• Price-led organic growth, strong operational execution, and continuing acquisition activity drive strong start to 2023
• Revenue of $1.901 billion, up 15.4%
• Net income^(a) of $197.8 million and adjusted EBITDA^(b) of $566.9 million
• Net income and adjusted net income^(b) of $0.77 and $0.89 per share, respectively
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $442.4 million and adjusted free cash flow^(b) of $274.0 million
• On track to achieve full year outlook as provided in February, with potential upside from any additional acquisitions, increases in recycled commodities and renewable fuels values, or reduction of inflationary pressures

TORONTO, April 26, 2023 /CNW/ -- Waste Connections, Inc. (TSX/NYSE: WCN) ("Waste Connections" or the "Company") today announced its results for the first quarter of 2023.    

"Record solid waste pricing growth, strong operational execution and continuing acquisition activity in the first quarter provided a strong start to the year.  Q1 was recognized to be a difficult year-over-year comparison given the precipitous decline in resource recovery values during the second half of 2022, and results in the period were further affected by weather-related impacts to solid waste roll-off activity and landfill volumes, particularly on the West Coast.  Underlying adjusted EBITDA^(b) margins were in line with our expectations, but acquisitions completed since the year-ago period were 30 basis points dilutive to reported margins, or more than 20 basis points higher than expected, given the disproportionate weather-related impacts on West Coast acquisitions," said Ronald J. Mittelstaedt, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Mittelstaedt added, "Continued visibility on pricing, improving trends in labor availability and retention, and recent normalization of weather patterns position us to deliver the full year outlook we provided in February.  And as we also noted then, upside potential to this outlook remains from any additional acquisitions, increases in recycled commodities and renewable fuels values, or reduction of inflationary pressures.  We've already closed approximately $45 million of acquired revenue year-to-date, and currently expect that pace of activity to continue throughout the year."

Q1 2023 Results

Revenue in the first quarter totaled $1.901 billion, up from $1.646 billion in the year ago period.  Operating income was $314.7 million, which included $4.3 million primarily in transaction-related expenses and impairments and other operating items.  This compares to operating income of $273.9 million in the first quarter of 2022, which included $6.6 million primarily related to transaction-related expenses.  Net income in the first quarter was $197.8 million, or $0.77 per share on a diluted basis of 258.0 million shares.  In the year ago period, the Company reported net income of $180.3 million, or $0.69 per share on a diluted basis of 259.6 million shares.  

Adjusted net income^(b) in the first quarter was $230.4 million, or $0.89 per diluted share, up from $213.4 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, in the prior year period.  Adjusted EBITDA^(b) in the first quarter was $566.9 million, as compared to $502.1 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 transaction-related items, as reflected in the detailed reconciliations in the attached tables.

Q1 2023 Earnings Conference Call

Waste Connections will be hosting a conference call related to first quarter earnings on April 27^th 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, conference call participants can preregister by clicking here.  Registered participants will receive dial-in instructions and a personalized code for entry to the conference call.  A replay of the conference call will be available until May 4, 2023, by calling 877-344-7529 (within North America) or 412-317-0088 (international) and entering Passcode #6074895.   

Waste Connections will be filing a Form 8-K on EDGAR and on SEDAR (as an "Other" document) prior to markets opening on April 27^th, providing the Company's second quarter 2023 outlook for revenue, price plus volume growth for solid waste, and adjusted EBITDA^(b).

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. 

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 $500 million to the advancement of 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 and enhancing employee engagement.  The Company's 2022 Sustainability Report provides progress updates on its targets and investments towards their achievement, and introduces new emissions reduction targets.  For more information, visit wasteconnections.com/sustainability.

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 2023 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 –

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, 2023:

Revenue Breakdown: The following table reflects a breakdown of our revenue for the three month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2023:

Contribution from Acquisitions: The following table reflects revenues from acquisitions, net of divestitures, for the three month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2023:

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, 2022 and 2023:

Debt to Book Capitalization at March 31, 2023:  49%

Internalization for the three months ended March 31, 2023:  56%

Days Sales Outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2023:  39 (23 net of deferred revenue)

Share Information for the three months ended March 31, 2023:

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. 

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 liquidity measure in the solid waste industry. Waste Connections calculates 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 periodic distributions to noncontrolling interests. Waste Connections further adjusts this calculation to exclude the effects of items management believes impact the ability to evaluate the liquidity of its business operations. 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.

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 valuation measures 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.