Waste Management Reports Drop In Profits In First Quarter

Date: April 24, 2003

Source: News Room

Waste Management Inc. has reported that its first-quarter profit, harmed by an accounting adjustment and other costs, fell 56 percent from its year-ago period. The company said it had net income of $61 million, or 10 cents a share, down from $138 million, or 22 cents a share, in the first quarter of 2002. Revenue rose 4.1 percent to $2.72 billion from $2.61 billion. Results in the latest period include an accounting adjustment of $46 million, or eight cents a share, as well as work-force reduction costs and other expenses. Waste Management also said severe winter weather in the East and Midwest hurt earnings by two cents a share. The company said it is still cutting jobs and closing plants, as well as trying to improve efficiency in other parts of the business. For example, new software should help optimize routes, allowing Waste Management to eliminate about 1,500 routes and save roughly $180 million.
More information: www.wm.com.

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