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Key Takeaways Clean Harbors shares have risen 9.9% in three months as 2026 earnings are projected to climb 33.5%.CLH benefits from strong hazardous waste demand, acquisitions and higher incinerator utilization.Clean Harbors faces stiff competition & foreign-currency risks, and offers no quarterly dividend. Shares of Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH - Free Report) have had a decent run over the past three months. The stock has gained 9.9% compared with the industry’s 2.3% growth. The Zacks S&P 500 composite declined 0.3% during that period.

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CLH has a Growth Score of B. This style score condenses key financial metrics to reflect a fair sense of the quality and sustainability of its growth.

The company’s third-quarter 2026 earnings are expected to increase 47.5% year over year. Its 2026 earnings are projected to rise 33.5%. Revenues are anticipated to grow 7.6% in 2026.

Factors That Bode Well for CLH’s SuccessWaste Demand Supports Top Line: Clean Harbors benefits from sustained demand for hazardous waste disposal, recycling and environmental services, supported by reshoring, per and polyfluoroalkyl substances work and long-term customer relationships. Growing industrial activity, environmental requirements and sustainability needs drive this strong demand for Clean Harbors’ services. The company reported that Environmental Services generated revenues of $1.46 billion, up 7.7% from the year-ago quarter, while Technical Services revenues rose 18% year over year during the second quarter of 2026.

CLH also reported that incinerator utilization increased to 91% from 86% a year earlier and Safety-Kleen Environmental Services revenues advanced 11% year over year during the same period. Management expects positive demand trends across segments to continue in the second half of 2026.

Acquisitions Pave the Way to Expansion: CLH’s acquisition strategy continues to broaden its service portfolio and geographic reach. Past acquisitions of HEPACO and Noble Oil Services expanded Environmental Services’ Field Services division and increased Safety-Kleen’s oil collection presence in the southeastern United States, respectively. In the first half of 2026, the company acquired Terra Nova Solutions to enhance its technical and field services businesses, including drum collection, wastewater treatment, tank cleaning and vacuum services. CLH announced an agreement to acquire EnviroServe and Depot Connect International to strengthen its Technical Services and Field Services businesses, while supporting increased throughput across its disposal and recycling portfolio.

Strong Cash Position Supports Financial Flexibility: CLH had $408.4 million of cash and cash equivalents and $108.4 million of short-term marketable securities at the end of the second quarter of 2026. It generated $245.5 million of operating cash flow in the first six months of 2026, up from $209.6 million a year earlier. The company’s current ratio of 2.13 at the end of the second quarter of 2026 indicates that current assets remained above current liabilities. This solid cash position allows the company to innovate and expand further, giving it robust financial flexibility.

Consistent Buybacks Support Capital Allocation Strategy: The company has consistently returned capital through share buybacks over the years. It repurchased shares worth $51.1 million in 2023, $55.2 million in 2024 and $250 million in 2025. This consistency persisted as, in the first six months of 2026, it repurchased another $52.1 million of common stock. This consistency continues to generate shareholder value.

Risks to CLH StockStiff Competition Raises Cost Pressure: Clean Harbors faces stiff rivalry from large national providers and smaller regional firms across environmental and industrial services. Maintaining differentiation requires continued spending on its network, capabilities and service offerings. As a result, CLH faces the challenge of balancing costs while maintaining steady profitability.

Foreign-Currency Risks: Clean Harbors faces foreign-exchange risk from its Canadian operations. In the first six months of 2026, foreign-currency translation resulted in a $17.7 million loss against a $24.7 million gain a year earlier, while exchange-rate movements reduced cash by $4.7 million. Continued U.S.-Canadian dollar volatility could pressure reported results and increase earnings variability.

Absence of Dividend Makes Stock Unattractive: CLH does not offer quarterly dividends. Investors therefore depend on share-price appreciation for returns, which is not guaranteed. This makes the shares less suitable for investors seeking recurring cash income.

Clean Harbors has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Stocks to ConsiderA couple of better-ranked stocks in the broader Business Services sector are Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (BFAM - Free Report) and CBIZ, Inc. (CBZ - Free Report) .

Bright Horizons Family Solutions carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 13.9%.

BFAM delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.6%, on average.

CBIZ also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 11.6%.

CBZ beat earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed once, with an average earnings surprise of 8.9%.

Eric W. Gerstenberg, Co-CEO of Clean Harbors (CLH +1.00%), sold 2,500 shares of common stock on Aug. 14, 2026, according to a SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value$803,350Shares sold2,500Post-transaction shares (directly held)56,793Post-transaction value$18.2 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($321.34); post-transaction value based on Aug. 14, 2026, market close ($321.98).

Key questionsWhat was the impact of the transaction on the insider's total stake?
The sale of 2,500 shares represented 4% of the CO-CEO's direct common stock position, leaving him with a remaining direct interest of 56,793 shares.How does the execution price relate to recent market levels?
The disposal was executed at $321.34 per share, while the stock was priced at $326.05 as of the Aug. 17, 2026, market close.What is the current market valuation of the insider's remaining interest?
Gerstenberg's direct holdings are valued at $18.2 million based on the $321.98 market close on the transaction date of Aug. 14, 2026.How has the equity performed over the past year?
Clean Harbors generated a one-year total return of 30% as of the transaction date of Aug. 14, 2026.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-17)$326.05Market Capitalization$16.7 billionRevenue (TTM)$6.2 billionNet Income (TTM)$439 millionCompany SnapshotClean Harbors delivers comprehensive environmental and industrial services across North America through two primary divisions: Environmental Services, which manages the complete lifecycle of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, including collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal, and Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions, which provides resource reclamation and waste management solutions.The company generates revenue through a diversified service model encompassing hazardous waste management, non-hazardous waste disposal, environmental remediation, industrial cleaning, and sustainability solutions, leveraging an extensive network of facilities and transportation infrastructure to serve customers across multiple end markets.Clean Harbors serves a broad customer base, including industrial manufacturers, petrochemical refineries, healthcare facilities, commercial enterprises, and governmental entities that require comprehensive waste management, environmental compliance, and industrial services across North America.Clean Harbors is a leading North American environmental and industrial services provider with a $16.7 billion market capitalization and $6.2 billion in TTM revenue, demonstrating significant scale and market presence. The company's diversified service portfolio and integrated operational infrastructure across waste management, environmental remediation, and sustainability solutions provide competitive advantages in serving complex industrial and commercial customer requirements. With 22,155 employees and a strategic focus on environmental compliance and resource recovery, Clean Harbors maintains a strong market position in the waste management and environmental services sector.

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What this transaction means for investorsWith a few context clues, this sale from Gerstenberg doesn't appear to be anything more than routine. While the executive sold 2,500 shares, he still retained nearly 57,000 shares, indicating continued alignment with the company, as those holdings were valued at approximately $18.2 million. Also, the stock price has performed relatively strongly over the last 12 months, suggesting Gerstenberg is likely just selling into strength. Shares of Clean Harbors have climbed 31.1% over the last year as of this writing, while the S&P 500 is up 19.4% over the same period.

Clean Harbors shared a strong 2026 second-quarter earnings report at the end of July, with revenue increasing 12% to $1.7 billion and setting a record. It also reported net income increased 34% to $170.5 million and boosted guidance for adjusted free cash flow and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. While the stock price has had a strong run over the last year, the good news for shareholders is that analysts still see further upside. According to CNN, of the 18 analysts covering the stock, the median one-year price target for Clean Harbors is $362, representing a 14.2% gain from today's price. The highest price target in the group is $390, implying a potential 23% gain, while the lowest is $325, still implying a 2.5% gain.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Clean Harbors (CLH - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 1.7% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Clean Harbors due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Clean Harbors, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

Clean Harbors' Q2 Earnings Beat EstimatesClean Harbors, Inc. reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results, with both earnings and revenues surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

CLH posted earnings of $3.22 per share, beating the consensus estimate of $2.74 by 17.5%. Revenues came in at $1.74 billion, exceeding the consensus mark of $1.63 billion by 6.8%.

Earnings increased 36.4% year over year, while revenues rose 12%. The strong results reflected healthy disposal and recycling volumes, remediation and PFAS-related projects, strategic pricing initiatives and favorable market prices for re-refined products.

CLH’s Profitability Improves on Broad-Based GrowthClean Harbors generated net income of $170.5 million, up 34.3% from $126.9 million in the year-ago quarter.

Income from operations increased 27.9% year over year to $268.9 million. Gross profit rose 17.9% to $608.8 million, while the gross margin expanded to 35.1% from 33.3% a year earlier.

Adjusted EBITDA climbed 21.6% to $409 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 190 basis points to 23.6%, supported by stronger results across both operating segments. The company also maintained solid safety performance, with a year-to-date Total Recordable Incident Rate of 0.46.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $214.6 million from $186.2 million. Higher incentive compensation, insurance expenses, acquisition-related costs and strategic investments contributed to the increase.

Clean Harbors’ ES Segment Gains From Disposal DemandEnvironmental Services generated revenues of $1.46 billion, up 7.7% from the year-ago quarter. Segment adjusted EBITDA increased 8% to $406.1 million, while the adjusted EBITDA margin improved 10 basis points to 27.9%.

Technical Services revenues rose 18%, driven by healthy demand for disposal and recycling services, project activity and acquisitions. A large-scale event contributed approximately $30 million to Technical Services revenues during the quarter.

Incinerator utilization, including the new Kimball facility, increased to 91% from 86% a year earlier. The improvement reflected strength in the base business and project volumes. Landfill volumes jumped 7% on continued project wins.

Safety-Kleen Environmental Services revenues advanced 11%, aided by pricing and higher volumes in containerized waste collection and vacuum services. Field Services revenues rose 3% despite a difficult year-over-year comparison that included major emergency-response projects.

The segment has now delivered year-over-year adjusted EBITDA margin expansion for 17 consecutive quarters.

CLH’s SKSS Business Benefits From Higher PricingSafety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions revenues surged 40.8% year over year to $278.4 million. The increase primarily resulted from a sharp rise in market prices for base and blended products amid global supply disruptions, along with higher charge-for-oil revenues.

Segment adjusted EBITDA jumped 142.8% to $93 million, while its margin expanded to 33.4% from 19.4% in the prior-year period. The supply-constrained environment widened the company’s re-refining spread and significantly strengthened profitability.

Clean Harbors collected 61 million gallons of waste oil compared with 64 million gallons a year earlier. Although collection volume declined, the company maintained a charge-for-oil rate that was considerably higher year over year.

Blended products represented 21% of total volumes sold, up from 19% a year ago and 16% in the first quarter. Direct blended sales increased to 11% of total volumes from 9% in the year-ago quarter, reflecting new customer wins and closed-loop arrangements.

The result significantly exceeded management’s expectations from the first-quarter earnings call, when it anticipated SKSS’ second-quarter growth to exceed 10% because of improving base oil prices.

Clean Harbors’ Cash Flow Remains HealthyCash provided by operating activities was $239.2 million, up from $208 million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted free cash flow increased to $135.7 million from $133.2 million.

Capital expenditures, net of asset-sale proceeds, were $124 million compared with $87.3 million a year ago. Clean Harbors also repurchased $27.1 million of shares during the quarter, up from $12 million in the year-ago period.

The company ended June with $408.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and $108.4 million in short-term marketable securities. Its current and long-term debt totaled approximately $2.77 billion.

CLH Raises 2026 GuidanceFor the third quarter of 2026, Clean Harbors expects adjusted EBITDA to increase 24-28% year over year. Management anticipates continued strength across both operating segments, supported by emergency-response work, PFAS opportunities, reshoring activity and favorable demand for re-refined products.

Following the strong first-half performance, the company raised the midpoint of its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance by $110 million. Clean Harbors now expects adjusted EBITDA of $1.35-$1.41 billion, with a midpoint of $1.38 billion.

The company also increased the midpoint of its adjusted free cash flow outlook by $30 million. Adjusted free cash flow is now projected between $520 million and $580 million, with a midpoint of $550 million.

The outlook includes anticipated GAAP net income of $481-$531 million and net cash from operating activities of $890 million to $1.01 billion.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates review.

The consensus estimate has shifted 20.15% due to these changes.

VGM ScoresCurrently, Clean Harbors has a nice Growth Score of B, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with an A. However, the stock was allocated a score of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Clean Harbors has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerClean Harbors belongs to the Zacks Waste Removal Services industry. Another stock from the same industry, Veralto (VLTO - Free Report) , has gained 3.9% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended June 2026.

Veralto reported revenues of $1.47 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.5%. EPS of $1.11 for the same period compares with $0.93 a year ago.

Veralto is expected to post earnings of $1.09 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +10.1%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +1.8%.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Veralto. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of C.

BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Clean Harbors, Inc. (NYSE:CLH – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 5,076,220 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $1,516,521,000. BlackRock Inc. owned 9.62% of Clean Harbors at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of CLH. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its holdings in shares of Clean Harbors by 10.0% during the 4th quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 2,376,088 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $557,146,000 after purchasing an additional 215,659 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its stake in Clean Harbors by 0.8% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,515,621 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $351,958,000 after buying an additional 12,452 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Clean Harbors by 1.8% in the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 932,027 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $267,239,000 after acquiring an additional 16,747 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Clean Harbors by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 917,779 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $215,247,000 after acquiring an additional 11,020 shares during the period. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Clean Harbors by 10.0% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 778,441 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $223,202,000 after acquiring an additional 70,447 shares in the last quarter. 90.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Clean Harbors Trading Down 0.8% Shares of NYSE:CLH opened at $322.60 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 1.80 and a current ratio of 2.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.15, a PEG ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 0.86. Clean Harbors, Inc. has a 1-year low of $201.34 and a 1-year high of $335.94. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $304.58 and a 200 day moving average price of $294.40.

Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The business services provider reported $3.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.81 by $0.41. Clean Harbors had a return on equity of 15.65% and a net margin of 7.03%.The company had revenue of $1.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.64 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.36 earnings per share. Clean Harbors’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Clean Harbors, Inc. will post 9.51 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Andrea Robertson sold 789 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $314.01, for a total transaction of $247,753.89. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 8,979 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,819,495.79. This trade represents a 8.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Lauren States sold 789 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $286.19, for a total value of $225,803.91. Following the sale, the director directly owned 11,359 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,250,832.21. This trade represents a 6.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders sold 4,078 shares of company stock worth $1,276,908. 5.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have recently commented on CLH. Oppenheimer reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $350.00 target price on shares of Clean Harbors in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price objective on Clean Harbors from $325.00 to $390.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Clean Harbors from $349.00 to $376.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Clean Harbors from $337.00 to $364.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Clean Harbors from $313.00 to $349.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $354.57.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Clean Harbors

About Clean Harbors (Free Report)

Clean Harbors, Inc is a leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services in North America. The company specializes in the collection, transportation and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, emergency spill response and remediation, industrial cleaning and on-site field services. Its comprehensive service offering also includes chemical neutralization, drum crushing, high-pressure water blasting, tank cleaning and vacuum services designed to help customers meet stringent environmental regulations.

Founded in 1980 by Alan S.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Clean Harbors 3 Energy Stocks Raising Dividends as the Sector Surges 5 Reasons the S&P 500 Could Keep Rallying Through Year-End Walmart’s Post-Earnings Drop Could Be a Buying Opportunity The Trade Desk’s Earnings Miss Raises a Bigger Question About Its AI Future Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CLH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Clean Harbors, Inc. (NYSE:CLH – Free Report).

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Key Takeaways Clean Harbors gained 15.9% in six months, beating the industry's 5% decline and the S&P 500's 14% rally.CLH's 2026 EPS estimate rose 11.9% in 60 days, with four upward revisions and no downward changes.CLH had $517M in cash versus $13M in current debt, while Q2 FCF climbed to $115M from negative $91M. Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH - Free Report) stock has gained 15.9% over the past six months against the industry’s 5% decline and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 14% rally.

6-Month Share Price Performance                                                                 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Let us delve into the factors that have contributed to the company’s outperformance.

Outlook Reinforced by Upward Estimates Revision: For 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for top line is pinned at $6.6 billion, suggesting 6.9% year-over-year growth. The consensus estimate for EPS is pegged at $9.51, implying a 30.6% increase.

Over the past 60 days, four EPS estimates for 2026 have been revised upward with no downward adjustments, highlighting optimistic sentiments among analysts. In the same period, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS moved up 11.9%.

Robust analyst conviction, coupled with bright top- and bottom-line momentum, bolsters CLH’s performance in 2026. This stock offers a solid risk-reward entry point for investors seeking a growth play, supported by strong fundamentals and analyst sentiment.

Solid Liquidity Profile: As of June 30, 2026, CLH held $517 million in cash and equivalents against a current debt of $13 million. The company’s liquidity profile stands on the back of a manifold increase in operating cash flow to $239 million during the second quarter of 2026 and a free cash flow (FCF) of $115 million, which is a significant rise from the preceding quarter’s negative FCF of $91 million. A strong balance sheet and cash position rank CLH’s liquidity profile in the top tier.

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Clean Harbors’ current ratio attests to its solid liquidity profile. During the second quarter of 2026, CLH’s current ratio of 2.13 outperformed its industry average of 1.02, signaling effective short-term debt coverage and minimal liquidity risks.

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Capital Return via Persistent Share Buyback: The company repurchased $50.2 million of stock in 2022, $51.1 million in 2023, $55.2 million in 2024 and $250 million in 2025. In the first six months of 2026, it repurchased another $52.1 million of common stock. During the second quarter of 2026, share count dipped marginally year over year, which, when combined with 34.3% net income growth, led to a 36.4% jump in EPS. This EPS accretion maximizes shareholders' value.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderClean Harbors currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Acuity (AYI - Free Report) and Marsh (MRSH - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Acuity has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 10%. AYI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.9%, on average.

Marsh has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 6.7%. MRSH delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.1%, on average.

Key Takeaways Clean Harbors' 2026 EPS estimate is $8.79, implying 20.7% growth from $7.28 in 2025.CLH trades at 33.7X forward earnings versus 25.5X for the industry and 20.8X for the S&P 500.Clean Harbors raised 2026 adjusted free cash flow guidance to $520-$580 million. Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH - Free Report) is showing faster earnings growth and improving cash generation, but investors are being asked to pay a sizable premium for that progress.

The key issue is whether rising estimates and structural demand can support the current valuation. With the shares already priced above industry benchmarks, the setup favors a measured approach rather than chasing operating momentum at any price.

CLH’s Growth Case Is Getting StrongerThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is $8.79 per share, up from $7.28 in 2025. Projected earnings growth for the current fiscal year is 20.7%, giving CLH a stronger earnings profile as demand remains healthy across its environmental-services businesses.

Estimate revisions reinforce that trend. The full-year earnings estimate has risen 11.8% in the past four weeks. Second-quarter earnings also increased 36.4% year over year to $3.22 per share, while adjusted EBITDA advanced 21.6% to $409 million.

Clean Harbors’ Valuation Leaves Less Room for ErrorGrowth is not inexpensive. CLH trades at 33.7X forward earnings, above the 25.5X industry level and 20.8X for the S&P 500. Its 15.8X EV/EBITDA multiple also exceeds the industry’s 12.5X and the stock’s five-year median of 11.7X.

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That premium raises the execution bar. Investors comparing environmental-services names may also consider GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL - Free Report) , a North American solid-waste services provider operating across Canada and 18 U.S. states. Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN - Free Report) provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer and disposal services, along with recycling and resource-recovery operations.

CLH’s Cash Flow Supports Growth and BuybacksClean Harbors generated $245.5 million of operating cash flow in the first six months of 2026, up from $209.6 million a year earlier. Management also raised 2026 adjusted free cash flow guidance to $520-$580 million, providing additional capacity for growth spending and capital allocation.

Share repurchases remain part of that strategy. CLH bought back $52.1 million of common stock in the first half of 2026. The company also had $408.4 million of cash and cash equivalents and $108.4 million of short-term marketable securities at June 30, 2026.

Clean Harbors Still Faces Competitive and FX RisksCompetition remains a constraint on the investment case. Clean Harbors competes with large national providers and smaller regional firms, which can pressure pricing, raise customer-acquisition costs and affect market share.

Foreign-exchange exposure adds another source of variability. Canadian operations contributed to a $17.7 million foreign-currency translation loss in the first six months of 2026, versus a $24.7 million gain a year earlier. CLH also pays no quarterly dividend, leaving shareholder returns dependent on price appreciation.

CLH’s Rating Mix Favors Patience Over ChasingThe growth case has strengthened, but the valuation leaves limited room for disappointment. Rising earnings estimates, higher cash-flow guidance and continued buybacks support the fundamental picture, while the premium multiples make entry price an important consideration.

CLH currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Clean Harbors has a Growth Score of B and Momentum Score of B, both of which point to favorable growth and price-trend characteristics, while its Value Score of C is more neutral. Its VGM Score of B reflects a favorable combined reading across value, growth and momentum. For investors weighing whether to buy now or wait, the rating mix supports patience rather than treating stronger operating momentum as a stand-alone buy signal.

NORWELL, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Clean Harbors, Inc. (“Clean Harbors” or the “Company”) (NYSE: CLH), a leading provider of environmental and industrial services throughout North America, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire EnviroServe, a national provider of environmental and waste management services, from an affiliate of One Rock Capital Partners, LLC for $470 million in cash. The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to re.

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The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Clean Harbors (CLH - Free Report) Headquartered in Norwell, MA, Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH - Free Report) is a leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services in North America, wherein it operates the largest number of hazardous waste incinerators; landfills; and treatment, storage and disposal facilities.

CLH is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Momentum investors should take note of this Business Services stock. CLH has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 2.8% over the past four weeks.

Four analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $1.01 to $9.51 per share. CLH also boasts an average earnings surprise of +4%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, CLH should be on investors' short list.

Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. But finding a great growth stock is not easy at all.

That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.

However, the task of finding cutting-edge growth stocks is made easy with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects.

Clean Harbors (CLH - Free Report) is one such stock that our proprietary system currently recommends. The company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.

Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.

While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this environmental services company is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below:

Earnings GrowthEarnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.

While the historical EPS growth rate for Clean Harbors is 16.7%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 18.3% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 15.8%.

Impressive Asset Utilization RatioAsset utilization ratio -- also known as sales-to-total-assets (S/TA) ratio -- is often overlooked by investors, but it is an important indicator in growth investing. This metric shows how efficiently a firm is utilizing its assets to generate sales.

Right now, Clean Harbors has an S/TA ratio of 0.82, which means that the company gets $0.82 in sales for each dollar in assets. Comparing this to the industry average of 0.56, it can be said that the company is more efficient.

In addition to efficiency in generating sales, sales growth plays an important role. And Clean Harbors is well positioned from a sales growth perspective too. The company's sales are expected to grow 6.9% this year versus the industry average of 4.8%.

Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsSuperiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

The current-year earnings estimates for Clean Harbors have been revising upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 1.4% over the past month.

Bottom LineWhile the overall earnings estimate revisions have made Clean Harbors a Zacks Rank #2 stock, it has earned itself a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above.

You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

This combination indicates that Clean Harbors is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors.

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Clean Harbors (CLH - Free Report) Headquartered in Norwell, MA, Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH - Free Report) is a leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services in North America, wherein it operates the largest number of hazardous waste incinerators; landfills; and treatment, storage and disposal facilities.

CLH is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. CLH has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 18.4% for the current fiscal year.

Two analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.12 to $8.62 per share. CLH also boasts an average earnings surprise of +4%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, CLH should be on investors' short list.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 30th, 2026

Clean Harbors, Inc. (NYSE:CLH – Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The company traded as high as $335.94 and last traded at $327.4410, with a volume of 75833 shares. The stock had previously closed at $303.67.

The business services provider reported $3.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.81 by $0.41. The company had revenue of $1.74 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.64 billion. Clean Harbors had a net margin of 6.53% and a return on equity of 14.37%. Clean Harbors’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.36 earnings per share.

Key Stories Impacting Clean Harbors Here are the key news stories impacting Clean Harbors this week:

Positive Sentiment: Significant earnings beat: Clean Harbors reported quarterly earnings of $3.22 per share, up from $2.36 a year earlier and above consensus estimates ranging from $2.74 to $2.81. Clean Harbors Beats Q2 Earnings and Revenue Estimates Positive Sentiment: Revenue also topped expectations: Quarterly revenue reached $1.74 billion, versus the $1.64 billion consensus estimate, representing 11.9% year-over-year growth. The simultaneous revenue and profit beats reinforce the company’s operating momentum. Clean Harbors Second-Quarter Earnings Report Positive Sentiment: Strength across operating segments: Management described the results as record second-quarter performance and said both Environmental Services and the company’s other operating segment contributed to momentum. This suggests broad-based demand rather than a gain concentrated in one business line. Clean Harbors Announces Second-Quarter 2026 Financial Results Neutral Sentiment: Analyst coverage added: Bank of America began coverage of Clean Harbors, potentially increasing institutional attention, although the available report does not specify its rating or price target. Bank of America Begins Coverage on Clean Harbors Neutral Sentiment: Recent investor commentary has also focused on the company’s board transition, but the supplied information does not identify a specific financial impact. Is Clean Harbors a Bargain Following Its Board Transition? Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms recently issued reports on CLH. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Clean Harbors from $309.00 to $313.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Clean Harbors from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 9th. Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on Clean Harbors in a research note on Friday, May 29th. They set a “buy” rating and a $337.00 target price for the company. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Clean Harbors from $325.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Clean Harbors from $304.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $330.21.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Clean Harbors

Insider Buying and Selling In other Clean Harbors news, Director Lauren States sold 789 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $286.19, for a total transaction of $225,803.91. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 11,359 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,250,832.21. This trade represents a 6.49% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 5.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Clean Harbors Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of CLH. Elyxium Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Clean Harbors in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Quattro Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Clean Harbors during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. MidFirst Bank bought a new position in Clean Harbors during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in Clean Harbors by 205.1% during the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 119 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC grew its position in shares of Clean Harbors by 676.5% in the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 132 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.43% of the company’s stock.

Clean Harbors Stock Up 7.8% The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 1.99 and a current ratio of 2.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 44.38, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.86. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $294.41 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $288.07.

About Clean Harbors (Get Free Report)

Clean Harbors, Inc is a leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services in North America. The company specializes in the collection, transportation and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, emergency spill response and remediation, industrial cleaning and on-site field services. Its comprehensive service offering also includes chemical neutralization, drum crushing, high-pressure water blasting, tank cleaning and vacuum services designed to help customers meet stringent environmental regulations.

Founded in 1980 by Alan S.

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Trash to Treasure: 3 Waste Removal Stocks to Minimize VolatilityClean Harbors NYSE: CLH reported second-quarter 2026 results that exceeded its prior expectations, supported by growth in its Environmental Services segment and strong market conditions in its Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions, or SKSS, business.

Total revenue increased 12% year over year to $1.74 billion, while adjusted EBITDA rose 22% to $409 million. The company’s adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 190 basis points to a quarterly record of 23.6%. Net income increased 34%, and earnings per share were $3.22.

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Time to Clean Up with These 3 Profitable Garbage Stocks“Our quarterly results came in well ahead of the expectations we outlined in May, driven by outperformance and strong execution from both segments,” Chief Financial Officer Eric Dugas said.

Environmental Services Posts Revenue and Margin Gains Environmental Services revenue increased by more than $100 million in the quarter. Technical services revenue rose 18%, driven by demand for disposal and recycling services, while Safety-Kleen Environmental Services revenue grew 11% on pricing and expansion in containerized waste collection and vacuum services.

Co-Chief Executive Officer Eric Gerstenberg said a large PFAS-related filtration project, which followed prior emergency response work, contributed more than $30 million in second-quarter revenue. Incineration utilization reached 91%, compared with 86% a year earlier, while landfill volumes increased 7%.

Field services revenue grew 3% despite what management described as a difficult comparison with the year-ago period. Industrial services revenue was comparable with the prior year as limited refinery downtime and turnaround activity offset growth in specialty and other services.

Environmental Services adjusted EBITDA rose 8%, and segment margin improved 10 basis points to 27.9%. Gerstenberg said the segment recorded its 17th consecutive quarter of year-over-year adjusted EBITDA margin improvement and its 19th straight quarter of EBITDA growth.

The company also announced a 10-year disposal agreement with a manufacturing customer expanding its U.S. operations. The contract has an estimated value of $600 million and is expected to begin in the fourth quarter, contributing roughly $10 million of revenue in 2026. Clean Harbors expects the agreement to reach full capacity in 2030, when it could generate an $80 million to $100 million annual revenue run rate, according to management’s comments during the call.

The work will include incineration waste and complex wastewater volumes. Gerstenberg said the company expects to add trucking, driver capacity and personnel at customer sites as the customer expands its facilities.

SKSS Benefits From Lubricant Supply Constraints SKSS revenue increased more than 40% and adjusted EBITDA climbed 143% in the second quarter. Management attributed the performance to elevated pricing for base oils and blended products following global supply disruptions in the Middle East and Asia.

The company collected 61 million gallons of waste oil during the quarter and said it continued to generate higher revenue from its charge-for-oil program compared with a year earlier. It also increased direct blended gallons sold, which represented 11% of total volume sold in the quarter.

Mike Battles, co-CEO, said supply constraints are expected to continue into the third quarter. However, the company expects prices to begin declining during the fourth quarter under its current planning assumptions. Dugas said SKSS could produce slightly more adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter than in the second quarter before trending lower later in the year.

Management said its efforts to increase Group III product production, sell more blended volumes and expand its closed-loop offering—where it collects customer waste oil and delivers lubricants back to those customers—are intended to help reduce the business’s cyclicality over time.

Acquisitions and Data Center Expansion Clean Harbors announced an agreement to acquire ES&H, a Gulf-region provider of field services and emergency response services, for $305 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval and other customary conditions.

ES&H operates 13 service branches across Louisiana and Texas and is expected to generate approximately $90 million in annual revenue and $30 million in adjusted EBITDA. Clean Harbors expects about $5 million in cost synergies after the first full year of operations, implying a post-synergy acquisition multiple of 8.7 times.

The company also recently completed the $30 million acquisition of Western Oil, a New England field services and waste-oil collection business expected to generate $4 million to $6 million in annual adjusted EBITDA.

Separately, Clean Harbors is building an integrated offering for data center customers, initially focused on construction-related industrial services such as mechanical flushing, chemical passivation and water filtration. Gerstenberg said the company has won work at 10 data center sites and is bidding on another dozen.

The company expects data center revenue of $15 million to $20 million this year and is targeting more than $200 million in annual revenue by 2029. It plans to invest an additional $50 million in capital expenditures over the next three years for equipment, tankage and vehicles supporting the initiative.

Raised 2026 Outlook Clean Harbors raised its 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $1.35 billion to $1.41 billion, up $110 million at the midpoint from its prior forecast. The midpoint of $1.38 billion would represent approximately 18% growth from 2025.

Environmental Services adjusted EBITDA is expected to grow 6% to 9% in 2026 at the midpoint of company guidance. SKSS adjusted EBITDA is now expected to total approximately $275 million, compared with the company’s prior expectation of $165 million. Adjusted free cash flow guidance was raised by $30 million to a range of $520 million to $580 million. Net capital expenditures are expected to range from $370 million to $430 million, excluding specified strategic investments. The company ended the quarter with $517 million of cash and short-term marketable securities and a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of about 2 times. During the quarter, Clean Harbors repurchased approximately 84,000 shares at an average price of $298 per share and had just under $550 million remaining under its repurchase authorization as of June 30.

About Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH)Clean Harbors, Inc is a leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services in North America. The company specializes in the collection, transportation and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, emergency spill response and remediation, industrial cleaning and on-site field services. Its comprehensive service offering also includes chemical neutralization, drum crushing, high-pressure water blasting, tank cleaning and vacuum services designed to help customers meet stringent environmental regulations.

Founded in 1980 by Alan S.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Should You Invest $1,000 in Clean Harbors Right Now?Before you consider Clean Harbors, you'll want to hear this.

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For the quarter ended June 2026, Clean Harbors (CLH - Free Report) reported revenue of $1.74 billion, up 12% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $3.22, compared to $2.36 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +6.79% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.62 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $2.74, the EPS surprise was +17.52%.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Clean Harbors performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Revenue- Direct Revenues- Environmental Services: $1.46 billion compared to the $1.4 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +7.7% year over year.Revenue- Direct Revenues- Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions: $278.44 million versus $218.34 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +40.8% change.Adjusted EBITDA- Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions: $92.99 million compared to the $44.19 million average estimate based on three analysts.Adjusted EBITDA- Corporate Items: $-90.07 million compared to the $-80.92 million average estimate based on three analysts.Adjusted EBITDA- Environmental Services: $406.1 million compared to the $395.94 million average estimate based on three analysts.View all Key Company Metrics for Clean Harbors here>>>

Shares of Clean Harbors have returned +1.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.9% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

NORWELL, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Clean Harbors, Inc. (“Clean Harbors” or the “Company”) (NYSE: CLH), the leading provider of environmental and industrial services throughout North America, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026. “Our record second-quarter results demonstrate the substantial momentum we achieved in both of our operating segments,” said Mike Battles, Co-Chief Executive Officer. “Our Environmental Services (ES) segment benefited from a combina.

Investors in Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Aug. 21, 2026 $330 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Clean Harbors shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Clean Harbors is a Zacks Rank #2 (Hold) in the Waste Removal Services industry that ranks in the Top 38% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 30 days, one analyst has increased the earnings estimates for the current quarter, while none dropped the estimates. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $2.70 per share to $2.73 in that period.

Given the way analysts feel about Clean Harbors right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected

If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Clean Harbors (CLH - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Waste Removal Services industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.

When looking at the last two reports, this environmental services company has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 2.68%, on average, in the last two quarters.

For the most recent quarter, Clean Harbors was expected to post earnings of $1.15 per share, but it reported $1.19 per share instead, representing a surprise of 3.48%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $1.59 per share, while it actually produced $1.62 per share, a surprise of 1.89%.

Price and EPS Surprise

For Clean Harbors, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Clean Harbors currently has an Earnings ESP of +3.82%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on July 29, 2026.

When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Alan S. McKim, executive chairman and chief technology officer of Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH 0.12%), disposed of 1,265 shares of common stock on July 17, 2026. This non-discretionary transaction was executed to satisfy tax withholding obligations associated with the vesting of equity awards, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value$392,884Shares sold1,265Post-transaction shares (total)2,262,615Post-transaction shares (directly held)30,154Post-transaction shares (indirectly held)2,232,461Post-transaction value$702.7 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($310.58); post-transaction value based on July 17, 2026 market close ($310.58).

Key questionsWhat was the nature of this share disposition?
The activity was an automatic tax withholding event triggered by the vesting of restricted stock, a common procedure where a portion of a vested award is surrendered to cover mandated tax liabilities.How is the executive's remaining equity structured?
The vast majority of the executive's exposure is held indirectly through multiple entities, including 2,065,368 shares in the McKim 2007 Trust and additional positions in the McKim 2026 and 2025 Annuity Trusts.How does the current market valuation relate to this transaction?
The shares were valued at $310.58 per share at the time of the transaction, and the company has delivered a 36% return over the one-year period ending July 17, 2026.Does this move impact the executive's overall equity control?
The disposition affected only 4% of the executive's direct holdings, leaving his total beneficial interest in the company largely unchanged.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-07-17)$310.58Market Capitalization$16.4 billionRevenue (TTM)$6.1 billionNet Income (TTM)$395.5 millionCompany SnapshotClean Harbors delivers comprehensive environmental and industrial services across North America through two primary divisions: Environmental Services, which manages hazardous and non-hazardous waste collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal, and Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions, which provides complementary environmental solutions.The company generates revenue through a diversified service-based model that includes waste management operations, resource reclamation, environmental remediation, and industrial cleaning services, serving as a critical infrastructure provider for industrial and commercial customers requiring regulatory compliance and waste management solutions.Clean Harbors serves a broad customer base across industrial, commercial, and municipal sectors throughout North America, with particular strength in serving manufacturing, petrochemical, energy, and transportation industries that require specialized hazardous waste handling and environmental compliance services.Clean Harbors is a leading North American environmental and industrial services provider with a market capitalization of $16.4 billion and TTM revenue of $6.1 billion. The company maintains a competitive advantage through its integrated service offerings, extensive collection and treatment infrastructure, and deep expertise in regulatory compliance and hazardous waste management. With TTM net income of $395.5 million, Clean Harbors demonstrates strong operational performance and profitability within the essential waste management and environmental services sector.

What this transaction means for investorsMcKim is Clean Harbors' founder; he started the business in 1980 and still controls a stake worth north of $600 million through his trusts. Such a small number of shares being disposed to cover a tax bill on vested stock is a bookkeeping consequence of how he's compensated, and the price tells you as much: It landed exactly at the day's close, which is how withholding is calculated rather than how a real order fills.

The business, however, is worth more of your attention. First-quarter revenue set a record at $1.46 billion, adjusted EBITDA rose 6% to $247.9 million, and margin widened to 17%. Co-CEO Eric Gerstenberg said the company "began 2026 with better-than-expected first-quarter results," buoyed by both key segments: The hazardous waste side extended a long margin-improvement streak, while the Safety-Kleen unit caught a late-quarter jump in base oil prices. For long-term investors, that Safety-Kleen swing might be the thing to track. Oil pricing is volatile, as we’ve seen time and time again these past few months, and it's the reason management felt confident enough to raise guidance.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

NORWELL, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Clean Harbors, Inc. (“Clean Harbors” or the “Company”) (NYSE: CLH) today announced that it has named Robert Willett as Chairman of the Board, effective immediately, completing the Board transition first announced in May when Founder and Executive Chairman Alan S. McKim communicated his intention to retire from the Board. McKim's decision to retire comes after more than four decades of service. McKim founded Clean Harbors in 1980 and led the Company's growth and.

For those looking to find strong Business Services stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Has Clean Harbors (CLH - Free Report) been one of those stocks this year? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

Clean Harbors is one of 247 companies in the Business Services group. The Business Services group currently sits at #7 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.

The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. Clean Harbors is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for CLH's full-year earnings has moved 4.1% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.

According to our latest data, CLH has moved about 27.1% on a year-to-date basis. In comparison, Business Services companies have returned an average of -8.2%. This shows that Clean Harbors is outperforming its peers so far this year.

One other Business Services stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Dave Inc. (DAVE - Free Report) . The stock is up 73.4% year-to-date.

The consensus estimate for Dave Inc.'s current year EPS has increased 20.7% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Looking more specifically, Clean Harbors belongs to the Waste Removal Services industry, a group that includes 23 individual stocks and currently sits at #53 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has lost an average of 0.9% so far this year, so CLH is performing better in this area.

In contrast, Dave Inc. falls under the Technology Services industry. Currently, this industry has 121 stocks and is ranked #110. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved -1.6%.

Investors with an interest in Business Services stocks should continue to track Clean Harbors and Dave Inc.. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.

Clean Harbors gains from hazardous waste demand, recurring service contracts and strategic acquisitions, but faces FX pressure, competition and no dividend payouts.

Clean Harbors (CLH) could produce exceptional returns because of its solid growth attributes.

Clean Harbors NYSE: CLH reported better-than-expected first-quarter 2026 results and raised its full-year outlook, citing stronger profitability across both of its operating segments, improved base oil pricing and continued momentum in environmental services.

Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH) Presents at Oppenheimer 21st Annual Industrial Growth Virtual Conference Transcript

NORWELL, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Clean Harbors, Inc. (“Clean Harbors” or the “Company”) (NYSE: CLH), the leading provider of environmental and industrial services throughout North America, today announced the acquisition of Terra Nova Solutions, a regional provider of hazardous and non-hazardous waste solutions for $225 million, which the Company plans to fund with available cash. Based in the Carolinas, Terra Nova operates five sites that support high-margin, recurring revenue streams includin.

NORWELL, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Clean Harbors, Inc. (“Clean Harbors” or the “Company”) (NYSE: CLH) today announced that its Founder and Executive Chairman, Alan S. McKim, has informed the Board of Directors of his intention to retire from the Board and his role as Chief Technology Officer upon the Board appointing a new Chair. The Board expects to appoint an independent Chair later this summer as part of a planned leadership transition. McKim founded Clean Harbors in 1980 and served as Chairma.