NYSE$WCN

Waste Connections Inc · Q4 2020 earnings

Q4 2020 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Waste Connections reported Q4 2020 results, surpassing expectations due to improving solid waste volumes and increasing values for recycled commodities and renewable fuels. The company provided a 2021 outlook.

Waste Connections reported a revenue of $1.398 billion for Q4 2020, up from $1.362 billion in the year-ago period. Net income was $130.7 million, or $0.50 per share. Adjusted net income was $178.6 million, or $0.68 per diluted share. The company expects revenue to be approximately $5.80 billion for 2021.

  • Revenue of $1.398 billion, net income of $130.7 million.
  • Net income and adjusted net income of $0.50 and $0.68 per share, respectively.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $426.6 million, or 30.5% of revenue.
  • Completed additional acquisitions to bring total acquired annualized revenue for the full year to approximately $180 million.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$1.4B

Previous: $1.36B+2.6%
EPS (adj)

$0.68

Previous: $0.69-1.4%
Core Price Growth

4.3%

Previous: 5.4%-20.4%
Surcharges

-0.5%

Previous: 0.0%
Volume

-3.1%

Previous: -1.4%-121.4%
Recycling

0.5%

Previous: -0.8%+162.5%
Total Internal Growth

1.4%

Previous: 3.2%-56.3%
Capital Expenditures

$176M

Previous: $201M-12.2%
Free Cash Flow

$46.6M

Previous: $154M-69.8%
Net Income

$131M

Previous: $133M-1.9%
Operating Income

$197M

Previous: $194M+1.5%
Gross Profit

$551M

Previous: $548M+0.7%
Cash & Equivalents

$617M

Previous: $327M+88.9%
Total Assets

$14B

Previous: $13.7B+1.9%
Stock-Based Comp

$7.44M

Previous: $7.16M+3.8%

Revenue & EPS history

Waste Connections · Revenue · Quarterly

$1.4B

Q4 2020+2.6%vs Q4 2019
Beat estimate in 16 of 16 quarters(100%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Waste Connections · $2.06B total across 5 segments · Q3 2023

  • Solid Waste Collection
    $1.51B+10.5%
  • Disposal & Transfer
    $418M+12.7%
  • E&P Waste
    $58.5M+10.4%
  • Intermodal & Other
    $44.9M-1.4%
  • Solid Waste Recycling
    $35.1M-23.5%

Forward guidance

Waste Connections expects 5.0% solid waste price plus volume growth, 50bps margin expansion, and double-digit percentage growth in adjusted free cash flow for 2021. They expect revenue to be approximately $5.80 billion and net income to be approximately $669 million.

Tailwinds

  • Expects 5.0% solid waste price plus volume growth
  • Expects 50bps margin expansion
  • Expects double-digit percentage growth in adjusted free cash flow
  • Expects revenue to be approximately $5.80 billion, excluding additional acquisitions
  • Expects net income to be approximately $669 million

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 Q4 2020

Historical avgQ4 2020

+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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