Waste Connections Reports First Quarter 2019 Results

TORONTO, April 24, 2019 /CNW/ -- Waste Connections, Inc. (TSX/NYSE: WCN) ("Waste Connections" or the "Company") today announced its results for the first quarter of 2019. 

Waste Connections logo. (PRNewsFoto/Waste Connections, Inc.) (PRNewsFoto/WASTE CONNECTIONS_ INC_)

"We are extremely pleased with the strong start to the year which, along with expected sequential improvement in volume growth and recently completed acquisitions, positions us well for the remainder of 2019. Continuing strength in solid waste price growth once again drove underlying margin expansion and better than expected financial results in the quarter, enabling us to overcome weather-related impacts across multiple markets and further declines in recycled commodity values.  In addition, adjusted free cash flow* of almost 20% of revenue in the quarter puts us solidly on track to achieve our full year outlook of $950 million," said Worthing F. Jackman, President.

Mr. Jackman added, "Year-to-date, we've signed or closed acquisitions with total annualized revenue of approximately $100 million, putting us on pace to potentially deliver another outsized year of acquisition activity.  These acquisitions include new market entries in Colorado, Illinois and Iowa, and tuck-ins in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New York and Wyoming.  Our strong financial profile and free cash flow generation provide us the flexibility to fund continuing outsized acquisition activity while increasing the return of capital to shareholders."

Q1 2019 Results

Revenue in the first quarter totaled $1.245 billion, up from $1.140 billion in the year ago period.  Operating income, which included $16.1 million in impairments and other operating items, was $184.9 million; this compares to $188.7 million in the year ago period.  Net income attributable to Waste Connections in the first quarter was $125.6 million, or $0.48 per share on a diluted basis of 264.3 million shares. In the year ago period, the Company reported net income attributable to Waste Connections of $124.9 million, or $0.47 per share on a diluted basis of 264.6 million shares.

Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections* in the first quarter was $163.9 million, or $0.62 per share, versus $148.6 million, or $0.56 per share, in the prior year period.  Adjusted EBITDA* in the first quarter was $385.7 million and 31.0% of revenue, as compared to adjusted EBITDA* of $356.9 million and 31.3% of revenue in the prior year period.  Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections, adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA, all non-GAAP measures, primarily exclude acquisition-related items and impairments and other operating items, as reflected in the detailed reconciliations in the attached tables.

* A non-GAAP measure; see accompanying Non-GAAP Reconciliation Schedule.

Q1 2019 Conference Call

Waste Connections will be hosting a conference call related to first quarter earnings on April 25^th at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time.  To access the call, listeners should dial 800-954-0602 (within North America) or 212-231-2919 (international) approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and ask the operator for the Waste Connections conference call (a passcode is not required).  A replay of the conference call will be available until May 2, 2019 by calling 800-633-8284 (within North America) or 402-977-9140 (international) and entering Passcode #21919993.  The call will be broadcast live over the Internet through a link on the Company's website at www.wasteconnections.com.  A playback of the call will be available on the Company's website.

Waste Connections will be filing a Form 8-K on EDGAR and on SEDAR (as an "Other" document) prior to markets opening on April 25^th, providing the Company's second quarter 2019 outlook for revenue, price plus volume growth for solid waste and adjusted EBITDA*.

*A non-GAAP measure.

About Waste Connections

Waste Connections is an integrated solid waste services company that provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services in mostly exclusive and secondary markets in the United States and Canada.  Through its R360 Environmental Solutions subsidiary, Waste Connections is also a leading provider of non-hazardous oilfield waste treatment, recovery and disposal services in several of the most active natural resource producing areas in the United States, including the Permian, Bakken and Eagle Ford Basins.  Waste Connections serves more than six million residential, commercial, industrial, and exploration and production customers in 41 states in the U.S., and six provinces in Canada.  The Company also provides intermodal services for the rail haul movement of cargo and solid waste containers in the Pacific Northwest. 

For more information, visit the Waste Connections web site at www.wasteconnections.com.  Copies of financial literature, including this release, are available on the Waste Connections website or through contacting us directly at [phone].  Investors can also obtain these materials and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the Canadian securities regulators free of charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and at the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval maintained by the Canadian Securities Administrators at www.sedar.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 2019 financial results, outlook and related assumptions, potential acquisition activity and return of capital to shareholders. 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 / [phone]

WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET INCOME
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 AND 2019 (Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
	Three months ended March 31,
	2018			2019
Revenues	$	1,140,131		$	1,244,637
Operating expenses:
Cost of operations		659,803			733,690
Selling, general and administrative		131,308			132,586
Depreciation		133,185			146,847
Amortization of intangibles		26,098			30,542
Impairments and other operating items		1,030			16,112
Operating income		188,707			184,860
Interest expense		(32,370)			(37,287)
Interest income		1,155			3,311
Other income (expense), net		(387)			2,558
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)		(221)			103
Income before income tax provision		156,884			153,545
Income tax provision		(31,852)			(27,968)
Net income		125,032			125,577
Plus (less): Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(163)			45
Net income attributable to Waste Connections	$	124,869		$	125,622
Earnings per common share attributable to Waste Connections' common shareholders:
Basic	$	0.47		$	0.48
Diluted	$	0.47		$	0.48
Shares used in the per share calculations:
Basic		263,827,963			263,603,418
Diluted		264,588,069			264,336,930
Cash dividends per common share	$	0.14		$	0.16

WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
	December 31, 2018			March 31, 2019
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and equivalents	$	319,305		$	499,482
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $16,760 and $15,124 at December 31, 2018 and March 31, 2019, respectively		609,545			599,369
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		164,053			144,006
Total current assets		1,092,903			1,242,857
Restricted cash		84,661			85,200
Restricted investments		47,486			47,926
Property and equipment, net		5,168,996			5,119,785
Operating lease right-of-use assets		-			199,703
Goodwill		5,031,685			5,065,530
Intangible assets, net		1,128,628			1,105,553
Other assets, net		72,970			65,374
Total assets	$	12,627,329		$	12,931,928
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	359,967		$	339,261
Book overdraft		18,518			15,734
Accrued liabilities		289,544			264,706
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		-			29,810
Current portion of contingent consideration		11,612			11,650
Deferred revenue		179,282			181,950
Current portion of long-term debt and notes payable		1,786			1,016
Total current liabilities		860,709			844,127
Long-term debt and notes payable		4,153,465			4,157,081
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities		-			176,328
Long-term portion of contingent consideration		43,003			44,686
Deferred income taxes		760,033			766,641
Other long-term liabilities		349,931			374,391
Total liabilities		6,167,141			6,363,254
Commitments and contingencies
Equity:
Common shares: 263,271,302 shares issued and 263,141,413 shares outstanding at December 31, 2018; 263,673,497 shares issued and 263,587,245 shares outstanding at March 31, 2019		4,131,307			4,134,917
Additional paid-in capital		133,577			128,230
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(74,786)			(45,978)
Treasury shares: 129,889 and 86,252 shares at December 31, 2018 and March 31, 2019, respectively		-			-
Retained earnings		2,264,510			2,345,970
Total Waste Connections' equity		6,454,608			6,563,139
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries		5,580			5,535
Total equity		6,460,188			6,568,674
	$	12,627,329		$	12,931,928

WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 AND 2019
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)
	Three months ended March 31,
		2018			2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	125,032		$	125,577
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on disposal of assets and impairments		2,863			16,372
Depreciation		133,185			146,847
Amortization of intangibles		26,098			30,542
Amortization of leases		-			7,214
Deferred income taxes, net of acquisitions		20,957			10,126
Amortization of debt issuance costs		1,076			1,148
Share-based compensation		9,180			15,168
Interest accretion		3,665			3,972
Payment of contingent consideration recorded in earnings		(11)			-
Adjustments to contingent consideration		702			1,466
Other		101			(145)
Net change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions		(15,601)			5,485
Net cash provided by operating activities		307,247			363,772
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(311,964)			(14,920)
Capital expenditures for property and equipment		(91,216)			(114,238)
Proceeds from disposal of assets		1,002			639
Other		(104)			473
Net cash used in investing activities		(402,282)			(128,046)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt		35,625			55,354
Principal payments on notes payable and long-term debt		(106,812)			(52,051)
Payment of contingent consideration recorded at acquisition date		(2,205)			(275)
Change in book overdraft		(295)			(2,784)
Payments for repurchase of common shares		(42,040)			-
Payments for cash dividends		(36,814)			(42,084)
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of equity-based compensation		(14,121)			(16,973)
Debt issuance costs		(2,188)			-
Proceeds from sale of common shares held in trust		1,947			3,610
Other		(103)			-
Net cash used in financing activities		(167,006)			(55,203)
Effect of exchange rates changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		18			193
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(262,023)			180,716
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		556,467			403,966
Plus: change in cash held for sale		101			-
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	294,545		$	584,682

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, 2019:

		U.S.		Canada		Total
Core Price		4.8%		6.4%		5.0%
Surcharges		0.2%		0.4%		0.2%
Volume		(1.0%)		(2.2%)		(1.2%)
Recycling		(0.5%)		(0.6%)		(0.5%)
Foreign Exchange Impact		-		(5.1%)		(0.7%)
Total		3.5%		(1.1%)		2.8%

Revenue Breakdown: The following table reflects a breakdown of our revenue for the three month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2019:

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
	Revenue			Inter- company Elimination			Reported Revenue			%
Solid Waste Collection	$	809,646		$	(2,399)		$	807,247		70.8%
Solid Waste Disposal and Transfer		370,929			(149,568)			221,361		19.4%
Solid Waste Recycling		23,485			(972)			22,513		2.0%
E&P Waste Treatment, Recovery and Disposal		58,359			(2,749)			55,610		4.9%
Intermodal and Other		34,004			(604)			33,400		2.9%
Total	$	1,296,423		$	(156,292)		$	1,140,131		100.0%
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
	Revenue			Inter- company Elimination			Reported Revenue			%
Solid Waste Collection	$	891,353		$	(2,176)		$	889,177		71.4%
Solid Waste Disposal and Transfer		405,791			(165,046)			240,745		19.3%
Solid Waste Recycling		19,804			(504)			19,300		1.6%
E&P Waste Treatment, Recovery and Disposal		66,831			(3,694)			63,137		5.1%
Intermodal and Other		32,837			(559)			32,278		2.6%
Total	$	1,416,616		$	(171,979)		$	1,244,637		100.0%

Contribution from Acquisitions: The following table reflects revenues from solid waste acquisitions, net of divestitures, for the three month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2019:

	Three months ended March 31,
	2018			2019
Acquisitions, net	$	10,800		$	68,985

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, 2018 and 2019:

	Three months ended March 31,
	2018			2019
Cash Interest Paid	$	22,440		$	22,174
Cash Taxes Paid		6,670			6,411

Debt to Book Capitalization as of March 31, 2019:  39%

Internalization for the three months ended March 31, 2019:  55%

Days Sales Outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2019:  43 (30 net of deferred revenue)

Share Information for the three months ended March 31, 2019:

Basic shares outstanding	263,603,418
Dilutive effect of equity-based awards	733,512
Diluted shares outstanding	264,336,930

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, plus foreign currency transaction loss, less foreign currency transaction gain.  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 March 31,
	2018			2019
Net income attributable to Waste Connections	$	124,869		$	125,622
Plus (less): Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		163			(45)
Plus: Income tax provision		31,852			27,968
Plus: Interest expense		32,370			37,287
Less: interest income		(1,155)			(3,311)
Plus: Depreciation and amortization		159,283			177,389
Plus: Closure and post-closure accretion		3,238			3,490
Plus: Impairments and other operating items		1,030			16,112
Plus (less): Other expense (income), net		387			(2,558)
Plus (less): Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)		221			(103)
Adjustments:
Plus: Transaction-related expenses (a)		2,385			837
Plus: Fair value changes to certain equity awards (b)		1,163			3,021
Plus: Integration-related and other expenses (c)		1,110			-
Adjusted EBITDA	$	356,916		$	385,709
As % of revenues		31.3%			31.0%

____________________________________________
(a)	Reflects the addback of acquisition-related transaction costs.
(b)	Reflects fair value accounting changes associated with certain equity awards.
(c)	Reflects the addback of integration-related items, including rebranding costs, associated with the Progressive Waste acquisition.

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 March 31,
	2018			2019
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	307,247		$	363,772
Less: Change in book overdraft		(295)			(2,784)
Plus: Proceeds from disposal of assets		1,002			639
Less: Capital expenditures for property and equipment		(91,216)			(114,238)
Less: Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(103)			-
Adjustments:
Payment of contingent consideration recorded in earnings (a)		11			-
Cash received for divestitures (b)		-			(2,376)
Transaction-related expenses (c)		2,385			837
Integration-related and other expenses (d)		1,110			-
Pre-existing Progressive Waste share-based grants (e)		1,919			2,182
Tax effect (f)		(1,907)			(1,697)
Adjusted free cash flow	$	220,153		$	246,335
As % of revenues		19.3%			19.8%

____________________________________________
(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 Progressive Waste operations.
(c)	Reflects the addback of acquisition-related items, including transaction costs.
(d)	Reflects the addback of integration-related items, including rebranding costs, associated with the Progressive Waste acquisition.
(e)	Reflects the cash settlement of pre-existing Progressive Waste share-based awards and related payments during the period.
(f)	The aggregate tax effect of footnotes (a) through (e) 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 Net Income attributable to Waste Connections to 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 March 31,
	2018			2019
Reported net income attributable to Waste Connections	$	124,869		$	125,622
Adjustments:
Amortization of intangibles (a)		26,098			30,542
Impairments and other operating items (b)		1,030			16,112
Transaction-related expenses (c)		2,385			837
Fair value changes to certain equity awards (d)		1,163			3,021
Integration-related and other expenses (e)		1,110			-
Tax effect (f)		(8,044)			(12,197)
Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections	$	148,611		$	163,937
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Waste Connections' common shareholders:
Reported net income	$	0.47		$	0.48
Adjusted net income	$	0.56		$	0.62

____________________________________________
(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)	Reflects the addback of integration-related items, including rebranding costs, associated with the Progressive Waste acquisition.
(f)	The aggregate tax effect of the adjustments in footnotes (a) through (e) is calculated based on the applied tax rates for the respective periods.

SOURCE Waste Connections, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.wasteconnections.com