Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH) Stock Rating Upgraded by Zacks Research

Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH) was upgraded by equities researchers at Zacks Research from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a note issued to investors on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on shares of Clean Harbors in a report on Thursday, November 13th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $220.00 target price for the company. Barclays reduced their price objective on Clean Harbors from $253.00 to $230.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. CJS Securities upgraded Clean Harbors to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Raymond James Financial cut their price target on Clean Harbors from $277.00 to $270.00 and set a “strong-buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Oppenheimer reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $237.00 price objective on shares of Clean Harbors in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $250.08.

Clean Harbors Stock Up 1.9%

CLH stock opened at $258.97 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $13.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.92 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 2.09 and a current ratio of 2.44. The business’s 50-day moving average is $231.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $233.80. Clean Harbors has a fifty-two week low of $178.29 and a fifty-two week high of $259.32.

Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The business services provider reported $2.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.37 by ($0.16). Clean Harbors had a net margin of 6.51% and a return on equity of 14.61%. The firm had revenue of $1.55 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.58 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.12 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Clean Harbors will post 7.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Eric W. Gerstenberg sold 601 shares of Clean Harbors stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.90, for a total transaction of $144,780.90. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 50,454 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,154,368.60. This trade represents a 1.18% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 5.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CLH. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. lifted its holdings in shares of Clean Harbors by 715.0% in the 3rd quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 7,262 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,686,000 after acquiring an additional 6,371 shares during the last quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. raised its holdings in Clean Harbors by 127.2% during the 2nd quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 15,206 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $3,515,000 after buying an additional 8,514 shares during the period. Sowell Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in Clean Harbors in the second quarter worth $242,000. Schroder Investment Management Group increased its position in Clean Harbors by 18.5% during the second quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 40,807 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $9,434,000 after acquiring an additional 6,365 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fox Run Management L.L.C. bought a new position in Clean Harbors during the second quarter valued at $741,000. 90.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.