• First quarter financial results exceeded expectations, with strong operating execution, cost efficiencies and disciplined cash flow management.
• The Company raised its Adjusted EBITDA, net cash provided by operating activities, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance ranges, and reaffirmed its revenue and net income guidance ranges for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 ("fiscal year 2021").

Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, today reported its financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2021.

Highlights for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021: 

• Revenues were $189.5 million for the quarter, up $6.6 million, or up 3.6%, from the same period in 2020.
  
  
• Overall solid waste pricing for the quarter was up 3.4%, driven by collection pricing, up 3.5%, and landfill pricing, up 3.5%, from the same period in 2020.
  
  
• Net income was $4.3 million for the quarter, up $3.3 million, or up 349.5%, from the same period in 2020.
  
  
• Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $38.8 million for the quarter, up $5.3 million, or up 15.9%, from the same period in 2020.
  
  
• Net income as a percentage of revenues was 2.3% for the quarter, up 175 basis points from the same period in 2020. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues, a non-GAAP measure, was 20.5% for the quarter, up 215 basis points from the same period in 2020.
  
  
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $32.1 million for the quarter, up $17.4 million, or up 117.3%, from the same period in 2020.
  
  
• Adjusted Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP measure, was $11.0 million for the quarter, up $6.9 million, or up 172.8%, from the same period in 2020.

“Our team continued to execute very well through the first quarter as we increased Adjusted EBITDA by 15.9%, Adjusted EBITDA margins by 215 basis points, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow by 172.8% year-over-year in the quarter despite continued solid waste volume headwinds due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said John W. Casella, Chairman and CEO of Casella Waste Systems, Inc. “These positive results are a testament to the hard work, adaptability and dedication of our team, the resiliency of our business model, our asset positioning in the disposal capacity constrained northeast market that allowed us to advance positive solid waste pricing, and strong execution against our operating and cost efficiency programs.”

“Solid waste volume declines continued to moderate sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2020 through the first quarter of fiscal year 2021,” Casella said. “With volumes down (3.3)% year-over-year in the quarter, we had a tough volume comparison in the first quarter as we experienced only very limited negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic late in the first quarter last year. We expect solid waste volumes to improve year-over-year through the remainder of fiscal year 2021.”

“As more Americans are vaccinated and the states in which we operate further ease COVID-19 specific restrictions, we continue to see additional commercial customers reopen or increase services, construction activity increase, and overall economic activity rebound across our mainly secondary and rural markets in the northeast,” Casella said.

“We continued to make great progress against our 2021 strategic plan during the quarter,” Casella said. “And, we are well positioned to drive additional acquisition growth through the remainder of the year as our acquisition pipeline remains robust and activity is accelerating.”

For the quarter, revenues were $189.5 million, up $6.6 million, or up 3.6%, from the same period in 2020, with revenue growth mainly driven by: positive collection and disposal pricing; the roll-over impact from acquisitions; higher recycling commodity prices; and higher resource solutions non-processing revenues; partially offset by lower solid waste volumes primarily due to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and lower fuel surcharge and other fees.

Net income was $4.3 million for the quarter, or $0.08 per diluted common share, up $3.3 million, or up 349.5%, as compared to net income of $1.0 million, or $0.02 per diluted common share, for the same period in 2020. The quarter included $0.4 million of expense from acquisition activities and $0.2 million of legal and other expenses associated with the closure of our landfill in Southbridge, Massachusetts ("Southbridge Landfill"). The same quarter last year included $1.0 million of expense from acquisition activities and $0.6 million of legal and other costs associated with the Southbridge Landfill closure.

Given the reversal of the tax valuation allowance in 2020, we expect an income statement tax provision of approximately 31% in fiscal year 2021. The income tax provision was $2.4 million in the quarter, up $2.3 million from the same period in 2020, and as expected we paid cash taxes of $0.2 million in the quarter.

Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP measure, was $4.8 million for the quarter, or $0.09 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, up $2.6 million, or up 122.1%, as compared to Adjusted Net Income of $2.1 million, or $0.04 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, for the same period in 2020.

Operating income was $12.0 million for the quarter, up $5.0 million, or up 71.3% from the same period in 2020. Adjusted EBITDA was $38.8 million for the quarter, up $5.3 million, or up 15.9%, from the same period in 2020.

Fiscal Year 2021 Outlook

“Given our solid execution year-to-date combined with increased visibility of economic trends, we are updating our fiscal year 2021 guidance ranges that were first announced in mid-February,” Casella said. “These guidance ranges assume a stable economic environment continuing through the remainder of the year with only a modest rebound in solid waste volumes as major cities in our markets are slowly reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Company raised guidance for fiscal year 2021 by estimating results in the following ranges:

• Adjusted EBITDA between $185 million and $189 million (raised from $184 million and $188 million);
• Net cash provided by operating activities between $150 million and $154 million (raised from $149 million and $153 million); and
• Adjusted Free Cash Flow between $76 million and $80 million (raised from $75 million and $79 million).

And, the Company reaffirmed guidance for fiscal year 2021 by estimating results in the following ranges:

• Revenues between $815 million and $830 million; and
• Net income between $33 million and $37 million.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow related to fiscal year 2021 are described in the Reconciliation of Fiscal Year 2021 Outlook Non-GAAP Measures section of this press release. Net income and Net cash provided by operating activities are provided as the most directly comparable GAAP measures to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow, respectively, however these forward-looking estimates for fiscal year 2021 do not contemplate any unanticipated or non-recurring impacts.

Conference call to discuss quarter

The Company will host a conference call to discuss these results on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Individuals interested in participating in the call should dial (877) 838-4153 or for international participants (720) 545-0037 at least 10 minutes before start time. The Conference ID is 760 9317 for the call and the replay.

The call will also be webcast; to listen, participants should visit the company’s website at http://ir.casella.com and follow the appropriate link to the webcast. A replay of the call will be available on the Company's website, or by calling (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 (Conference ID 760 9317).

About Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

Casella Waste Systems, Inc., headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, provides resource management expertise and services to residential, commercial, municipal and industrial customers, primarily in the areas of solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling and organics services in the northeastern United States. For further information, investors contact Ned Coletta, Chief Financial Officer at (802) 772-2239; media contact Joseph Fusco, Vice President at (802) 772-2247; or visit the Company’s website at http://www.casella.com. 

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain matters discussed in this press release, including, but not limited to, the statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the expected and potential direct or indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business; our financial performance; financial condition; operations and services; prospects; growth; strategies; and guidance for fiscal year 2021, are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such by the context of the statements, including words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “may,” “would,” “intend,” “estimate,” "will," “guidance” and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which the Company operates and management’s beliefs and assumptions. The Company cannot guarantee that it actually will achieve the financial results, plans, intentions, expectations or guidance disclosed in the forward-looking statements made. Such forward-looking statements, and all phases of the Company's operations, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, any one or more of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in its forward-looking statements.

Such risks and uncertainties include or relate to, among other things, the following: it is challenging to predict the duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative effect on the economy, our operations and financial results; policies adopted by China and other countries will further restrict imports of recyclable materials into those countries and have a further material impact on the Company’s financial results; the capping and closure of the Southbridge Landfill and the lawsuit relating to the North Country Landfill could result in material unexpected costs; adverse weather conditions may negatively impact the Company's revenues and its operating margin; the Company may be unable to increase volumes at its landfills or improve its route profitability; the economics of recycling programs may cause municipalities to reconsider the viability of continuing these programs; the Company's need to service its indebtedness may limit its ability to invest in its business; the Company may be unable to reduce costs or increase pricing or volumes sufficiently to achieve estimated Adjusted EBITDA and other targets; landfill operations and permit status may be affected by factors outside the Company's control; the Company may be required to incur capital expenditures in excess of its estimates; the Company's insurance coverage and self-insurance reserves may be inadequate to cover all of its significant risk exposures; fluctuations in energy pricing or the commodity pricing of its recyclables may make it more difficult for the Company to predict its results of operations or meet its estimates; the Company may be unable to achieve its acquisition or development targets on favorable pricing or at all; and the Company may incur environmental charges or asset impairments in the future.

There are a number of other important risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These additional risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those detailed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the Company's most recently filed Form 10-K and in other filings that the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Investors:

Ned Coletta
Chief Financial Officer
(802) 772-2239

Media:

Joseph Fusco
Vice President
(802) 772-2247
http://www.casella.com 

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF CERTAIN NON-GAAP MEASURES
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

Non-GAAP Performance Measures

In addition to disclosing financial results prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), the Company also presents non-GAAP performance measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating income as a percentage of revenues, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share that provide an understanding of operational performance because it considers them important supplemental measures of the Company's performance that are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of the Company's results. The Company also believes that identifying the impact of certain items as adjustments provides more transparency and comparability across periods. Management uses these non-GAAP performance measures to further understand its “core operating performance” and believes its “core operating performance” is helpful in understanding its ongoing performance in the ordinary course of operations. The Company believes that providing such non-GAAP performance measures to investors, in addition to corresponding income statement measures, affords investors the benefit of viewing the Company’s performance using the same financial metrics that the management team uses in making many key decisions and understanding how the core business and its results of operations has performed. The tables below set forth such performance measures on an adjusted basis to exclude such items:

(i)  Expense from acquisition activities are primarily legal, consulting or other similar costs incurred during the period related to acquisition diligence, acquisition integration or select development projects as part of the Company’s strategic growth initiative.

(ii)  Southbridge Landfill closure charge are expenses related to the unplanned early closure of the Southbridge Landfill along with associated legal activities. The Company initiated the unplanned, premature closure of the Southbridge Landfill in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 due to the significant capital investment required to obtain expansion permits and for future development coupled with an uncertain regulatory environment. The unplanned closure of the Southbridge Landfill reduced the economic useful life of the assets from prior estimates by approximately ten years. The Company expects to incur certain costs through completion of the closure process.

(iii)  Tax effect of the adjustments is an aggregate of the current and deferred tax impact of each adjustment, including the impact to the effective tax rate, current provision and deferred provision. The computation considers all relevant impacts of the adjustments, including available net operating loss carryforwards and the impact on the remaining valuation allowance.

Non-GAAP Liquidity Measures

In addition to disclosing financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, the Company also presents non-GAAP liquidity measures such as Adjusted Free Cash Flow, Bank Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Funded Debt, Net and Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio that provide an understanding of the Company's liquidity because it considers them important supplemental measures of its liquidity that are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of the Company's cash flow generation from its core operations that are then available to be deployed for strategic acquisitions, growth investments, development projects, unusual landfill closures, site improvement and remediation, and strengthening the Company’s balance sheet through paying down debt. The Company also believes that identifying the impact of certain items as adjustments provides more transparency and comparability across periods. Management uses non-GAAP liquidity measures to understand the Company’s cash flow provided by operating activities after certain expenditures along with its consolidated net leverage and believes that these measures demonstrate the Company’s ability to execute on its strategic initiatives. The Company believes that providing such non-GAAP liquidity measures to investors, in addition to corresponding cash flow statement measures, affords investors the benefit of viewing the Company’s liquidity using the same financial metrics that the management team uses in making many key decisions and understanding how the core business and cash flow generation has performed. The tables below, in some instances on an adjusted basis to exclude certain items, set forth such liquidity measures:               

(i)  Southbridge Landfill closure and Potsdam environmental remediation are cash outlays associated with the unplanned closure of the Southbridge Landfill and the Company's portion of costs associated with environmental remediation at Potsdam, which are added back when calculating Adjusted Free Cash Flow due to their non-recurring nature and the significance of the related cash flows. The Company initiated the unplanned closure of the Southbridge Landfill in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and expects to incur cash outlays through completion of the closure and environmental remediation process. The Potsdam site was deemed a Superfund site in 2000 and is not associated with current operations.

(ii)  Cash outlays from acquisition activities are cash outlays for transaction and integration costs relating to specific acquisition transactions and include legal, environmental, valuation and consulting as well as asset, workforce and system integration costs as part of the Company’s strategic growth initiative.

(iii)  Post acquisition and development project capital expenditures are (x) acquisition related capital expenditures that are necessary to optimize strategic synergies associated with integrating newly acquired operations as contemplated by the discounted cash flow return analysis conducted by management as part of the acquisition investment decision; and (y) non-routine development investments that are expected to provide long-term returns. Acquisition related capital expenditures include the following costs required to achieve initial operating synergies: trucks, equipment and machinery; and facilities, land, IT infrastructure or related upgrades to integrate operations.

(iv)   Waste USA Landfill phase VI capital expenditures are capital expenditures related to Waste USA Landfill phase VI construction and development that are added back when calculating Adjusted Free Cash Flow due to the specific nature of this investment in the development of long-term infrastructure which is different from landfill construction investments in the normal course of operations. This investment at the Waste USA Landfill is unique because the Company is investing in long-term infrastructure over an estimated four year period that will not yield a positive economic benefit until 2023 and extending over approximately 20 years.

Following is the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio and the reconciliations of Consolidated Funded Debt, Net from debt and Bank Consolidated EBITDA from Net cash provided by operating activities:

(i)   Our credit agreement requires us to maintain a maximum consolidated net leverage ratio, to be measured at the end of each fiscal quarter ("Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio"). The Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is calculated as consolidated debt, net of unencumbered cash and cash equivalents in excess of $2,000 and up to $50,000 ("Consolidated Funded Debt, Net", calculated at $500,220 as of March 31, 2021, or $550,220 of consolidated debt, less $50,000 of cash and cash equivalents in excess of $2,000 and up to $50,000 as of March 31, 2021), divided by consolidated EBITDA as defined by our credit agreement ("Bank Consolidated EBITDA"). Bank Consolidated EBITDA is based on operating results for the twelve months preceding the measurement date of March 31, 2021. A reconciliation of Bank Consolidated EBITDA from Net cash provided by operating activities is as follows:

Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with or an alternative for GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income as a percentage of revenues, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, Adjusted Free Cash Flow, Bank Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Funded Debt, Net and Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income as a percentage of revenues, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, Adjusted Free Cash Flow, Bank Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Funded Debt, Net and Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio presented by other companies.

(i)   The Company's capital expenditures are broadly defined as pertaining to either growth or replacement activities. Growth capital expenditures are defined as costs related to development projects, organic business growth, and the integration of newly acquired operations. Growth capital expenditures include costs related to the following: 1) post acquisition and development projects that are necessary to optimize strategic synergies associated with integrating newly acquired operations as contemplated by the discounted cash flow return analysis conducted by management as part of the acquisition investment decision as well as non-routine development investments that are expected to provide long-term returns and includes the following capital expenditures required to achieve initial operating synergies: trucks, equipment and machinery; and facilities, land, IT infrastructure or related upgrades to integrate operations; 2) Waste USA Landfill phase VI construction and development for long-term infrastructure, which is unique and different from landfill construction investments in the normal course of operations because the Company is investing in long-term infrastructure over an estimated four year period that will not yield a positive economic benefit until 2023 and extending over approximately 20 years; and 3) development of new airspace, permit expansions, and new recycling contracts, equipment added directly as a result of organic business growth and infrastructure added to increase throughput at transfer stations and recycling facilities. Replacement capital expenditures are defined as landfill cell construction costs not related to expansion airspace, costs for normal permit renewals, and replacement costs for equipment due to age or obsolescence.