News Releases
Waste Connections, Inc.
The Company noted three items in the second quarter 2006 results which combined to decrease diluted earnings per share by approximately $0.05:
* additional development costs for insurance claims from prior years of $3.8 million ($2.4 million net of taxes), or a reduction of approximately $0.05 per share;
* stock-based compensation costs of $1.0 million ($0.6 million net of taxes), or a reduction of approximately $0.01 per share; and
* reduced interest expense due to the redemption of convertible notes of $1.0 million ($0.6 million net of taxes), or an increase of approximately $0.01 per share.
"Pricing and volume growth remain above the upper end of our original expectations for the full year, and we expect this trend to continue during the third quarter. This strength has enabled us to offset higher than anticipated current year costs, primarily in fuel and related items. We expect this strong pricing environment to continue into next year and provide for margin expansion in 2007 when year-to-year costs again become more comparable," said Ronald J. Mittelstaedt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Fuel and related items increased as a percentage of revenue by approximately 265 basis points in the second quarter compared to the year ago period. This increase was due to the more than doubling of current fuel prices relative to prices we paid last year under a fixed-price fuel supply contract that expired at the end of 2005."
Mr. Mittelstaedt continued, "Acquisition activity increased significantly during the second quarter with the closing in early June of the previously announced purchase of El Dorado Disposal Service from Waste Management. El Dorado Disposal Service provides collection, recycling and transfer services in El Dorado County, California, under long-term franchise agreements. This acquisition together with previously announced awarded contracts already positions us for approximately 10% year-over-year reported revenue growth in 2007, excluding the impact of any additional acquisitions."
For the six months ended June 30, 2006, revenue was $397.1 million, a 15.2% increase over revenue of $344.7 million in the year ago period. Operating income was $80.0 million versus $82.3 million for the same period in 2005. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2006, was $34.9 million, or $0.74 per share on a diluted basis of 47.2 million shares. In the year ago period, the Company reported income from continuing operations of $41.3 million and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.85.
The Company noted the following items in the current year six-month period which contributed to the year-over-year change in net income and diluted earnings per share:
* write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs associated with convertible notes redeemed during the second quarter of $4.2 million ($2.6 million net of taxes), or a decrease of approximately $0.06 per share;
* additional development costs for insurance claims from prior years of $3.8 million ($2.4 million net of taxes), or a decrease of approximately $0.05 per share;
* stock-based compensation costs of $1.6 million ($1.0 million net of taxes), or a decrease of approximately $0.02 per share; and
* reduced interest expense due to the redemption of convertible notes of $1.0 million ($0.6 million net of taxes), or an increase of approximately $0.01 per share.
Waste Connections will be hosting a conference call related to second quarter earnings and third quarter outlook on July 27th at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet at www.streetevents.com and through a link on the Company's web site at www.wasteconnections.com. A playback of the call will be available at both of these sites.
For non-GAAP measures, see accompanying Non-GAAP Reconciliation Schedule.
In the second quarter of 2005, Waste Connections classified as discontinued operations the results of certain operations in Utah and California that were exited during that quarter. Results for 2005 have been reclassified to present the results for these operations as discontinued operations.
In accordance with the Company's adoption of SFAS 123R at the beginning of the first quarter of 2006, excess tax benefits on the exercise of stock options, which totaled $5.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, are now classified as a cash flow from financing activities, rather than as a cash flow from operating activities as classified in prior year periods. This requirement will reduce the amounts recorded as net cash provided by operating activities, and will increase the amount recorded as net cash provided by financing activities. In order to improve comparability to prior periods, the Company's definition of free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, has been expanded to include the excess tax benefits on the exercise of stock options. Total cash flow will remain unchanged from what would have been reported under prior accounting rules.
Waste Connections, Inc. is an integrated solid waste services company that provides solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services in mostly secondary markets in the Western and Southern U.S. The Company serves more than one million residential, commercial and industrial customers from a network of operations in 22 states. The Company also provides intermodal services for the movement of containers in the Pacific Northwest. Waste Connections, Inc. was founded in September 1997 and is headquartered in Folsom, California.
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 web site or through contacting us directly at (916) 608-8200.
Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking in nature. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates," or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. Waste Connections' business and operations are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and, consequently, actual results may differ materially from those projected by any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those projected include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Waste Connections may be unable to compete effectively with larger and better capitalized companies and governmental service providers; (2) increases in the price of fuel may adversely affect Waste Connections' business and reduce its operating margins; (3) increases in labor and disposal and related transportation costs could impact Waste Connections' financial results; (4) efforts by labor unions could divert management attention and adversely affect operating results; (5) increases in insurance costs and the amount that Waste Connections self-insures for various risks could reduce its operating margins and reported earnings; (6) Waste Connections may lose contracts through competitive bidding, early termination or governmental action; (7) the geographic concentration of Waste Connections' business makes its results vulnerable to economic and seasonal factors affecting the regions in which it operates; (8) competition for acquisition candidates, consolidation within the waste industry and economic and market conditions may limit Waste Connections' ability to grow through acquisitions; (9) Waste Connections' growth and future financial performance depend significantly on its ability to integrate acquired businesses into its organization and operations; (10) Waste Connections' acquisitions may not be successful, resulting in changes in strategy, operating losses or a loss on sale of the business acquired; (11) because Waste Connections depends on railroads for its intermodal operations, its operating results and financial condition are likely to be adversely affected by any reduction or deterioration in rail service; (12) Waste Connections' intermodal business could be adversely affected by steamship lines diverting business to ports other than those Waste Connections services, or by heightened security measures or actual or threatened terrorist attacks; (13) Waste Connections depends significantly on the services of the members of its senior and district management team, and the departure of any of those persons could cause its operating results to suffer; (14) Waste Connections' decentralized decision-making structure could allow local managers to make decisions that adversely affect Waste Connections' operating results; (15) Waste Connections' financial results are based upon estimates and assumptions that may differ from actual results; (16) Waste Connections may incur additional charges related to capitalized expenditures, which would decrease its earnings; (17) each business that Waste Connections acquires or has acquired may have liabilities that Waste Connections fails or is unable to discover, including environmental liabilities; and (18) the adoption of new accounting standards or interpretations could adversely impact Waste Connections' financial results. These risks and uncertainties, as well as others, are discussed in greater detail in Waste Connections' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. There may be additional risks of which Waste Connections is not presently aware or that it currently believes are immaterial which could have an adverse impact on its business. Waste Connections makes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may change.
WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2005 AND 2006
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Three months ended Six months ended
June 30, June 30,
2005 2006 2005 2006
Revenues $180,265 $206,970 $344,709 $397,139
Operating expenses:
Cost of operations 103,616 126,574 197,766 239,637
Selling, general and
administrative 17,096 20,621 34,237 40,422
Depreciation and
amortization 15,938 18,736 30,549 36,968
Loss (gain) on sale of
assets (12) 236 (133) 154
Operating income 43,627 40,803 82,290 79,958
Interest expense (5,575) (6,619) (10,510) (14,113)
Minority interests (3,426) (3,317) (6,114) (6,028)
Other income (expense),
net 65 11 171 (3,982)
Income from continuing
operations before income
tax 34,691 30,878 65,837 55,835
Income tax provision (12,905) (11,678) (24,491) (20,912)
Income from continuing
operations 21,786 19,200 41,346 34,923
Loss from discontinued
operations, net of tax (378) -- (579) --
Net income $21,408 $19,200 $40,767 $34,923
Basic earnings per common
share:
Continuing operations $0.47 $0.43 $0.88 $0.77
Discontinued operations (0.01) -- (0.01) --
Net income per common
share $0.46 $0.43 $0.87 $0.77
Diluted earnings per
common share:
Continuing operations $0.45 $0.41 $0.85 $0.74
Discontinued operations (0.01) -- (0.01) --
Net income per common
share $0.44 $0.41 $0.84 $0.74
Shares used in the per
share calculations:
Basic 46,727,722 45,174,415 47,097,918 45,420,613
Diluted 48,558,866 46,885,224 48,709,641 47,236,483
WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
December 31, June 30,
2005 2006
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and equivalents $7,514 $7,727
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
doubtful accounts of $2,826 and $2,820 at
December 31, 2005 and June 30, 2006, respectively 94,438 99,402
Deferred tax assets 5,145 5,416
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 17,279 19,053
Total current assets 124,376 131,598
Property and equipment, net 700,508 727,847
Goodwill 723,120 744,843
Intangible assets, net 87,651 87,743
Restricted assets 13,888 14,793
Other assets, net 26,764 28,742
$1,676,307 $1,735,566
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $54,795 $56,794
Book overdraft 8,869 3,536
Accrued liabilities 44,522 55,937
Deferred revenue 30,957 32,484
Current portion of long-term debt and notes
payable 10,858 7,014
Total current liabilities 150,001 155,765
Long-term debt and notes payable 586,104 652,587
Other long-term liabilities 20,478 15,365
Deferred tax liabilities 175,167 183,970
Total liabilities 931,750 1,007,687
Commitments and contingencies
Minority interests 26,357 27,485
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock: $0.01 par value; 7,500,000 shares
authorized; none issued and outstanding -- --
Common stock: $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares
authorized; 45,924,686 and 45,560,879 shares issued
and outstanding at December 31, 2005 and
June 30, 2006, respectively 459 456
Additional paid-in capital 373,382 311,417
Deferred stock compensation (2,234) --
Treasury stock at cost, 106,600 shares outstanding
at December 31, 2005 (3,672) --
Retained earnings 345,308 380,231
Accumulated other comprehensive income 4,957 8,290
Total stockholders' equity 718,200 700,394
$1,676,307 $1,735,566
WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2005 AND 2006
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
Six months ended
June 30,
2005 2006
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $40,767 $34,923
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets (330) 154
Depreciation 29,538 34,946
Amortization of intangibles 1,261 2,022
Deferred income taxes, net of acquisitions (4,097) 6,026
Minority interests 6,114 6,028
Amortization of debt issuance costs 861 5,271
Stock-based compensation 511 1,576
Interest income on restricted assets (169) (288)
Closure and post-closure accretion 342 300
Tax benefit on the exercise of stock options 6,443 --
Excess tax benefit on the exercise of stock
options -- (5,501)
Net change in operating assets and
liabilities, net of acquisitions 16,243 10,539
Net cash provided by operating activities 97,484 95,996
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired (12,854) (34,838)
Capital expenditures for property and equipment (34,271) (49,038)
Proceeds from disposal of assets 3,933 313
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash, net of
interest income 958 (617)
Increase in other assets (156) (236)
Net cash used in investing activities (42,390) (84,416)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt 70,064 631,997
Principal payments on notes payable and
long-term debt (61,960) (569,619)
Change in book overdraft (6,742) (5,333)
Proceeds from option and warrant exercises 23,813 24,916
Excess tax benefit on the exercise of stock
options -- 5,501
Distributions to minority interest holders (5,341) (4,900)
Payments for repurchase of common stock (71,101) (87,744)
Debt issuance costs (40) (6,185)
Net cash used in financing activities (51,307) (11,367)
Net increase in cash and equivalents 3,787 213
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period 3,610 7,514
Cash and equivalents at end of period $7,397 $7,727
ADDITIONAL STATISTICS
THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2006
(Dollars in thousands)
Internal Growth: The following table reflects revenue growth for operations owned for at least 12 months:
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2006
Price 5.1%
Volume 2.8%
Intermodal, Recycling and Other (0.6%)
Total 7.3%
Uneliminated Revenue Breakdown:
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2006
Collection $151,370 63.9%
Disposal and Transfer 66,165 28.0%
Intermodal, Recycling and Other 19,192 8.1%
Total $236,727 100.0%
Inter-company elimination $29,757
Days Sales Outstanding for the three months ended June 30, 2006: 44 (29 net of deferred revenue)
Internalization for the three months ended June 30, 2006: 68%
Other Cash Flow Items for the three months ended June 30, 2006:
Cash Interest Paid: $12,752
Cash Taxes Paid: $7,937
Debt to Capitalization: 48.5%
Total Debt divided by Total Debt plus Total Stockholders' Equity:
($652,587 + $7,014) / ($652,587 + $7,014 + $700,394) = 48.5%
Share Information for the three months ended June 30, 2006:
Basic shares outstanding 45,174,415
Dilutive effect of options and warrants 1,190,465
Dilutive effect of convertible notes 432,755
Dilutive effect of restricted stock 87,589
Diluted shares outstanding 46,885,224
Shares repurchased 195,600
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE
(in thousands)
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. Waste Connections defines free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities, plus cash proceeds from disposal of assets and excess tax benefit on the exercise of stock options, plus or minus change in book overdraft, less capital expenditures and distributions to minority interest holders. This measure is not a substitute for, and should be used in conjunction with, GAAP financial measures. Management uses free cash flow as one of the principal measures to evaluate and monitor the ongoing financial performance of our operations. Other companies may calculate free cash flow differently.
Free cash flow reconciliation:
Three Months Six Months
Ended Ended
June 30, June 30,
2006 2006
Net cash provided by operating activities $58,140 $95,996
Change in book overdraft (3,650) (5,333)
Plus: Cash proceeds from disposal of assets 142 313
Plus: Excess tax benefit on the exercise of
stock options 2,149 5,501
Less: Capital expenditures for property and
equipment (29,073) (49,038)
Less: Distributions to minority interest holders (2,842) (4,900)
Free cash flow $24,866 $42,539
Free cash flow as % of revenues 12.0% 10.7%
SOURCE: Waste Connections, Inc.
CONTACT: Worthing Jackman of Waste Connections, Inc., +1-916-608-8266,
or
Web site: http://www.wcnx.org/