WM (WM) Q4 EPS $1.48
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WM (NYSE: WM) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2024.
| Three Months Ended |
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 |
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||
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| As Reported | As Adjusted(a) | As Reported | As Adjusted(a) |
| As Reported | As Adjusted(a) | As Reported | As Adjusted(a) | ||||||||
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Revenue | $5,893 | $5,893 | $5,217 | $5,217 |
| $22,063 | $22,063 | $20,426 | $20,426 | ||||||||
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Income from Operations | $919 | $1,054 | $785 | $1,032 |
| $4,063 | $4,296 | $3,575 | $3,828 | ||||||||
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Operating EBITDA(b) | $1,571 | $1,706 | $1,311 | $1,558 |
| $6,330 | $6,563 | $5,646 | $5,899 | ||||||||
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Operating EBITDA Margin | 26.7% | 28.9% | 25.1% | 29.9% |
| 28.7% | 29.7% | 27.6% | 28.9% | ||||||||
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Net Income(c) | $598 | $688 | $493 | $703 |
| $2,746 | $2,916 | $2,304 | $2,519 | ||||||||
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Diluted EPS | $1.48 | $1.70 | $1.22 | $1.74 |
| $6.81 | $7.23 | $5.66 | $6.19 | ||||||||
“The WM team achieved another year of exceptional results by continuously improving our core business, expanding our sustainability platforms, and adding medical waste and secure information destruction solutions for our customers,” said Jim Fish, WM’s President and CEO. “We delivered over 11% growth in adjusted operating EBITDA for the year as we advanced cost optimization efforts across our operations and executed on disciplined pricing programs in the collection and disposal business.(a) The year also saw the advancement of our sustainability growth investments, expansion of our solid waste business through tuck-in acquisitions, and the acquisition of Stericycle, the largest provider of medical waste services in North America. The momentum across all of these areas is WM’s foundation for success in 2025.”
Fish continued, “We expect to deliver a second consecutive year of double-digit growth in adjusted operating EBITDA in 2025. This year has started off strong and we are confident in our ability to maintain this trajectory as we continue to focus on strong operational performance and service delivery, strategic investments in growth, and delivering superior value to our shareholders.”
KEY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL-YEAR 2024
- On Nov. 4, the Company completed the $7.2 billion acquisition of Stericycle, expanding its comprehensive environmental solutions into the growing healthcare market while advancing its recycling platform. The Company will report the medical waste and secure information destruction businesses together as WM Healthcare Solutions.
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Operating EBITDA | Fourth Quarter 2024 ($ in millions) |
| Full Year 2024 ($ in millions) | ||||||||||
| Total Company Breakout | As Adjusted(a) |
| Total Company Breakout | As Adjusted(a) | ||||||||
| Amount | Margin | Amount | Margin |
| Amount | Margin | Amount | Margin | ||||
WM Legacy Business(f) | $ | 1,567 | 28.5% | $ | 1,645 | 30.0% |
| $ | 6,326 | 29.2% | $ | 6,502 | 30.0% |
WM Healthcare Solutions |
| 4 | 1.0% |
| 61 | 15.1% |
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| 4 | 1.0% |
| 61 | 15.1% |
Total Company | $ | 1,571 | 26.7% | $ | 1,706 | 28.9% |
| $ | 6,330 | 28.7% | $ | 6,563 | 29.7% |
- Adjusted operating EBITDA for the WM Legacy Business grew more than 10% in 2024 and achieved 30% margin for the first time in the Company’s history.(a) The Company’s Collection and Disposal business led the way, driven by organic revenue growth from price, disciplined cost initiatives, and a continued focus on optimizing business mix.
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Revenue | Fourth Quarter 2024 ($ in millions) |
| Full Year 2024 ($ in millions) | |||||
| Amount | Growth |
| Amount | Growth | |||
WM Legacy Business(f) | $ | 5,490 | 5.2% |
| $ | 21,660 | 6.0% | |
WM Healthcare Solutions |
| 403 | N/A |
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| 403 | N/A | |
Total Company | $ | 5,893 | 13.0% |
| $ | 22,063 | 8.0% | |
- Revenue growth in 2024 was driven by core price of 6.7%.(d) An increase in completed acquisitions, including Stericycle, and higher market prices for recycled commodities also contributed to the outsized revenue growth in the year.(e)
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Operating Expenses | Fourth Quarter 2024 ($ in millions) |
| Full Year 2024 ($ in millions) | ||||||||||
| Total Company Breakout | As Adjusted(a) |
| Total Company Breakout | As Adjusted(a) | ||||||||
| Amount | Margin | Amount | Margin |
| Amount | Margin | Amount | Margin | ||||
WM Legacy Business(f) | $ | 3,309 | 60.3% | $ | 3,309 | 60.3% |
| $ | 13,139 | 60.7% | $ | 13,138 | 60.7% |
WM Healthcare Solutions |
| 244 | 60.5% |
| 244 | 60.5% |
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| 244 | 60.5% |
| 244 | 60.5% |
Total Company | $ | 3,553 | 60.3% | $ | 3,553 | 60.3% |
| $ | 13,383 | 60.7% | $ | 13,382 | 60.7% |
- The Company continues to prioritize operational excellence by improving frontline retention, leveraging technology and automation to optimize the cost structure, and shedding low-margin volumes in the residential collection business.
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SG&A Expenses | Fourth Quarter 2024 ($ in millions) |
| Full Year 2024 ($ in millions) | ||||||||||
| Total Company Breakout | As Adjusted(a) |
| Total Company Breakout | As Adjusted(a) | ||||||||
| Amount | Margin | Amount | Margin |
| Amount | Margin | Amount | Margin | ||||
WM Legacy Business(f) | $ | 592 | 10.8% | $ | 536 | 9.8% |
| $ | 2,109 | 9.7% | $ | 2,020 | 9.3% |
WM Healthcare Solutions |
| 155 | 38.5% |
| 98 | 24.3% |
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| 155 | 38.5% |
| 98 | 24.3% |
Total Company | $ | 747 | 12.7% | $ | 634 | 10.8% |
| $ | 2,264 | 10.3% | $ | 2,118 | 9.6% |
- Adjusted SG&A as a percentage of revenue for the WM Legacy Business was a company-best performance, demonstrating the continued focus on cost discipline and optimization.(a)
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- During 2024, the Company continued to progress its investments in sustainability growth projects, completing five renewable natural gas facilities and 12 recycling automation and growth projects, bringing total renewable natural gas projects completed to seven out of 20 planned facilities and total recycling automation and new market projects completed to 25 out of 39 planned.(e)
- The Company generated $5.39 billion of net cash provided by operating activities in 2024, an increase of 14.2% from the prior year. This strong operating cash flow growth resulted in free cash flow increasing 21.8% to $2.32 billion.(a)
- In addition to the acquisition of Stericycle, the Company invested approximately $800 million in acquisitions in 2024, largely for solid waste businesses. These acquired businesses contributed about $150 million of revenue growth in 2024.
2025 FINANCIAL OUTLOOK
WM’s 2025 outlook includes a significant step change in revenue and earnings driven by continued growth in the solid waste business, the addition of WM Healthcare Solutions, and increased contributions from sustainability growth investments.
| Projected Results (in millions) |
| Projected Year-Over-Year Change at Midpoint |
Revenue | $25,550 - $25,800 |
| Growth of 16.4%, including 5.7% organic growth and 10.7% acquisition growth |
Adjusted operating EBITDA(a) | $7,450 - $7,650 |
| Growth of 15.0% |
Adjusted operating EBITDA margin(a) | 29.2% - 29.7% |
| WM Legacy Business expected to achieve 30.7% and WM Healthcare Solutions expected to achieve 17.6% |
Capital to support the business | $2,575 - $2,625 |
| Includes a $140 million increase from WM Legacy Business and a $180 million increase from WM Healthcare Solutions(f) |
Sustainability growth capital | $600 - $650 |
| Reduction of $325 million |
Free cash flow(a) | $2,675 - $2,775 |
| Growth of 17.6% |
2024 Adjusted Operating EBITDA(a) | $6,563 | ||
Growth at Midpoint |
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Collection and Disposal | 500 | ||
Recycling Processing and Sales | 90 | ||
WM Renewable Energy | 60 | ||
WM Healthcare Solutions | 400 | ||
Corporate and Other | (63) | ||
2025 Adjusted Operating EBITDA Midpoint(a) | $7,550 |
Collection and Disposal
- Strong growth in the Collection and Disposal business is expected to be driven by disciplined pricing and continued cost optimization. Revenue growth outlook is based upon core price in 2025 of between 5.8% and 6.2%, yield of between 4.0% and 4.2%, and volumes between 0.25% and 0.75%.
- Rollover from solid waste acquisitions is expected to contribute $150 million of revenue and $35 million of adjusted operating EBITDA.(a)
Sustainability Businesses
- Growth in the Company’s sustainability businesses is expected to be driven by increased contributions from growth projects, partially offset by lower commodity prices.
- The outlook includes a blended average single-stream recycled commodity price of approximately $85 per ton. The Company estimates that a $10 per ton change in the blended average single-stream commodity price impacts total Company operating EBITDA by approximately $25 million.(g)
- About 50% of the Company’s renewable natural gas expected to be sold in 2025 has already been contracted at a blended average price of $28.80 per MMBtu. The Company’s current sensitivity to a $0.25 change in the value of Renewable Fuel Standard credits is approximately $15 million of operating EBITDA.(h)
WM Healthcare Solutions
- The WM Healthcare Solutions business is expected to grow about 9% before synergies in 2025 driven by organic revenue growth and operations initiatives, including fleet and asset network optimization.
- The integration of the business is expected to generate up to $100 million from synergies in 2025.
- The Company now expects to achieve synergies from the acquisition of $250 million, double its original estimate. The Company expects to achieve this run-rate in 2027.
WM’s strong balance sheet and cash flow growth outlook position the Company to continue its commitment to sound capital allocation. The Company’s outlook includes $100 to $200 million of investment in solid waste acquisitions and estimated annual dividends paid to shareholders of $1.3 billion. The Board of Directors has indicated its intention to increase the annual dividend by $0.30 per share to $3.30 in 2025, though all future dividends must be declared by the Board. As previously announced, the Company has temporarily suspended share repurchases reflecting the Company’s commitment to return to targeted leverage levels. By the end of 2025, the Company expects its leverage to be approximately 3.1 times.
SUSTAINABILITY GROWTH OUTLOOK
WM is progressing its sustainability growth portfolio and remains committed to investing in an industry-leading network of renewable natural gas projects and recycling assets. The renewable natural gas projects have a projected payback period of about three years and the recycling assets have a projected payback period of about six years. These anticipated returns reflect the Company’s views that these investments create strong economic value, in addition to underlying environmental value. The Company is providing an updated outlook for the capital expenditures and total adjusted operating EBITDA contributions from the projects for the next three years.
(in millions) | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
Capital Expenditures |
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Recycling Automation and Growth Projects | $443 | $180 - $200 | $65 - $85 | - |
Renewable Natural Gas Growth Projects | $507 | $420 - $450 | $55 - $85 | - |
Total Sustainability Growth Capital | $950 | $600 - $650 | $120 - $170 | - |
Operating EBITDA |
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Recycling Automation and Growth Projects | $53 | $120 - $130 | $250 - $260 | $290 - $300 |
Renewable Natural Gas Growth Projects | $39 | $150 - $160 | $350 - $380 | $470 - $500 |
Sustainability Growth Operating EBITDA(e) | $92 | $270 - $290 | $600 - $640 | $760 - $800 |
2025 projections are based on commodity price assumptions consistent with the Company’s 2025 outlook for a single-stream recycled commodity price of $85 per ton and for a blended average renewable natural gas value of $29.50 per MMBtu. 2026 and 2027 projections are based on a single-stream recycled commodity price of $125 per ton and a blended average renewable natural gas value of $26 per MMBtu, which were the commodity prices used to substantiate our investment case and project earnings. Commodity price variability can impact actual results. | ||||
WM is planning to host an investor day in New York City on June 24, 2025, to discuss the Company’s long-term vision and growth strategies across the business. Additional information about the event will be provided in the coming months.
Fish concluded, “Our outstanding performance in 2024 underscores our dedication to excellence, sustainability, and innovation. Through the hard work of our team, we’ve achieved significant growth and are set for continued success. In 2025, we are focused on advancing the growth of our solid waste and sustainability businesses while also optimizing and growing the WM Healthcare Solutions business, which further strengthens our capabilities as the largest environmental services provider in North America. With a solid foundation and a clear vision, we are confident WM is positioned to achieve our targets for the year.”
(a) | The information labeled as adjusted in this press release, as well as free cash flow, are non-GAAP measures. Please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below and the reconciliations in the accompanying schedules for more information. |
(b) | Management defines operating EBITDA as GAAP income from operations before depreciation and amortization; this measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. |
(c) | For purposes of this press release, all references to “Net income” refer to the financial statement line item “Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.” |
(d) | Core price is a performance metric used by management to evaluate the effectiveness of our pricing strategies; it is not derived from our financial statements and may not be comparable to measures presented by other companies. Core price is based on certain historical assumptions, which may differ from actual results, to allow for comparability between reporting periods and to reveal trends in results over time. |
(e) | The Company’s blended average price received for single stream recycled commodities sold during the quarter was about $87 per ton compared to about $75 per ton in the prior year period, and $92 per ton for the full year compared to $62 per ton in the prior year period. The blended average price for renewable natural gas sold in 2024 was about $31 per MMBtu. The average price received for Renewable Fuel Standard credits was $3.02 during the quarter compared to $2.77 in the prior year period, and $3.05 for the full year compared to $2.45 in the prior year period. The average price received for natural gas was $2.30 per MMBtu during the quarter compared to $1.87 per MMBtu in the prior year period and $1.99 for the full year, compared to $2.07 in the prior year period. The average price received for electricity was about $65 per megawatt hour in the quarter compared to about $62 per megawatt hour in the prior year period and $63 per megawatt hour for the full year, compared to $64 in the prior year period. |
(f) | Management defines WM Legacy Business as total Company GAAP results excluding the WM Healthcare Solutions segment and net of intercompany eliminations. |
(g) | At the midpoint of the outlook, adjusted operating EBITDA contributions from renewable energy and recycling growth projects are expected to total approximately $280 million in the year, providing year-over-year growth of about $190 million.(a) The difference between sustainability growth contributions and segment growth in the year is related to the royalty that the WM Renewable Energy business allocates to the landfills as well as headwinds in the base renewable energy business, primarily from lower contributions from renewable electricity facilities and the Company’s third-party renewable fuel program. |
(h) | The Company expects to generate between 11 and 12 million MMBtu of renewable natural gas in 2025 and plans to sell between 10 and 11 million MMBtu in 2025. The Company projects that the renewable natural gas to be sold at market rates in 2025 will be sold at an average Renewable Fuel Standard credit price of $2.40 and an average natural gas price of $2.20 per MMBtu for an expected total value of $30.25 per MMBtu. |
The Company will host a conference call at 10 a.m. ET on Jan. 30, 2025, to discuss the fourth quarter and full-year 2024 results. Information contained within this press release will be referenced and should be considered in conjunction with the call.
Listeners can access a live audio webcast of the conference call by visiting investors.wm.com and selecting “Events & Presentations” from the website menu. A replay of the audio webcast will be available at the same location following the conclusion of the call.
Conference call participants should register to obtain their dial in and passcode details. This streamlined process improves security and eliminates wait times when joining the call.
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