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Side-by-side financial comparison of CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS INC (CWST) and First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (FWRG). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS INC is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($557.2M vs $316.4M, roughly 1.8× First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc.). On growth, First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (20.2% vs 9.6%). CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS INC produced more free cash flow last quarter ($30.7M vs $-18.3M). Over the past eight quarters, CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS INC's revenue compounded faster (21.5% CAGR vs 14.2%).

Casella Waste Systems, Inc. is a waste management company based in Rutland, Vermont, United States. Founded in 1975 with a single truck, Casella is a regional, vertically integrated solid waste services company. Casella provides resource management expertise and services to residential, commercial, municipal and industrial customers, primarily in the areas of solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling and organics services. The company provides integrated solid waste services in...

Ruby Tuesday Inc. is an American multinational foodservice retailer that owns, operates, and franchises Ruby Tuesday restaurants. The concept was started in 1972 by Samuel E. (Sandy) Beall III.

CWST vs FWRG — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
CWST
CWST
1.8× larger
CWST
$557.2M
$316.4M
FWRG
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
FWRG
FWRG
+10.5% gap
FWRG
20.2%
9.6%
CWST
More free cash flow
CWST
CWST
$49.0M more FCF
CWST
$30.7M
$-18.3M
FWRG
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
CWST
CWST
Annualised
CWST
21.5%
14.2%
FWRG

Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q4 FY2025

Metric
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Revenue
$557.2M
$316.4M
Net Profit
$-5.5M
Gross Margin
Operating Margin
0.9%
2.9%
Net Margin
-1.0%
Revenue YoY
9.6%
20.2%
Net Profit YoY
-15.2%
EPS (diluted)
$-0.09
$0.24

Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.

8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend

Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.

Revenue
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
$557.2M
Q4 25
$469.1M
$316.4M
Q3 25
$485.4M
$316.0M
Q2 25
$465.3M
$307.9M
Q1 25
$417.1M
$282.2M
Q4 24
$427.5M
$263.3M
Q3 24
$411.6M
$251.6M
Q2 24
$377.2M
$258.6M
Net Profit
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
$-5.5M
Q4 25
$-2.5M
Q3 25
$10.0M
$3.0M
Q2 25
$5.2M
$2.1M
Q1 25
$-4.8M
$-829.0K
Q4 24
$4.9M
Q3 24
$5.8M
$2.1M
Q2 24
$7.0M
$8.9M
Gross Margin
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
Q4 25
33.3%
Q3 25
35.0%
Q2 25
33.8%
Q1 25
32.8%
Q4 24
33.2%
Q3 24
35.1%
Q2 24
35.4%
Operating Margin
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
0.9%
Q4 25
2.5%
2.9%
Q3 25
6.1%
3.2%
Q2 25
4.1%
2.4%
Q1 25
0.8%
0.4%
Q4 24
4.3%
1.5%
Q3 24
5.9%
2.5%
Q2 24
6.1%
6.4%
Net Margin
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
-1.0%
Q4 25
-0.5%
Q3 25
2.1%
0.9%
Q2 25
1.1%
0.7%
Q1 25
-1.2%
-0.3%
Q4 24
1.1%
Q3 24
1.4%
0.8%
Q2 24
1.9%
3.4%
EPS (diluted)
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
$-0.09
Q4 25
$-0.04
$0.24
Q3 25
$0.16
$0.05
Q2 25
$0.08
$0.03
Q1 25
$-0.08
$-0.01
Q4 24
$0.08
$0.01
Q3 24
$0.10
$0.03
Q2 24
$0.12
$0.14

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.

Metric
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$126.9M
$21.2M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$269.1M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$1.6B
$626.3M
Total Assets
$3.3B
$1.7B
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.43×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
$126.9M
Q4 25
$123.8M
$21.2M
Q3 25
$192.7M
$20.7M
Q2 25
$217.8M
$19.2M
Q1 25
$267.7M
$18.6M
Q4 24
$358.3M
$33.3M
Q3 24
$519.0M
$51.1M
Q2 24
$208.5M
$45.1M
Total Debt
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
Q4 25
$1.1B
$269.1M
Q3 25
$1.1B
$251.0M
Q2 25
$1.1B
$250.0M
Q1 25
$1.1B
$191.5M
Q4 24
$1.1B
$189.0M
Q3 24
$1.0B
$189.7M
Q2 24
$976.6M
$192.1M
Stockholders' Equity
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
$1.6B
Q4 25
$1.6B
$626.3M
Q3 25
$1.6B
$607.3M
Q2 25
$1.6B
$601.3M
Q1 25
$1.5B
$596.3M
Q4 24
$1.6B
$595.4M
Q3 24
$1.5B
$589.1M
Q2 24
$1.0B
$585.8M
Total Assets
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
$3.3B
Q4 25
$3.3B
$1.7B
Q3 25
$3.3B
$1.7B
Q2 25
$3.3B
$1.7B
Q1 25
$3.2B
$1.5B
Q4 24
$3.2B
$1.5B
Q3 24
$3.1B
$1.5B
Q2 24
$2.5B
$1.4B
Debt / Equity
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
Q4 25
0.72×
0.43×
Q3 25
0.72×
0.41×
Q2 25
0.72×
0.42×
Q1 25
0.72×
0.32×
Q4 24
0.70×
0.32×
Q3 24
0.68×
0.32×
Q2 24
0.94×
0.33×

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.

Metric
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$62.3M
$18.5M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$30.7M
$-18.3M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
5.5%
-5.8%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
9.0%
11.6%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$120.7M
$-31.0M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
$62.3M
Q4 25
$96.6M
$18.5M
Q3 25
$93.6M
$47.9M
Q2 25
$89.5M
$39.4M
Q1 25
$50.1M
$20.1M
Q4 24
$109.8M
$22.9M
Q3 24
$91.8M
$35.9M
Q2 24
$72.1M
$31.9M
Free Cash Flow
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
$30.7M
Q4 25
$39.3M
$-18.3M
Q3 25
$27.6M
$5.5M
Q2 25
$23.1M
$-1.7M
Q1 25
$-5.4M
$-16.4M
Q4 24
$32.9M
$-17.7M
Q3 24
$40.4M
$6.8M
Q2 24
$27.5M
$2.3M
FCF Margin
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
5.5%
Q4 25
8.4%
-5.8%
Q3 25
5.7%
1.7%
Q2 25
5.0%
-0.5%
Q1 25
-1.3%
-5.8%
Q4 24
7.7%
-6.7%
Q3 24
9.8%
2.7%
Q2 24
7.3%
0.9%
Capex Intensity
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
9.0%
Q4 25
12.2%
11.6%
Q3 25
13.6%
13.4%
Q2 25
14.3%
13.4%
Q1 25
13.3%
13.0%
Q4 24
18.0%
15.4%
Q3 24
12.5%
11.6%
Q2 24
11.8%
11.5%
Cash Conversion
CWST
CWST
FWRG
FWRG
Q1 26
Q4 25
Q3 25
9.37×
16.01×
Q2 25
17.19×
18.72×
Q1 25
Q4 24
22.51×
Q3 24
15.91×
16.98×
Q2 24
10.29×
3.59×

Financial Flow Comparison

Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

CWST
CWST

Collection$334.8M60%
Transfer station$65.9M12%
Processing (ii)$49.0M9%
Landfill$48.0M9%
National Accounts (ii)$45.6M8%
Transportation$8.2M1%
Landfill gas-to-energy$2.9M1%

FWRG
FWRG

In Restaurant Dining Sales$254.1M80%
Third Party Delivery Sales$38.6M12%
Take Out Sales$21.3M7%
Royalty And System Fund Contributions$2.3M1%

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