• Revenue of $2.065 billion, up 9.8% year over year
• Net income^(a) of $229.0 million, and adjusted EBITDA^(b) of $671.2 million, up 14.1% year over year
• Adjusted EBITDA^(b) margin of 32.5% of revenue, up 120 basis points year over year and up 140 basis points sequentially from Q2
• Net income of $0.89 per share, and adjusted net income^(b) of $1.17 per share
• Year to date net cash provided by operating activities of $1.571 billion and adjusted free cash flow^(b) of $969.3 million
• Acquisition activity expected to continue through year-end, with an estimated rollover contribution in 2024 of almost 2% from approximately $250 million in annualized revenues signed or closed to date in 2023

TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2023 /CNW/ -- Waste Connections, Inc. (TSX/NYSE: WCN) ("Waste Connections" or the "Company") today announced its results for the third quarter of 2023.   

"We are extremely pleased by the durability of our financial and operating results in the quarter, with momentum for continued outsized margin expansion.  Solid operational execution enabled us to deliver adjusted EBITDA^(b) margin of 32.5% in the third quarter, as expected, up 140 basis points sequentially and up 120 basis points year over year, in spite of over $15 million in unforeseen headwinds.  During the quarter, we overcame elevated levels of risk-related expenses and other lagging effects of higher employee turnover in prior periods, as well as site-specific incremental operating expenses at one of our landfills in California," said Ronald J. Mittelstaedt, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "The expected Q4 and ongoing expanding impacts from that evolving landfill situation are currently being evaluated, along with a recent shorter-term development at a landfill in Texas, and as such weren't anticipated in the full year outlook we provided in August. We expect to get more clarity going forward but currently estimate the range of outcomes in Q4 to include impacts of up to $20 million to revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow."

Mr. Mittelstaedt continued, "We remain encouraged by the pace of improvement in employee retention, which, along with our differentiated strategy and execution, should provide for above average underlying margin expansion in solid waste collection, transfer and disposal in 2024.  On that basis, we should be positioned for high single-digit adjusted EBITDA^(b) growth in 2024 on expected mid to high single-digit revenue growth, including approximately $150 million of revenue carryover from acquisitions signed or closed year to date, with upside potential from additional acquisition activity and any further improvement in commodity-related activity."

Mr. Mittelstaedt concluded, "As anticipated, the strength of our operating performance, free cash flow generation and balance sheet positioned us for another double-digit increase to our quarterly cash dividend, demonstrating once again the compatibility of funding our differentiated growth strategy and acquisition activity, along with an increasing return of capital to shareholders."

Q3 2023 Results

Revenue in the third quarter totaled $2.065 billion, up from $1.880 billion in the year ago period.  Operating income was $353.0 million, which included $59.2 million primarily in impairments and other operating items, including $31.3 million of expenses associated with adjustments to contingent liabilities from acquisitions closed in prior periods and $25.0 million related to a non-cash impairment to adjust the carrying value of certain assets.  This compares to operating income of $326.8 million in the third quarter of 2022, which included $25.1 million primarily in impairments and other operating items and transaction-related expenses.  Net income in the third quarter was $229.0 million, or $0.89 per share on a diluted basis of 258.2 million shares.  In the year ago period, the Company reported net income of $236.9 million, or $0.92 per share on a diluted basis of 257.9 million shares. 

Adjusted net income^(b) in the third quarter was $303.1 million, or $1.17 per diluted share, versus $284.9 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, in the prior year period.  Adjusted EBITDA^(b) in the third quarter was $671.2 million, as compared to $588.1 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 acquisition-related items, as reflected in the detailed reconciliations in the attached tables.

Nine Months Year to Date Results

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, revenue was $5.986 billion, up from $5.343 billion in the year ago period.  Operating income, which included $91.3 million primarily attributable to impairments and other operating items, executive separation costs, and transaction-related expenses, was $1.012 billion, as compared to operating income of $930.2 million in the prior year period, which included $38.5 million primarily attributable to impairments and other operating items and transaction-related expenses.   

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $636.0 million, or $2.46 per share on a diluted basis of 258.1 million shares.  In the year ago period, the Company reported net income of $641.3 million, or $2.49 per share on a diluted basis of 258.1 million shares. 

Adjusted net income^(b) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $795.8 million, or $3.08 per diluted share, compared to $755.5 million, or $2.93 per diluted share, in the year ago period. Adjusted EBITDA^(b) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $1.867  billion, as compared to $1.657 billion in the prior year period. 

Q3 2023 Earnings Conference Call

Waste Connections will be hosting a conference call related to third quarter earnings on October 26^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 November 2, 2023, by calling 877-344-7529 (within North America) or 412-317-0088 (international) and entering Passcode #5793196.   

Waste Connections will be filing a Form 8-K on EDGAR and on SEDAR (as an "Other" document) prior to markets opening on October 26^th, providing the Company's fourth quarter 2023 outlook for revenue, price plus volume growth for solid waste, and adjusted EBITDA^(b).

About Waste Connections

Waste Connections (wasteconnections.com) is an integrated solid waste services company that provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer and disposal services, including by rail, along with resource recovery primarily through recycling and renewable fuels generation.  The Company serves approximately nine million residential, commercial and industrial customers in mostly exclusive and secondary markets across 44 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.  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 and focused 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.  For more information and updates on our progress towards targeted achievement, 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 and 2024 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 and nine month periods ended September 30, 2023:

Revenue Breakdown: The following table reflects a breakdown of our revenue for the three month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2023:

Contribution from Acquisitions: The following table reflects revenues from acquisitions, net of divestitures, for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 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 and nine month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2023:

Debt to Book Capitalization as of September 30, 2023:  47%

Internalization for the three months ended September 30, 2023:  56%

Days Sales Outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2023:  39 (23 net of deferred revenue)

Share Information for the three months ended September 30, 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.