Casella Waste Systems, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2021 Results; and Provides Fiscal Year 2022 Guidance

• Financial results exceeded expectations, with solid pricing and operating execution, cost efficiencies and strong cash flow growth.

RUTLAND, Vt., Feb. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, today reported its financial results for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2021. The Company also provided guidance for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 ("fiscal year 2022").

Highlights for the Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2021:

• Revenues were $241.8 million for the quarter, up $41.6 million, or up 20.8%, from the same period in 2020. Revenues were $889.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 ("fiscal year 2021"), up $114.6 million, or up 14.8%, from the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 ("fiscal year 2020").
• Overall solid waste pricing for the quarter was up 4.3%, driven by collection pricing, up 4.8%, and landfill pricing, up 4.0%, from the same period in 2020.
• Net income was $9.1 million for the quarter, down $(53.8) million, or down (85.5)%, from the same period in 2020. Provision for income taxes was $2.5 million for the quarter, up $56.1 million from the same period in 2020. Net income was $41.1 million for fiscal year 2021, down $(50.0) million, or down (54.9)%, million from fiscal year 2020.The fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020 included a $55.0 million non-recurring benefit to income taxes due to the reversal of a valuation allowance.
• Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP measure, was $11.0 million for the quarter, up $2.2 million, or up 25.6%, from the same period in 2020.Adjusted Net Income was $46.3 million for fiscal year 2021, up $5.4 million, or up 13.3%, from fiscal year 2020.
• Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $51.4 million for the quarter, up $8.8 million, or up 20.6%, from the same period in 2020. Adjusted EBITDA was $203.6 million for fiscal year 2021, up $32.2 million, or up 18.8%, from fiscal year 2020.
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $182.7 million for fiscal year 2021, up $42.8 million, or up 30.6%, from fiscal year 2020.
• Adjusted Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP measure, was $95.3 million for fiscal year 2021, up $26.2 million, or up 37.9%, from fiscal year 2020.
• Acquired ten businesses with approximately $88 million of annualized revenues in fiscal year 2021.

“We had another great quarter and arguably the best year in the company’s history, as we continued to execute well against our long-term strategic plan, driving improved financial results and lasting operational benefits, despite lingering challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, labor shortages and rising inflation,” said John W. Casella, Chairman and CEO of Casella Waste Systems, Inc. “As a result, we increased revenues by 14.8%, Adjusted EBITDA by 18.8%, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow by 37.9% year-over-year in fiscal year 2021.”

“These strong results are a result of the hard work, dedication and adaptability of our team, our asset positioning in the disposal capacity constrained northeast market, continued achievement of our operating and cost efficiency programs, and strong execution of our growth strategy,” Casella said. “As expected, our solid waste pricing continued to improve sequentially as we advanced 4.3% solid waste pricing during the fourth quarter, with strength in both collection and disposal lines-of-business. We have launched a robust pricing program for 2022, with early data indicating further sequential improvements and limited roll-backs.”

“Inflation for certain costs categories edged up sequentially in the fourth quarter, and our team continued to do an excellent job offsetting higher costs through key operating and technology initiatives, including our route optimization program, continued automation of our fleet, real-time data analytics, and variable pricing programs such as our energy and environmental fees,” Casella said. “Excluding a 35 basis point negative headwind to margins from businesses acquired in fiscal year 2021, our margins were up in the fourth quarter, with our pricing and efficiency programs effectively offsetting inflation.”

“We continue to execute well against our long-term growth strategy, as we acquired ten businesses with approximately $88 million of annualized revenues in fiscal year 2021,” Casella said. "And, we are off to a solid start in fiscal year 2022, as we have acquired five tuck-in acquisitions year-to-date with approximately $4 million of annualized revenues. We expect to recognize roughly $55 million of revenues in 2022 from the roll-over impact of acquisitions completed throughout 2021 and already completed in 2022.”

“We are focused on acquiring well run businesses in strategic markets that will drive long-term growth, additional vertical integration and enhance operating synergies,” Casella said. “Our acquisition pipeline remains robust, and we believe that there is continued opportunity to drive additional cash flow growth across our footprint through execution of our growth strategy.”

For the quarter, revenues were $241.8 million, up $41.6 million, or up 20.8%, from the same period in 2020, with revenue growth mainly driven by: the roll-over impact from acquisitions; positive collection and disposal pricing; higher solid waste volumes; higher recycling commodity prices; higher resource solutions processing volumes; and higher resource solutions non-processing volumes; partially offset by lower Sustainability Recycling Adjustment fees as we share higher commodity prices with our customers.

Net income was $9.1 million for the quarter, or $0.18 per diluted common share, down $(53.8) million, or down (85.5)%, as compared to net income of $62.9 million, or $1.24 per diluted common share, for the same period in 2020. Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP measure, was $11.0 million for the quarter, or $0.21 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, a non-GAAP measure, up $2.2 million, or up 25.6%, as compared to Adjusted Net Income of $8.8 million, or $0.17 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, for the same period in 2020. The fourth quarter in 2020 included a $55.0 million non-recurring benefit to income taxes adjustment due to the reversal of a valuation allowance on the majority of our net operating loss carryforwards and other deferred tax assets.

Operating income was $16.3 million for the quarter, up $2.1 million, or up 14.8%, from the same period in 2020. Adjusted Operating Income, a non-GAAP measure, was $18.4 million for the quarter, up $3.1 million, or up 20.4% from the same period in 2020. Adjusted EBITDA was $51.4 million for the quarter, up $8.8 million, or up 20.6%, from the same period in 2020.

For fiscal year 2021, revenues were $889.2 million, up $114.6 million, or up 14.8%, from fiscal year 2020. Net income was $41.1 million, or $0.80 per diluted common share, for fiscal year 2021, as compared to net income of $91.1 million, or $1.86 per diluted common share, for fiscal year 2020. Adjusted Net Income was $46.3 million, or $0.90 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, for fiscal year 2021, as compared to Adjusted Net Income of $40.8 million, or $0.83 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, for fiscal year 2020. Fiscal year 2020 included a $55.0 million non-recurring benefit to income taxes adjustment due to the reversal of a valuation allowance on the majority of our net operating loss carryforwards and other deferred tax assets.

Operating income was $77.7 million for fiscal year 2021, up $18.4 million from fiscal year 2020. Adjusted Operating Income was $84.4 million for fiscal year 2021, up $18.6 million from fiscal year 2020. Adjusted EBITDA was $203.6 million for fiscal year 2021, up $32.2 million from fiscal year 2020.

See Non-GAAP Performance Measures included in the Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Measures for further disclosure over the various adjustments to estimated Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted EBITDA.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $182.7 million for fiscal year 2021, as compared to $139.9 million for fiscal year 2020. Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $95.3 million for fiscal year 2021, as compared to $69.1 million for fiscal year 2020 (See full reconciliation of Non-GAAP measures in the tables below).

See Non-GAAP Liquidity Measures included in the Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Measures for further disclosure over the various adjustments to Adjusted Free Cash Flow.

Fiscal Year 2022 Outlook

“Our guidance ranges assume a stable economic environment continuing from the fourth quarter 2021 through the remainder of 2022,” Casella said. “We believe that we have established an appropriate pricing plan for 2022 that positions us to offset inflationary headwinds, while still improving margins through our investments in technology and core operating programs. Further, we have several exciting resource solutions projects planned for 2022, including: a full equipment upgrade to our Boston, Massachusetts recycling facility to improve throughput and increase efficiencies; the introduction of robotics and optical sorting technologies to additional recycling facilities; and two renewable natural gas projects at our landfills, where a third party is making the capital investments and we will receive gas royalties.”

The Company provided guidance for fiscal year 2022 by estimating results in the following ranges:

• Revenues between $980 million and $995 million (as compared to $889.2 million in fiscal year 2021);
• Net income between $48 million and $52 million (as compared to $41.1 million in fiscal year 2021);
• Adjusted EBITDA between $228 million and $232 million (as compared to $203.6 million in fiscal year 2021);
• Net cash provided by operating activities between $202 million and $206 million (as compared to $182.7 million in fiscal year 2021); and
• Adjusted Free Cash Flow between $104 million and $108 million (as compared to $95.3 million in fiscal year 2021).
  

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow related to fiscal year 2022 are described in the Reconciliation of Fiscal Year 2022 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 Adjusted Free Cash Flow, respectively, however these forward-looking estimates for fiscal year 2022 do not contemplate any unanticipated or non-recurring impacts.

The Company provided the following assumptions that are built into its outlook:

• Overall, the Company expects revenue growth of between 10.2% and 11.9% in fiscal year 2022, including approximately 6.2% (or $55 million) revenue growth from the roll-over impact of acquisitions completed during fiscal year 2021 and those already completed in early fiscal year 2022.
• Does not include the impact of any acquisitions that have not yet been completed.
• In the Solid Waste business, revenue growth of between 13.3% and 14.3%, with price growth from 4.5% to 5.0%, volume growth from 1.5% to 2.0%, and 7.3% growth from acquisitions completed during fiscal year 2021 and those already completed in early fiscal year 2022.
• In the resource solutions business, revenue growth of between 4.0% and 5.0%, mainly driven by 3.0% growth from acquisitions completed during fiscal year 2021 and slightly higher volumes, partially offset by lower recycling commodity prices.
• Capital expenditures of approximately $120 million, which includes approximately $15 million of non-recurring capital associated with acquisition integration.
• Net cash provided by operating activities will be negatively impacted in fiscal year 2022 as we plan to spend $6.5 million on landfill closure, site improvement and remediation expenditures associated with the Southbridge Landfill closure. We expect the Southbridge Landfill closure project to be substantially completed in fiscal year 2022.

Conference call to discuss quarter

The Company will host a conference call to discuss these results on Friday, February 18, 2022 at 10:00 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 617 6314 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 617 6314).

About Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

Casella Waste Systems, Inc., headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, provides resource management expertise and services to residential, commercial, municipal, institutional 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.

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; anticipated impacts from future or completed acquisitions; and guidance for fiscal year 2022, 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, the following: the Company may be unable to adequately increase prices to offset increased costs and inflationary pressures; it is challenging to predict the duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative effect on the economy, our operations and financial results; the capping and closure of the Southbridge Landfill and the lawsuit relating to our landfill in Bethlehem New Hampshire 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 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; the Company's insurance coverage and self-insurance reserves may be inadequate to cover all of its significant risk exposures; 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; the Company may not be able to successfully integrate acquired businesses; 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 most recently filed Form 10-K 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.

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

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

Non-GAAP Performance Measures

In addition to disclosing financial results prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), the Company also presents non-GAAP performance measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income as a percentage of revenues, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share that provide an understanding of operational performance because it considers them important supplemental measures of the Company's performance that are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of the Company's results. The Company also believes that identifying the impact of certain items as adjustments provides more transparency and comparability across periods. Management uses these non-GAAP performance measures to further understand its “core operating performance” and believes its “core operating performance” is helpful in understanding its ongoing performance in the ordinary course of operations. The Company believes that providing such non-GAAP performance measures to investors, in addition to corresponding income statement measures, affords investors the benefit of viewing the Company’s 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 tables below set forth such performance measures on an adjusted basis to exclude such items:

Non-GAAP Liquidity Measures

In addition to disclosing financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, the Company also presents non-GAAP liquidity measures such as Adjusted Free Cash Flow that provide an understanding of the Company's liquidity because it considers them important supplemental measures of its liquidity that are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of the Company's cash flow generation from its core operations that are then available to be deployed for strategic acquisitions, growth investments, development projects, unusual landfill closures, site improvement and remediation, and strengthening the Company’s balance sheet through paying down debt. The Company also believes that identifying the impact of certain items as adjustments provides more transparency and comparability across periods. Management uses non-GAAP liquidity measures to understand the Company’s cash flow provided by operating activities after certain expenditures along with its consolidated net leverage and believes that these measures demonstrate the Company’s ability to execute on its strategic initiatives. The Company believes that providing such non-GAAP liquidity measures to investors, in addition to corresponding cash flow statement measures, affords investors the benefit of viewing the Company’s liquidity using the same financial metrics that the management team uses in making many key decisions and understanding how the core business and cash flow generation has performed. The tables below, in some instances on an adjusted basis to exclude certain items, set forth such liquidity measures:

Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with or an alternative for GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income as a percentage of revenues, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow 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 EBITDA as a percentage of revenues, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income as a percentage of revenues, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow presented by other companies.

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2022 OUTLOOK NON-GAAP MEASURES
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

Following is a reconciliation of the Company's estimated Adjusted EBITDA (i) from estimated Net income for fiscal year 2022:

Following is a reconciliation of the Company's estimated Adjusted Free Cash Flow (i) from estimated Net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal year 2022:

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

Amounts of total revenues attributable to services provided for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:

Components of revenue growth for the three months ended December 31, 2021 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2020 are as follows:

Solid waste internalization rates by region for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:

Components of capital expenditures (i) for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows: