommer$244$202.32 +10.4%Oct 30, 2024
OppenheimerNoah Kaye$220$204.31 -0.5%Oct 30, 2024
OppenheimerNoah Kaye$219$204.69 -0.9%Oct 21, 2024
BMO CapitalDevin Dodge$211$189.33 -4.5%Jul 25, 2024
Deutsche BankFaiza Alwy$203$186.48 -8.2%May 22, 2024
Stifel NicolausMichael Hoffman$210$185.98 -5.0%May 21, 2024
BMO CapitalJeffrey Silber$202$182.84 -8.6%May 1, 2024
RBC CapitalWalter Spracklin$201$183.11 -9.1%May 1, 2024
Robert W. BairdDavid Manthey$203$191.76 -8.2%Apr 23, 2024
RBC CapitalWalter Spracklin$198$188.4 -10.4%Apr 8, 2024
Morgan StanleyToni Kaplan$193$186.31 -12.7%Mar 15, 2024
Morgan StanleyAnalyst unavailable$144$128.68 -34.9%Jan 4, 2023
BMO CapitalAnalyst unavailable$148$136.9 -33.0%Dec 7, 2022
JefferiesStephanie Moore$165$134.56 -25.4%Oct 24, 2022
Raymond JamesPatrick Tyler Brown$155$142.82 -29.9%Aug 8, 2022
Bank of America SecuritiesMichael Feniger$140$133.7 -36.7%Oct 29, 2021
OppenheimerNoah Kaye$124$117.12 -43.9%Jul 30, 2021
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Market reaction

event-close to next-session close
Stock move -0.8% Event window
SPY move +0.8% Same window
Abnormal move -1.6% Stock minus SPY
Volume 1.3× Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift +2.5% Up to 20 sessions
RSGSPY benchmark

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Transcript intelligence

What changed

Q1 2026 revenue grew 2.6% to $4.11 billion with adjusted EPS of $1.70, beating the $1.64 consensus by 3.7%. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 50 basis points to 32.1% despite fuel cost spikes and weather headwinds. The company generated $984 million in free cash flow and completed $433 million in acquisitions during the quarter, bringing the year-to-date total above $700 million. $507 million was returned to shareholders. Management highlighted that AI-driven pricing and routing tools are expected to begin delivering measurable benefits in 2026, scaling to $100 million of annual benefit by 2028. The RNG portfolio will reach 82 projects after adding four in 2026, each contributing approximately $10 million in EBITDA. The electric collection vehicle fleet is on track to exceed 300 trucks.

Guidance delta

Full-year 2026 guidance was maintained. Management reiterated approximately 3.1% revenue growth, approximately 3.6% adjusted EBITDA growth, and an acquisition target exceeding $1 billion. Capex outlook remained stable. This is consistent with the prior quarter's guidance posture, where the same targets were introduced and subsequently reaffirmed.

Key takeaways

  • Q1 EPS of $1.70 beat the $1.64 estimate by 3.7%; revenue of $4.11 billion edged past the $4.10 billion consensus.
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 50 bps to 32.1% despite fuel price spikes and weather disruptions.
  • $984 million in free cash flow generated; $507 million returned to shareholders via buybacks and dividends.
  • $433 million in Q1 acquisitions brings YTD total above $700 million, targeting over $1 billion for 2026.
  • AI and digital tools (RISE platform) projected to add $100 million of annual benefit by 2028.
  • RNG portfolio reaching 82 projects; four new in 2026 contributing roughly $10 million in EBITDA this year.

Management priorities

  • Scaling AI-driven pricing and routing efficiencies through the RISE digital platform, with full benefit expected by 2028.
  • Executing over $1 billion in strategic acquisitions across recycling, waste, and environmental solutions.
  • Expanding sustainability investments including RNG projects, polymer centers, and electric vehicle fleet.
  • Maintaining pricing discipline and cost control to drive continued margin expansion.
  • Returning capital to shareholders while investing in growth initiatives.
  • Investing in organics processing facilities in California and Colorado to meet state and local regulatory requirements.

Related earnings events

Industrials

Sources

  1. Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-05-11T10:29:34.698584+00:00
  2. FN2 earnings calendar · 2026-07-26T00:37:12.209961+00:00
  3. Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-07-29T15:02:08.930026+00:00
  4. Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-07-29T15:02:08.927265+00:00

Methodology

Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.

Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.

Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.

By FN2 Research · Updated . For educational purposes only; not investment advice.