NYSE$WCN

Waste Connections Inc · Q1 2021 earnings

Q1 2021 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Reported strong first quarter results driven by solid waste pricing growth, accelerating solid waste volumes, and increased resource recovery values.

Waste Connections reported a strong first quarter in 2021, exceeding revenue and adjusted EBITDA outlook. Revenue reached $1.396 billion, and adjusted EBITDA was $433.2 million, representing 31.0% of revenue. Net income was $160.3 million, or $0.61 per share, while adjusted net income was $0.70 per share. Adjusted free cash flow was $289.8 million, or 20.8% of revenue.

  • Revenue of $1.396 billion, exceeding outlook.
  • Net income of $160.3 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $433.2 million, or 31.0% of revenue, exceeding outlook.
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin in Q1 was 31.0%, up 80 basis points year over year.
  • Adjusted free cash flow was $289.8 million, or 20.8% of revenue.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$1.4B

Previous: $1.35B+3.2%
EPS (adj)

$0.70

Previous: $0.65+7.7%
Core Price Growth

4.5%

Previous: 5.5%-18.2%
Surcharges

-0.3%

No prior period
Volume

-3.2%

Previous: -0.4%-700.0%
Recycling

0.9%

Previous: -0.4%+325.0%
Total Internal Growth

2.6%

Previous: 4.7%-44.7%
Capital Expenditures

-$96.8M

Previous: -$138M+29.7%
Free Cash Flow

$63.5M

Previous: $5.25M+1108.9%
Net Income

$160M

Previous: $143M+12.1%
Operating Income

$238M

Previous: $217M+9.9%
Gross Profit

$570M

Previous: $537M+6.2%
Cash & Equivalents

$743M

Previous: $1.2B-37.8%
Total Assets

$14B

Previous: $14.3B-1.7%
Stock-Based Comp

$10.3M

Previous: $13M-21.0%

Revenue & EPS history

Waste Connections · Revenue · Quarterly

$1.4B

Q1 2021+3.2%vs Q1 2020
Beat estimate in 16 of 16 quarters(100%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Waste Connections · $1.4B total across 5 segments · Q1 2021

  • Solid Waste Collection
    $1.03B
  • Disposal & Transfer
    $271M
  • Intermodal & Other
    $35.6M
  • Solid Waste Recycling
    $31.5M
  • E&P Waste
    $24.7M

Forward guidance

The company expects double-digit solid waste price plus volume growth in the second quarter.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q1 2021

Historical avgQ1 2021

+0.4%

Avg return

Earnings day

+0.9%

Avg return

5 days after

+2.3%

Avg return

30 days after

57%

37 / 65 earnings

Positive

+8.1%

Q1 2026

Best reaction

-8.2%

Q4 2025

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026+8.1%+4.5%-0.6%
Q4 2025-8.2%-6.1%-3.0%
Q3 2025+2.7%+0.6%+0.9%
Q2 2025+0.0%+0.6%-4.7%
Q1 2025+0.5%-0.1%+0.6%
Q4 2024-0.6%-1.2%-2.5%
Q3 2024-1.5%-2.4%+4.7%
Q2 2024-2.9%-2.7%+3.2%
Q1 2024-0.6%-0.9%-0.4%
Q4 2023+6.3%+8.7%+9.6%
Q3 2023-4.8%-3.4%-0.8%
Q2 2023-1.5%+0.2%-2.5%
Q1 2023-3.1%-1.5%-2.0%
Q4 2022+1.2%+1.1%-0.2%
Q3 2022+5.8%+6.5%+11.1%
Q2 2022+2.7%+4.7%+5.5%
Q1 2022-2.5%-5.8%-3.2%
Q4 2021+0.7%+1.2%+15.5%
Q3 2021+0.5%+3.0%+1.6%
Q2 2021-1.2%-1.8%+2.9%
Q1 2021+1.3%+2.8%+3.8%
Q4 2020+1.3%+0.4%+4.6%
Q3 2020-2.7%-1.9%+2.8%
Q2 2020+0.7%-1.6%-2.0%
Q1 2020+5.3%+7.2%+12.6%
Q4 2019+3.1%+4.1%-11.0%
Q3 2019+1.1%+0.7%-0.1%
Q2 2019-3.3%-5.0%-3.8%
Q1 2019+2.1%+3.3%+6.0%
Q4 2018-4.6%-2.5%-0.6%
Q3 2018+3.5%+1.8%+7.9%
Q2 2018+1.7%+0.8%+1.6%
Q1 2018+2.2%+4.1%+8.2%
Q4 2017+0.7%+3.6%+7.3%
Q3 2017+2.7%+1.2%-2.0%
Q2 2017+3.3%+1.8%+1.3%
Q1 2017+2.8%+2.0%+4.6%
Q4 2016+3.7%+4.5%+3.9%
Q3 2016-1.7%-0.1%+3.0%
Q2 2016+3.2%+5.0%+6.8%
Q1 2016+3.4%
Q4 2015-1.4%
Q3 2015-4.0%
Q2 2015+2.1%
Q1 2015-0.1%
Q4 2014-1.5%
Q3 2014+2.2%
Q2 2014+1.1%
Q1 2014-0.0%
Q4 2013+0.9%
Q3 2013-2.3%
Q2 2013-0.6%
Q1 2013+3.9%
Q4 2012-2.7%
Q3 2012-3.4%
Q1 2012+2.0%
Q2 2012+2.0%
Q4 2010+1.3%
Q4 2011+1.3%
Q3 2011-5.4%
Q2 2011-0.6%
Q1 2011-3.4%
Q3 2010-2.9%
Q2 2010+6.9%
Q1 2010-1.1%

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