News Details

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Waste Connections, Inc. (TSX/NYSE: WCN) (“Waste Connections” or the “Company”) today announced its results for the second quarter of 2026 and raised its outlook for the full year.

“We are extremely pleased to deliver results above expectations, led primarily by strong operational execution driving a top-to-bottom beat in the second quarter. Most notably, adjusted EBITDA^* margin expanded to 32.8% on 70 basis points of underlying margin expansion overcoming cost pressures primarily from rapidly spiking fuel and related costs, as well as ongoing drags from comparatively lower commodity values,” said Ronald J. Mittelstaedt, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our outperformance, in spite of ongoing geopolitical instability and the associated uncertainty, is a reflection of our differentiated strategy and a purposeful culture, both of which will continue to set us apart."

“Our achievements in the first half of 2026, with recent commodity values and ongoing fuel cost recovery, plus contributions from acquisitions closed to date, position us to increase our full year outlook to revenue of $10.02 billion to $10.05 billion and adjusted EBITDA^* of $3.33 billion to $3.34 billion, with upside from improving trends in commodities and contributions from incremental acquisitions.”

Mr. Mittelstaedt added, “Along with a record amount of share repurchases, we’ve completed acquisitions with over $100 million in annualized revenue and remain well-positioned for another outsized year of activity. The enduring strength of our balance sheet and free cash flow generation once again demonstrates our ability to fund our growth strategy while increasing our return of capital to shareholders.”

Q2 2026 Results

Revenue in the second quarter totaled $2.562 billion, up from $2.407 billion in the year ago period. Operating income was $437.6 million, which included $58.5 million primarily attributable to impairments related to adjustments to landfill closure and post closure costs and $7.9 million primarily in transaction-related expenses. This compares to operating income of $459.5 million in the second quarter of 2025, which included $7.3 million primarily in impairments and other operating items and transaction-related expenses. Net income in the second quarter was $296.4 million, or $1.17 per share on a diluted basis of 253.9 million shares. In the year ago period, the Company reported net income of $290.3 million, or $1.12 per share on a diluted basis of 259.0 million shares.

Adjusted net income^* in the second quarter was $381.7 million, or $1.50 per diluted share, versus $333.1 million, or $1.29 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA^* in the second quarter was $840.1 million, as compared to $786.4 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.

Six Months Year to Date Results

For the six months ended June 30, 2026, revenue was $4.932 billion, up from $4.635 billion in the year ago period. Operating income, which included $138.0 million primarily attributable to adjustments to landfill closure and post closure costs, $9.9 million in transaction-related expenses, partially offset by $1.3 million in fair value changes to equity awards, was $801.6 million, as compared to operating income of $849.8 million in the prior year period, which included $27.5 million primarily attributable to transaction-related expenses and impairments and other operating items.

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2026 was $515.7 million, or $2.02 per share on a diluted basis of 254.9 million shares. In the year ago period, the Company reported net income of $531.8 million, or $2.05 per share on a diluted basis of 258.9 million shares.

Adjusted net income^* for the six months ended June 30, 2026 was $696.6 million, or $2.73 per diluted share, compared to $626.2 million, or $2.42 per diluted share, in the year ago period. Adjusted EBITDA^* for the six months ended June 30, 2026 was $1.610 billion, as compared to $1.499 billion in the prior year period.

Updated 2026 Outlook

Waste Connections also updated its outlook for 2026, 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 2026 are subject to quarterly fluctuations. See reconciliations in the attached tables.

• Revenue is estimated to be between $10.02 billion to $10.05 billion;
• Net income is estimated to be between $1.169 billion and $1.173 billion, and adjusted EBITDA ^* is estimated to be between $3.33 billion and $3.34 billion;
• Capital expenditures are estimated to be approximately $1.25 billion; and
• Net cash provided by operating activities is estimated to be between $2.63 billion and $2.68 billion, and adjusted free cash flow ^* is estimated to be between $1.40 billion and $1.45 billion.

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

Q2 2026 Earnings Conference Call

Waste Connections will be hosting a conference call related to second quarter earnings on July 23^rd 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 "Events & Presentations" 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. Shortly after the conclusion of the conference call, a webcast replay will be available on the Waste Connections investor website or by clicking here.

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 46 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. and Canada, as well as intermodal services for the movement of cargo and solid waste containers in the Pacific Northwest. Waste Connections views its sustainability 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. Visit wasteconnections.com/sustainability for more information and updates on our progress towards targeted achievement.

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 2026 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 six month periods ended June 30, 2026:

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Revenue Breakdown: The following table reflects a breakdown of our revenue for the three month periods ended June 30, 2025 and 2026:

ADDITIONAL STATISTICS (continued)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except where noted)

Contribution from Acquisitions: The following table reflects revenues from acquisitions, net of divestitures, closed during or subsequent to the prior periods:

Other Cash Flow Items: The following table reflects cash interest and cash taxes for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2025 and 2026:

Debt to Book Capitalization as of June 30, 2026: 54%

Internalization for the three months ended June 30, 2026: 59%

Days Sales Outstanding for the three months ended June 30, 2026: 38 (23 net of deferred revenue)

Share Information for the three months ended June 30, 2026:

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, 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.

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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. 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.

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NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE (continued)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share:

Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share, 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 and adjusted net income per diluted share as one of the principal measures to evaluate and monitor the ongoing financial performance of Waste Connections’ operations. Waste Connections provides adjusted net income to exclude the effects of items management believes impact the comparability of operating results between periods. Adjusted net income 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 and adjusted net income per diluted share 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.

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UPDATED 2026 OUTLOOK
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except where noted)

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA:

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Reconciliation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow:

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