Waste Connections Inc. (WCN)
NYSE: WCN
· Real-Time Price · USD
178.37
-0.93 (-0.52%)
At close: Sep 08, 2025, 3:59 PM
178.09
-0.16%
After-hours: Sep 08, 2025, 05:11 PM EDT
Waste Connections Revenue Breakdown
Period Ending | Jun 30, 2025 | Mar 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Sep 30, 2024 | Jun 30, 2024 | Mar 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Sep 30, 2016 | Jun 30, 2016 | Mar 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Sep 30, 2015 | Jun 30, 2015 | Mar 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Sep 30, 2014 | Jun 30, 2014 | Mar 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | Sep 30, 2013 | Jun 30, 2013 | Mar 31, 2013 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exploration And Production Waste Treatment Recovery And Disposal Revenue | 178.12M | 150.9M | 1.61B | 154.2M | 123.57M | 97.41M | 1.5B | 62.07M | 58.61M | 51.76M | 55.86M | 56.99M | 54.16M | 43.55M | 1.17B | 38.52M | 34.61M | 28.01M | 27.69M | 26.22M | 40.15M | 65.38M | 66.14M | 70.87M | 68.04M | 891.35M | 871.7M | 854.72M | 55.61M | 53.26M | 54.72M | 47.17M | 36.85M | 32.17M | 30.07M | 58.22M | 30.48M | 43.15M | 51.18M | 52.49M | 68.56M | 84.89M | 86.08M | 82.65M | 73.32M | 306.6M | 312.87M | 306.47M | 293.14M |
Exploration And Production Waste Treatment Recovery And Disposal Revenue Growth | +18.04% | -90.64% | +945.58% | +24.79% | +26.85% | -93.51% | +2319.81% | +5.90% | +13.23% | -7.34% | -2.00% | +5.24% | +24.34% | -96.28% | +2935.98% | +11.30% | +23.54% | +1.16% | +5.62% | -34.70% | -38.58% | -1.16% | -6.67% | +4.17% | -92.37% | +2.25% | +1.99% | +1436.99% | +4.40% | -2.65% | +15.99% | +28.00% | +14.56% | +7.00% | -48.36% | +90.96% | -29.35% | -15.69% | -2.50% | -23.44% | -19.23% | -1.39% | +4.16% | +12.72% | -76.09% | -2.00% | +2.09% | +4.55% | n/a |
Intermodal and Other Revenue | 43.93M | 46.55M | 146.33M | 47.34M | 49.1M | 49.54M | 59.78M | 44.98M | 39.46M | 38.21M | 48.86M | 47.6M | 46.31M | 45.69M | 39.59M | 38.38M | 38.59M | 35.63M | 1.02B | 27.14M | 27.81M | 30.02M | 974.89M | 990.79M | 958.12M | 66.83M | 68.05M | 62.66M | 807.25M | 798.23M | 812.86M | 794.74M | 766.15M | 737.79M | 757.81M | 1B | 355.28M | 353.13M | 353.24M | 341.6M | 326.09M | 327.22M | 333.92M | 322.76M | 306M | 16.02M | 18.4M | 18.61M | 18.79M |
Intermodal and Other Revenue Growth | -5.62% | -68.19% | +209.09% | -3.57% | -0.90% | -17.13% | +32.89% | +14.00% | +3.26% | -21.80% | +2.65% | +2.79% | +1.35% | +15.41% | +3.17% | -0.55% | +8.30% | -96.52% | +3673.26% | -2.41% | -7.35% | -96.92% | -1.61% | +3.41% | +1333.67% | -1.79% | +8.60% | -92.24% | +1.13% | -1.80% | +2.28% | +3.73% | +3.84% | -2.64% | -24.53% | +182.63% | +0.61% | -0.03% | +3.41% | +4.76% | -0.35% | -2.00% | +3.46% | +5.48% | +1809.54% | -12.92% | -1.12% | -0.98% | n/a |
Landfill Revenue | 402.08M | 338.75M | 45.91M | 418.51M | 405.91M | 353.48M | 49.07M | 390.33M | 382.94M | 343.43M | 344.24M | 345.21M | 339.72M | 299.76M | 75.32M | 328.15M | 327.12M | 271.94M | 33.43M | 308.8M | 280.62M | 266.22M | 13.57M | 14.14M | 16.73M | 19.8M | 23.37M | 22.7M | 22.51M | 28.55M | 41.57M | 41.34M | 41.3M | 29.19M | 29.61M | 34.84M | 9.98M | 11.41M | 12.06M | 12.05M | 10.85M | 13.51M | 14.97M | 14.84M | 14.9M | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Landfill Revenue Growth | +18.69% | +637.88% | -89.03% | +3.10% | +14.83% | +620.41% | -87.43% | +1.93% | +11.50% | -0.24% | -0.28% | +1.62% | +13.33% | +298.00% | -77.05% | +0.31% | +20.29% | +713.55% | -89.18% | +10.04% | +5.41% | +1861.96% | -4.05% | -15.47% | -15.52% | -15.26% | +2.94% | +0.84% | -21.16% | -31.31% | +0.55% | +0.09% | +41.49% | -1.42% | -15.01% | +249.15% | -12.52% | -5.39% | +0.03% | +11.12% | -19.72% | -9.75% | +0.92% | -0.46% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Solid Waste Collection Revenue | 1.69B | 1.62B | 379.97M | 1.62B | 1.58B | 1.52B | 366.69M | 1.51B | 1.49B | 31.3M | 26.03M | 48.25M | 67.5M | 63.09M | 226.83M | 55.77M | 41.54M | 1.04B | 291.1M | 1.01B | 948.07M | 989.01M | 195.98M | 209.59M | 204.56M | 161.19M | 187.96M | 168.86M | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Solid Waste Collection Revenue Growth | +4.30% | +326.63% | -76.58% | +2.48% | +4.49% | +313.17% | -75.76% | +1.82% | +4646.51% | +20.24% | -46.04% | -28.53% | +6.99% | -72.18% | +306.71% | +34.26% | -95.99% | +256.05% | -71.19% | +6.58% | -4.14% | +404.65% | -6.49% | +2.46% | +26.91% | -14.24% | +11.31% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Solid Waste Recycling Revenue | 69.16M | 61.34M | 59.8M | 69.75M | 63.3M | 49.02M | 41.32M | 36.1M | 38.32M | 273.52M | 274.93M | 271.69M | 261.48M | 217.96M | -230.71M | 225.83M | 217.13M | 32.45M | 26.69M | 21.38M | 20.22M | 18.11M | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Solid Waste Recycling Revenue Growth | +12.75% | +2.57% | -14.26% | +10.19% | +29.11% | +18.66% | +14.44% | -5.78% | -85.99% | -0.51% | +1.20% | +3.90% | +19.97% | -194.47% | -202.16% | +4.00% | +569.17% | +21.59% | +24.84% | +5.74% | +11.65% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Transfer Revenue | 381.94M | 319.27M | 338.55M | 358.42M | 350.23M | 301.88M | 305.63M | 313.21M | 306.02M | 1.43B | 1.39B | 1.37B | 1.3B | 1.2B | 37.57M | 1.14B | 1.1B | 189.32M | 201.99M | 205.91M | 189.09M | 180.76M | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Transfer Revenue Growth | +19.63% | -5.70% | -5.54% | +2.34% | +16.01% | -1.23% | -2.42% | +2.35% | -78.67% | +3.53% | +1.26% | +5.48% | +8.17% | +3092.66% | -96.70% | +3.54% | +480.13% | -6.27% | -1.90% | +8.90% | +4.60% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Intersegment Eliminations Revenue | -358.96M | -309.71M | -322.59M | -332.04M | -327.03M | -293.74M | -288.75M | -294.7M | -289.96M | -272.37M | -266.31M | -258.37M | -250.13M | -223.26M | 306.29M | -226.68M | -223.38M | -197.88M | -206.75M | -210.39M | -200.17M | -197.09M | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Intersegment Eliminations Revenue Growth | +15.90% | -3.99% | -2.85% | +1.53% | +11.33% | +1.73% | -2.02% | +1.63% | +6.46% | +2.28% | +3.07% | +3.29% | +12.03% | -172.89% | -235.12% | +1.48% | +12.89% | -4.29% | -1.73% | +5.10% | +1.56% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Revenue by Geography
Period Ending | Jun 30, 2025 | Mar 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Sep 30, 2024 | Jun 30, 2024 | Mar 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Sep 30, 2016 | Jun 30, 2016 | Mar 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Sep 30, 2015 | Jun 30, 2015 | Mar 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Sep 30, 2014 | Jun 30, 2014 | Mar 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | Sep 30, 2013 | Jun 30, 2013 | Mar 31, 2013 | Dec 31, 2012 | Sep 30, 2012 | Jun 30, 2012 | Mar 31, 2012 | Dec 31, 2011 | Sep 30, 2011 | Jun 30, 2011 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canada Revenue | 378.71M | 332.53M | 351.34M | 375.99M | 351.2M | 307.35M | 284.86M | 292.35M | 278.28M | 253.67M | 258.14M | 270.04M | 279.27M | 240.22M | 306.34M | 251.9M | 247.6M | 211.79M | 258.99M | 210.58M | 182.83M | 193.11M | 212.27M | 190.82M | 188.53M | 168.35M | 179.44M | 187.05M | 186.84M | 169.97M | 158.08M | 197.06M | 180.3M | 163.03M | 146.67M | 177.75M | 130.69M | 142.48M | 147.98M | 156.94M | 149.81M | 134.94M | 141.28M | 149.21M | 141.92M | 129.07M | 131.57M | 134.33M | 130.43M | 127.96M | 135.08M | 142.94M | 130.68M | 119.82M | 119.48M | 126.39M | 124M |
Canada Revenue Growth | +13.89% | -5.35% | -6.56% | +7.06% | +14.27% | +7.89% | -2.56% | +5.06% | +9.70% | -1.73% | -4.41% | -3.31% | +16.26% | -21.59% | +21.61% | +1.74% | +16.91% | -18.23% | +22.99% | +15.18% | -5.32% | -9.03% | +11.24% | +1.22% | +11.99% | -6.18% | -4.07% | +0.12% | +9.92% | +7.52% | -19.78% | +9.29% | +10.59% | +11.16% | -17.48% | +36.01% | -8.27% | -3.72% | -5.71% | +4.76% | +11.03% | -4.49% | -5.31% | +5.14% | +9.96% | -1.90% | -2.06% | +2.99% | +1.93% | -5.27% | -5.50% | +9.39% | +9.06% | +0.28% | -5.46% | +1.92% | n/a |
Central Revenue | 452M | 414.99M | 420.93M | 439.05M | 433.5M | 403.09M | 417.38M | 419.17M | 415.98M | 368.38M | 364.82M | 364.47M | 348.93M | 309.07M | 497.3M | 310.55M | 303.9M | 267.7M | 407.77M | 262.46M | 249.06M | 237.57M | 321.63M | 230.07M | 218.36M | 177.88M | 287.7M | 185.27M | 175.02M | 153.79M | 235.15M | 166.36M | 159.42M | 144.31M | 191.47M | 155.27M | 297.67M | 122.5M | 119.19M | 109.03M | 107.22M | 98.02M | 99.81M | 102.62M | 100.06M | 91.33M | 92.22M | 96.06M | 95.72M | 105.43M | 109.02M | 112.75M | 112.97M | 107.16M | 109.23M | 112.14M | 213.16M |
Central Revenue Growth | +8.92% | -1.41% | -4.13% | +1.28% | +7.54% | -3.42% | -0.43% | +0.77% | +12.92% | +0.98% | +0.10% | +4.45% | +12.90% | -37.85% | +60.13% | +2.19% | +13.52% | -34.35% | +55.36% | +5.38% | +4.84% | -26.14% | +39.79% | +5.36% | +22.76% | -38.17% | +55.29% | +5.86% | +13.80% | -34.60% | +41.35% | +4.35% | +10.47% | -24.63% | +23.31% | -47.84% | +142.99% | +2.78% | +9.32% | +1.69% | +9.38% | -1.79% | -2.74% | +2.56% | +9.56% | -0.97% | -4.00% | +0.35% | -9.21% | -3.30% | -3.31% | -0.19% | +5.43% | -1.89% | -2.60% | -47.39% | n/a |
Eastern Revenue | 533.26M | 480.53M | 491.5M | 488.34M | 463.75M | 431.97M | 224.65M | 420.86M | 405.61M | 588.23M | 584.67M | 595.7M | 569.17M | 499.25M | 418.6M | 470.64M | 440.8M | 398.83M | 486.69M | 413.5M | 383.71M | 397M | 302.39M | 330.89M | 323.62M | 292.83M | 283.06M | 289.5M | 270.94M | 241.88M | 269.83M | 246.27M | 246.31M | 231.49M | 276M | 194.81M | 311.41M | 219.23M | 221.93M | 230.45M | 222.39M | 205.63M | 206.45M | 215.85M | 206.27M | 195.35M | 199.59M | 210.21M | 202.83M | 216.34M | 221.55M | 228.91M | 227.09M | 204.68M | 207.22M | 223.16M | n/a |
Eastern Revenue Growth | +10.97% | -2.23% | +0.65% | +5.30% | +7.36% | +92.29% | -46.62% | +3.76% | -31.05% | +0.61% | -1.85% | +4.66% | +14.00% | +19.27% | -11.06% | +6.77% | +10.52% | -18.05% | +17.70% | +7.76% | -3.35% | +31.29% | -8.61% | +2.25% | +10.52% | +3.45% | -2.22% | +6.85% | +12.02% | -10.36% | +9.57% | -0.02% | +6.40% | -16.13% | +41.68% | -37.44% | +42.04% | -1.21% | -3.70% | +3.63% | +8.15% | -0.40% | -4.35% | +4.64% | +5.59% | -2.12% | -5.05% | +3.64% | -6.25% | -2.35% | -3.21% | +0.80% | +10.95% | -1.23% | -7.14% | n/a | n/a |
Southern Revenue | 538.92M | 507.67M | 500.1M | 511.28M | 498.82M | 473.95M | 411.45M | 465.13M | 466.55M | 503.58M | 488.03M | 479.76M | 464.68M | 431.35M | 378.36M | 418.92M | 413.19M | 382.69M | 338.02M | 375.64M | 338.86M | 351.5M | 277.66M | 305.19M | 298.01M | 287.33M | 264.05M | 283.04M | 283.11M | 273.34M | 252.27M | 280.53M | 285.38M | 280.12M | 232.76M | 279.91M | 257.72M | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Southern Revenue Growth | +6.16% | +1.51% | -2.19% | +2.50% | +5.25% | +15.19% | -11.54% | -0.30% | -7.35% | +3.19% | +1.72% | +3.25% | +7.73% | +14.00% | -9.68% | +1.39% | +7.97% | +13.21% | -10.01% | +10.85% | -3.60% | +26.59% | -9.02% | +2.41% | +3.72% | +8.82% | -6.71% | -0.02% | +3.57% | +8.35% | -10.07% | -1.70% | +1.88% | +20.35% | -16.84% | +8.61% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Western Revenue | 528.79M | 499.7M | 508.29M | 537.21M | 512.17M | 476.7M | 462.01M | 486.35M | 471.48M | 459M | 439.95M | 428.27M | 404.51M | 389.63M | n/a | 371.85M | 351.82M | 332.82M | n/a | 337.77M | 310.66M | 305.44M | 185.59M | 289.21M | 277M | 254.98M | 183.35M | 271.02M | 263.7M | 245.16M | 188.39M | 261.88M | 257.49M | 235.59M | n/a | 246.89M | 502.34M | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Western Revenue Growth | +5.82% | -1.69% | -5.38% | +4.89% | +7.44% | +3.18% | -5.01% | +3.15% | +2.72% | +4.33% | +2.73% | +5.87% | +3.82% | n/a | n/a | +5.69% | +5.71% | n/a | n/a | +8.73% | +1.71% | +64.58% | -35.83% | +4.41% | +8.64% | +39.07% | -32.35% | +2.78% | +7.56% | +30.14% | -28.06% | +1.70% | +9.30% | n/a | n/a | -50.85% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Operating Expense Breakdown
Period Ending | Jun 30, 2025 | Mar 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Sep 30, 2024 | Jun 30, 2024 | Mar 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Sep 30, 2016 | Jun 30, 2016 | Mar 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Sep 30, 2015 | Jun 30, 2015 | Mar 31, 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Selling, General, and Administrative Revenue | 242.93M | 238.16M | 208.85M | 214.46M | 221.59M | 210.89M | 189.8M | 193.21M | 199.5M | 191.59M | 171.44M | 176.43M | 164.71M | 158.87M | 143.96M | 149.88M | 157.94M | 140.9M | 122.58M | 133.67M | 131.14M | 134.91M | 128.76M | 136.85M | 133.48M | 131.75M | 112.94M | 138.31M | 124.76M | 127.81M | 106.13M | 123.32M | 118.94M | 118M | 108.25M | 109.63M | 117.26M | 58.87M | 59.41M | 59.8M | 57.26M | 57.63M |
Selling, General, and Administrative Revenue Growth | +2.00% | +14.03% | -2.61% | -3.22% | +5.08% | +11.11% | -1.77% | -3.15% | +4.13% | +11.75% | -2.83% | +7.11% | +3.67% | +10.36% | -3.95% | -5.10% | +12.10% | +14.94% | -8.30% | +1.93% | -2.79% | +4.77% | -5.91% | +2.52% | +1.31% | +16.66% | -18.35% | +10.87% | -2.39% | +20.43% | -13.94% | +3.68% | +0.79% | +9.01% | -1.26% | -6.50% | +99.19% | -0.92% | -0.65% | +4.43% | -0.64% | n/a |
Research and Development Revenue | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Research and Development Revenue Growth | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |