Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ: CWST) reported Q1 EPS of $0.09, $0.04 better than the analyst estimate of $0.05. Revenue for the quarter came in at $189.5 million versus the consensus estimate of $188.46 million.

“Our team continued to execute very well through the first quarter as we increased Adjusted EBITDA by 15.9%, Adjusted EBITDA margins by 215 basis points, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow by 172.8% year-over-year in the quarter despite continued solid waste volume headwinds due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said John W. Casella, Chairman and CEO of Casella Waste Systems, Inc. “These positive results are a testament to the hard work, adaptability and dedication of our team, the resiliency of our business model, our asset positioning in the disposal capacity constrained northeast market that allowed us to advance positive solid waste pricing, and strong execution against our operating and cost efficiency programs.”

“Solid waste volume declines continued to moderate sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2020 through the first quarter of fiscal year 2021,” Casella said. “With volumes down (3.3)% year-over-year in the quarter, we had a tough volume comparison in the first quarter as we experienced only very limited negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic late in the first quarter last year. We expect solid waste volumes to improve year-over-year through the remainder of fiscal year 2021.”

“As more Americans are vaccinated and the states in which we operate further ease COVID-19 specific restrictions, we continue to see additional commercial customers reopen or increase services, construction activity increase, and overall economic activity rebound across our mainly secondary and rural markets in the northeast,” Casella said.

“We continued to make great progress against our 2021 strategic plan during the quarter,” Casella said. “And, we are well positioned to drive additional acquisition growth through the remainder of the year as our acquisition pipeline remains robust and activity is accelerating.”

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