Waste Management Inc. WM reported better-than-expected third-quarter 2020 results.Adjusted earnings (excluding 17 cents from non-recurring items) per share of $1.09 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.8% but fell 8.4% year over year. Total revenues of $3.86 billion beat the consensus estimate by 3.5% but declined 2.7% year over year.In the reported quarter, revenues declined $99 million in the company’s collection and disposal business due to $192 million worth of volume declines, which were partially offset by $93 million of yield growth.So far this year, shares of Waste Management have lost 0.6% compared with 18.9% decline of the industry it belongs to.Quarterly Numbers in DetailThe Collection segment recorded revenues of $2.5 billion, down 4.2% from the prior-year quarter’s figure. Landfill segment’s top line declined 4.7% year over year to $946 million. Total revenues in the Transfer segment were up 2.3% to $482 million. Recycling segment revenues improved 18.4% to $290 million. Other businesses’ revenues totaled $458 million, down 2.3% year over year.Adjusted operating EBITDA of $1.14 billion declined marginally from the year-ago quarter’s level. Adjusted operating EBITDA margin rose to 29.5% from 28.8% in the prior-year quarter.Operating income came in at $680 million compared with $734 million in the year-ago quarter. Operating income margin declined to 17.6% from 18.5% in the year-ago quarter.Waste Management exited third-quarter 2020 with cash and cash equivalents of $703 million compared with $2.6 billion at the end of the prior quarter. Long-term debt (minus current portion) was $10.25 billion compared with $9.59 billion at the end of the prior quarter.The company generated $1.03 billion of cash from operating activities and capital expenditures were $343 million. Free cash flow was $691 million. The company paid out dividends worth $230 million. 2020 GuidanceWaste Management expects adjusted operating EBITDA margin is anticipated in the range of 28-28.5% (unchanged from previous guidance). Free cash flow is estimated in excess of $2 billion.Waste Management, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Waste Management, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Waste Management, Inc. QuoteCurrently, Waste Management carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Performance of Other Business Services CompaniesEquifax EFX reported better-than-expected third-quarter 2020 results, with adjusted earnings of $1.87 per share beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.2% and rising 26.4% on a year-over-year basis. The reported figure exceeded the guidance of $1.30-$1.40.The Interpublic Group of Companies IPG reported better-than-expected third-quarter 2020 adjusted earnings of 53 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 43.2% and rose 8.2% on a year-over-year basis.IQVIA Holdings IQV reported solid third-quarter 2020 adjusted earnings per share of $1.63, which beat the consensus mark by 8% and inched up 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. The reported figure was above the guidance of $1.47-$1.55.The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of AllLast year, it generated $24 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $77.6 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Equifax, Inc. (EFX): Free Stock Analysis Report Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. The (IPG): Free Stock Analysis Report Waste Management, Inc. (WM): Free Stock Analysis Report IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research