Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH) AI Stock Analysis
CLH AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchClean Harbors, Inc. (CLH) provides environmental and industrial waste management solutions across North America. For the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $6.24B with an operating margin of 15.5%. Analysts anticipate full-year EPS of $9.97 on revenue of $6.59B for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026.
- Market cap
- $16.90B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $6.24B
- P/E
- 38.8x fwd 34.5x
- 1Y return
- 37.9% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $361.00 12.8% vs last close
Bull case
- Trailing twelve-month operating margin expanded to 15.5%, supported by latest quarter earnings growth of 36.4% year-over-year.
- Free cash flow grew to $438.2M in FY2025, up from $345.5M in FY2024, facilitating $250.0M in share repurchases.
- Analysts forecast 34.9% EPS growth for the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, reaching $9.97 per share.
Bear case
- Annual top-line growth decelerated to 2.4% in FY2025, down from 8.9% in FY2024 and 35.8% in FY2022.
- Valuation multiples are elevated, with a trailing P/E of 38.8x compared to the US-listed Industrials peer median of 24.8x.
- Total debt stands at $3.03B against $516.7M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $2.52B.
What Clean Harbors does
Clean Harbors, Inc. is a provider of environmental and industrial services across North America, operating through two segments: Environmental Services and Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions. Environmental Services collects, transports, treats, and disposes of hazardous and non-hazardous waste via resource recovery, physical treatment, fuel blending, incineration, landfill disposal, and wastewater treatment. It also provides CleanPack services for laboratory and household hazardous waste packaging, along with industrial maintenance services. Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions supplies parts washers, cleaning products, hazardous waste pickup, and vacuum services to handle oily water, sludge, and other fluids for metal fabricators, automotive maintenance facilities, and manufacturers.
Growth and profitability
Clean Harbors expanded annual revenue from $3.81B in FY2021 to $6.03B in FY2025, reflecting a 5-year revenue CAGR of 13.9%. Annual revenue growth moderated to 2.4% in FY2025 as gross margin contracted to 29.5% and net margin slipped to 6.5%, yielding net income of $391.0M and EPS of $7.28. Momentum accelerated in the latest quarter ending June 30, 2026, where quarterly revenue grew 11.9% year-over-year and quarterly earnings grew 36.4% year-over-year. For the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $6.24B, generating an operating margin of 15.5% and diluted EPS of $8.25.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Clean Harbors held $516.7M in cash and short-term investments against $3.03B in total debt, resulting in net debt of $2.52B. Shareholders' equity was $2.93B, yielding a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 2.13. In FY2025, operating cash flow stood at $866.7M, funding $428.6M in capital expenditures and leaving free cash flow of $438.2M. The company also deployed $250.0M toward share buybacks in FY2025, contributing to a 5-year share count change of -3.0%.
Valuation and performance
At $320.06 per share, Clean Harbors carries a market cap of $16.90B and an enterprise value of $19.05B. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 38.8x and a forward P/E of 34.5x, above the median of its US-listed Industrials peers of 24.8x and 17.2x, respectively. Its EV/EBITDA stands at 15.6x compared to the peer median of 13.9x, while its PEG ratio is 0.27. Over the past year, CLH gained 37.9%, outperforming the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%, and delivered a 5-year return of 196.6% versus 83.0% for the index.
What analysts expect
Consensus ratings include 11 Strong Buys, 2 Buys, and 4 Holds, with no Sell recommendations. The mean price target of $361.00 implies 12.8% upside from the last close of $320.06. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $9.97 on revenue of $6.59B, followed by FY2027 estimates of $10.16 in EPS and $6.98B in revenue. Clean Harbors has topped earnings estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with its next earnings release scheduled for October 28, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- A debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04 and net debt of $2.52B could limit capital flexibility if operating cash flow declines.
- Annual net income declined from $402.3M in FY2024 to $391.0M in FY2025 as gross margins fell to 29.5%.
- Analyst revenue growth estimates indicate a slowdown to 5.9% in the next fiscal year, down from current fiscal year projected growth.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this CLH AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: CLH income statement, CLH balance sheet, CLH key metrics, CLH analyst forecast, CLH chart. See the CLH stock overview for the latest quote and news.
CLH AI stock analysis FAQ
Does Clean Harbors pay a dividend?
No, Clean Harbors does not pay a dividend. Capital is returned to shareholders primarily via repurchases, including $250.0M spent on share buybacks in FY2025.
What is Clean Harbors' current valuation relative to its industry peers?
Clean Harbors trades at a trailing P/E of 38.8x and a forward P/E of 34.5x. Both figures exceed the US-listed Industrials peer median trailing P/E of 24.8x and forward P/E of 17.2x.
What is the consensus analyst price target for CLH?
The analyst mean price target is $361.00, representing a 12.8% upside from the October 16, 2026 closing price of $320.06.
When does Clean Harbors report its next quarterly financial results?
The company's next earnings report is scheduled for release on October 28, 2026.