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Clean Harbors (CLH)
:CLH

Clean Harbors (CLH) AI Stock Analysis

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CLH

Clean Harbors

(NYSE:CLH)

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Outperform 78 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:78Outperform
Price Target:
$273.00
▲(14.08% Upside)
Clean Harbors' strong financial performance and positive earnings call sentiment are the primary drivers of its stock score. Technical indicators suggest a strong upward trend, though caution is warranted due to overbought signals. The stock's high valuation relative to peers slightly tempers the overall score.
Positive Factors
Strong Cash Flow Generation
The significant increase in free cash flow indicates robust cash generation capabilities, enhancing financial flexibility for future investments and debt reduction.
PFAS Market Growth
Growth in PFAS-related revenue highlights Clean Harbors' ability to capitalize on emerging environmental needs, supporting long-term revenue expansion.
New Contracts
Securing significant contracts for PFAS filtration strengthens Clean Harbors' market position and ensures steady revenue streams over the coming years.
Negative Factors
Industrial and Field Services Decline
Declines in these segments suggest challenges in maintaining growth across all service areas, potentially impacting overall revenue diversity and stability.
Higher Corporate Costs
Rising corporate costs, particularly in insurance and healthcare, could pressure profit margins and reduce financial flexibility if not managed effectively.
Healthcare Cost Challenges
Unexpected increases in healthcare costs can strain profitability and necessitate cost control measures to maintain financial health.

Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Clean Harbors Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionClean Harbors, Inc. is a leading provider of environmental, energy, and industrial services throughout North America. The company specializes in hazardous waste disposal, emergency response services, industrial cleaning, and recycling services, catering to a diverse range of sectors including oil and gas, manufacturing, and construction. With a commitment to sustainability and safety, Clean Harbors offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to manage waste and environmental compliance effectively.
How the Company Makes MoneyClean Harbors generates revenue primarily through its diverse service offerings, which include waste management, industrial services, and environmental solutions. The company's revenue model is built on a mix of contractual agreements and one-time service fees, enabling it to secure stable income from long-term clients while also capitalizing on project-based work. Key revenue streams include hazardous waste treatment and disposal, industrial cleaning services, and emergency response operations. Additionally, Clean Harbors benefits from strategic partnerships with various sectors such as energy and manufacturing, allowing it to provide tailored solutions that meet specific regulatory and operational needs. The company's focus on sustainability and efficiency further enhances its appeal to clients, contributing to its overall earnings.

Clean Harbors Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 29, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 25, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call highlighted strong safety performance, revenue growth, and successful PFAS initiatives. However, challenges in Industrial and Field Services, alongside increased corporate costs, tempered the overall positive sentiment. Despite these challenges, successful strategic initiatives and strong cash flow generation position the company well for future growth.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Safety Performance
Achieved a TRIR of 0.49, putting the company on track for another record year in safety performance.
Revenue and EBITDA Growth
Total revenue increased to $1.55 billion with a 6% increase in adjusted EBITDA to $320 million. ES segment revenue up 3% and adjusted EBITDA up 7%.
PFAS Market Growth
PFAS-related revenue expected to be $100 million to $120 million this year, up 20% to 25% from a year ago.
Successful PFAS Incineration Study
Completed a successful PFAS incineration study in partnership with the EPA and DoD, confirming the ability to safely destroy PFAS chemicals.
New SDA Unit Announcement
Announced plans for a $210 million to $220 million SDA Unit expected to generate $30 million to $40 million in annual EBITDA upon completion in 2028.
Strong Cash Flow Generation
Record Q3 adjusted free cash flow of $231 million, up $86 million year-on-year.
Negative Updates
Industrial and Field Services Decline
Field Services revenue declined 11% and Industrial Services revenue declined 4% due to slowness in field and industrial services and deferred maintenance by customers.
Higher Corporate Costs
Corporate segment costs were up due to higher insurance expenses and health care costs, impacting profitability.
Healthcare Cost Challenges
Higher-than-anticipated employee healthcare costs impacted financial results, with $6 million affecting the entire company.
Company Guidance
In the Clean Harbors' Q3 2025 earnings call, the company provided updated guidance with a revised full-year adjusted EBITDA range of $1.155 billion to $1.175 billion, reflecting a $15 million reduction primarily due to challenges in Industrial and Field Services and increased health care costs. Despite these setbacks, the Environmental Services segment reported a 6% year-over-year adjusted EBITDA growth and a consolidated adjusted EBITDA margin improvement of 100 basis points to 20.7%. The ES segment saw a 3% revenue increase, led by 12% growth in Technical Services and an 8% rise in Safety-Kleen Environmental Services. Incineration utilization was reported at 92%, excluding the ramping Kimball unit, and landfill volumes increased by 40%. The company also highlighted a successful PFAS incineration study and is expecting PFAS-related revenue to grow by 20% to 25% year-over-year, contributing $100 million to $120 million. Additionally, Clean Harbors announced a new $210 million to $220 million SDA Unit project, expected to generate annual EBITDA of $30 million to $40 million upon its 2028 launch. The company remains focused on capital allocation, with $50 million repurchased in Q3, and anticipates ending the year with record free cash flows and a strong balance sheet.

Clean Harbors Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Clean Harbors exhibits strong financial performance with impressive revenue growth and profitability metrics. The company has effectively managed its leverage, resulting in a stable balance sheet. Cash flow generation remains robust, supporting future growth initiatives. Continued focus on cost management and maintaining cash flow growth will enhance financial resilience.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Clean Harbors has demonstrated strong revenue growth with a 33.5% increase in TTM, supported by solid gross and net profit margins of 31.1% and 6.5% respectively. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are also healthy at 13.95% and 21.47%, indicating efficient operational management. However, slight declines in net income from the previous year suggest room for improvement in cost control.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The company's balance sheet shows a strong equity position with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09 in TTM, reflecting reduced leverage and improved financial stability. The return on equity is robust at 14.61%, indicating effective use of shareholder funds. However, the equity ratio of 36.8% suggests moderate reliance on debt financing.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Cash flow analysis reveals a positive trajectory with a 17.44% growth in free cash flow, indicating strong cash generation capabilities. The operating cash flow to net income ratio of 0.76 and free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.54 highlight efficient cash management. Continued focus on maintaining cash flow growth will be beneficial.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue5.96B5.89B5.41B5.17B3.81B3.14B
Gross Profit1.85B1.82B1.66B1.62B1.20B1.01B
EBITDA1.12B1.09B989.57M997.86M647.73M544.05M
Net Income388.36M402.30M377.86M411.74M203.25M134.84M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets7.54B7.38B6.38B6.13B5.65B4.13B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments850.37M789.83M550.80M554.64M534.30M570.96M
Total Debt260.48M3.04B2.49B2.59B2.70B1.71B
Total Liabilities4.76B4.80B4.14B4.21B4.14B2.79B
Stockholders Equity2.78B2.57B2.25B1.92B1.51B1.34B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow442.92M345.53M309.60M279.19M300.29M232.31M
Operating Cash Flow815.57M777.77M734.55M626.21M546.00M430.60M
Investing Cash Flow-367.32M-903.67M-575.05M-388.94M-1.51B-199.46M
Financing Cash Flow-198.05M377.03M-208.89M-187.31M898.25M-88.95M

Clean Harbors Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price239.30
Price Trends
50DMA
226.70
Positive
100DMA
232.50
Positive
200DMA
225.03
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
5.04
Negative
RSI
62.00
Neutral
STOCH
44.08
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CLH, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 239.3 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 234.23, above the 50-day MA of 226.70, and above the 200-day MA of 225.03, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 5.04 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 62.00 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 44.08 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for CLH.

Clean Harbors Risk Analysis

Clean Harbors disclosed 24 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Clean Harbors reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Clean Harbors Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$12.79B33.2014.64%2.85%-6.27%
76
Outperform
$87.16B34.0929.31%1.53%15.88%-3.11%
72
Outperform
$65.98B31.6818.24%1.11%4.33%7.59%
69
Neutral
$923.37M-27.69-4.17%22.77%44.73%
69
Neutral
$6.25B410.550.98%20.54%106.35%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
56
Neutral
$1.47B-8.79-38.53%-2.91%-67.18%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CLH
Clean Harbors
239.30
10.69
4.68%
CWST
Casella Waste
98.49
-6.32
-6.03%
NVRI
Enviri
18.21
10.65
140.87%
RSG
Republic Services
213.14
12.97
6.48%
WM
Waste Management
216.34
15.53
7.73%
MEG
Montrose Environmental Group
26.13
9.63
58.36%

Clean Harbors Corporate Events

Private Placements and Financing
Clean Harbors Issues $745M Senior Notes for Refinancing
Neutral
Oct 10, 2025

On October 9, 2025, Clean Harbors, Inc. issued $745 million in 5.750% senior notes due 2033 to refinance existing debt and redeem outstanding notes. The issuance, under an Indenture with U.S. Bank Trust Company, includes covenants restricting certain financial activities, with conditions for redemption and default events. Concurrently, Clean Harbors amended its credit agreement, securing $1.26 billion in new term loans to refinance prior loans, with interest options tied to SOFR or U.S. Base Rate, and secured by liens on company assets.

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Clean Harbors Announces $845M Senior Notes Offering
Neutral
Sep 26, 2025

On September 25, 2025, Clean Harbors announced the commencement of a private offering of $845 million in senior notes due 2033. The company plans to use the proceeds, along with borrowings from a new secured term loan credit facility and cash on hand, to refinance existing debts, including repaying $1,457.3 million in secured senior term loans and redeeming $545 million of 4.875% senior notes due 2027. This strategic financial move aims to optimize the company’s capital structure, though its completion is subject to market conditions.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

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.Date of analysis: Dec 03, 2025