Ned Coletta: Thanks, Brian. Good morning from Rutland, Vermont. As my first earnings call as CEO, I want to begin by saying how honored I am to lead this exceptional team into the next chapter of Casella's growth. I'm energized by the opportunities ahead and confident in our ability to continue building long-term value for our shareholders, customers, and employees. We closed the fourth quarter with performance that reflects sustained organic growth, meaningful operating improvement, and continued strategic ...

Industry Overview - The Waste Management industry is witnessing positive trends due to government regulations, advanced technology adoption, and increased environmental awareness, with a projected 6.6% CAGR through 2031 [1] - The industry is categorized into segments based on waste type, including industrial, commercial, domestic, and agricultural waste, with industrial waste gaining significance due to ongoing industrial expansion [3] - The Disposal services segment is the primary revenue-generating category, driven by the growing need for waste recycling [3] Environmental and Technological Impact - Waste management is integral to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, with an average ESG disclosure score of 50-60% for the industry, aligning with consumer and investor demands for sustainability [4] - Technology, particularly AI, is crucial for improving waste sorting and management, leading to more effective and eco-friendly practices [5] - Waste-to-Energy (WTE) technologies are expected to grow from $37.3 billion in 2025 to $51.7 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 3.6%, driven by increased waste generation and a focus on sustainable living [6] Financial Performance and Challenges - The Zacks Waste Removal Services industry has seen a 3.7% decline over the past year, underperforming compared to the S&P 500's 15% rally [10] - The industry is currently trading at an EV-to-EBITDA ratio of 12.84X, lower than the S&P 500's 17.7X, indicating potential valuation opportunities [13] - Rising operating costs due to the complexity of waste management processes are putting pressure on companies' bottom lines [7] Company Highlights - **Casella Waste Systems (CWST)**: The company is focused on solid waste pricing strength and has automated 60% of its trucks, leading to improved operational efficiencies. CWST has a strong balance sheet with $193 million in cash and a current ratio of 1.51 [17][18][19] - **Republic Services, Inc. (RSG)**: RSG is investing in new technologies and AI to enhance service delivery and productivity. The company plans to invest $1 billion in acquisitions in 2026, which could strengthen its competitive position [23][25][26] - **Clean Harbors (CLH)**: CLH's growth is supported by pricing gains and increased productivity, particularly in PFAS solutions, which are expected to generate $100-$120 million in revenues in 2025. The company has a strong liquidity position with a current ratio of 2.44 [29][30][31]

Core Viewpoint - Select Water Solutions, Inc. reported break-even quarterly earnings per share, which was below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.01, compared to a loss of $0.01 per share a year ago, indicating a significant earnings surprise of -100.00% [1] Financial Performance - The company posted revenues of $346.5 million for the quarter ended December 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.01%, although this represents a slight decline from year-ago revenues of $349.05 million [2] - Over the last four quarters, Select Water Solutions has surpassed consensus revenue estimates three times [2] Stock Performance - Shares of Select Water Solutions have increased approximately 21.9% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with a 0.1% decline in the S&P 500 [3] - The stock's immediate price movement will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call [3] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.03 on revenues of $326.58 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.26 on revenues of $1.35 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend prior to the earnings release was unfavorable, resulting in a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) for the stock, indicating expected underperformance in the near future [6] Industry Context - The Waste Removal Services industry, to which Select Water Solutions belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 23% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which could impact investor sentiment [5]

分组1 - Waste Connections reported quarterly earnings of $1.29 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.28 per share, and up from $1.16 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +0.85% [1] - The company posted revenues of $2.37 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.01%, and an increase from $2.26 billion year-over-year [2] - Waste Connections has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates over the last four quarters, achieving this four times [2] 分组2 - The stock has underperformed the market, losing about 2.7% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 gained 1.4% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.22 on revenues of $2.36 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $5.64 on revenues of $9.97 billion [7] - The Waste Removal Services industry is currently ranked in the bottom 29% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges for stock performance [8]

Market Overview - Mid cap equities showed flat to slightly positive performance in Q4, with the Russell Midcap Index returning 0.16% [2] - Market dynamics were influenced more by investor sentiment and positioning rather than macroeconomic factors, leading to uneven earnings reactions [2] - Mid cap equities lagged behind both small and large caps for the year, despite improvements in fundamentals for many mid cap businesses [3] Performance Analysis - The ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy underperformed its benchmark due to broad market headwinds and uneven earnings reactions, despite solid execution in the portfolio [4] - Information technology and real estate sectors were significant detractors, while consumer discretionary holdings provided some positive contributions [4][5] Sector-Specific Insights - The IT sector faced challenges as investor sentiment weakened towards software businesses, impacting companies like Teledyne Technologies and Bentley Systems [5] - Real estate was pressured by Alexandria Real Estate Equities due to a slowdown in biopharma research spending, leading to a decline in leasing demand [6] - Consumer discretionary sector saw positive performance from companies like Light & Wonder and Expedia, which benefited from improved execution and market conditions [7] Portfolio Positioning - The company reallocated capital towards businesses with durable fundamentals and recurring revenue profiles, while exiting positions with unfavorable risk-reward profiles [9] - New positions were initiated in Casella Waste Systems and Tyler Technologies, focusing on companies with strong recurring revenue models [10] - Exited positions included Corpay and DraftKings due to emerging competitive uncertainties [11] Future Outlook - The environment for mid cap equities is expected to improve, with signs of easing market imbalances and potential for reaccelerated business investment [13][14] - A normalization of capital allocation could benefit mid cap companies with strong cash flows and attractive valuations [14] - The company is focusing on bottom-up stock selection and balanced portfolio construction to navigate the evolving opportunity set [15] Portfolio Highlights - The ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy underperformed the Russell Midcap Index, with contributions primarily from consumer discretionary and health care sectors [16] - Stock selection in various sectors, including IT and real estate, detracted from performance, while consumer discretionary sector selection provided some benefits [17] - Notable individual stock performance included detractors like Alexandria Real Estate Equities and contributors like Light & Wonder and Expedia [18]

Group 1: ClearBridge Investments Overview - ClearBridge Investments released its "ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy" Q4 2025 investor letter, reporting underperformance compared to the Russell Midcap Index, which returned 0.16% during the period [1] - The underperformance was attributed to narrow market leadership and sentiment-driven trading, with weaknesses in information technology and real estate holdings impacting returns, while gains in select consumer discretionary stocks provided partial support [1] - The firm noted that elevated dispersion and uneven earnings reactions continued to shape mid-cap equity performance during the quarter [1] Group 2: Future Outlook - The portfolio management team expressed cautious optimism, indicating that improving clarity around policy, interest rates, and business investment could create a more favorable backdrop for active stock selection [1] - The widening valuation gaps and strengthening fundamentals across many mid-cap companies were highlighted as positive indicators for future performance [1] Group 3: Casella Waste Systems Inc. Insights - ClearBridge Investments initiated positions in Casella Waste Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST), a residential waste services provider, following a transitory selloff related to minor acquisition integration issues [3] - The company has a high proportion of recurring revenue, which supports durable long-term growth, and limited exposure to near-term AI disruption [3] - Casella Waste Systems Inc. has a market capitalization of approximately $6.501 billion, with shares trading between $82.2 to $121.24 over the last 52 weeks [2] Group 4: Hedge Fund Interest - Casella Waste Systems Inc. was held by 26 hedge fund portfolios at the end of the third quarter, an increase from 24 in the previous quarter [4] - Despite the interest, the company is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with a belief that some AI stocks may offer greater promise for higher returns in a shorter time frame [4]

Group 1: Fund Overview - Baron Discovery Fund focuses on long-term, competitively positioned companies with significant potential in untapped markets [1] - In Q4 2025, the Fund generated a return of 0.19%, underperforming the Russell 2000 Growth Index by 1.03 percentage points [1] - For the entire year, the Fund posted a return of 10.96%, while the Index returned 13.01% [1] - The top 10 holdings comprised 26.7% of the Fund's net assets, with cash making up 3.3% [1] - The Fund maintains optimism for a high-growth, low-inflation environment in 2026 [1] Group 2: Casella Waste Systems, Inc. Overview - Casella Waste Systems, Inc. is a leading waste management and recycling company, recently added to the Fund [2][3] - As of February 2, 2026, Casella Waste Systems, Inc. stock closed at $102.39 per share, with a market capitalization of $6.501 billion [2] - The company delivered a 0.88% return in the past month, but shares are down 4.99% over the past twelve months [2] Group 3: Casella Waste Systems, Inc. Business Insights - Casella Waste Systems, Inc. is the fifth largest waste management and recycling company in North America, founded in 1975 [3] - The company has transformed into one of the fastest growing waste companies in New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions [3] - Casella has strong pricing power, with 70% of its business focused on less competitive rural markets and 15% of revenue tied to high-margin disposal/landfill revenue [3] - The company has achieved mid-to-high single-digit organic top-line growth and mid-teens free cash flow growth [3] - Over the last 7 years, Casella has completed over 80 acquisitions, enhancing organic revenue growth and increasing margins [3] - The pace of mergers and acquisitions is expected to continue for the foreseeable future [3]

Market Overview - The waste management market was valued at US$ 1.20 trillion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$ 2.30 trillion by 2033, with a CAGR of 6.72% from 2025 to 2033 [1] - Municipal solid waste production has surpassed 2.2 billion tons annually globally, highlighting the urgent need for innovative waste management solutions [2][11] Urbanization and Waste Generation - Urban populations are expected to increase by an additional 1.5 billion people by 2030, intensifying the strain on existing waste management infrastructures [3] - Cities like Mumbai generate over 9,400 tons of municipal waste daily, emphasizing the need for efficient waste handling systems [12] Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Adoption - The adoption of waste-to-energy plants is transforming the waste management market, with over 450 WtE plants processing around 250 million tons of municipal solid waste annually [4] - In the U.S., Florida has 11 WtE plants processing approximately 5.5 million tons of waste annually, generating enough electricity to power over 300,000 homes [5] Technological Innovations - The waste management market is experiencing a technological transformation, with IoT-powered smart waste systems in Dubai handling over 3,000 tons of waste daily and optimizing collection routes [7] - AI-powered robots developed by companies like ZenRobotics can sort 250,000 tons of waste annually, improving efficiency and recycling quality [8][10] Market Segmentation - Municipal waste accounts for over 32% of the total market share, driven by the enormous volume generated globally [11] - Collection services dominate the market with over 43% share, collecting more than 1.8 billion tons of municipal waste each year [14][16] Regional Insights - The Asia Pacific region holds over 59.14% of the global waste management market share, driven by high population density and rapid urbanization [17] - Countries like China and India generate over 500 million tons of waste annually, with China alone accounting for approximately 235 million tons [17][18]

Group 1 - The Russell 2000 small-cap index has achieved its longest winning streak against the S&P 500 in seven years, closing at a historical high [1] - The last time the Russell 2000 index had a longer leading period was in January 2019, following a significant market downturn [1] - Small-cap stocks have outperformed large-cap stocks significantly in the new year, with the Russell 2000 index rising over 6% this month [3] Group 2 - Analysts attribute the strong performance of small-cap stocks to the "January effect," where these stocks typically perform well at the beginning of the year [3] - The Russell 2000 and S&P 600 small-cap indices have lagged behind large-cap indices for several years, with expectations for a reversal in 2026 due to lower interest rates and economic resilience [3] - The current valuation of small-cap stocks is more favorable compared to blue-chip stocks, with the S&P 600 small-cap index trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of approximately 15.6 times, which is 31% lower than the S&P 500's 22.6 times [3] Group 3 - Small companies are expected to see profit growth slightly outpacing that of the S&P 500, with projected earnings growth of 15.4% for the S&P 600 compared to 14.8% for the S&P 500 [4] - Investment firms are beginning to increase their allocations to small-cap stocks, particularly value stocks, as the market breadth is expanding [4] - Analysts are optimistic about the performance of non-tech small-cap stocks, particularly in the industrial and healthcare sectors [4] Group 4 - M&A activity is seen as a potential boon for small-cap stocks, with companies like Casella Waste Systems being potential acquisition targets [5] - Regional banks, such as Glacier Bancorp, are also viewed as potential acquisition candidates in the current favorable interest rate environment [5] - The combination of a stable U.S. economy and a favorable interest rate environment may benefit small-cap stocks, suggesting a shift in investor focus back to these companies [5]

Core Insights - TimesSquare Capital Management's "U.S. Small Cap Growth Strategy" reported a gross return of 2.26% and a net return of 2.01% for Q3 2025, significantly underperforming the Russell 2000 Growth Index, which returned 12.19% [1] - The fund's top five holdings include notable stocks, with a focus on companies providing essential services and infrastructure [1] Company Performance - Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST) is highlighted as a key stock, with a one-month return of 3.62% but a 52-week decline of 5.03% [2] - As of January 5, 2026, Casella Waste Systems, Inc. had a market capitalization of $6.357 billion, with shares closing at $100.12 [2] - The company reported revenues of $485.4 million for Q3 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of $73.7 million or 17.9% [4] Operational Challenges - Casella Waste Systems faced operational challenges due to slower-than-expected systems integration in newly acquired territories and the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning system, which impacted earnings [3] - Despite these challenges, the company has a history of quickly improving margins from acquisitions, and the new ERP system is expected to facilitate this improvement [3] Market Position - Casella Waste Systems is not among the top 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, although it saw an increase in hedge fund holdings from 24 to 26 in the last quarter [4] - The investment community acknowledges the potential of Casella Waste Systems but suggests that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [4]