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Casella Waste Systems Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 10 raised, 2 lowered, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 9.6% on acquisitions and price: Revenues were $457.3 million, up $40.2 million or 9.6%. Growth was mainly driven by acquisitions, including rollover from earlier deals, positive collection and disposal price, and National Accounts growth. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 12.3% to $97.1 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $97.1 million, up $10.7 million or 12.3%. The company said acquisition contribution and organic growth both drove the increase. Source
  • Solid waste price up 5.1%: Solid waste pricing rose 5.1%, made up of collection price up 5.3% and disposal price up 4.7%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up 50 basis points: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 21.2% of revenues, against 20.7% a year earlier. Management credited pricing programs, fuel recovery fees and operating programs including automation and routing. Source
  • National Accounts volume up 11.2%: National Accounts volume added $4.2 million, or 11.2%. Management cited National Accounts growth as a driver of total revenue growth. Source
  • Four acquisitions so far in 2026: Four businesses were acquired in 2026 so far, with about $150 million of aggregate annualized revenue. The total includes the Star Waste deal. Source
  • Operating cash flow up 24.2%: Net cash provided by operating activities was $62.3 million, up $12.1 million or 24.2% from the same period in 2025. Source
  • Net loss widened to $5.5 million: Net loss was $5.5 million, against $4.8 million. Interest expense, net was $14.0 million, against $11.6 million, in addition to the operating income factors. Source

“We are pleased with our strong start to the year as our execution delivered solid financial and operating performance in the quarter,”

Ned Coletta, President and CEO of Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenues Sourcefiscal year 2026between $2.060 billion and $2.080 billionRaised from between $1.970 billion and $1.990 billion
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal year 2026between $473 million and $483 millionRaised from between $455 million and $465 million
Adjusted Free Cash Flow Sourcefiscal year 2026between $200 million and $210 millionRaised from between $195 million and $205 million
Net income Sourcefiscal year 2026between $4 and $10 millionLowered from between $16 million and $22 million
Net cash provided by operating activities Sourcefiscal year 2026between $370 million and $380 millionKept
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal year 2026(275,000) in thousandsRaised from (260,000) in thousands
Acquisition capital expenditures Sourcefiscal year 202680,000 in thousandsRaised from 65,000 in thousands
Cash outlays for acquisition expenses Sourcefiscal year 202620,000 in thousandsRaised from 15,000 in thousands
Interest expense, net Sourcefiscal year 202667,000 in thousandsRaised from 55,000 in thousands
Depreciation and landfill amortization Sourcefiscal year 2026267,000 in thousandsRaised from 255,000 in thousands
Amortization of intangibles Sourcefiscal year 202680,000 in thousandsRaised from 75,000 in thousands
Expense from acquisition activities Sourcefiscal year 202620,000 in thousandsRaised from 15,000 in thousands
Provision for income taxes Sourcefiscal year 20265,000 - 9,000 in thousandsLowered from 9,000 - 13,000 in thousands
McKean Landfill rail capital expenditures Sourcefiscal year 20262,000 in thousandsKept
Organics facility closure charge Sourcefiscal year 20263,000 in thousandsKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 ranges raised for revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 net income range lowered from $16 million to $22 million, to $4 million to $10 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2026 operating cash flow range reaffirmed at $370 million to $380 million. Source
  • New: Star Waste acquisition closed April 1, 2026, with about $100 million of annualized revenue. Source
  • New: An organic materials brokerage unit moved from the National Accounts service line to the processing service line, with prior periods reclassified. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 9.6% on acquisitions and price: Revenues were $457.3 million, up $40.2 million or 9.6%. Growth was mainly driven by acquisitions, including rollover from earlier deals, positive collection and disposal price, and National Accounts growth. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 12.3% to $97.1 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $97.1 million, up $10.7 million or 12.3%. The company said acquisition contribution and organic growth both drove the increase. Source
  • Operating income up 54.5%: Operating income was $4.9 million, up $1.7 million or 54.5%. The company attributed this to improved operating performance, partly offset by higher depreciation, amortization and acquisition expense. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS rose to $0.20: Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share was $0.20, against $0.19 a year earlier, on 63.6 million adjusted diluted weighted average shares. Source

Pricing and landfill volume

  • Solid waste price up 5.1%: Solid waste pricing rose 5.1%, made up of collection price up 5.3% and disposal price up 4.7%. Source
  • Landfill pricing and tons both up: Landfill pricing was up 4.3%, with municipal solid waste landfill pricing up 5.0% year over year. Total landfill tons were also up in the quarter. Source
  • Surcharges and fees added $3.2 million: Surcharges and other fees added $3.2 million to solid waste revenue. Commodity price and volume added $0.2 million. Source

“Given the strong start to the year and early execution against our acquisition growth plan, we are updating our guidance ranges,”

Ned Coletta, President and CEO of Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

Costs, fuel recovery and margins

  • Fuel fees offset fuel cost rise: Floating fuel recovery fees fully offset the rapid rise in fuel costs across the legacy operations during the quarter, according to management. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up 50 basis points: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 21.2% of revenues, against 20.7% a year earlier. Management credited pricing programs, fuel recovery fees and operating programs including automation and routing. Source
  • Cost of operations rose $28.5 million: Cost of operations was $308.9 million, against $280.5 million. General and administration was $58.1 million, against $56.5 million. Source
  • Depreciation and acquisition costs higher: Depreciation and amortization was $78.0 million, against $71.5 million. Expense from acquisition activities was $6.5 million, against $5.5 million. Source
  • Organics facility closure charge recorded: The organics facility closure charge was $0.9 million in the quarter. The same period of 2025 had no such charge. Source

Segments and service lines

  • Resource Solutions revenue up 8.0%: Resource Solutions operations revenue rose $6.6 million or 8.0%. Volume added $6.9 million, or 8.4%, and acquisitions added $0.6 million. Source
  • National Accounts volume up 11.2%: National Accounts volume added $4.2 million, or 11.2%. Management cited National Accounts growth as a driver of total revenue growth. Source
  • Processing price down 6.0%: Processing price fell $2.7 million, or 6.0%. National Accounts price rose $1.7 million, or 4.4%. Source

“Our acquired revenues in 2026 have already outpaced last year and the pipeline remains robust,”

Ned Coletta, President and CEO of Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

Acquisitions and integration

  • Four acquisitions so far in 2026: Four businesses were acquired in 2026 so far, with about $150 million of aggregate annualized revenue. The total includes the Star Waste deal. Source
  • Acquisitions added $23.3 million to revenue: Acquisitions contributed $23.3 million, or 7.0%, to solid waste operations revenue. Total solid waste operations revenue rose 10.0%. Source
  • Star Waste adds density in New England: Management said the Star Waste acquisition improves existing density and directly overlays the company's New England operating footprint. Source

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow up 24.2%: Net cash provided by operating activities was $62.3 million, up $12.1 million or 24.2% from the same period in 2025. Source
  • Adjusted Free Cash Flow $30.7 million: Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $30.7 million, up $1.6 million from the same period in 2025. Acquisition capital expenditures were $9.2 million in the quarter. Source
  • Capital spending down to $50.0 million: Capital expenditures were $50.0 million, against $55.5 million. Replacement spending rose to $33.7 million from $28.0 million, and growth spending fell to $16.2 million from $27.4 million. Source
  • Acquisition cash outlay $94.6 million: Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, was $94.6 million, against $103.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Debt principal payments reduced: Principal payments on debt were $8.0 million, against $29.0 million a year earlier. Cash and cash equivalents were $126.9 million at March 31, 2026. Source

Net loss and below-the-line items

  • Net loss widened to $5.5 million: Net loss was $5.5 million, against $4.8 million. Interest expense, net was $14.0 million, against $11.6 million, in addition to the operating income factors. Source
  • Income tax benefit held at $3.3 million: Loss before income taxes was $8.8 million, against $8.1 million. The benefit for income taxes was $3.3 million in both periods. Source
  • Basic and diluted loss per share $(0.09): Basic and diluted loss per common share was $(0.09), against $(0.08), on 63.5 million weighted average common shares. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 April 2026

  • Guidance excludes unclosed acquisitions: The guidance ranges do not include the impact of any acquisitions that have not been completed. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Ceasing operations at the Maine organics facility follows a state law change; closure costs continue through final site closure. Source
  • Demand: Solid waste volume fell $8.5 million, or 2.5%, in the quarter, with collection volume down 2.1% and landfill disposal volume down 1.6%. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said its integration plans for acquired businesses are on track for the year. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred to an earlier statement that it is highly confident the fuel recovery fee program will offset increased fuel costs. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.