WCN Waste Connections Inc New

• Increasing solid waste pricing growth, E&P waste activity and acquisition contribution once again drive better than expected quarterly results
• Revenue of $1.880 billion, up 17.7%
• Net income^(a) of $236.9 million, and adjusted EBITDA^(b) of $588.1 million, up 16.3%
• Adjusted EBITDA^(b) margin of 31.3% of revenue, above outlook and up 20 basis points year over year, excluding acquisitions
• Net income of $0.92 per share, and adjusted net income^(b) of $1.10 per share
• Year to date net cash provided by operating activities of $1.500 billion and adjusted free cash flow^(b) of $929.0 million, or 17.4% of revenue
• Year to date signed or closed acquisitions with approximately $570 million of total annualized revenue
• Increases regular quarterly dividend by 10.9%

TORONTO, Nov. 2, 2022 /CNW/ -- Waste Connections, Inc. (TSX/NYSE: WCN) ("Waste Connections" or the "Company") today announced its results for the third quarter of 2022 and updated its outlook for 2022. 

"Strong execution once again provided for better than expected results, driven in the third quarter by continued acceleration of solid waste pricing to 10.1% and higher E&P waste activity, along with acquisitions closed during the period.  Most notably, we overcame 50 basis points in incremental headwinds, primarily from the precipitous decline in recycled commodity values in September, to beat our outlook and expand adjusted EBITDA margin both sequentially and on a year-over-year basis, excluding the dilutive impact from acquisitions completed since the year ago period," said Worthing F. Jackman, President and Chief Executive Officer. 

Mr. Jackman added, "As anticipated, acquisition activity continues to run well above historical levels, with $535 million in annualized revenue closed in 2022 plus an additional $35 million under definitive agreement expected to close by year end or early in 2023.  These transactions include multi-market solid waste franchises in California and Oregon; integrated market expansions in Arizona and Texas; new market entries in Pennsylvania, British Columbia and Quebec; and multiple tuck-ins and market expansions within our recently established footprint in Massachusetts."  

"The strength of our balance sheet, operating performance and free cash flow generation positioned us for another double-digit increase in our quarterly cash dividend, once again demonstrating our capacity for outsized acquisition activity while continuing to fund our differentiated growth strategy and increasing return of capital to shareholders."

Mr. Jackman concluded, "Our outperformance through the third quarter and acquisitions closed year to date enhance our visibility for expected double-digit revenue growth in 2023, led by pricing expected to remain at elevated levels, plus rollover contribution from acquisitions already signed or closed year to date.  In addition, we expect underlying margin expansion to overcome headwinds from recent decreases in recycled commodity values."

Q3 2022 Results

Revenue in the third quarter totaled $1.880 billion, up from $1.597 billion in the year ago period.  Operating income was $326.8 million, which included $25.1 million primarily in impairments and other operating items and transaction expenses.  This compares to operating income of $285.1 million in the third quarter of 2021, which included $9.7 million primarily related to transaction expenses and impairments and other operating items.  Net income in the third quarter was $236.9 million, or $0.92 per share on a diluted basis of 257.9 million shares, including a $15.3 million net of tax benefit, or $0.06 per share, primarily as a result of the impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates on certain debt in the period.  In the year ago period, the Company reported net income of $114.4 million, or $0.44 per share on a diluted basis of 261.1 million shares, including a net of tax loss on debt extinguishment associated with the prepayment of senior notes of $84.2 million or $0.32 per share.   

Adjusted net income^(b) in the third quarter was $284.9 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, versus $233.1 million, or $0.89 per diluted share, in the prior year period.  Adjusted EBITDA^(b) in the third quarter was $588.1 million, as compared to $505.6 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, 2022, revenue was $5.343 billion, up from $4.527 billion in the year ago period.  Operating income, which included $38.5 million primarily attributable to impairments and other operating items and transaction-related expenses, was $930.2 million, as compared to operating income of $790.3 million in 2021, which included $23.7 million in impairments, fair value changes in equity awards and transaction expenses.

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $641.3 million, or $2.49 per share on a diluted basis of 258.1 million shares, including a $18.9 million net of tax benefit, or $0.07 per share, primarily as a result of the impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates on certain debt.  In the year ago period, the Company reported net income of $451.7 million, or $1.72 per share on a diluted basis of 261.9 million shares, including a net of tax loss on debt extinguishment associated with the prepayment of senior notes of $84.2 million or $0.32 per share.  

Adjusted net income^(b) for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $755.5 million, or $2.93 per diluted share, compared to $629.5 million, or $2.39 per diluted share, in the year ago period. Adjusted EBITDA^(b) for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $1.657 billion, as compared to $1.424 billion in the prior year period. 

Updated 2022 Outlook

Waste Connections also updated its outlook for 2022, which assumes no change in the current economic environment or underlying economic trends.  The Company's outlook excludes any impact from additional acquisitions that may close during the year, and expensing of transaction-related items.  The outlook provided below is forward looking, and actual results may differ materially depending on risks and uncertainties detailed at the end of this release and in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in Canada.  Certain components of the outlook for 2022 are subject to quarterly fluctuations.  See reconciliations in the attached tables.

• Revenue is estimated to be approximately $7.190 billion, as compared to our previously revised revenue outlook of approximately $7.125 billion.
• Net income is estimated to be approximately $836.7 million, and adjusted EBITDA^(b) is estimated to be approximately $2.210 billion, or about 30.7% of revenue, as compared to our previously revised adjusted EBITDA^(b) outlook of $2.190 billion or 30.7% of revenue.
• Capital expenditures are estimated to be approximately $850 million, in line with our original outlook.
• Net cash provided by operating activities is estimated to be approximately $1.963 billion, and adjusted free cash flow^(b) is estimated at approximately $1.160 billion, or about 16.1% of revenue, as compared to our previously revised adjusted free cash flow^(b) outlook of $1.160 billion or 16.3% of revenue.

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 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.

Q3 2022 Earnings Conference Call

Waste Connections will be hosting a conference call related to third quarter earnings on November 3rd 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 10, 2022, by calling 877-344-7529 (within North America) or 412-317-0088 (international) and entering Passcode #5667024.

Waste Connections will be filing a Form 8-K on EDGAR and on SEDAR (as an "Other" document) prior to markets opening on November 3^rd, providing the Company's fourth quarter 2022 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. 

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 and 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 and nine month periods ended September 30, 2022:

Revenue Breakdown: The following table reflects a breakdown of our revenue for the three month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2022:

Contribution from Acquisitions: The following table reflects revenues from acquisitions, net of divestitures, for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2022:

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, 2021 and 2022:

Debt to Book Capitalization as of September 30, 2022:  47%

Internalization for the three months ended September 30, 2022:  54%

Days Sales Outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2022:  40 (25 net of deferred revenue)

Share Information for the three months ended September 30, 2022:

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 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. 

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. 

UPDATED 2022 OUTLOOK
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except where noted)

Reconciliation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow:

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SOURCE Waste Connections, Inc.