Clean Harbors
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Clean Harbors beat expectations on revenue and crushed expectations on earnings per share.
Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue expanded significantly and GAAP earnings per share expanded significantly.
Margins expanded across the board.
Revenue details
Clean Harbors logged revenue of $545.9 million. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw a top line of $508.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 31% higher than the prior-year quarter's $417.1 million.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.
EPS details
EPS came in at $0.72. The 13 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.48 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.72 for Q4 were 64% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.44 per share.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.
Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 31.6%, 130 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.9%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.0%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.
Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $554.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.58.
Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.25 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.51.
Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 300 members out of 318 rating the stock outperform, and 18 members rating it underperform. Among 94 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 89 give Clean Harbors a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.
Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Clean Harbors is outperform, with an average price target of $61.97.
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