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GFL Environmental (TSE:GFL)
TSX:GFL

GFL Environmental (GFL) AI Stock Analysis

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GFL Environmental

(TSX:GFL)

68Neutral
GFL Environmental's overall score reflects strong revenue growth and strategic initiatives to improve financial stability by reducing debt and repurchasing shares. However, challenges with profitability, high leverage, and valuation concerns weigh on the score. Positive technical indicators and earnings call guidance support a moderately favorable outlook, but addressing financial risks is crucial for sustained performance.
Positive Factors
Debt Reduction and Share Buybacks
Management reiterated its intention to reduce debt by $3.75B and buy back up to $2.25B of shares following the Environmental Services transaction.
M&A Growth
Accelerating M&A growth and peer-leading margin improvement will force a re-rating of the company's valuation.
Operational Improvement
The focus on operational improvement reinforces growth momentum in the business.
Negative Factors
Ambitious Targets
GFL's 2028 targets are ambitious but achievable, making 2025 guidance look very conservative.
Financial Leverage
Proceeds from the partial sale of ES should reset financial leverage lower, provide substantial funds for share repurchases and support a re-acceleration of M&A activity.
Valuation Concerns
Valuation keeps analysts on the sidelines, suggesting that optimism is largely captured by the current valuation.

GFL Environmental (GFL) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

GFL Environmental Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionGFL Environmental Inc. operates as a diversified environmental services company in Canada and the United States. The company offers non-hazardous solid waste management, infrastructure and soil remediation, and liquid waste management services. Its solid waste management business line includes the collection, transportation, transfer, recycling, and disposal of non-hazardous solid waste for municipal, residential, and commercial and industrial customers. The company's infrastructure and soil remediation business line provides remediation of contaminated soils, as well as complementary services, including civil, demolition, and excavation and shoring services. Its liquid waste management business collects, manages, transports, processes, and disposes of a range of industrial and commercial liquid wastes, as well as resells liquid waste products. The company was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Vaughan, Canada.
How the Company Makes MoneyGFL Environmental makes money through multiple revenue streams primarily derived from its comprehensive waste management services. The company generates revenue by collecting fees for waste collection and disposal services from residential, commercial, and industrial clients. A significant portion of its income comes from long-term contracts with municipalities and businesses for regular waste collection and management services. GFL also earns revenue from recycling operations by processing recyclable materials and selling them to manufacturers. Additionally, the company offers specialized services like soil remediation and infrastructure development, which contribute to its earnings. Strategic acquisitions and partnerships have helped GFL expand its market presence and enhance its service offerings, further driving revenue growth.

GFL Environmental Financial Statement Overview

Summary
GFL Environmental shows strong revenue growth and improving cash flow from operations. However, the company faces challenges with consistent profitability and high leverage, posing risks to financial stability. While there are positive trends in revenue and cash flow, addressing debt levels and achieving profitability are crucial for long-term success.
Income Statement
65
Positive
GFL Environmental has demonstrated consistent revenue growth, increasing from $3.35 billion in 2019 to $7.86 billion in 2024, reflecting a strong upward trajectory in top-line performance. However, despite revenue growth, the company has struggled with profitability, consistently reporting negative net income, with a notable loss of $722.7 million in 2024. Gross profit margins improved over time, but the inability to generate positive EBIT and net income margins remains a concern, impacting overall profitability.
Balance Sheet
58
Neutral
The balance sheet reflects substantial leverage, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51 in 2024, indicating significant reliance on debt financing. Stockholders' equity has improved over the years, reaching $6.98 billion in 2024, but high total debt levels at $10.55 billion present financial risk. The equity ratio of 32.9% suggests a moderate level of equity financing, but the high debt burden poses challenges to financial stability.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Cash flow from operations has been strong, with significant growth to $1.54 billion in 2024. The free cash flow has turned positive in 2024 at $347.2 million, compared to a negative figure in 2023, indicating an improvement in cash management. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is high due to negative net income, highlighting efficient cash conversion despite profitability issues. However, the historical volatility in free cash flow underscores potential cash flow management risks.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
7.86B7.52B6.76B5.53B4.20B
Gross Profit
1.49B1.27B797.60M527.60M190.10M
EBIT
0.00389.20M87.90M-64.30M-320.30M
EBITDA
1.20B2.33B1.63B1.09B303.80M
Net Income Common Stockholders
-722.70M45.40M-183.20M-606.80M-994.90M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
133.80M135.70M82.10M190.40M27.20M
Total Assets
21.21B20.67B19.77B18.37B15.73B
Total Debt
10.55B9.29B9.65B8.29B7.74B
Net Debt
10.42B9.15B9.56B8.10B7.72B
Total Liabilities
13.99B13.29B13.72B12.60B10.05B
Stockholders Equity
6.98B7.18B6.04B5.78B5.68B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
347.20M-74.70M316.20M250.70M73.90M
Operating Cash Flow
1.54B980.40M1.10B897.90M502.20M
Investing Cash Flow
-1.68B-310.40M-1.73B-2.69B-4.35B
Financing Cash Flow
163.20M-602.80M569.00M1.96B3.34B

GFL Environmental Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price68.36
Price Trends
50DMA
65.25
Positive
100DMA
64.51
Positive
200DMA
59.58
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.07
Negative
RSI
55.66
Neutral
STOCH
70.78
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TSE:GFL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 68.36 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 67.66, above the 50-day MA of 65.25, and above the 200-day MA of 59.58, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.07 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 55.66 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 70.78 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for TSE:GFL.

GFL Environmental Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
TSGFL
68
Neutral
$26.89B-10.23%0.12%4.61%-2848.30%
62
Neutral
$8.05B13.613.91%3.11%3.81%-13.91%
TSNFI
57
Neutral
C$1.40B-0.38%18.07%98.61%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSE:GFL
GFL Environmental
68.36
21.56
46.06%
BLDP
Ballard Power Systems
1.14
-2.13
-65.14%
CNI
Canadian National Railway
97.45
-31.21
-24.26%
RBA
RB Global
97.89
22.15
29.24%
WCN
Waste Connections
192.83
23.60
13.95%
TSE:NFI
NFI Group Inc
11.72
-1.24
-9.57%

GFL Environmental Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Feb 24, 2025 | % Change Since: 4.21% | Next Earnings Date: Apr 30, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
GFL demonstrated strong financial performance with significant margin expansion and promising growth guidance for 2025. While there were challenges such as declines in Environmental Services revenue and headwinds from commodity and fuel prices, the company's strategic initiatives and enhanced balance sheet position it well for future growth.
Highlights
Strong Financial Performance
GFL reported consolidated revenue for the quarter of $1.98.6 billion, ahead of guidance, with fourth quarter solid waste organic growth accelerating to 7%. Adjusted EBITDA margins were 29.1%, 300 basis points higher than the prior year.
Margin Expansion and Guidance
For the second consecutive quarter, GFL saw 300 basis points of margin expansion. The company is guiding industry-leading organic growth across all financial metrics in 2025, with expectations of 100 basis points of adjusted EBITDA margin expansion.
Strategic Initiatives
The sale of the ES business is expected to close on March 1, providing GFL with an enhanced balance sheet and capital deployment options. The company plans to use proceeds to repay $3.75 billion of long-term debt and pursue share buybacks.
M&A Activity and Growth Investments
GFL closed 11 transactions in 2024 and plans to deploy $325 million of incremental growth capital in 2025. The company maintains a robust M&A pipeline and expects to re-ignite its M&A strategies.
Lowlights
Environmental Services Revenue Decline
Environmental Services revenue was down 2.2% compared to the prior year, impacted by lower used motor oil pricing, lower soil volumes, and tough comparisons from large-scale event-driven revenue in the prior year.
Commodity and Fuel Price Headwinds
Decreases in energy prices reduced fourth quarter revenues from fuel surcharges, and lower commodity prices were a headwind to revenues.
Canadian Postal Strike Impact
Q4 cash collections were negatively impacted by a Canadian postal strike in December, creating a headwind to working capital in the quarter.
Leverage Increase Due to FX
The significant strengthening of the U.S. dollar versus the Canadian dollar in Q4 increased net leverage to 4.06 due to the translational impact of revaluing the year-end debt stack.
Company Guidance
During the GFL Fourth Quarter 2024 earnings call, the company provided guidance for 2025 with several key metrics. GFL anticipates a top-line growth of 6% to 7%, targeting revenues between $6.5 billion and $6.55 billion. The guidance includes industry-leading organic growth across all financial metrics, with a focus on achieving a 100 basis point expansion in adjusted EBITDA margins to 29.7%. The company also expects to deploy $325 million in incremental growth capital in 2025, primarily for EPR contracts, and anticipates adjusted free cash flow of $750 million. M&A activity is projected to increase post-sale of the Environmental Services (ES) business, with a planned $2.25 billion share repurchase program to reduce the public float. GFL plans to maintain leverage around three times net debt to adjusted EBITDA, with a focus on achieving an investment-grade credit rating.

GFL Environmental Corporate Events

Stock BuybackBusiness Operations and Strategy
GFL Environmental Upsizes Secondary Offering and Announces Share Buyback
Neutral
Mar 26, 2025

GFL Environmental Inc. announced an increase in the size of its secondary offering by selling shareholders, now totaling 18,887,723 subordinate voting shares priced at US$47.65 per share. The company has also agreed to purchase for cancellation 7,056,027 shares under this offering, which is being managed by RBC Capital Markets, LLC and RBC Dominion Securities Inc. This move is part of GFL’s strategic financial operations and may impact its market positioning by potentially reducing the number of shares available in the market.

Stock BuybackBusiness Operations and Strategy
GFL Environmental Inc. Announces Major Share Buyback Strategy
Positive
Mar 26, 2025

GFL Environmental Inc. announced the direct buyback of 17,050,298 subordinate voting shares from BC Partners and plans to repurchase up to 7,056,027 shares in a secondary offering. These transactions align with GFL’s strategy to utilize proceeds from the sale of its Environmental Services business to repurchase shares, aiming to strengthen its market position without negatively impacting share value. The company’s board approved these transactions, supported by a special committee, and received regulatory approval to proceed with share repurchases.

Private Placements and FinancingRegulatory Filings and Compliance
GFL Environmental Announces Secondary Share Offering by Major Shareholders
Neutral
Mar 26, 2025

GFL Environmental Inc. announced a secondary offering of 15,739,769 subordinate voting shares by selling shareholders, including Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board and other entities. The company will not receive proceeds from this sale, which will be managed by RBC Capital Markets and RBC Dominion Securities in the U.S. and Canada, respectively. This offering, detailed in the prospectus supplement, is part of a multi-jurisdictional disclosure system between Canada and the U.S., potentially impacting the company’s market presence and shareholder dynamics.

M&A TransactionsStock BuybackBusiness Operations and Strategy
GFL Environmental Sells Environmental Services Business for $8 Billion
Positive
Mar 3, 2025

GFL Environmental Inc. has completed the sale of its Environmental Services business for $8 billion, retaining a $1.7 billion equity interest. The company plans to use up to $3.75 billion of the proceeds to repay debt, with $2.25 billion potentially allocated for share repurchases, subject to market conditions, and the remainder for transaction fees and general corporate purposes. This transaction is expected to significantly impact GFL’s financial strategy, potentially improving its debt position and shareholder value.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
GFL Environmental Announces 2024 Earnings Release and 2025 Investor Day
Neutral
Jan 22, 2025

GFL Environmental Inc. has scheduled its full year 2024 earnings release for February 24, 2025, with an investor conference call to follow the next day. Additionally, the company will host its 2025 Investor Day on February 27 at the New York Stock Exchange, where senior management will discuss key strategies and financial objectives, potentially impacting stakeholder perspectives on growth and sustainability efforts.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.