WCN vs CEVA

For growth investors, CEVA, Inc.

(CEVA) is the stronger pick with 9. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 5% for Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN). Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) offers the better valuation at 36. 7x trailing P/E (27. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) a "Buy" — based on 33 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, Waste Connections, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 27. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, Waste Connections, Inc.

(WCN) delivered a total return of +29. 2%, compared to -35. 4% for CEVA, Inc. (CEVA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WCN returned +253. 8% versus CEVA's +27. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Waste Connections, Inc.

(WCN) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 03β versus CEVA, Inc. 's 2. 76β — meaning CEVA is approximately -8343% more volatile than WCN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CEVA, Inc. (CEVA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 114% for Waste Connections, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CEVA, Inc.

(CEVA) is pulling ahead at 9. 8% versus 6. 5% for Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Waste Connections, Inc. grew EPS 74. 9% year-over-year, compared to 27. 5% for CEVA, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WCN leads at 9. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Waste Connections, Inc.

(WCN) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 4% net margin versus -8. 2% for CEVA, Inc. — meaning it keeps 11. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WCN leads at 18. 1% versus -7. 1% for CEVA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CEVA leads at 88. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Waste Connections, Inc.

(WCN) trades at 27. 9x forward P/E versus 67. 3x for CEVA, Inc. — 39. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WCN: 32. 9% to $204. 08.

In this comparison, WCN (0.

9% yield) pays a dividend. CEVA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Waste Connections, Inc.

(WCN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 03), 0. 9% yield, +253. 8% 10Y return). CEVA, Inc. (CEVA) carries a higher beta of 2. 76 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (WCN: +253. 8%, CEVA: +27. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (WCN (Industrials) and CEVA (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

WCN pays a dividend while CEVA does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.