Waste Management Announces Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2012 Earnings

Company Expects Significant Cash Generation in 2013

Houston — February 14, 2013 — Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE: WM) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and for the year ended December 31, 2012. Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2012 were $3.43 billion compared with $3.41 billion for the same 2011 period. Net income ^(a) for the quarter was $224 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, compared with $266 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2011. Adjusting for certain items, net income would have been $267 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with $289 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2011.^(b)

For the full year 2012, the Company reported revenues of $13.65 billion compared with $13.38 billion for 2011. Earnings per diluted share were $1.76 for the full year 2012 compared with $2.04 for the full year 2011. On an as-adjusted basis taking into account several items that impacted the full year results, earnings per diluted share were $2.08 for the full year 2012 and $2.14 for the full-year 2011.^(b)

As-adjusted results in the fourth quarter of 2012 excluded a negative $0.09 per diluted share impact resulting from the following:

• A total of $27 million in after-tax impacts from charges for asset impairments, legal reserves and discount rate adjustments; and
• A total of $16 million in after-tax impacts from charges for restructuring and Oakleaf integration costs.

David P. Steiner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Waste Management, commented, “Our fourth quarter was in line with our expectations.  Our internal revenue growth from yield in the fourth quarter was at its highest level for the year.  This should provide a nice tailwind for improved yield in 2013 -- something every manager will be focused on in 2013.  In addition, we continued to see the benefit of our second quarter reorganization.  These improvements were partially offset by increased costs for operations labor and repair and maintenance.

“During 2012, we continued to produce strong cash flows from operating activities and return cash to our shareholders. We met our goal of $800 million to $850 million of free cash flow, generating $829 million of free cash.  We expect to grow free cash flow by 33% to 45% in 2013.  We returned $658 million to our shareholders in 2013 through our dividend, which our Board has indicated will increase in 2013 to $1.46 per share annually.”

Key Highlights for the Fourth Quarter 2012 and the Full Year 2012

• Revenue in the fourth quarter increased by 0.8%, or $28 million.  For the full year, revenue increased by 2.0%, or $271 million.
• Internal revenue growth from yield for collection and disposal operations was 0.9% for the fourth quarter and 0.8% for the full year. Adjusting for contract changes related to the Company’s South Florida waste-to-energy plants, internal revenue growth from yield for collection and disposal operations was 1.1% in the fourth quarter and 1.0% for the full year.
• Core price increases, which consist of price increases and fees (excluding fuel surcharges), net of rollbacks, were 2.5% for the fourth quarter and 2.8% for the full year.
• Internal revenue growth from volume was 0.4% for the fourth quarter and 0.5% for the full year.
• Recycling and electricity commodities pricing had a negative impact of $0.04 per diluted share in the fourth quarter when compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.  For the full year, commodities pricing had a negative impact of $0.25 per diluted share when compared to the full year of 2011.
• Operating expenses increased by $79 million in the fourth quarter and $338 million for the full year. Adjusting for the items excluded in calculating the Company’s as-adjusted earnings, operating expenses increased by $71 million in the fourth quarter and $326 million for the full year.^(b) In the fourth quarter, the majority of the increases were for costs associated with operating recently acquired businesses, labor, and repair and maintenance. 
• SG&A expenses in the fourth quarter improved to 10.4% of revenue from 11.9% in the prior year period, and for the full year improved to 10.8% of revenue from 11.6% in the prior year.
• In the fourth quarter, net cash provided by operating activities was $577 million; capital expenditures were $378 million; and free cash flow was $215 million.^(b) For the full year 2012, net cash provided by operating activities was $2.3 billion; capital expenditures were $1.51 billion; and free cash flow was $829 million.^(b)
• The Company returned $165 million to shareholders in the fourth quarter in dividends. For the full year, the Company returned $658 million to shareholders in dividends.

• The effective tax rate was approximately 32.4% in the fourth quarter and approximately 34.0% for the full year.

2013 OUTLOOK

The Company announced the following with regard to its financial outlook for 2013:

• 2013 adjusted earnings per diluted share are expected to be between $2.15 and $2.20.^(b)
• Internal revenue growth from yield on the collection and disposal business is expected to be between 1.0% and 1.5%.  Internal revenue growth from volume is expected to be between 0.5% and 1.0%. 
• Recycling commodity sales prices are expected to have a negative $0.02 impact on earnings per diluted share in 2013, compared with the prior year.
• Results from the Company’s waste-to-energy operations are expected to have a negative $0.02 impact on earnings per diluted share, compared with the prior year.
• The tax rate is expected to be approximately 35.0%. 
• Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $1.3 to $1.4 billion.   
• Free cash flow is projected to be approximately $1.1 to $1.2 billion without the benefit of any divestitures.^(b)  Any divestitures would increase free cash flow.
• The Board of Directors has announced its intention to increase the dividend to $1.46 per share on an annual basis, at an approximate annual cost of $680 million.  The Board must separately declare each dividend.  The Board has authorized up to $500 million in share repurchases. The amount of share repurchases will depend on a number of factors, including changes from expected levels of capital expenditures, business acquisitions, investments and debt repayments.

Steiner concluded, “Based upon all of our assumptions, we forecast full-year adjusted earnings to be in the range of $2.15 to $2.20 per diluted share.^(b) Capital expenditures are projected to be about $1.3 to $1.4 billion; and our free cash flow for 2013 is estimated to be approximately $1.1 to $1.2 billion.^(b) We expect to continue to use our free cash to pay our dividend, to reduce debt, and to repurchase shares, as well as to make appropriate acquisitions and investments in our business.  These acquisitions and investments will be predominantly in our core businesses of solid waste and recycling.

“In 2013 we expect to see increased internal revenue growth from yield and volume, as well as the ongoing benefit from our cost savings programs. We are forecasting modest earnings per share growth in 2013 of between 3% and 6%, but strong free cash flow growth of between 33% and 45%. Our projected earnings growth is being impacted by about $120 million of compensation headwinds from accruals that we expect in 2013 assuming target payout of our annual and long-term incentive plans, compared to significantly lower incentive compensation expense in 2012.  Without this accrual, our forecasted earnings would be $0.15 per share higher.  We do not expect this same headwind in 2014, so based on current conditions and assumptions, we expect to see more normalized earnings growth of 8% to 12% in 2014.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

^{(a)       For purposes of this press release, all references to “Net income” refer to the financial statement line item “Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.”}

^{(b)       This earnings release contains a discussion of non-GAAP measures, as defined in Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company reports its financial results in compliance with GAAP, but believes that also discussing non-GAAP measures provides investors with (i) additional, meaningful comparisons of current results to prior periods’ results by excluding items that the Company does not believe reflect its fundamental business performance and are not representative or indicative of our results of operations and (ii) financial measures the Company uses in the management of its business. Accordingly, net income, earnings per diluted share, and operating expenses have been presented in certain instances excluding special items noted in this press release.}

^{The Company’s projected full year 2013 earnings per diluted share are not GAAP net earnings per diluted share and are anticipated to be adjusted to exclude the effects of events or circumstances in 2013 that are not representative or indicative of the Company’s results of operations.  Projected GAAP earnings per diluted share for the full year would require inclusion of the projected impact of future excluded items, including items that are not currently determinable, but may be significant, such as asset impairments and one-time items, charges, gains or losses from divestitures or litigation, or other items. Due to the uncertainty of the likelihood, amount and timing of any such items, the Company does not have information available to provide a quantitative reconciliation of adjusted projected full year earnings per diluted share to a GAAP earnings per diluted share projection.}  

^{The Company also discusses free cash flow and provides a projection of free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP measure, because it believes that it is indicative of our ability to pay our quarterly dividends, repurchase common stock, fund acquisitions and other investments and, in the absence of refinancings, to repay our debt obligations. Free cash flow is not intended to replace “Net cash provided by operating activities,” which is the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure. However, the Company believes free cash flow gives investors useful insight into how the Company views its liquidity. Nonetheless, the use of free cash flow as a liquidity measure has material limitations because it excludes certain expenditures that are required or that the Company has committed to, such as declared dividend payments and debt service requirements. The Company defines free cash flow as:}

• ^{·          Net cash provided by operating activities}
• ^{·          Less, capital expenditures}
• ^{·          Plus, proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested), and other sales of assets.}

^{The Company's definition of free cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies, and therefore is not subject to comparison.}

^{The quantitative reconciliations of non-GAAP measures used herein, other than projected earnings per diluted share, to the most comparable GAAP measures are included in the accompanying schedules. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP, and investors are urged to take into account GAAP measures as well as non-GAAP measures in evaluating the Company.}

The Company will host a conference call at 10:00 AM (Eastern) today to discuss the fourth quarter and full year 2012 results. Information contained within this press release will be referenced and should be considered in conjunction with the call.

The conference call will be webcast live from the Investor Relations section of Waste Management’s website www.wm.com. To access the conference call by telephone, please dial (877) 710-6139 approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. If you are calling from outside of the United States or Canada, please dial (706) 643-7398. Please utilize conference ID number 88156298 when prompted by the conference call operator.

A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website www.wm.com and by telephone from approximately 1:00 PM (Eastern) Thursday, February 14, 2013 through 5:00 PM (Eastern) on Thursday, March 1, 2013. To access the replay telephonically, please dial (855) 859-2056, or from outside of the United States or Canada dial (404) 537-3406, and use the replay conference ID number 88156298.

The Company, from time to time, provides estimates of financial and other data, comments on expectations relating to future periods and makes statements of opinion, view or belief about current and future events. This press release contains a number of such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, all of the statements under the heading “2013 Outlook” (which includes 2013 earnings per diluted share; 2013 free cash flow; 2013 capital expenditures; future internal revenue growth from yield and volume; future recycling commodity prices; results from waste-to-energy operations; expected tax rate; and future dividends and share repurchases), as well as statements regarding 2013 compensation and accruals, future debt reduction, future acquisitions and investments, and earnings or cash generation in 2014. You should view these statements with caution. They are based on the facts and circumstances known to the Company as of the date the statements are made. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from those set forth in such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, increased competition; pricing actions; failure to implement our optimization, growth, and cost savings initiatives and overall business strategy; environmental and other regulations; commodity price fluctuations; disposal alternatives and waste diversion; declining waste volumes; failure to develop and protect new technology; significant environmental or other incidents resulting in liabilities and brand damage; weakness in economic conditions; failure to obtain and maintain necessary permits; labor disruptions; impairment charges; and negative outcomes of  litigation or governmental proceedings.  Please also see the Company’s filings with the SEC, including Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, for additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties applicable to our business.  The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, including financial estimates and forecasts, whether as a result of future events, circumstances or developments or otherwise.

About Waste Management

Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more information about Waste Management visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.