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Quotes & Info
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| WCN > SEC Filings for WCN > Form 8-K on 27-Oct-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
27-Oct-2009
Regulation FD Disclosure
During our earnings conference call on October 27, 2009, we highlighted the following outlook for the fourth quarter 2009 and full year 2010.
(Dollar amounts are approximations)
For the fourth quarter of the year, we estimate our revenue to be approximately $307 million to $309 million. We expect organic growth to be between negative 1% to 1.5%, the components of which are as follows: core pricing growth of approximately 4%; surcharges of approximately negative 1.9%; volume growth of between negative 4% to 4.5%; and recycling, intermodal and other growth of approximately 1%. Operating income before depreciation, amortization and accretion expense is estimated to be between $93.5 million and $94.5 million, reflecting a margin of approximately 30.5%. Depreciation and amortization expense is estimated to be approximately 11.2% of revenue. Operating income is estimated to be approximately 19.3% of revenue. We expect interest expense to be approximately $12.3 million, which includes $1.2 million of non-cash expense related to the new convertible debt pronouncement and $500,000 non-cash amortization of financing fees. Noncontrolling interests expense is estimated to be $300,000. We expect our effective tax rate to be about 38.5% for the fourth quarter. We expect our fully diluted share count to be approximately 79.8 million shares, excluding the impact of any stock repurchase activity during the quarter.
We also expect to incur an approximate $9.5 million one time pre-tax expense in the fourth quarter, or about $5.8 million after tax, in conjunction with the termination of a notional $175 million of fixed interest rate swaps.
These fourth quarter estimates assume no change in the current economic environment and exclude the impact of any additional acquisitions that may be completed during the quarter and the expensing of acquisition-related costs.
For the full year 2010, we expect at least 6% revenue growth, approximately 4% of which is expected to be from acquisitions completed during 2009 but not reflected in full year 2009 results. We estimate net pricing growth to be between 2% and 3% in 2010, and expect recycling growth to contribute an additional 0.5%. We expect our margin for operating income before depreciation, amortization and accretion in 2010 to increase 0.5 percentage points compared to 2009. We expect interest expense to be approximately $12.3 million per quarter in 2010 based on our current outstanding debt. We expect capital expenditures in 2010 to range between $115 million and $120 million, and free cash flow is estimated to be approximately $200 million.
These estimates for 2010 exclude any potential improvement in the economy, improved performance from the assets purchased from Republic Services, Inc. and the impact of any additional acquisitions that may be completed. The Company expects to provide full year 2010 guidance on its fourth quarter earnings call anticipated to be held in February 2010.
Operating income before depreciation, amortization and accretion is considered a non-GAAP financial measure, and is provided supplementally because it is widely used by investors as a valuation and liquidity measure in the solid waste industry. It should be used in conjunction with GAAP financial measures. Management uses operating income before depreciation, amortization and accretion as a principal measure to evaluate and monitor the ongoing financial performance of our operations. Other companies may calculate this measure differently.
Free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, is provided supplementally because it is widely used by investors as a valuation and liquidity measure in the solid waste industry. Waste Connections defines free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities, plus proceeds from disposal of assets, plus or minus change in book overdraft, plus excess tax benefit associated with equity-based compensation, less capital expenditures for property and equipment and distributions to noncontrolling interests. This measure is not a substitute for, and should be used in conjunction with, GAAP liquidity or financial measures. Management uses free cash flow as one of the principal measures to evaluate and monitor the ongoing financial performance of the Company's operations. Other companies may calculate free cash flow differently.
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this report are forward-looking in nature. These
statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as
"believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," or "anticipates," or the
negative thereof or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. Our
business and operations are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and,
consequently, actual results may differ materially from those projected by any
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
from those projected include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) a
portion of our growth and future financial performance depends on our ability to
integrate acquired businesses into our organization and operations; (2) our
acquisitions may not be successful, resulting in changes in strategy, operating
losses or a loss on sale of the business acquired; (3) downturns in the
worldwide economy adversely affect operating results; (4) our results are
vulnerable to economic conditions and seasonal factors affecting the regions in
which we operate; (5) we may be unable to compete effectively with larger and
better capitalized companies and governmental service providers; (6) we may lose
contracts through competitive bidding, early termination or governmental action;
(7) price increases may not be adequate to offset the impact of increased costs
or may cause us to lose volume; (8) increases in the price of fuel may adversely
affect our business and reduce our operating margins; (9) increases in labor and
disposal and related transportation costs could impact our financial results;
(10) we could face significant withdrawal liability if we withdraw from
participation in one or more multiemployer pension plans in which we
participate; (11) efforts by labor unions could divert management attention and
adversely affect operating results; (12) increases in insurance costs and the
amount that we self-insure for various risks could reduce our operating margins
and reported earnings; (13) competition for acquisition candidates,
consolidation within the waste industry and economic and market conditions may
limit our ability to grow through acquisitions; (14) our indebtedness could
adversely affect our financial condition; we may incur substantially more debt
in the future; (15) each business that we acquire or have acquired may have
liabilities that we fail or are unable to discover, including environmental
liabilities; (16) liabilities for environmental damage may adversely affect our
financial condition, business and earnings; (17) our accruals for our landfill
site closure and post-closure costs may be inadequate; (18) we may be subject in
the normal course of business to judicial, administrative or other third party
proceedings that could interrupt our operations, require expensive remediation,
result in adverse judgments, settlements or fines and create negative publicity;
(19) the financial soundness of our customers could affect our business and
operating results; (20) we depend significantly on the services of the members
of our senior, regional and district management team, and the departure of any
of those persons could cause our operating results to suffer; (21) our
decentralized decision-making structure could allow local managers to make
decisions that adversely affect our operating results; (22) because we depend on
railroads for our intermodal operations, our operating results and financial
condition are likely to be adversely affected by any reduction or deterioration
in rail service; (23) we may incur additional charges related to capitalized
expenditures, which would decrease our earnings; (24) our financial results are
based upon estimates and assumptions that may differ from actual results;
(25) the adoption of new accounting standards or interpretations could adversely
affect our financial results; (26) our financial and operating performance may
be affected by the inability to renew landfill operating permits, obtain new
landfills and expand existing ones; (27) future changes in laws regulating the
flow of solid waste in interstate commerce could adversely affect our operating
results; (28) fluctuations in prices for recycled commodities that we sell and
rebates we offer to customers may cause our revenues and operating results to
decline; (29) extensive and evolving environmental and health and safety laws
and regulations may restrict our operations and growth and increase our costs;
(30) we may not be able to obtain satisfactory regulatory approvals to operate
acquired assets or consummate the acquisition of assets we seek to acquire;
(31) extensive regulations that govern the design, operation and closure of
landfills may restrict our landfill operations or increase our costs of
operating landfills; and (32) unusually adverse weather conditions may interfere
with our operations, harming our operating results. These risks and
uncertainties, as well as others, are discussed in greater detail in our filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K. There may be additional risks of which we are not
presently aware or that we currently believe are immaterial which could have an
adverse impact on our business. We make no commitment to revise or update any
forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may
change.
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