Waste Connections, Inc. (TSX/NYSE: WCN) ("Waste Connections" or the "Company") today announced its results for the first quarter of 2022.
"We are extremely pleased by our strong start to the year, with record solid waste pricing growth driving underlying margin expansion in spite of inflationary pressures. Our 50 basis points year-over-year decline in adjusted EBITDA(b) margin in the quarter included 90 basis points combined margin impact, as expected, from $10 million of COVID-related frontline support in January and acquisitions completed since the prior year period. Looking ahead, further sequential improvement in solid waste pricing growth, increasing E&P waste activity and strong operational execution should continue to differentiate our performance," said Worthing F. Jackman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Moreover, adjusted free cash flow(b) generation of over $320 million, or 19.5% of revenue in the period, positions us to meet or exceed our full year adjusted free cash flow(b) outlook of $1.150 billion."
Mr. Jackman added, "The elevated cadence of solid waste acquisition activity has continued, with approximately $175 million in annualized revenues closed year to date, confirming our expectations for another outsized year of such activity, for which we remain well-positioned."
Q1 2022 Results
Revenue in the first quarter totaled $1.646 billion, up from $1.396 billion in the year ago period. Operating income was $273.9 million, which included $4.7 million in acquisition-related costs and $1.9 million in impairments and other operating items. This compares to operating income of $238.4 million in the first quarter of 2021, which included $1.5 million in primarily acquisition-related costs. Net income in the first quarter was $180.3 million, or $0.69 per share on a diluted basis of 259.6 million shares. In the year ago period, the Company reported net income of $160.3 million, or $0.61 per share on a diluted basis of 263.2 million shares.
Adjusted net income(b) in the first quarter was $213.4 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, versus $185.5 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA(b) in the first quarter was $502.1 million, as compared to $433.2 million in the prior year period. Adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA, all non-GAAP measures, primarily exclude impairments and acquisition-related items, as reflected in the detailed reconciliations in the attached tables.
Environmental, Social and Governance
Waste Connections views its Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") efforts as integral to its business, with initiatives consistent with its objective of long-term value creation. In 2020, the Company introduced long-term, aspirational ESG targets and committed over $500 million for investments to meet or exceed such sustainability targets. These investments primarily focus on reducing emissions, increasing resource recovery of both recyclable commodities and clean energy fuels, reducing reliance on off-site disposal for landfill leachate, further improving safety through reduced incidents and enhancing employee engagement through improved voluntary turnover and Servant Leadership scores. The Company's 2021 Sustainability Report provides progress updates on its targets and investments towards their achievement. For more information, visit the Waste Connections website at wasteconnections.com/sustainability.
Q1 2022 Earnings Conference Call
Waste Connections will be hosting a conference call related to first quarter earnings on May 4th at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time. A live audio webcast of the conference call can be accessed by visiting investors.wasteconnections.com and selecting "News & Events" from the website menu. Alternatively, listeners may access the call by dialing 800-926-4425 (within North America) or 212-231-2911 (international) approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time; a passcode is not required. A replay of the conference call will be available until May 11, 2022, by calling 800-633-8284 (within North America) or 402-977-9140 (international) and entering Passcode #22017071.
Waste Connections will be filing a Form 8-K on EDGAR and on SEDAR (as an "Other" document) prior to markets opening on May 4th, providing the Company's second quarter 2022 outlook for revenue, price plus volume growth for solid waste, and adjusted EBITDA(b).
(a) All references to "Net income" refer to the financial statement line item "Net income attributable to Waste Connections" | |||
(b) A non-GAAP measure; see accompanying Non-GAAP Reconciliation Schedule | |||
About Waste Connections
Waste Connections is an integrated solid waste services company that provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer and disposal services, along with resource recovery primarily through recycling and renewable fuels generation. The Company serves more than eight million residential, commercial and industrial customers in mostly exclusive and secondary markets across 43 states in the U.S. and six provinces in Canada. Waste Connections also provides non-hazardous oilfield waste treatment, recovery and disposal services in several basins across the U.S., as well as intermodal services for the movement of cargo and solid waste containers in the Pacific Northwest. For more information, visit Waste Connections at wasteconnections.com.
Safe Harbor and Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA"), including "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance and reflect Waste Connections' current beliefs and expectations regarding future events and operating performance. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "may," "might," "believes," "thinks," "expects," "estimate," "continue," "intends" or other words of similar meaning. All of the forward-looking statements included in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the PSLRA and applicable securities laws in Canada. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about expected 2022 financial results, outlook and related assumptions, and potential acquisition activity. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from those indicated by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risk factors detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC and the securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in Canada. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Waste Connections undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements set forth in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws.
– financial tables attached –
CONTACT: | |
Mary Anne Whitney / (832) 442-2253 | Joe Box / (832) 442-2153 |
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WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET INCOME THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2021 AND 2022 (Unaudited) (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts) | ||||||
Three months ended | ||||||
2021 | 2022 | |||||
Revenues | $ | 1,395,942 | $ | 1,646,255 | ||
Operating expenses: | ||||||
Cost of operations | 825,920 | 989,518 | ||||
Selling, general and administrative | 141,422 | 163,414 | ||||
Depreciation | 157,402 | 179,950 | ||||
Amortization of intangibles | 32,192 | 37,635 | ||||
Impairments and other operating items | 634 | 1,878 | ||||
Operating income | 238,372 | 273,860 | ||||
Interest expense | (42,425) | (41,324) | ||||
Interest income | 1,103 | 137 | ||||
Other income (expense), net | 3,548 | (3,466) | ||||
Income before income tax provision | 200,598 | 229,207 | ||||
Income tax provision | (40,291) | (48,839) | ||||
Net income | 160,307 | 180,368 | ||||
Plus (less): Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 2 | (44) | ||||
Net income attributable to Waste Connections | $ | 160,309 | $ | 180,324 | ||
Earnings per common share attributable to Waste Connections' common shareholders: | ||||||
Basic | $ | 0.61 | $ | 0.70 | ||
Diluted | $ | 0.61 | $ | 0.69 | ||
Shares used in the per share calculations: | ||||||
Basic | 262,697,487 | 258,946,933 | ||||
Diluted | 263,156,655 | 259,560,983 | ||||
Cash dividends per common share | $ | 0.205 | $ | 0.23 | ||
WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts) | |||||||
December 31, | March 31, | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and equivalents | $ | 147,441 | $ | 391,417 | |||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $18,480 and $19,361 at | 709,614 | 727,737 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 175,722 | 293,625 | |||||
Total current assets | 1,032,777 | 1,412,779 | |||||
Restricted cash | 72,174 | 71,867 | |||||
Restricted investments | 59,014 | 59,449 | |||||
Property and equipment, net | 5,721,949 | 5,770,931 | |||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 160,567 | 162,332 | |||||
Goodwill | 6,187,643 | 6,427,763 | |||||
Intangible assets, net | 1,350,597 | 1,388,687 | |||||
Other assets, net | 115,203 | 120,554 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 14,699,924 | $ | 15,414,362 | |||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 392,868 | $ | 423,175 | |||
Book overdraft | 16,721 | 16,809 | |||||
Deferred revenue | 273,720 | 293,729 | |||||
Accrued liabilities | 442,596 | 396,292 | |||||
Current portion of operating lease liabilities | 38,017 | 35,079 | |||||
Current portion of contingent consideration | 62,804 | 64,480 | |||||
Current portion of long-term debt and notes payable | 6,020 | 28,070 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 1,232,746 | 1,257,634 | |||||
Long-term portion of debt and notes payable | 5,040,500 | 5,817,641 | |||||
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities | 129,628 | 134,392 | |||||
Long-term portion of contingent consideration | 31,504 | 31,558 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 850,921 | 1,002,800 | |||||
Other long-term liabilities | 421,080 | 411,278 | |||||
Total liabilities | 7,706,379 | 8,655,303 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies | |||||||
Equity: | |||||||
Common shares: 260,283,158 shares issued and 260,212,496 shares outstanding at | 3,693,027 | 3,269,887 | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 199,482 | 196,385 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 39,584 | 110,358 | |||||
Treasury shares: 70,662 and 68,459 shares at December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022, | - | - | |||||
Retained earnings | 3,056,845 | 3,177,778 | |||||
Total Waste Connections' equity | 6,988,938 | 6,754,408 | |||||
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries | 4,607 | 4,651 | |||||
Total equity | 6,993,545 | 6,759,059 | |||||
$ | 14,699,924 | $ | 15,414,362 | ||||
WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2021 AND 2022 (Unaudited) (in thousands of U.S. dollars) | |||||||
Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
2021 | 2022 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ | 160,307 | $ | 180,368 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
Loss on disposal of assets and impairments | 401 | 2,090 | |||||
Depreciation | 157,402 | 179,950 | |||||
Amortization of intangibles | 32,192 | 37,635 | |||||
Deferred income taxes, net of acquisitions | 8,379 | 38,378 | |||||
Current period provision for expected credit losses | 1,915 | 3,022 | |||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs | 1,359 | 1,195 | |||||
Share-based compensation | 10,307 | 14,635 | |||||
Interest accretion | 4,204 | 4,448 | |||||
Payment of contingent consideration recorded in earnings | (520) | - | |||||
Adjustments to contingent consideration | 89 | (52) | |||||
Other | (796) | 382 | |||||
Net change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions | 25,157 | (21,154) | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 400,396 | 440,897 | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (8,545) | (355,212) | |||||
Capital expenditures for property and equipment | (96,793) | (152,318) | |||||
Proceeds from disposal of assets | 2,080 | 15,012 | |||||
Other | 2,705 | 2,637 | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (100,553) | (489,881) | |||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Proceeds from long-term debt | - | 1,305,288 | |||||
Principal payments on notes payable and long-term debt | (5,559) | (505,597) | |||||
Payment of contingent consideration recorded at acquisition date | (4,807) | (3,571) | |||||
Change in book overdraft | (16,849) | 87 | |||||
Payments for repurchase of common shares | (65,999) | (424,999) | |||||
Payments for cash dividends | (53,909) | (59,391) | |||||
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of equity-based compensation | (18,490) | (17,236) | |||||
Debt issuance costs | - | (4,382) | |||||
Proceeds from issuance of shares under employee share purchase plan | - | 1,554 | |||||
Proceeds from sale of common shares held in trust | 131 | 305 | |||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (165,482) | 292,058 | |||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | 403 | 595 | |||||
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | 134,764 | 243,669 | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period | 714,389 | 219,615 | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | 849,153 | $ | 463,284 | |||
ADDITIONAL STATISTICS (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except where noted) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Solid Waste Internal Growth: The following table reflects a breakdown of the components of our solid waste internal growth for the three months ended March 31, 2022: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three months | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Core Price | 6.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Surcharges | 0.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Volume | 0.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Recycling | 1.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign Exchange Impact | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 8.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue Breakdown: The following table reflects a breakdown of our revenue for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2022: | |||||||||||
Three months ended March 31, 2021 | |||||||||||
Revenue | Inter-company | Reported | % | ||||||||
Solid Waste Collection | $ | 1,036,472 | $ | (3,045) | $ | 1,033,427 | 74.0% | ||||
Solid Waste Disposal and Transfer | 461,259 | (190,446) | 270,813 | 19.4% | |||||||
Solid Waste Recycling | 32,448 | (993) | 31,455 | 2.3% | |||||||
E&P Waste Treatment, Recovery and Disposal | 28,012 | (3,343) | 24,669 | 1.8% | |||||||
Intermodal and Other | 35,634 | (56) | 35,578 | 2.5% | |||||||
Total | $ | 1,593,825 | $ | (197,883) | $ | 1,395,942 | 100.0% | ||||
Three months ended March 31, 2022 | |||||||||||
Revenue | Inter-company | Reported | % | ||||||||
Solid Waste Collection | $ | 1,199,452 | $ | (2,883) | $ | 1,196,569 | 72.7% | ||||
Solid Waste Disposal and Transfer | 517,722 | (213,019) | 304,703 | 18.5% | |||||||
Solid Waste Recycling | 63,094 | (2,573) | 60,521 | 3.7% | |||||||
E&P Waste Treatment, Recovery and Disposal | 43,555 | (2,732) | 40,823 | 2.5% | |||||||
Intermodal and Other | 45,693 | (2,054) | 43,639 | 2.6% | |||||||
Total | $ | 1,869,516 | $ | (223,261) | $ | 1,646,255 | 100.0% | ||||
Contribution from Acquisitions: The following table reflects revenues from acquisitions, net of divestitures, for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2022: | ||||||
Three months ended | ||||||
2021 | 2022 | |||||
Acquisitions, net | $ | 40,542 | $ | 110,007 | ||
ADDITIONAL STATISTICS (continued) (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except where noted) | ||||||
Other Cash Flow Items: The following table reflects cash interest and cash taxes for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2022: | ||||||
Three months ended | ||||||
2021 | 2022 | |||||
Cash Interest Paid | $ | 25,446 | $ | 32,159 | ||
Cash Taxes Paid | 28,621 | 17,389 | ||||
Debt to Book Capitalization as of March 31, 2022: 46%
Internalization for the three months ended March 31, 2022: 56%
Days Sales Outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2022: 40 (24 net of deferred revenue)
Share Information for the three months ended March 31, 2022: | ||
Basic shares outstanding | 258,946,933 | |
Dilutive effect of equity-based awards | 614,050 | |
Diluted shares outstanding | 259,560,983 | |
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except where noted) | ||||||
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA: | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, is provided supplementally because it is widely used by investors as a performance and valuation measure in the solid waste industry. Management uses adjusted EBITDA as one of the principal measures to evaluate and monitor the ongoing financial performance of Waste Connections' operations. Waste Connections defines adjusted EBITDA as net income attributable to Waste Connections, plus or minus net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, plus income tax provision, plus interest expense, less interest income, plus depreciation and amortization expense, plus closure and post-closure accretion expense, plus or minus any loss or gain on impairments and other operating items, plus other expense, less other income. Waste Connections further adjusts this calculation to exclude the effects of other items management believes impact the ability to assess the operating performance of its business. This measure is not a substitute for, and should be used in conjunction with, GAAP financial measures. Other companies may calculate adjusted EBITDA differently. | ||||||
Three months ended | ||||||
2021 | 2022 | |||||
Net income attributable to Waste Connections | $ | 160,309 | $ | 180,324 | ||
Plus/(Less): Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (2) | 44 | ||||
Plus: Income tax provision | 40,291 | 48,839 | ||||
Plus: Interest expense | 42,425 | 41,324 | ||||
Less: Interest income | (1,103) | (137) | ||||
Plus: Depreciation and amortization | 189,594 | 217,585 | ||||
Plus: Closure and post-closure accretion | 3,709 | 4,096 | ||||
Plus: Impairments and other operating items | 634 | 1,878 | ||||
Plus/(Less): Other expense (income), net | (3,548) | 3,466 | ||||
Adjustments: | ||||||
Plus: Transaction-related expenses(a) | 526 | 4,540 | ||||
Plus: Fair value changes to equity awards(b) | 339 | 161 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 433,174 | $ | 502,120 | ||
As % of revenues | 31.0% | 30.5% | ||||
(a) Reflects the addback of acquisition-related transaction costs. | ||||||||||||
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE (continued) (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except where noted) | ||||||||||||
Reconciliation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow:
Adjusted free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, is provided supplementally because it is widely used by investors as a valuation and liquidity measure in the solid waste industry. Management uses adjusted free cash flow as one of the principal measures to evaluate and monitor the ongoing financial performance of Waste Connections' operations. Waste Connections defines adjusted free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities, plus or minus change in book overdraft, plus proceeds from disposal of assets, less capital expenditures for property and equipment and distributions to noncontrolling interests. Waste Connections further adjusts this calculation to exclude the effects of items management believes impact the ability to assess the operating performance of its business. This measure is not a substitute for, and should be used in conjunction with, GAAP liquidity or financial measures. Other companies may calculate adjusted free cash flow differently. | ||||||||||||
Three months ended | ||||||||||||
2021 | 2022 | |||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 400,396 | $ | 440,897 | ||||||||
Plus/Less: Change in book overdraft | (16,849) | 87 | ||||||||||
Plus: Proceeds from disposal of assets | 2,080 | 15,012 | ||||||||||
Less: Capital expenditures for property and equipment | (96,793) | (152,318) | ||||||||||
Adjustments: | ||||||||||||
Payment of contingent consideration recorded in earnings(a) | 520 | - | ||||||||||
Cash received for divestitures(b) | - | (5,671) | ||||||||||
Transaction-related expenses(c) | 526 | 23,404 | ||||||||||
Pre-existing Progressive Waste share-based grants(d) | 97 | 76 | ||||||||||
Tax effect(e) | (188) | (1,110) | ||||||||||
Adjusted free cash flow | $ | 289,789 | $ | 320,377 | ||||||||
As % of revenues | 20.8% | 19.5% | ||||||||||
(a) | Reflects the addback of acquisition-related payments for contingent consideration that were recorded as expenses in earnings and as a component of cash flows from operating activities as the amounts paid exceeded the fair value of the contingent consideration recorded at the acquisition date. | ||||
(b) | Reflects the elimination of cash received in conjunction with the divestiture of certain operations. | ||||
(c) | Reflects the addback of acquisition-related transaction costs and the settlement of an acquired tax liability. | ||||
(d) | Reflects the cash settlement of pre-existing Progressive Waste share-based awards during the period. | ||||
(e) | The aggregate tax effect of footnotes (a) through (d) is calculated based on the applied tax rates for the respective periods. | ||||
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE (continued) (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts) | ||||||
Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income attributable to Waste Connections and Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share attributable to Waste Connections: Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections and adjusted net income per diluted share attributable to Waste Connections, both non-GAAP financial measures, are provided supplementally because they are widely used by investors as a valuation measure in the solid waste industry. Management uses adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections and adjusted net income per diluted share attributable to Waste Connections as one of the principal measures to evaluate and monitor the ongoing financial performance of Waste Connections' operations. Waste Connections provides adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections to exclude the effects of items management believes impact the comparability of operating results between periods. Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections has limitations due to the fact that it excludes items that have an impact on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections and adjusted net income per diluted share attributable to Waste Connections are not a substitute for, and should be used in conjunction with, GAAP financial measures. Other companies may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently. | ||||||
Three months ended | ||||||
2021 | 2022 | |||||
Reported net income attributable to Waste Connections | $ | 160,309 | $ | 180,324 | ||
Adjustments: | ||||||
Amortization of intangibles(a) | 32,192 | 37,635 | ||||
Impairments and other operating items(b) | 634 | 1,878 | ||||
Transaction-related expenses(c) | 526 | 4,540 | ||||
Fair value changes to equity awards(d) | 339 | 161 | ||||
Tax effect(e) | (8,543) | (11,092) | ||||
Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections | $ | 185,457 | $ | 213,446 | ||
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Waste | ||||||
Reported net income | $ | 0.61 | $ | 0.69 | ||
Adjusted net income | $ | 0.70 | $ | 0.82 | ||
(a) | Reflects the elimination of the non-cash amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets. | |||||
(b) | Reflects the addback of impairments and other operating items. | |||||
(c) | Reflects the addback of acquisition-related transaction costs. | |||||
(d) | Reflects fair value accounting changes associated with certain equity awards. | |||||
(e) | The aggregate tax effect of the adjustments in footnotes (a) through (d) is calculated based on the applied tax rates for the respective periods. | |||||
| Last Trade: | US$187.50 |
| Daily Change: | 1.49 0.80 |
| Daily Volume: | 980,673 |
| Market Cap: | US$48.380B |
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