WASTE CONNECTIONS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2025 RESULTS

TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Waste Connections, Inc. (TSX/NYSE: WCN) ("Waste Connections" or the "Company") today announced its results for the third quarter of 2025.  

"Superior execution drove better than expected financial results in the third quarter, bolstered by continued improvement in operating trends.  Another quarterly step down in employee turnover and new record low safety incident rates, together with strong pricing retention, provided for underlying solid waste margin expansion of approximately 80 basis points in the period," said Ronald J. Mittelstaedt, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Given our team's effectiveness in overcoming incremental commodity headwinds during the quarter, we are on track to deliver full year 2025 results in line with our outlook as provided in July."

Mr. Mittelstaedt concluded, "As anticipated, the strength of our operating performance, free cash flow generation and balance sheet positioned us for another double-digit increase to our quarterly cash dividend, along with another year of outsized acquisition activity and share repurchases of approximately 1% of shares outstanding.  We remain well-positioned to fund our differentiated growth strategy, while also increasing return of capital to shareholders."

Q3 2025 Results

Revenue in the third quarter totaled $2.458 billion, up from $2.338 billion in the year ago period.  Operating income was $439.6 million, which included $60.1 million in impairments and other operating items, primarily the write-down of contracts and a non-operating E&P waste facility permit, and an environmental liability at an operating facility.  The third quarter also included $3.3 million primarily from transaction-related expenses and fair value changes to equity awards.  This compares to operating income of $475.3 million in the third quarter of 2024 that included $11.1 million primarily in transaction-related expenses and impairments and other operating items.  Net income in the third quarter was $286.3 million, or $1.11 per share on a diluted basis of 257.6 million shares.  In the year ago period, the Company reported net income of $308.0 million, or $1.19 per share on a diluted basis of 258.8 million shares. 

Adjusted net income^(b) in the third quarter was $372.0 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, versus $350.0 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, in the prior year period.  Adjusted EBITDA^(b) in the third quarter was $830.3 million, as compared to $787.4 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.

Nine Months Year to Date Results

For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, revenue was $7.094 billion, up from $6.659 billion in the year ago period.  Operating income was $1.289 billion, which included $70.6 million from impairments and other operating items and $20.3 million primarily attributable to transaction-related expenses and fair value changes to equity awards.  This compares to operating income in the prior year period of $1.267 billion, which included $38.2 million primarily attributable to transaction-related expenses, impairments and other operating items and fair value changes to equity awards.   

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $818.1 million, or $3.16 per share on a diluted basis of 258.5 million shares.  In the year ago period, the Company reported net income of $813.6 million, or $3.15 per share on a diluted basis of 258.6 million shares. 

Adjusted net income^(b) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $998.3 million, or $3.86 per diluted share, compared to $938.7 million, or $3.63 per diluted share, in the year ago period. Adjusted EBITDA^(b) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $2.329 billion, as compared to $2.170 billion in the prior year period. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 ^(a)  All references to "Net income" refer to the financial statement line item "Net income attributable to Waste Connections"

 ^(b) A non-GAAP measure; see accompanying Non-GAAP Reconciliation Schedule

Q3 2025 Earnings Conference Call

Waste Connections will be hosting a conference call related to third quarter earnings on October 22^nd 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 "News & Events" 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.  A replay of the conference call will be available until October 29, 2025, by calling 877-344-7529 (within North America) or 412-317-0088 (international) and entering Passcode #6407087.   

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 Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") 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 2025 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 –

CONTACT:

Mary Anne Whitney / (832) 442-2253                                                                                           

Joe Box / (832) 442-2153

maryannew@wasteconnections.com

joe.box@wasteconnections.com

WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET INCOME

THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2025

(Unaudited)

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)

Three months ended
September 30,

Nine months ended
September 30,

2024

2025

2024

2025

Revenues

$

2,338,488

$

2,458,378

$

6,659,308

$

7,093,609

Operating expenses:

Cost of operations

1,344,079

1,406,854

3,866,932

4,091,153

Selling, general and administrative

222,526

236,476

672,110

729,576

Depreciation

248,473

263,999

712,392

763,727

Amortization of intangibles

45,170

51,331

129,584

149,209

Impairments and other operating items

2,897

60,127

11,441

70,598

Operating income

475,343

439,591

1,266,849

1,289,346

Interest expense

(83,520)

(84,449)

(244,385)

(248,074)

Interest income

3,331

5,090

9,391

9,174

Other income, net

4,904

14,542

12,727

26,463

Income before income tax provision

400,058

374,774

1,044,582

1,076,909

Income tax provision

(92,012)

(88,503)

(232,008)

(258,852)

Net income

308,046

286,271

812,574

818,057

Plus: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

-

-

1,003

-

Net income attributable to Waste Connections

$

308,046

$

286,271

$

813,577

$

818,057

Earnings per common share attributable to Waste Connections' common shareholders:

Basic

$

1.19

$

1.11

$

3.15

$

3.17

Diluted

$

1.19

$

1.11

$

3.15

$

3.16

Shares used in the per share calculations:

Basic

258,023,661

256,948,902

257,939,935

257,835,515

Diluted

258,756,528

257,580,321

258,601,815

258,484,698

Cash dividends per common share

$

0.285

$

0.315

$

0.855

$

0.945

WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)

December 31,
2024

September 30,
2025

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and equivalents

$

62,366

$

117,596

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $25,730 and $22,843 at
December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2025, respectively

935,027

1,069,645

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

229,519

216,399

Total current assets

1,226,912

1,403,640

Restricted cash

135,807

172,989

Restricted investments

78,126

80,002

Property and equipment, net

8,035,929

8,422,847

Operating lease right-of-use assets

308,198

316,106

Goodwill

7,950,406

8,275,386

Intangible assets, net

1,991,619

2,003,600

Other assets, net

90,812

107,925

Total assets

$

19,817,809

$

20,782,495

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

637,371

$

759,271

Book overdraft

14,628

14,292

Deferred revenue

382,501

411,579

Accrued liabilities

736,824

762,137

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

40,490

42,681

Current portion of contingent consideration

59,169

89,044

Current portion of long-term debt and notes payable

7,851

8,619

Total current liabilities

1,878,834

2,087,623

Long-term portion of debt and notes payable

8,072,928

8,621,371

Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities

272,107

270,414

Long-term portion of contingent consideration

27,993

20,080

Deferred income taxes

958,340

1,067,840

Other long-term liabilities

747,253

621,799

Total liabilities

11,957,455

12,689,127

Commitments and contingencies

Equity:

Common shares: Unlimited shares authorized; 258,067,487 shares issued and
258,019,389 shares outstanding at December 31, 2024; 256,022,442 shares issued
and 255,976,094 shares outstanding at September 30, 2025

3,283,161

2,846,773

Additional paid-in capital

325,928

354,567

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(205,740)

(139,084)

Treasury shares: 48,098 and 46,348 shares at December 31, 2024 and September 30,
2025, respectively

-

-

Retained earnings

4,457,005

5,031,112

Total Waste Connections' equity

7,860,354

8,093,368

Total equity

7,860,354

8,093,368

Total liabilities and equity

$

19,817,809

$

20,782,495

WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2025

(Unaudited)

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

Nine months ended
September 30,

2024

2025

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

$

812,574

$

818,057

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Loss from disposal of assets, impairments and other

934

71,614

Depreciation

712,392

763,727

Amortization of intangibles

129,584

149,209

Deferred income taxes, net of acquisitions

81,270

93,839

Current period provision for expected credit losses

12,681

9,321

Amortization of debt issuance costs

7,974

6,271

Share-based compensation

61,229

60,432

Interest accretion

27,733

38,411

Payment of contingent consideration recorded in earnings

(35,035)

(400)

Adjustments to contingent consideration

-

30,874

Other

(1,505)

(7,046)

Net change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions

(149,833)

(177,119)

Net cash provided by operating activities

1,659,998

1,857,190

Cash flows from investing activities:

Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(2,010,274)

(627,310)

Capital expenditures for property and equipment

(659,302)

(794,937)

Proceeds from disposal of assets

5,633

9,153

Proceeds from sale of investment in noncontrolling interests

37,000

-

Other

(18,867)

(20,819)

Net cash used in investing activities

(2,645,810)

(1,433,913)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from long-term debt

4,092,166

2,222,235

Principal payments on notes payable and long-term debt

(2,759,676)

(1,808,598)

Payment of contingent consideration recorded at acquisition date

(26,625)

(28,324)

Change in book overdraft

(287)

(336)

Payments for repurchase of common shares

-

(442,176)

Payments for cash dividends

(221,253)

(243,950)

Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of equity-based compensation

(32,203)

(31,306)

Debt issuance costs

(13,449)

(4,825)

Proceeds from issuance of shares under employee share purchase plan

4,486

5,464

Proceeds from sale of common shares held in trust

1,198

324

Other

(4,000)

-

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

1,040,357

(331,492)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(75)

627

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

54,470

92,412

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

184,038

198,173

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

238,508

$

290,585

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 nine month periods ended September 30, 2025:

Three months ended

September 30, 2025

Nine months ended

September 30, 2025

Core Price

6.3 %

6.6 %

Surcharges

(0.1 %)

(0.2 %)

Volume

(2.7 %)

(2.7 %)

Recycling

(0.8 %)

(0.4 %)

Foreign Exchange Impact

(0.1 %)

(0.4 %)

Closed Operation

(0.8 %)

(0.9 %)

Total

1.8 %

2.0 %

Revenue Breakdown: The following table reflects a breakdown of our revenue for the three month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2025:

 Three months ended September 30, 2024

Revenue

Inter-company
Elimination

Reported
Revenue

%

Solid Waste Collection

$

1,622,308

$

(4,898)

$

1,617,410

69.2

%

Solid Waste Disposal and Transfer

776,928

(317,142)

459,786

19.6

%

Solid Waste Recycling

69,748

(2,611)

67,137

2.9

%

E&P Waste Treatment, Recovery and Disposal

154,202

(6,923)

147,279

6.3

%

Intermodal and Other

47,341

(465)

46,876

2.0

%

Total

$

2,670,527

$

(332,039)

$

2,338,488

100.0

%

 Three months ended September 30, 2025

Revenue

Inter-company
Elimination

Reported
Revenue

%

Solid Waste Collection

$

1,730,339

$

(5,733)

$

1,724,606

70.1

%

Solid Waste Disposal and Transfer

804,442

(348,040)

456,402

18.6

%

Solid Waste Recycling

58,351

(2,110)

56,241

2.3

%

E&P Waste Treatment, Recovery and Disposal

188,679

(9,542)

179,137

7.3

%

Intermodal and Other

42,686

(694)

41,992

1.7

%

Total

$

2,824,497

$

(366,119)

$

2,458,378

100.0

%

Contribution from Acquisitions: The following table reflects revenues from acquisitions, net of divestitures, for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2025:

Three months ended
September 30,

Nine months ended
September 30,

2024

2025

2024

2025

Acquisitions, net

$

161,024

$

76,621

$

359,716

$

318,789

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

Other Cash Flow Items: The following table reflects cash interest and cash taxes for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2025:

Three months ended
September 30,

Nine months ended
September 30,

2024

2025

2024

2025

Cash Interest Paid

$

85,170

$

83,792

$

223,196

$

239,038

Cash Taxes Paid

81,235

50,394

164,615

141,535

Debt to Book Capitalization as of September 30, 2025:  52%

Internalization for the three months ended September 30, 2025:  60%

Days Sales Outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2025:  40 (25 net of deferred revenue)

Share Information for the three months ended September 30, 2025:

Basic shares outstanding

256,948,902

Dilutive effect of equity-based awards 

631,419

Diluted shares outstanding

257,580,321

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 attributable to Waste Connections, plus or minus net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, 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. 

Three months ended
September 30,

Nine months ended
September 30,

2024

2025

2024

2025

Net income attributable to Waste Connections

$

308,046

$

286,271

$

813,577

$

818,057

Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

-

-

(1,003)

-

Plus: Income tax provision

92,012

88,503

232,008

258,852

Plus: Interest expense

83,520

84,449

244,385

248,074

Less: Interest income

(3,331)

(5,090)

(9,391)

(9,174)

Plus: Depreciation and amortization

293,643

315,330

841,976

912,936

Plus: Closure and post-closure accretion

7,387

11,963

22,879

35,779

Plus: Impairments and other operating items

2,897

60,127

11,441

70,598

Less: Other income, net

(4,904)

(14,542)

(12,727)

(26,463)

Adjustments:

Plus: Transaction-related expenses^(a)

8,067

3,835

25,169

19,778

Plus/(Less): Fair value changes to equity awards^(b)

99

(509)

1,602

527

Adjusted EBITDA

$

787,436

$

830,337

$

2,169,916

$

2,328,964

As % of revenues

33.7 %

33.8 %

32.6 %

32.8 %

____________________________

(a)      Reflects the addback of acquisition-related transaction costs.

(b)     Reflects fair value accounting changes associated with certain equity awards.

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.  This measure is not meant to represent residual cash available for strategic acquisitions, stock repurchases, dividends or other discretionary expenditures since it does not adjust for mandatory debt service requirements and other non-discretionary expenditures. Other companies may calculate adjusted free cash flow differently.

Three months ended
September 30,

Nine months ended
September 30,

2024

2025

2024

2025

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

558,310

$

677,449

$

1,659,998

$

1,857,190

Less: Change in book overdraft

(1,637)

(733)

(287)

(336)

Plus: Proceeds from disposal of assets

2,636

3,736

5,633

9,153

Less: Capital expenditures for property and equipment

(272,132)

(297,172)

(659,302)

(794,937)

Adjustments:

Transaction-related expenses^(a)

3,668

1,734

12,348

12,895

Executive separation costs^(b)

-

-

1,670

2,119

Payment of contingent consideration recorded in earnings^(c)

35,035

-

35,035

400

Pre-existing Progressive Waste share-based grants^(d)

39

-

1,170

16

Tax effect^(e)

(9,643)

(434)

(12,556)

(2,832)

Adjusted free cash flow

$

316,276

$

384,580

$

1,043,709

$

1,083,668

As % of revenues

13.5 %

15.6 %

15.7 %

15.3 %

___________________________

(a) 

Reflects the addback of acquisition-related transaction costs. 

(b) 

Reflects the cash component of severance expense associated with an executive departure from 2021. 

(c) 

Reflects the addback of acquisition-related payments for contingent consideration that were recorded as expenses in earnings and as a component of cash flows from operating activities as the amounts paid exceeded the fair value of the contingent consideration recorded at the acquisition date.

(d) 

Reflects the cash settlement of pre-existing Progressive Waste share-based awards during the period.

(e) 

The aggregate tax effect of footnotes (a) through (d) is calculated based on the applied tax rates for the respective periods.

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

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income attributable to Waste Connections and Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share attributable to Waste Connections:

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

Three months ended
September 30,

Nine months ended
September 30,

2024

2025

2024

2025

Reported net income attributable to Waste Connections

$

308,046

$

286,271

$

813,577

$

818,057

Adjustments:

Amortization of intangibles^(a)

45,170

51,331

129,584

149,209

Impairments and other operating items^(b)

2,897

60,127

11,441

70,598

Transaction-related expenses^(c)

8,067

3,835

25,169

19,778

Fair value changes to equity awards^(d)

99

(509)

1,602

527

Tax effect^(e)

(14,275)

(29,005)

(42,655)

(59,903)

Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections

$

350,004

$

372,050

$

938,718

$

998,266

Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Waste Connections' common shareholders:

Reported net income

$

1.19

$

1.11

$

3.15

$

3.16

Adjusted net income

$

1.35

$

1.44

$

3.63

$

3.86

____________________________

(a)  

Reflects the elimination of the non-cash amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets.

(b)  

Reflects the addback of impairments and other operating items.

(c)  

Reflects the addback of acquisition-related transaction costs.

(d)  

Reflects fair value accounting changes associated with certain equity awards.

(e)   

The aggregate tax effect of the adjustments in footnotes (a) through (d) is calculated based on the applied tax rates for the respective periods.

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SOURCE Waste Connections, Inc.