Waste Business Journal

Republic 2020 Financials Show Steady Improvement on Strong Pricing

Date: February 22, 2021

Source: Republic Services, Inc.

Republic Services' (Phoenix, AZ) roughly flat revenue growth for 2020 is good news amid the major business disruptions caused by the pandemic. Waste volumes which were off by 3.1% for the year had shown improvement and were off by only 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Overall landfill volumes were down 2.4% largely the result of special waste volumes that were off by 9.8% versus last year. "The economy is coming out of it and we're coming out of it with it," said CEO Don Slager. Revenue from recycling reached $297.1 million for the year, up from $273.3 million in 2019 having gotten a big boost from the 67% year-over-year jump in commodity prices in the fourth quarter, which was offset slightly by a 3% decrease in inbound volume.

Republic said it invested $613 million in acquisitions during 2020 and anticipates matching that level in 2021. They now expect the delayed acquisition of Tennessee-based Santek Waste Services to close by the end of the first quarter.

As for 2021 financial guidance, Republic expects volumes to grow between 1.5% and 2%, and revenue to increase approximately 2.5%. Adjusted free cash flow could be between $1.3 billion and $1.375 billion.

Company Financial Release

Republic Services, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Results; Provides 2021 Full-Year Guidance

- Achieved Fourth Quarter Earnings of $0.74 Per Share and Adjusted Earnings of $1.00 Per Share, a 14 Percent Increase Over the Prior Year
- Generated Approximately $2.5 Billion of Cash Flow from Operations and Over $1.2 Billion of Adjusted Free Cash Flow in 2020
- Outperformed 2020 Adjusted Free Cash Flow and EPS Guidance
- Expanded Adjusted EBITDA Margin by 130 Basis Points Over 2019 Full Year Results
- Invested Over $600 Million in Acquisitions and Returned $621 Million of Cash to Shareholders in 2020

PHOENIX, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) today reported net income of $235.5 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2020, versus $289.3 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, for the comparable 2019 period. Excluding certain benefits and expenses, on an adjusted basis, net income for the three months ended December 31, 2020 was $320.4 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, versus $282.7 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, for the comparable 2019 period.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, net income was $967.2 million, or $3.02 per diluted share, versus $1,073.3 million, or $3.33 per diluted share, for 2019. On an adjusted basis, net income for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $1,137.8 million, or $3.56 per diluted share, versus $1,062.9 million, or $3.30 per diluted share, for 2019.

"Last year proved the resiliency of our business model and power of our portfolio. In the face of adversity, the Republic Services team remained focused on our priorities — putting our people first, keeping our facilities running smoothly and taking care of our customers," said Donald W. Slager, chief executive officer. "Republic again proved its strength, resolve and ability to persevere through a challenging environment. As a result, we outperformed our adjusted earnings and free cash flow targets and created sustainable value for our shareholders."

Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Highlights:

• Fourth quarter EPS was $0.74 per share, and adjusted EPS, a non-GAAP measure, was $1.00 per share, an increase of 14 percent over the prior year.
• Full-year EPS was $3.02 per share, and adjusted EPS was $3.56 per share, an increase of 8 percent over the prior year. Adjusted EPS exceeded the Company's full-year guidance.
• Full-year cash provided by operating activities was $2.47 billion and adjusted free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, was $1.24 billion. Adjusted free cash flow exceeded the Company's full-year guidance.
• Republic invested $613 million in acquisitions, or $580 million net of divestitures.
• Full-year cash returned to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases was $621 million and total shareholder return was 10 percent.
• Full-year core price increased revenue by 4.8 percent. Core price consisted of 5.6 percent in the open market and 3.4 percent in the restricted portion of the business.
• Full-year revenue growth from average yield was 2.6 percent.
• Full-year adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $2.99 billion and adjusted EBITDA margin was 29.4 percent, an increase of 130 basis points over the prior year.
• The Company's average recycled commodity price per ton sold during the fourth quarter was $110. This represents an increase of $44 per ton versus the prior year.
• Republic continued to convert CPI-based contracts to more favorable pricing mechanisms for the annual price adjustment. The Company now has approximately $874 million in annual revenue, or 35 percent of its legacy $2.5 billion CPI-based book of business, tied to the water-sewer-trash index or a fixed-rate increase of 3 percent or greater.

2021 Financial Guidance

Republic's financial guidance is based on current economic conditions and does not assume any significant changes in the overall economy in 2021. Please refer to the Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements section of this document.

Full-year 2021 financial guidance is as follows:

• Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share: The Company expects adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $3.65 to $3.73. Detail relating to the computation of adjusted diluted earnings per share is contained in the Reconciliation of 2021 Financial Guidance section of this document.
• Adjusted Free Cash Flow: Republic expects adjusted free cash flow to be in the range of $1,300 million to $1,375 million. Detail relating to the computation of adjusted free cash flow is contained in the Reconciliation of 2021 Financial Guidance section of this document.
• Revenue: Republic expects an increase in average yield of approximately 2.5% and volume growth to be in the range of 1.5% to 2.0%.
• Adjusted EBITDA Margin: Republic expects adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 29.5%.
• Acquisitions & Investments: Republic expects to invest approximately $600 million in acquisitions and $125 million in solar energy investments that qualify for tax credits.

"We expect to achieve the highest levels of adjusted earnings and free cash flow in the Company's history in 2021," added Mr. Slager. "We feel confident about our ability to deliver these strong results because of the firm foundation in place, the broad capabilities that have been developed and the positive momentum in the business heading into the new year."

Company Declares Quarterly Dividend

Republic previously announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.425 per share for stockholders of record on April 1, 2021. The dividend will be paid on April 15, 2021.

Presentation of Certain Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted net income, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted free cash flow are described in the Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Measures section of this document. The adjusted diluted earnings per share and adjusted free cash flow related to the 2021 financial guidance are described in the Reconciliation of 2021 Financial Guidance section of this press release.

About Republic Services
Republic Services, Inc. is a leader in the U.S. environmental services industry. Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides superior customer experience while fostering a sustainable Blue Planet^® for future generations to enjoy a cleaner, safer and healthier world. For more information, visit RepublicServices.com, or follow us at Facebook.com/RepublicServices, @RepublicService on Twitter and @republic_services on Instagram.

 

 

 

 

You should read the following information in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 (when filed). All amounts below are in millions and as a percentage of our revenue, except per share data.

REVENUE

The following table reflects our total revenue by line of business for the three months and years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

The following table reflects changes in components of our revenue, as a percentage of total revenue, for the three months and years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

Average yield is defined as revenue growth from the change in average price per unit of service, expressed as a percentage. Core price is defined as price increases to our customers and fees, excluding fuel recovery, net of price decreases to retain customers. We also measure changes in average yield and core price as a percentage of related-business revenue, defined as total revenue excluding recycled commodities and fuel recovery fees, to determine the effectiveness of our pricing strategies. Average yield as a percentage of related-business revenue was 2.6% and 2.8% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020, respectively, and 2.8% and 2.9% for the same periods in 2019. Core price as a percentage of related-business revenue was 4.8% and 5.0% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020, respectively, and 5.0% for the same periods in 2019.

The following table reflects changes in average yield and volume, as a percentage of total revenue by line of business, for the three months and years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

COST OF OPERATIONS

The following table summarizes the major components of our cost of operations for the three months and years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

These cost categories may change from time to time and may not be comparable to similarly titled categories used by other companies. As such, you should take care when comparing our cost of operations by cost component to that of other companies and of ours for prior periods.

SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

The following table provides the components of our selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months and years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

These cost categories may change from time to time and may not be comparable to similarly titled categories used by other companies. As such, you should take care when comparing our selling, general and administrative expenses by cost component to those of other companies and of ours for prior periods.

RECONCILIATION OF CERTAIN NON-GAAP MEASURES

EBITDA

The following table calculates EBITDA, which is not a measure determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP), for the three months and years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

We believe that presenting EBITDA is useful to investors because it provides important information concerning our operating performance exclusive of certain non-cash and other costs. EBITDA demonstrates our ability to execute our financial strategy, which includes reinvesting in existing capital assets to ensure a high level of customer service, investing in capital assets to facilitate growth in our customer base and services provided, maintaining our investment grade credit ratings and minimizing debt, paying cash dividends, repurchasing our common stock, and maintaining and improving our market position through business optimization. This measure has limitations. Although depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion are considered operating costs in accordance with U.S. GAAP, they represent the allocation of non-cash costs generally associated with long-lived assets acquired or constructed in prior years. Our definition of EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.

Adjusted Earnings

Reported diluted earnings per share was $0.74 and $3.02 for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020, respectively, as compared to $0.90 and $3.33 for the same periods in 2019. During the three months and years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we recorded a number of charges and other expenses and gains that impacted our EBITDA, pre-tax income, net income attributable to Republic Services, Inc. (net income — Republic) and diluted earnings per share. For comparative purposes, certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. The tables below set forth such measures on an adjusted basis to exclude such charges, other expenses and gains:

 

 

We believe that presenting adjusted EBITDA, adjusted pre-tax income, adjusted net income - Republic, and adjusted diluted earnings per share, which are not measures determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, provide an understanding of operational activities before the financial impact of certain items. We use these measures, and believe investors will find them helpful, in understanding the ongoing performance of our operations separate from items that have a disproportionate impact on our results for a particular period. We have incurred comparable charges, costs and recoveries in prior periods, and similar types of adjustments can reasonably be expected to be recorded in future periods. Our definition of adjusted EBITDA, adjusted pre-tax income, adjusted net income - Republic, and adjusted diluted earnings per share may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Further information on each of these adjustments is included below.

Loss on extinguishment of debt and other related costs. During 2020, we paid cash premiums related to the early extinguishment of certain senior notes and incurred corresponding non-cash charges related to debt issuance costs, discounts and hedging strategies.

Restructuring charges. In 2019, we incurred costs related to the redesign of certain back-office software systems, which continued into 2020. In addition, in July 2020, we eliminated certain back-office support positions in response to a decline in the underlying demand for services resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loss (gain) on business divestitures and impairments, net. During 2020, we recorded a net loss on business divestitures and impairments of $77.7 million, which was due to business divestitures and asset impairments in certain markets, including $42.6 million resulting from management's decision to exit certain product offerings and geographic basins in our upstream environmental solutions business. During 2019, we recorded a net gain on business divestitures and impairments of $(14.7) million.

Withdrawal costs - multiemployer pension funds. During 2020, we recorded charges to earnings for withdrawal events at multiemployer pension funds to which we contribute. As we obtain updated information regarding multiemployer pension funds, the factors used in deriving our estimated withdrawal liabilities will be subject to change, which may adversely impact our reserves for withdrawal costs.

Incremental contract startup costs - large municipal contract. Although our business regularly incurs startup costs under municipal contracts, we specifically identify in the tables above the startup costs incurred in 2019 with respect to an individual municipal contract (and do not adjust for other startup costs under other contracts). We do this because of the magnitude of the costs involved with this particular municipal contract and the unusual nature for the time periods in which they were incurred.

Fire-damage related costs. In 2019, certain of our owned and operated facilities were impacted by separate fire-related events. Although our business may incur fire-related damage to our leased or owned property, plant and equipment from time to time, we specifically identify in the table above certain of these costs incurred in 2019 due to their magnitude.

Bridgeton insurance recovery. During 2020 and 2019, we recognized an insurance recovery related to our closed Bridgeton Landfill in Missouri as a reduction of remediation expenses in our cost of operations.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow

The following table calculates our adjusted free cash flow, which is not a measure determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

We believe that presenting adjusted free cash flow provides useful information regarding our recurring cash provided by operating activities after certain expenditures or recoveries. It also demonstrates our ability to execute our financial strategy and is a key metric we use to determine compensation. The presentation of adjusted free cash flow has material limitations. Adjusted free cash flow does not represent our cash flow available for discretionary payments because it excludes certain payments that are required or to which we have committed, such as debt service requirements and dividend payments. Our definition of adjusted free cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.

Purchases of property and equipment as reflected on our consolidated statements of cash flows represent amounts paid during the period for such expenditures. A reconciliation of property and equipment expenditures reflected on our consolidated statements of cash flows to property and equipment received during the period follows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

The adjustments noted above do not affect our net change in cash and cash equivalents as reflected in our consolidated statements of cash flows.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, accounts receivable were $1,091.3 million and $1,125.9 million, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $34.7 million and $34.0 million, respectively, resulting in days sales outstanding of 38.6, or 26.4 days net of deferred revenue, compared to 39.8, or 27.9 days net of deferred revenue, respectively.

CASH DIVIDENDS

In October 2020, we paid a cash dividend of $135.4 million to shareholders of record as of October 1, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, we recorded a quarterly dividend payable of $135.5 million to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 4, 2021, which was paid on January 15, 2021.

SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

During the three months ended December 31, 2020, there were no shares repurchased. In October 2020, our Board of Directors approved a $2.0 billion share repurchase authorization effective starting January 1, 2021 and extending through December 31, 2023.

RECONCILIATION OF 2021 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE

Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share

The following is a summary of anticipated adjusted diluted earnings per share for the year ending December 31, 2021 compared to the actual adjusted diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2020. Adjusted diluted earnings per share is not a measure determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP:

 

We believe that presenting adjusted diluted earnings per share provides an understanding of operational activities before the financial impact of certain items. We use this measure, and believe investors will find it helpful, in understanding the ongoing performance of our operations separate from items that have a disproportionate impact on our results for a particular period. We have incurred comparable charges, costs and recoveries in prior periods, and similar types of adjustments can reasonably be expected to be recorded in future periods. Our definition of adjusted diluted earnings per share may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow

Our anticipated adjusted free cash flow for the year ending December 31, 2021, and our actual adjusted free cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2020, which are not measures determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, are calculated as follows:

 

We believe that presenting adjusted free cash flow provides useful information regarding our recurring cash provided by operating activities after certain expenditures or recoveries. It also demonstrates our ability to execute our financial strategy and is a key metric we use to determine compensation. The presentation of adjusted free cash flow has material limitations. Adjusted free cash flow does not represent our cash flow available for discretionary payments because it excludes certain payments that are required or to which we have committed, such as debt service requirements and dividend payments. Our definition of adjusted free cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.

INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking information about us that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Words such as "guidance," "expect," "will," "may," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," "project," "intend," "should," "can," "likely," "could," "outlook" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include information about our plans, strategies and prospects. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that the expectations will prove to be correct. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements are the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and actions taken in response thereto, acts of war, riots or terrorism, and the impact of these acts on economic, financial and social conditions in the United States as well as our dependence on large, long-term collection, transfer and disposal contracts. More information on factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated is included from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (when filed), particularly under Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors. Additionally, new risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such risk factors, or to assess the impact such risk factors might have on our business. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Republic Services, Inc.

Media Inquiries: Donna Egan (480) 757-9770, media@RepublicServices.com, or Investor Inquiries: Stacey Mathews (480) 718-6548, investor@RepublicServices.com.