Company exceeds 2015 expectations
Expects continued momentum through 2016

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 2016-- Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) today announced financial results for its quarter ended December 31, 2015. Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $3.25 billion compared with $3.44 billion for the same 2014 period. Net income for the quarter was $273 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, compared with net income of $590 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2014. On an as-adjusted basis, net income would have been $320 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with $278 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2014.^(b)

The Company’s fourth quarter 2015 results have been adjusted to exclude approximately $0.10 per diluted share of net after-tax charges primarily related to the impairment of certain assets as a result of the pronounced decrease in oil and gas prices. The Company’s as-adjusted fourth quarter 2014 results exclude a tax affected $0.68 per diluted share impact primarily from the sale of the Company’s waste-to-energy business and other assets divested in 2014.^(b)

For the full year 2015, the Company reported revenues of $13 billion, compared with $14 billion for 2014. Earnings per diluted share were $1.65 for the full year 2015 compared with $2.79 for the full year 2014. On an as-adjusted basis, earnings per diluted share were $2.61 for the full-year 2015 versus $2.30 for the full-year 2014.^(b)

David P. Steiner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Waste Management, commented, “In 2015 we maintained our commitment to core price, disciplined growth, and cost controls. The continued improvement in these areas is reflected in our key operating metrics in our fourth quarter and full year results, leading to year-over-year improvements in adjusted operating income and margin and operating EBITDA and margin.^(c)

“In the fourth quarter, the trend toward positive volumes continued, with internal revenue growth from volume in our traditional solid waste business improving 60 basis points compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. We saw improving volume trends across our industrial and commercial lines of business. We are encouraged by the positive momentum we are seeing in these volumes and expect them to continue to improve throughout 2016. Our continued focus on core price and costs, combined with improving volumes, position us for strong cash generation in 2016 and beyond.”

KEY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER 2015 AND THE FULL YEAR 2015

• In the fourth quarter, the Company saw a $50 million increase in internal revenue growth from its traditional solid waste business and a $59 million increase in revenues from acquisitions. However, overall revenue declined by 5.6%, or $191 million. That revenue decline stemmed from a $163 million decline from divestitures, $43 million in lower fuel surcharge revenues, $34 million in lower recycling revenues, and $33 million in foreign currency fluctuations. For the full year, the Company saw a $157 million increase in internal revenue growth from its traditional solid waste business and a $174 million increase in revenues from acquisitions. These increases were offset by a $762 million decline from divestitures, $211 million in lower recycling revenues, $171 million in lower fuel surcharge revenues, and $126 million in foreign currency fluctuations.
• Core price, which consists of price increases and fees, other than the Company’s fuel surcharge, net of rollbacks, was 4.2% for both the fourth quarter and full year of 2015.^(d) Internal revenue growth from yield for collection and disposal operations was 1.7% in the quarter and 1.8% for the full year.
• Traditional solid waste business internal revenue growth from volume was slightly positive in the fourth quarter of 2015, an improvement of 60 basis points versus the fourth quarter of 2014. Total Company internal revenue growth from volume declined 0.9% in the fourth quarter, an improvement from a negative 1.4% in the third quarter of 2015. Total Company volume declined 1.6% for the full year 2015.
• Average recycling commodity prices were approximately 18.6% lower in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with the prior year period. Recycling volumes declined 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Despite these declines, earnings per diluted share from the Company’s recycling operations were flat when compared to the prior year period as a result of operational improvements in the Company’s recycling business. For the full year, average recycling commodity prices were approximately 17.5% lower and volumes declined 5.5%, driving a $0.04 decline in the Company’s earnings per diluted share from recycling operations.
• Operating expenses improved by $143 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the prior year period. Excluding divestitures, operating expenses improved $50 million.^(b) Lower fuel, lower commodity rebates, and continued route optimization drove the improvement. As a percent of revenue, operating expenses were 62.4% in the fourth quarter of 2015, as compared to 63.2% in the fourth quarter of 2014, an improvement of 80 basis points.For the full year, operating expenses improved by $771 million compared to the prior year period. On an adjusted basis, and excluding divestitures, operating expenses improved $328 million.^(b)
• SG&A expenses were 10.6% of revenue and improved by $33 million, or 30 basis points, compared with the fourth quarter of 2014. Excluding divestitures from the fourth quarter of 2014, SG&A expenses improved by $27 million and 70 basis points as a percent of revenue compared with the fourth quarter of 2014.^(b) For the full year, SG&A expenses were 10.4% of revenue and improved by $138 million compared with 2014. On an adjusted basis, and excluding divestitures from 2014, SG&A expenses improved by $68 million from the full year of 2014. ^(b)
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $526 million in the fourth quarter and $2.5 billion for the full year. Capital expenditures were $369 million in the fourth quarter and $1.23 billion for the full year.
• Free cash flow was $188 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, which included a prepayment of $150 million for 2016 cash taxes.^(b) The Company had $31 million of pre-tax divestiture proceeds in the quarter. Free cash flow for the full year was $1.41 billion, despite the previously mentioned tax prepayment and a reduction in free cash flow of $130 million related to businesses divested in 2014. ^(b) The Company had $145 million of pre-tax divestiture proceeds in 2015.
• The Company paid dividends of $172 million to shareholders in the fourth quarter. For the full year, the Company returned almost $1.3 billion to shareholders through $695 million in dividends and $600 million in share repurchases.
• In the fourth quarter the recorded effective tax rate was approximately 31.2% and the adjusted effective tax rate was approximately 32.4%. For the full year, the recorded effective tax rate was approximately 29.1%, and 32.3% on an adjusted basis.^(b)

2016 OUTLOOK

The Company announced the following with regard to its financial outlook for 2016:

• Adjusted earnings per diluted share are expected to be between $2.74 and $2.79. ^(b)
• Recently completed acquisitions and tuck-in acquisitions expected to close in 2016 are estimated to generate between $50 and $75 million of operating EBITDA, although there will be no material benefit to earnings per diluted share in 2016 as first year non-cash amortization will offset the operating EBITDA contribution. Total operating EBITDA is expected to be approximately $3.6 billion for the full year, a 5% increase from 2015.^(b)
• Free cash flow for 2016 is projected to be between $1.5 and $1.6 billion.^(b)
• Core price is expected to be approximately 4.0% for 2016.^(d) Internal revenue growth from yield on the collection and disposal business is expected to be between 1.5% and 2.0%.
• Internal revenue growth from volume in the Company’s traditional solid waste business is expected to be positive in 2016. However, the Company does not expect a recovery in lower margin recycling or non-solid waste volumes. Consequently, the Company anticipates overall volumes to be about flat; with volumes in the first half of the year being slightly negative, and volumes turning positive in the second half of the year.
• Recycling operations are expected to have no year-over-year impact on earnings per diluted share in 2016.
• SG&A expenses are expected to be flat on a dollar basis for the full year.
• The tax rate is expected to be about 35.0%.
• Capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $1.3 to $1.4 billion.
• The Board of Directors has indicated its intention to increase the dividend by $0.10 to $1.64 per share on an annual basis, for an approximate annual cost of $730 million. The Board must separately declare each dividend.
• The Company expects to repurchase up to $1 billion of common stock.

Steiner continued, “2015 was a very successful year for Waste Management. We met or exceeded the goals that we established at the beginning of the year, and that led us to exceed our original full year adjusted earnings per share guidance. Free cash flow was also on pace to exceed our original guidance, and as a result, we applied some of that excess toward 2016 cash taxes. Our strong free cash flow allowed us to return almost $1.3 billion to our shareholders. Moreover, in 2015 we spent more than $500 million on acquisitions that we expect to generate significant cash flow in 2016. Based upon the strength in our cash generation, our Board of Directors raised our dividend by more than 6% and authorized $1 billion of share repurchases.

“In 2016 we expect to continue the progress that we made in 2015 by continuing to execute on our pricing, disciplined growth, and cost control strategies, while integrating recently acquired businesses. This should position us to achieve approximately $3.6 billion of operating EBITDA^(b), and to produce solid earnings and cash generation. In 2016, we will also continue to return significant cash to our shareholders, and we have already spent $150 million on share repurchases in the first quarter.”

Steiner concluded, “We commend our field and corporate staff teams for the great results in 2015. Their focus and execution has positioned our company well for continued growth in 2016 and beyond.”

The Company will host a conference call at 10:00 AM (Eastern) today to discuss the fourth quarter and full year 2015 results. Information contained within this press release will be referenced and should be considered in conjunction with the call.

The conference call will be webcast live from the Investor Relations section of Waste Management’s website www.wm.com. To access the conference call by telephone, please dial (877) 710-6139 approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. If you are calling from outside of the United States or Canada, please dial (706) 643-7398. Please utilize conference ID number 21854213 when prompted by the conference call operator.

A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website www.wm.com and by telephone from approximately 1:00 PM (Eastern) Thursday, February 18, 2016 through 5:00 PM (Eastern) on Thursday, March 3, 2016. To access the replay telephonically, please dial (855) 859-2056, or from outside of the United States or Canada dial (404) 537-3406, and use the replay conference ID number 21854213.

The Company, from time to time, provides estimates of financial and other data, comments on expectations relating to future periods and makes statements of opinion, view or belief about current and future events. This press release contains a number of such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to all statements under the heading “2016 Outlook” and statements regarding 2016 earnings per diluted share and earnings growth / strength; 2016 free cash flow and growth; future operating EBITDA; cash generation capabilities / strength; volume trends and improvement; integration of acquisitions and contributions of such acquisitions to earnings and cash flow; success and execution of pricing, growth and cost control strategies; and future dividend rates and shares repurchases. You should view these statements with caution. They are based on the facts and circumstances known to the Company as of the date the statements are made. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from those set forth in such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, increased competition; pricing actions; failure to implement our optimization, growth, and cost savings initiatives and overall business strategy; failure to identify acquisition targets and negotiate attractive terms; failure to consummate or integrate such acquisitions; failure to obtain the results anticipated from acquisitions; environmental and other regulations; commodity price fluctuations; disposal alternatives and waste diversion; declining waste volumes; failure to develop and protect new technology; significant environmental or other incidents resulting in liabilities and brand damage; weakness in economic conditions; failure to obtain and maintain necessary permits; labor disruptions; impairment charges; and negative outcomes of litigation or governmental proceedings. Please also see the Company’s filings with the SEC, including Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, for additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties applicable to our business. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, including financial estimates and forecasts, whether as a result of future events, circumstances or developments or otherwise.

ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT

Waste Management, based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more information about Waste Management, visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.