WASTE CONNECTIONS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2025 RESULTS

By PR Newswire | October 21, 2025, 4:15 PM
  • Better than expected results highlight superior execution on improving operating trends and cost management
  • Revenue of $2.458 billion, above expectations
  • Net income(a) of $286.3 million, or $1.11 per share, adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections(b) of $372.0 million, or $1.44 per share
  • Adjusted EBITDA(b) of $830.3 million, above expectations
  • Adjusted EBITDA(b) margin of 33.8% of revenue, above expectations
  • Increased regular quarterly dividend by 11.1% and completed share repurchases of approximately 1% of shares outstanding
  • Acquisitions year to date of approximately $300 million in annualized revenue closed or under definitive agreement
  • No change to full year 2025 outlook as provided in July

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 22nd 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

[email protected]                                                                                            

[email protected]          

 

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.

 

Cision
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SOURCE Waste Connections, Inc.

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