Waste Management Announces Projected Earnings

Houston — Waste Management Inc. says it expects to meet Wall Street's earnings forecasts for the year, according to Chief Executive A. Maurice Myers. Analysts say the company should earn $1.36 per share this year, up from $1.20, before special items, in 2000. Myers says the company's debt once was at $11.8 billion but should be down to about $7.8 billion by the end of the year. Solid free cashflow is expected to be about $1 billion this year, about the same level as 2000. The company is planning capital expenditures of about $1.4 billion this year, up from $1.3 billion in 2000. Waste Management closed at $28 per share Friday, up 20 cents.