Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Montrose (NYSE: MEG) and the best and worst performers in the waste management industry.
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 slower Q4. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.2%.
Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 5.3% since the latest earnings results.
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 $189.1 million, up 14.1% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. 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’ organic revenue estimates.
Montrose Chief Executive Officer and Director, Vijay Manthripragada, commented, "We are pleased to report another record year and record quarter of financial and operating performance driven by continued demand for our uniquely integrated environmental expertise and technology. Our continued track record of strong organic growth primarily due to cross-selling success and strong customer retention, our increased margins due to improved operating efficiencies, our lower leverage due to balance sheet strength, our continued innovation success with developing patented technologies, and our successful integration of recent acquisitions, all continue to validate the strategic advantages of our business model. Our end-market and service diversification and our focus on simultaneously supporting economic value creation and environmental stewardship continues to resonate. We believe the new US administration and the expected political and policy shifts in our key markets will create more tailwinds than headwinds given our private sector focus and given potential increases in demand for our services due to onshoring and increased energy and industrial production."
Montrose delivered the weakest full-year guidance update of the whole group. The stock is down 12.3% since reporting and currently trades at $15.30.
Is now the time to buy Montrose? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q4: 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 $427.5 million, up 18.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.3%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Casella Waste Systems pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat, fastest revenue growth, and highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 4.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $111.34.
Is now the time to buy Casella Waste Systems? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q4: Perma-Fix (NASDAQ: PESI)
Tackling hazardous waste challenges since 1990, Perma-Fix (NASDAQ: PESI) provides environmental waste treatment services.
Perma-Fix reported revenues of $14.7 million, down 35.3% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 6.9%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Perma-Fix delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 1.7% since the results and currently trades at $7.12.
Read our full analysis of Perma-Fix’s results here.
Waste Management (NYSE: WM)
Headquartered in Houston, Waste Management (NYSE: WM) is a provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America.
Waste Management reported revenues of $5.89 billion, up 13% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. Taking a step back, it was a slower quarter as it logged a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The stock is up 9.2% since reporting and currently trades at $228.93.
Read our full, actionable report on Waste Management here, it’s free.
Quest Resource (NASDAQ: QRHC)
Recycling corporate waste to help companies be more sustainable, Quest Resource (NASDAQ: QRHC) is a provider of waste and recycling services.
Quest Resource reported revenues of $69.97 million, flat year on year. This result missed analysts’ expectations by 5%. Overall, it was a disappointing quarter as it also produced a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.
The stock is down 27.6% since reporting and currently trades at $2.80.
Read our full, actionable report on Quest Resource here, it’s free.
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