A Look Back at Waste Management Stocks’ Q1 Earnings: Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ:CWST) Vs The Rest Of The Pack

CWST Cover Image
A Look Back at Waste Management Stocks’ Q1 Earnings: Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ:CWST) Vs The Rest Of The Pack

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As the Q1 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the waste management industry, including Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ:CWST) and its peers.

Waste management companies can possess licenses permitting them to handle hazardous materials. Furthermore, many services are performed through contracts and statutorily mandated, non-discretionary, or recurring, leading to more predictable revenue streams. However, regulation can be a headwind, rendering existing services obsolete or forcing companies to invest precious capital to comply with new, more environmentally-friendly rules. Lastly, waste management companies are at the whim of economic cycles. Interest rates, for example, can greatly impact industrial production or commercial projects that create waste and byproducts.

The 9 waste management stocks we track reported a mixed Q1. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 1%.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 3.9% on average since the latest earnings results.

Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ:CWST)

Starting with the founder picking up garbage with a pickup truck he purchased using savings from high school, Casella (NASDAQ:CWST) offers waste management services for businesses, residents, and the government.

Casella Waste Systems reported revenues of $417.1 million, up 22.3% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 3.1%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a mixed quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

“We had a strong first quarter to start the year, with both revenue and Adjusted EBITDA up over 20% year-over-year, as we continue to execute successfully on our operating and growth strategies,” said John W. Casella, Chairman and CEO of Casella Waste Systems,

Casella Waste Systems Total Revenue
Casella Waste Systems Total Revenue

Casella Waste Systems scored the fastest revenue growth but had the weakest full-year guidance update of the whole group. The results were likely priced in, however, and the stock is flat since reporting. It currently trades at $117.84.

Is now the time to buy Casella Waste Systems? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q1: Montrose (NYSE:MEG)

Founded to protect a tree-lined two-lane road, Montrose (NYSE:MEG) provides air quality monitoring, environmental laboratory testing, compliance, and environmental consulting services.

Montrose reported revenues of $177.8 million, up 14.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 6%. The business had a stunning quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.