News Releases

Fourth Quarter 2018 Highlights
- Revenue of $1.262 billion, exceeding outlook
- Reports 4.9% solid waste price + volume growth, exceeding outlook
- Net income attributable to Waste Connections of $132.5 million, or $0.50 per share
- Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections* of $166.2 million, or $0.63 per share, up 21.2% per share
- Adjusted EBITDA* of $397.2 million, or 31.5% of revenue

 Full-Year 2018 Highlights
- Revenue of $4.923 billion, up 6.3%
- Net income attributable to Waste Connections of $546.9 million, or $2.07 per share
- Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections* of $667.3 million or $2.52 per share, up 16.7% per share
- Adjusted EBITDA* of $1.566 billion, or 31.8% of revenue, up 7.3% and 30 basis points YoY
- Net cash provided by operating activities of $1.411 billion, up 18.9%
- Adjusted free cash flow* of $879.9 million, or 17.9% of revenue, up 15.2%

 Looking at 2019
- Expects revenue of approximately $5.310 billion, excluding additional acquisitions
- Expects adjusted EBITDA* margin expansion of 30 basis points YoY
- Expects net cash provided by operating activities of approximately $1.525 billion and double digit adjusted free cash flow* per share growth

TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Waste Connections, Inc. (TSX/NYSE: WCN) ("Waste Connections" or the "Company") today announced its results for the fourth quarter of 2018. 

"2018 finished on a high note, as financial results for the fourth quarter exceeded expectations on better than expected solid waste organic growth, E&P waste activity and acquisition contribution.  We are also extremely pleased with our results for the full year as adjusted EBITDA* as a percent of revenue expanded 30 basis points, and adjusted free cash flow* increased 15.2%.  Increases in both solid waste pricing growth, which was up 130 basis points year-over-year to 4.5%, and E&P waste activity enabled us to overcome the precipitous decline in recycled commodity values and certain cost pressures noted during the year," said Ronald J. Mittelstaedt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "The strength of these results continues to reflect the benefits of our purposeful culture, differentiated strategy and disciplined execution."

Mr. Mittelstaedt added, "2018 was also noteworthy for the continuing elevated pace of acquisition activity.  Our acquisition of American Disposal in the fourth quarter brought total annualized acquired revenue to more than $360 million for the year, with rollover revenue contribution of approximately $200 million in 2019.  Along with continued strong pricing growth, this already positions us for high single digit revenue growth and another 30 basis points adjusted EBITDA* margin expansion in 2019, with any growth in solid waste volumes, E&P waste activity or additional acquisitions providing further upside.  We have increased adjusted free cash flow* per share at a compounded rate of more than 15% per year over the past several years, and expect continuing double-digit per share growth in the upcoming year.  Our strong financial profile continues to afford the flexibility to fund outsized acquisition activity, an increasing cash dividend and opportunistic share repurchases."

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

Q4 2018 Results

Revenue in the fourth quarter totaled $1.262 billion, up from $1.157 billion in the prior year period.  Operating income, which included $14.0 million of impairments and other operating items and $2.8 million of acquisition-related costs, was $200.0 million.  This compares to $175.0 million in the prior year period, which included $15.2 million of impairments and other operating items and $7.0 million of acquisition-related costs. 

Net income attributable to Waste Connections in the fourth quarter was $132.5 million, or $0.50 per share on a diluted basis of 264.5 million shares.  In the prior year period, the Company reported $315.1 million, or $1.19 per share on a diluted basis of 264.6 million shares; this included a $209.4 million benefit to the income tax provision primarily resulting from enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Act").

Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections* in the fourth quarter was $166.2 million, or $0.63 per share, versus $137.0 million, or $0.52 per share, in the prior year period.  Adjusted EBITDA* in the fourth quarter was $397.2 million, as compared to adjusted EBITDA* of $360.7 million 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 the impact of the Tax Act, fair value accounting changes to certain equity awards, and acquisition-related items, as shown in the detailed reconciliation in the attached schedules. 

Full Year 2018 Results

For the year ended December 31, 2018, revenue was $4.923 billion, as compared to revenue of $4.630 billion in 2017.  Operating income, which included $40.7 million of impairments and other operating items, fair value accounting changes to certain equity awards, and other acquisition-related costs, was $832.2 million.  This compares to operating income of $627.1 million in the prior year, which included $189.2 million of expenses primarily related to both goodwill impairment against the Company's E&P segment resulting from the early adoption of FASB's recent accounting pronouncement simplifying the test for goodwill impairment, and impairments and other operating items mostly related to the divestiture or expected divestiture of certain assets acquired in the Progressive Waste acquisition. 

Net income attributable to Waste Connections in 2018 was $546.9 million, or $2.07 per share on a diluted basis of 264.4 million shares.  In 2017, the Company reported net income attributable to Waste Connections of $576.8 million, or $2.18 per share on a diluted basis of 264.3 million shares; this included a $205.6 million benefit to the income tax provision primarily related to the Tax Act.

Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections* in 2018 was $667.3 million, or $2.52 per share, compared to $570.7 million, or $2.16 per share, in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA* in 2018 was $1.566 billion, as compared to $1.461 billion in the prior year.  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 the impact of the Tax Act, acquisition-related items and impairments and other operating items, as reflected in the detailed reconciliations in the attached tables. 

2019 Outlook

Waste Connections also announced its outlook for 2019, which assumes no change in the current economic environment.  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 Securities and Exchange Commission and the securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in Canada. Certain components of the outlook for 2019 are subject to quarterly fluctuations.  See reconciliations in the attached tables.

• Revenue is estimated at approximately $5.310 billion.
• Net income attributable to Waste Connections is estimated at approximately $636.0 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA* is estimated at approximately $1.705 billion, or about 32.1% of revenue.
• Net cash provided by operating activities is estimated to be approximately $1.525 billion.
• Adjusted free cash flow* is estimated to be approximately $950.0 million.

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

Q4 2018 Earnings and 2019 Outlook Conference Call

Waste Connections will be hosting a conference call related to fourth quarter earnings and 2019 outlook on February 14^th at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time.  To access the call, listeners should dial 877-256-3271 (within North America) or 212-231-2927 (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 February 21, 2019 by calling 800-633-8284 (within North America) or 402-977-9140 (international) and entering Passcode # 21912651.  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 February 14^th, providing the Company's first quarter 2019 outlook for revenue, price plus volume growth for solid waste and adjusted EBITDA*.

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 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 (905) 532-7510.  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 (SEDAR) 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 the amount of capital returned 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 / (832) 442-2253
maryannew@wasteconnections.com

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

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 December 31, 2018:

Revenue Breakdown: The following table reflects a breakdown of our revenue for the three month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2018:

Contribution from Acquisitions: The following table reflects revenues from solid waste acquisitions, net of divestitures, for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2018:

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 twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2018:

Debt to Book Capitalization as of December 31, 2018:  39%

Internalization for the three months ended December 31, 2018:  56%

Days Sales Outstanding for the three months ended December 31, 2018:  44 (31 net of deferred revenue)

Share Information for the three months ended December 31, 2018:

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 net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, plus or minus income tax provision (benefit), plus interest expense, less interest income, plus depreciation and amortization expense, plus closure and post-closure accretion expense, plus any loss 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. 

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 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. 

SOURCE Waste Connections, Inc.