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Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, Waste Management, Inc. (WM - Free Report) reported strong fourth-quarter 2016 results with GAAP net income of $335 million or 75 cents per share, compared with $273 million or 61 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year increase in earnings was primarily attributable to higher revenues. However, the reported earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a couple of cents.
For full year 2016, the company recorded GAAP earnings of $1,182 million or $2.65 per share compared with $753 million or $1.65 per share in 2015.
Quarter Details
Revenues for the reported quarter improved to $3,460 million from $3,246 million in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year rise in revenues was driven by accretive acquisitions net of divestitures, and an increase in volume and yield in its collection and disposal business as well as the recycling business. Revenues exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,412 million. For full year 2016, the company recorded revenues of $13,609 million compared with $12,961 million in 2015.
Waste Management, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Internal revenue growth from yield (for collection and disposal operations) was 2.1% in the reported quarter. Traditional solid waste internal revenue growth from volume improved 170 basis points year over year to 1.7%. Total internal revenue growth from volume, which includes recycling and renewable energy, was 2.0% – up 290 basis points year over year.
Core price (including price increases and fees, other than the company’s fuel surcharge, net of rollbacks) was 5.1% in the reported quarter, up from 4.3% in the fourth quarter of 2015. Average recycling commodity prices improved 31.6% year over year, while recycling volumes increased 2.4%.
Revenues from the company’s Collection business increased to $2,224 million in the reported quarter from $2,124 million in the year-ago quarter. Landfill revenues improved to $780 million from $745 million in the prior-year quarter. Recycling revenues increased to $338 million from $285 million, while Transfer revenues were up by $30 million to $378 million.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Cash and cash equivalents at year-end 2016 were $32 million, while long-term debt (less current portion) of $8,893 million compared with the respective tallies of $39 million and $8,676 million.
Net cash from operating activities for 2016 was $2,960 million compared with $2,498 million in 2015. Capital expenditures in 2016 were $1,339 million, up from $1,233 million in the year-ago period.
Free cash flow was $387 million in fourth-quarter 2016, compared with $188 million in the year-earlier quarter, bringing the respective tallies for the years to $1,664 million and $1,410 million.
During the quarter, the company returned $180 million to its shareholders through dividend and $225 million through share repurchases. For 2017, the company intends to increase its annualized dividend to $1.70 per share.
2017 Guidance
With strong yield, volume, and cost performance, the company expects 2017 adjusted earnings in the range of $3.14 to $3.18 per share. Free cash flow is expected between $1.5 billion and $1.6 billion.
Clean Harbors has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.9% and is currently trading at a forward P/E of 61.9x.
Republic Services has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 9.1% and is currently trading at a forward P/E of 24.8x.
US Ecology has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 10.0% and is currently trading at a forward P/E of 28.4x.
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Waste Management (WM) Misses Q4 Earnings, Beats Revenues
Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, Waste Management, Inc. (WM - Free Report) reported strong fourth-quarter 2016 results with GAAP net income of $335 million or 75 cents per share, compared with $273 million or 61 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year increase in earnings was primarily attributable to higher revenues. However, the reported earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a couple of cents.
For full year 2016, the company recorded GAAP earnings of $1,182 million or $2.65 per share compared with $753 million or $1.65 per share in 2015.
Quarter Details
Revenues for the reported quarter improved to $3,460 million from $3,246 million in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year rise in revenues was driven by accretive acquisitions net of divestitures, and an increase in volume and yield in its collection and disposal business as well as the recycling business. Revenues exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,412 million. For full year 2016, the company recorded revenues of $13,609 million compared with $12,961 million in 2015.
Waste Management, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Waste Management, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Waste Management, Inc. Quote
Internal revenue growth from yield (for collection and disposal operations) was 2.1% in the reported quarter. Traditional solid waste internal revenue growth from volume improved 170 basis points year over year to 1.7%. Total internal revenue growth from volume, which includes recycling and renewable energy, was 2.0% – up 290 basis points year over year.
Core price (including price increases and fees, other than the company’s fuel surcharge, net of rollbacks) was 5.1% in the reported quarter, up from 4.3% in the fourth quarter of 2015. Average recycling commodity prices improved 31.6% year over year, while recycling volumes increased 2.4%.
Revenues from the company’s Collection business increased to $2,224 million in the reported quarter from $2,124 million in the year-ago quarter. Landfill revenues improved to $780 million from $745 million in the prior-year quarter. Recycling revenues increased to $338 million from $285 million, while Transfer revenues were up by $30 million to $378 million.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Cash and cash equivalents at year-end 2016 were $32 million, while long-term debt (less current portion) of $8,893 million compared with the respective tallies of $39 million and $8,676 million.
Net cash from operating activities for 2016 was $2,960 million compared with $2,498 million in 2015. Capital expenditures in 2016 were $1,339 million, up from $1,233 million in the year-ago period.
Free cash flow was $387 million in fourth-quarter 2016, compared with $188 million in the year-earlier quarter, bringing the respective tallies for the years to $1,664 million and $1,410 million.
During the quarter, the company returned $180 million to its shareholders through dividend and $225 million through share repurchases. For 2017, the company intends to increase its annualized dividend to $1.70 per share.
2017 Guidance
With strong yield, volume, and cost performance, the company expects 2017 adjusted earnings in the range of $3.14 to $3.18 per share. Free cash flow is expected between $1.5 billion and $1.6 billion.
Waste Management currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the industry include Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH - Free Report) , Republic Services, Inc. (RSG - Free Report) and US Ecology, Inc. , each carrying Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Clean Harbors has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.9% and is currently trading at a forward P/E of 61.9x.
Republic Services has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 9.1% and is currently trading at a forward P/E of 24.8x.
US Ecology has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 10.0% and is currently trading at a forward P/E of 28.4x.
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In this latest Special Report, Zacks’ Aggressive Growth Strategist Brian Bolan explores a full-blown technological breakthrough in the making – autonomous cars. He also spotlights 8 stocks with tremendous gain potential to feed off this phenomenon. Click to see the stocks right now >>