Casella Waste Systems, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2019 Results; Updates Fiscal 2019 Guidance

RUTLAND, Vt., Oct. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Casella Waste Systems, Inc. CWST, a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, today reported its financial results for the three month period ended September 30, 2019.

Third Quarter and Year-To-Date Highlights: 

• Revenues were $198.5 million for the quarter, up $25.7 million, or up 14.9%, from the same period in 2018.
• Overall solid waste pricing for the quarter was up 5.3%, driven by robust collection pricing, up 5.2%, and strong landfill pricing, up 6.6%, from the same period in 2018.
• Net income was $12.4 million for the quarter, down $(9.9) million, or down (44.5)%, from the same period in 2018.
• Adjusted Net Income* was $17.7 million for the quarter, up $4.3 million, or up 32.4%, from the same period in 2018.
• Adjusted EBITDA* was $48.4 million for the quarter, up $6.0 million, or up 14.1%, from the same period in 2018.
• The Company raises its revenue and net cash provided by operating activities guidance ranges, lowers its net income guidance range and tightens its Adjusted EBITDA and Normalized Free Cash Flow* guidance ranges for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 ("fiscal 2019").
• The Company has acquired approximately $52 million of annualized revenues year-to-date, exceeding its $20 million to $40 million target range for 2019.

"We had another solid quarter, as we continued to execute well against our key strategies as part of our 2021 plan," said John W. Casella, Chairman and CEO of Casella Waste Systems, Inc. "We remain focused on driving cash flow growth by increasing landfill returns, improving collection profitability, creating incremental value through resource solutions, using technology to drive profitable growth and efficiencies, and prudently allocating capital for strategic growth."

"We continue to make substantial progress executing against our strategic growth initiative, as we have acquired approximately $52 million of annualized revenues year-to-date, including the four acquisitions that we closed on during the third quarter," Casella said. "We are focused on acquiring well run businesses in strategic markets that will drive additional internalization to our landfills and enhance operating synergies. In addition to robust organic growth, we expect revenue growth of roughly 4.0% in 2020 from the roll-over impact of acquisitions already completed in 2019. Our acquisition pipeline remains robust, and we believe that there is continued opportunity to drive additional cash flow growth across our footprint through the sustained execution against our growth strategy."

"Our solid waste pricing programs were ahead of budget again in the third quarter as we advanced 5.2% pricing in the collection line-of-business and 6.6% pricing at the landfills, with overall solid waste price of 5.3%," Casella said. "Solid waste volumes were down -0.1% in the quarter, with collection volumes down as we continued to focus on shedding unprofitable work and advancing pricing in excess of heightened inflation. Disposal volumes were up 1.6% year-over-year as we further ramped landfill volumes to take advantage of higher priced materials through the summer months. Unfortunately, we were unable to ramp up volumes at the Chemung landfill until late September due to landfill construction delays. While this delay negatively impacted results in the third quarter and fiscal 2019, we expect to increase volumes and maximize our annual permit in 2020."

"As announced in early September, we received an important permit expansion at our Waste USA landfill located in Coventry, Vermont," Casella said. "This expansion will increase the lined disposal area by 51.2 acres, or by approximately 13.7 million cubic yards, which will create approximately 20 years of additional airspace at the current run-rate. We continue to make great progress advancing permitting and development activities at several other key sites."

"Operating income was up again in the recycling business despite commodity prices being down -24.8% year-over-year," Casella said. "Our SRA fee, revenue share contracts and contamination fees combined with our efforts to produce higher quality materials and manage processing costs have allowed us to improve recycling financial performance and off-take commodity risk in a challenging pricing environment."

For the quarter, revenues were $198.5 million, up $25.7 million, or 14.9%, from the same period in 2018, with revenue growth mainly driven by: robust collection and disposal pricing; the roll-over impact from acquisitions; higher disposal, recycling, organics and customer solutions volumes; and higher recycling processing fees; partially offset by lower collection volumes; the closure of the Southbridge Landfill; and lower recycling commodity prices.

The third quarter included: $1.1 million of expense from acquisition activities and other items; $0.6 million of legal and other expenses associated with the Southbridge Landfill closure; and $3.6 million of withdrawal costs from a multi-employer pension plan. The withdrawal from this pension plan was a positive step for the Company as we limited the on-going financial risks associated the multi-employer plan and exited the plan for approximately a significant discount to the stated withdrawal liability.

The same quarter last year included: a $10.0 million recovery related to the Southbridge Landfill environmental insurance settlement, partially offset by $0.5 million of legal expenses associated with the Southbridge Landfill closure; and $0.6 million of expense from acquisition activities and other items.

Net income was $12.4 million for the quarter, or $0.26 per diluted common share for the quarter, as compared to net income of $22.3 million, or $0.50 per diluted common share for the same period in 2018. Adjusted Net Income was $17.7 million for the quarter, or Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share* of $0.37 for the quarter, as compared to Adjusted Net Income of $13.4 million, or Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share of $0.30 for the same period in 2018.

Operating income was $18.5 million for the quarter, down $(10.4) million from the same period in 2018. Adjusted Operating Income* was $23.8 million for the quarter, up $3.8 million from the same period in 2018. Adjusted EBITDA was $48.4 million for the quarter, up $6.0 million from the same period in 2018, with strength across almost all lines-of-business.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, revenues were $549.7 million, up $63.7 million, or 13.1%, from the same period in 2018.

Net income was $22.6 million, or $0.47 per diluted common share year-to-date, as compared to net income of $20.1 million, or $0.46 per diluted common share for the same period in 2018. Adjusted Net Income was $30.4 million, or $0.64 per diluted common share year-to-date, as compared to $23.0 million, or $0.52 per diluted common share for the same period in 2018.

Operating income was $38.5 million year-to-date, down $(6.4) million from the same period in 2018. Adjusted Operating Income was $46.4 million year-to-date, up $5.9 million from the same period in 2018. Adjusted EBITDA was $115.4 million year-to-date, up $11.3 million from the same period in 2018.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $71.5 million year-to-date, as compared to $89.9 million for the same period in 2018, with the reduction year-over-year mainly due to: timing differences in cash receipts associated with accounts receivable and cash outflows associated with accounts payable that are expected to normalize through the remainder of the fiscal year; the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 842, Leases on January 1, 2019, which shifted payments on landfill operating lease contracts from an investing activity to an operating activity on the statement of cash flows, with this change only impacting the financial statement classification of this cash outflow; and a reduction in accrued liabilities due to cash outflows associated with the remediation project at a former scrap yard owned by one of our subsidiaries in Potsdam, New York and the Southbridge Landfill closure.

Normalized Free Cash Flow was $24.1 million year-to-date, as compared to $37.3 million for the same period in 2018.  Normalized Free Cash Flow year-to-date included the following adjustments: $11.1 million of landfill closure, site improvement and remediation expenditures associated with the Potsdam remediation project and the Southbridge Landfill closure; $2.2 million of cash outlays related to acquisition activities and other items; $2.6 million of cash outlays associated with the Waste USA landfill expansion; and $11.9 million of capital expenditures primarily related to acquisitions.

Outlook

"Given the strength in our solid waste, recycling, and customer solutions operations combined with the expected contribution from the acquisitions we have completed year-to-date, we are updating our guidance ranges for fiscal 2019," Casella said. 

The Company updated guidance for fiscal 2019 by estimating results in the following ranges:

• Revenues between $735 million and $745 million (raised from $720 million and $735 million);
• Net income between $31 million and $34 million (lowered from $35 million and $39 million);
• Adjusted EBITDA between $154 million and $157 million (updated from $153 million and $157 million);
• Net cash provided by operating activities between $114 million and $117 million (raised from $111 million and $115 million); and
• Normalized Free Cash Flow between $52 million and $55 million (updated from $51 million and $55 million).

Adjusted EBITDA and Normalized Free Cash Flow related to fiscal 2019 are described in the Reconciliation of 2019 Outlook Non-GAAP Measures section of this press release.  Net income and Net cash provided by operating activities are provided as the most directly comparable GAAP measures to Adjusted EBITDA and Normalized Free Cash Flow, respectively, however these forward-looking estimates for fiscal 2019 do not contemplate any unanticipated or non-recurring impacts.

Conference call to discuss quarter

The Company will host a conference call to discuss these results on Friday, November 1, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.  Individuals interested in participating in the call should dial (877) 838-4153 or for international participants (720) 545-0037 at least 10 minutes before start time. The Conference ID is 839 5638 for the call and the replay. 

The call will also be webcast; to listen, participants should visit the company's website at http://ir.casella.com and follow the appropriate link to the webcast. A replay of the call will be available on the Company's website, or by calling (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 (Conference ID 839 5638).

About Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

Casella Waste Systems, Inc., headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, provides resource management expertise and services to residential, commercial, municipal and industrial customers, primarily in the areas of solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling and organics services in the northeastern United States. For further information, investors contact Ned Coletta, Chief Financial Officer at (802) 772-2239; media contact Joseph Fusco, Vice President at (802) 772-2247; or visit the Company's website at http://www.casella.com.

*Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to disclosing financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, the Company also discloses earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization, adjusted for accretion, depletion of landfill operating lease obligations, the Southbridge Landfill closure (settlement) charge, net, gains on asset sales, development project charges, contract settlement charges, legal settlement costs, tax settlement costs, bargain purchase gains, asset impairment charges, environmental remediation charges, severance and reorganization costs, expense from acquisition activities and other items, gains on the settlement of acquisition related contingent consideration, proxy contest costs, withdrawal costs - multiemployer pension plan, as well as impacts from divestiture transactions ("Adjusted EBITDA"), which is a non-GAAP financial measure.

The Company also discloses earnings before interest and taxes, adjusted for the Southbridge Landfill closure (settlement) charge, net, gains on asset sales, development project charges, contract settlement charges, legal settlement costs, tax settlement costs, bargain purchase gains, asset impairment charges, environmental remediation charges, severance and reorganization costs, expense from acquisition activities and other items, gains on the settlement of acquisition related contingent consideration, proxy contest costs, withdrawal costs - multiemployer pension plan, as well as impacts from divestiture transactions ("Adjusted Operating Income"), which is a non-GAAP financial measure.

The Company also discloses net income (loss), adjusted for the U.S. tax reform impact, the Southbridge Landfill closure (settlement) charge, net, gains on asset sales, development project charges, contract settlement charges, legal settlement costs, tax settlement costs, bargain purchase gains, asset impairment charges, environmental remediation charges, severance and reorganization costs, expense from acquisition activities and other items, gains on the settlement of acquisition related contingent consideration, proxy contest costs, withdrawal costs - multiemployer pension plan, impacts from divestiture transactions, losses on debt modifications and extinguishments, as well as impairment of investments ("Adjusted Net Income (Loss)"), which is a non-GAAP financial measure.

The Company also discloses Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share, which is Adjusted Net Income (Loss) divided by Adjusted Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding, which includes the dilutive effect of options and restricted / performance stock units. Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share is a non-GAAP financial measure.

The Company also discloses net cash provided by operating activities, less capital expenditures, less payments on landfill operating lease contracts, plus proceeds from divestiture transactions, plus proceeds from the sale of property and equipment, plus proceeds from property insurance settlement, plus (less) contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interest holders ("Free Cash Flow"), which is a non-GAAP financial measure.

The Company also discloses Free Cash Flow plus (less) certain cash outflows (inflows) associated with landfill closure, site improvement and remediation, plus certain cash outflows associated with new contract and project capital expenditures, plus certain cash outflows associated with contract settlement costs, plus certain cash outflows associated with expense from acquisition activities and other items, plus certain cash outflows associated with capital expenditures related to acquisitions or assumption of new customers from a distressed or defunct market participant, plus (less) cash outflows (inflows) associated with certain business dissolutions, plus cash interest outflows associated with the timing of refinancing transactions, plus cash outflows associated with Waste USA landfill phase VI construction ("Normalized Free Cash Flow"), which is a non-GAAP financial measure.

The Company also discloses net cash provided by operating activities, plus changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures, gains on sale of property and equipment, expense from acquisition activities and other items, withdrawal costs - multiemployer pension plan, environmental remediation charges, losses on debt modifications and extinguishments, stock based compensation expense, development project charges, the non-cash Southbridge Landfill closure charge (settlement), net, impairment of investment, operating lease right-of-use assets expense, interest expense - less amortization, provisions for income taxes, net of deferred taxes, and adjustments as allowed by the Company's credit facility agreement ("Consolidated EBITDA") and total long-term debt and finance leases, less unencumbered cash and cash equivalents in excess of $2.0 million ("Consolidated Funded Debt, Net" and, divided by Consolidated EBITDA, the "Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio"), which are non-GAAP financial measures.

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) are reconciled to net income (loss); Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share is reconciled to diluted earnings per common share; Free Cash Flow, Normalized Free Cash Flow and Consolidated EBITDA are reconciled to net cash provided by operating activities; and Consolidated Funded Debt, Net is reconciled to total long-term debt and finance leases.

The Company presents Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share, Free Cash Flow, Normalized Free Cash Flow, Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Funded Debt, Net and the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio because it considers them important supplemental measures of its performance and believes they are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of the Company's results. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to further understand its "core operating performance." The Company believes its "core operating performance" is helpful in understanding its ongoing performance in the ordinary course of operations. The Company believes that providing Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share, Free Cash Flow, Normalized Free Cash Flow, Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Funded Debt, Net and the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio to investors, in addition to corresponding income statement and cash flow statement measures, affords investors the benefit of viewing its performance using the same financial metrics that the management team uses in making many key decisions and understanding how the core business and its results of operations has performed. The Company further believes that providing this information allows its investors greater transparency and a better understanding of its core financial performance.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with or an alternative for GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share, Free Cash Flow, Normalized Free Cash Flow, Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Funded Debt, Net and the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share, Free Cash Flow, Normalized Free Cash Flow, Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Funded Debt, Net and the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio presented by other companies.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain matters discussed in this press release, including, but not limited to, the statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, our financial performance; financial condition; operations and services; prospects; growth; strategies; and guidance for fiscal 2019, are "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such by the context of the statements, including words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "may," "would," "intend," "estimate," "will," "guidance" and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which the Company operates and management's beliefs and assumptions. The Company cannot guarantee that it actually will achieve the financial results, plans, intentions, expectations or guidance disclosed in the forward-looking statements made. Such forward-looking statements, and all phases of the Company's operations, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, any one or more of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in its forward-looking statements.

Such risks and uncertainties include or relate to, among other things: policies adopted by China as part of its "National Sword" program that will restrict imports of recyclable materials into China and have had a material impact on the Company's financial results; the capping and closure of the Southbridge Landfill and the pending litigation relating to the Southbridge Landfill, the lawsuit relating to odors at the Ontario County Landfill, and the lawsuit relating to the North Country Landfill could result in material unexpected costs; adverse weather conditions may negatively impact the Company's revenues and its operating margin; the Company may be unable to increase volumes at its landfills or improve its route profitability; the Company's need to service its indebtedness may limit its ability to invest in its business; the Company may be unable to reduce costs or increase pricing or volumes sufficiently to achieve estimated Adjusted EBITDA and other targets; landfill operations and permit status may be affected by factors outside the Company's control; the Company may be required to incur capital expenditures in excess of its estimates; fluctuations in energy pricing or the commodity pricing of its recyclables may make it more difficult for the Company to predict its results of operations or meet its estimates; the Company may be unable to achieve its acquisition or development targets on favorable pricing or at all; and the Company may incur environmental charges or asset impairments in the future.

There are a number of other important risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These additional risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those detailed in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and in other filings that the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Investors:

Ned Coletta
Chief Financial Officer
(802) 772-2239

Media:

Joseph Fusco
Vice President
(802) 772-2247
http://www.casella.com 

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except for per share data)

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

Note 1:  Southbridge Landfill Closure Charge (Settlement), Net

In June 2017, we initiated the plan to cease operations of our Southbridge Landfill and later closed it in November 2018 when Southbridge Landfill reached its final capacity. Accordingly, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, we recorded charges (settlement) associated with the closure of our Southbridge Landfill as follows:

(i) We established a reserve associated with settlement of the Town of Charlton's claim against us.
(ii) We incurred legal costs as well as other costs associated with various matters as part of the Southbridge Landfill closure.
(iii) We recorded a recovery on an environmental insurance settlement associated with the Southbridge Landfill closure.

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF CERTAIN NON-GAAP MEASURES
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

Following is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Income from Net income: 

Following is a reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income from Net income:

(i) The aggregate tax effect of the adjustments, including any impact of deferred tax adjustments.

Following is a reconciliation of Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share from Diluted earnings per common share:

Following is a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow* and Normalized Free Cash Flow from Net cash provided by operating activities:

(i) Effective January 1, 2019, as a part of implementing ASC Topic 842, Leases, cash payments on landfill operating lease contracts, which historically were capitalized as property, plant and equipment and presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as cash outflows from investing activities, are classified as cash flows from operating activities that reduce net cash provided by operating activities.
(ii) Includes a contract settlement cash outlay associated with exiting a contract.
(iii) Includes cash outlays associated with the Southbridge Landfill closure and the Potsdam, New York environmental site remediation.
(iv) Includes cash outlays associated with acquisition activities and other items.
(v) Includes capital expenditures related to acquisitions and other non-recurring items.
(vi) Includes capital expenditures related to Waste USA landfill phase VI development.

Following is the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio* and the reconciliations of Consolidated Funded Debt, Net* from long-term debt and finance leases and Consolidated EBITDA* from Net cash provided by operating activities:

(i) Our credit agreement requires us to maintain a maximum consolidated net leverage ratio, to be measured at the end of each fiscal quarter ("Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio"). The Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is calculated as consolidated long-term debt and finance leases, net of unencumbered cash and cash equivalents in excess of $2,000 ("Consolidated Funded Debt, Net", calculated at $533,744 as of September 30, 2019, or $536,772 of consolidated long-term debt and finance leases, less $3,028 of cash and cash equivalents in excess of $2,000 as of September 30, 2019), divided by consolidated EBITDA as defined by our credit agreement ("Consolidated EBITDA"). Consolidated EBITDA is based on operating results for the twelve months preceding the measurement date of September 30, 2019. A reconciliation of Consolidated EBITDA from Net cash provided by operating activities is as follows:

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF 2019 OUTLOOK NON-GAAP MEASURES
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

Following is a reconciliation of the Company's estimated Adjusted EBITDA from estimated Net income for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019:

Following is a reconciliation of the Company's estimated Free Cash Flow and estimated Normalized Free Cash Flow from estimated Net cash provided by operating activities:

(i) Effective January 1, 2019, as a part of implementing ASC Topic 842, Leases, cash payments on landfill operating lease contracts, which historically were capitalized as property, plant and equipment and presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as cash outflows from investing activities, are classified as cash flows from operating activities that reduce net cash provided by operating activities.
(ii) Includes cash outlays associated with the Southbridge Landfill closure and the Potsdam, New York environmental site remediation.
(iii) Includes cash outlays associated with acquisition activities and other items.
(iv) Includes capital expenditures related to Waste USA landfill phase VI development.
(v) Includes capital expenditures related to acquisitions and other non-recurring items.

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA TABLES
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

Amounts of total revenues attributable to services provided for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:

Components of revenue growth for the three months ended September 30, 2019 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2018 are as follows:

(i) Adjusted for $259 of inter-company movements between solid waste collection volume and Customer Solutions associated with the acquisition of a business.

Solid waste internalization rates by region for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 are as follows: 

Components of capital expenditures (i) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 are as follows: 

(i) The Company's capital expenditures are broadly defined as pertaining to either growth, replacement or non-recurring activities. Growth capital expenditures are defined as costs related to development of new airspace, permit expansions, and new recycling contracts along with incremental costs of equipment and infrastructure added to further such activities. Growth capital expenditures include the cost of equipment added directly as a result of organic business growth as well as expenditures associated with adding infrastructure to increase throughput at transfer stations and recycling facilities. Replacement capital expenditures are defined as landfill cell construction costs not related to expansion airspace, costs for normal permit renewals, and replacement costs for equipment due to age or obsolescence. Non-recurring capital expenditures are defined as costs of equipment added directly as a result of new business growth related to an acquisition or assumption of significant new customers from a distressed or defunct market participant.