Clean Harbors, Inc. (NYSE:CLH) Short Interest Down 13.8% in February

Clean Harbors, Inc. (NYSE:CLH) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 1,063,775 shares, a decrease of 13.8% from the January 29th total of 1,233,427 shares. Approximately 2.1% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 482,220 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.2 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 482,220 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.2 days. Approximately 2.1% of the company’s shares are sold short.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Sharon M. Gabriel sold 3,540 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $282.07, for a total transaction of $998,527.80. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 23,193 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,542,049.51. This trade represents a 13.24% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director John R. Welch sold 750 shares of Clean Harbors stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $273.07, for a total transaction of $204,802.50. Following the sale, the director owned 10,237 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,795,417.59. The trade was a 6.83% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders have sold 7,679 shares of company stock valued at $2,132,403. Corporate insiders own 5.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC boosted its holdings in Clean Harbors by 102.9% in the first quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 2,187 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $431,000 after acquiring an additional 1,109 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its position in shares of Clean Harbors by 47.7% in the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 607 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $120,000 after purchasing an additional 196 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in Clean Harbors by 12.1% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 54,577 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $10,757,000 after purchasing an additional 5,884 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. grew its position in Clean Harbors by 41.1% during the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 292 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $68,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in Clean Harbors by 14.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 423,025 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $97,795,000 after purchasing an additional 53,828 shares in the last quarter. 90.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Clean Harbors from $248.00 to $291.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. CJS Securities upgraded Clean Harbors to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Clean Harbors from $290.00 to $310.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Needham & Company LLC increased their target price on shares of Clean Harbors from $290.00 to $308.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $300.00 price target on shares of Clean Harbors in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $292.18.

Clean Harbors Stock Down 1.7%

Shares of NYSE:CLH traded down $4.95 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $292.20. The stock had a trading volume of 111,726 shares, compared to its average volume of 503,102. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $262.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is $242.46. The company has a current ratio of 2.33, a quick ratio of 2.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01. Clean Harbors has a one year low of $178.29 and a one year high of $298.12. The company has a market capitalization of $15.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.14 and a beta of 0.93.

Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The business services provider reported $1.62 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.59 by $0.03. Clean Harbors had a net margin of 6.48% and a return on equity of 14.47%. The company had revenue of $1.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.46 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.55 earnings per share. Clean Harbors’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Clean Harbors will post 7.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.