18.   NET INCOME PER SHARE INFORMATION

The following table sets forth the calculation of the numerator and denominator used in the computation of basic and diluted net income per common share attributable to the Company’s shareholders for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023:

Years Ended December 31, 

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

  ​ ​ ​

2023

Numerator:

Net income attributable to Waste Connections for basic and diluted earnings per share

$

1,076,557

$

617,573

$

762,800

Denominator:

 

 

 

Basic shares outstanding

 

257,323,595

 

257,965,871

 

257,551,129

Dilutive effect of equity-based awards

 

653,146

 

696,319

 

598,115

Diluted shares outstanding

 

257,976,741

 

258,662,190

 

258,149,244

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 12, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 13, 2025
2023Feb 14, 2024
2022Feb 16, 2023
2021Feb 17, 2022
2020Feb 18, 2021
2019Feb 13, 2020
2018Feb 14, 2019
2017Feb 15, 2018

About Earnings Per Share Disclosures

The earnings per share disclosure breaks down the calculation from net income to both basic and diluted EPS, revealing the full impact of a company's capital structure on per-share economics. The reconciliation between basic and diluted share counts exposes how many stock options, RSUs, convertible securities, and warrants are potentially dilutive to existing shareholders.

Key signals: a widening gap between basic and diluted shares indicates growing dilution from equity compensation or convertible instruments. Anti-dilutive securities excluded from the diluted calculation deserve attention — they represent latent dilution that will materialize if the stock price rises. Watch for the effect of share buybacks on per-share metrics: EPS growth driven primarily by repurchases rather than income growth signals weakening fundamentals. Compare year-over-year changes in the diluted share count against equity compensation expense to assess whether management is effectively managing dilution.