Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH) Releases Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.41 EPS

Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH) posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The business services provider reported $3.22 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.81 by $0.41, FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $1.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations 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 was up 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.36 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Clean Harbors’ conference call:

• Record Q2 performance: Revenue rose 12% to $1.74 billion, adjusted EBITDA increased 22% to $409 million, and the 23.6% margin was the highest in company history. Management cited strength in both Environmental Services and Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions.
• 2026 guidance was raised substantially: Adjusted EBITDA guidance increased by $110 million at the midpoint to $1.38 billion, implying approximately 18% growth, while adjusted free cash flow guidance rose to $550 million.
• Clean Harbors won a 10-year manufacturing waste-disposal contract valued at approximately $600 million, expected to ramp toward an $80 million-$100 million annual revenue run rate by 2030. Management views the agreement as evidence of reshoring-driven demand and customers’ preference for integrated waste providers.
• The company is expanding into data-center services, with work already secured at 10 sites and a target of approximately $200 million in annual revenue by 2028. It plans to invest $50 million over three years in specialty equipment, tankage, and vehicles to support the opportunity.
• Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions delivered a sharp rebound, including a 143% increase in adjusted EBITDA, as lubricant shortages lifted base-oil pricing and demand. Management expects favorable conditions to continue into Q3 but anticipates pricing to decline in Q4, underscoring the segment’s ongoing cyclicality.

Clean Harbors Stock Up 8.4%

Shares of Clean Harbors stock traded up $25.61 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $329.27. The stock had a trading volume of 657,951 shares, compared to its average volume of 513,078. The company has a market capitalization of $17.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.73 and a beta of 0.86. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $293.69 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $287.51. Clean Harbors has a 52 week low of $201.34 and a 52 week high of $335.94. The company has a current ratio of 2.34, a quick ratio of 1.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99.

Insider Activity at Clean Harbors

In other news, Director Lauren States sold 789 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 in the company, valued at $3,250,832.21. This represents a 6.49% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 5.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Clean Harbors

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Quattro Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Clean Harbors in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its stake in Clean Harbors by 205.1% in the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 119 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Clean Harbors during the fourth quarter worth about $48,000. Johnson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Clean Harbors during the third quarter worth approximately $71,000. Finally, US Bancorp DE increased its position in Clean Harbors by 16.9% during the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 374 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $87,000 after buying an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. 90.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on CLH. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Clean Harbors from $300.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 16th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Clean Harbors from $340.00 to $342.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Clean Harbors from $325.00 to $350.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Clean Harbors from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, May 9th. Finally, Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Clean Harbors in a research report on Monday. They set a “buy” rating and a $360.00 price target for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Clean Harbors currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $330.21.

Clean Harbors News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Clean Harbors reported second-quarter earnings of $3.22 per share, well above the Zacks consensus estimate of $2.74 and the $2.36 reported in the year-ago quarter. Clean Harbors Beats Q2 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Revenue increased 11.9% year over year to $1.74 billion, exceeding the $1.64 billion analyst estimate. The earnings and revenue beats indicate stronger-than-expected operating momentum. Clean Harbors Second-Quarter Earnings Results
• Positive Sentiment: Management described the quarter as a record period, citing substantial momentum in both Environmental Services and Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions. This suggests demand remained healthy across the company’s core environmental and industrial-services businesses. Clean Harbors Announces Second-Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: The company’s earnings beat was larger than the headline consensus in some reports, with MarketBeat citing a $2.81 estimate and a $0.41 beat. The consistency of the outperformance likely reinforced investor confidence in Clean Harbors’ execution.
• Neutral Sentiment: Bank of America began coverage of Clean Harbors, adding institutional analyst attention; however, the available report does not provide the analyst’s rating or price target. Bank of America Begins Coverage on Clean Harbors
• Neutral Sentiment: Despite the strong results, the stock trades at a relatively elevated valuation, with a reported price-to-earnings ratio above 44, leaving less room for disappointment in future results.

About Clean Harbors

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.