Insider Trading May 27, 2026 08:04 AM

Clean Harbors Director's Stock Sale Occurs Amid Strategic Growth and Leadership Transition

Insider activity noted as Clean Harbors posts Q1 earnings and announces major acquisitions, alongside executive changes.

By Avery Klein CLH

A recent SEC filing disclosed that Lauren States, a director at Clean Harbors Inc. (NASDAQ:CLH), sold shares of the company's common stock on May 26, 2026. This transaction occurred against a backdrop of positive corporate developments for Clean Harbors, including strong Q1 earnings results and strategic acquisitions, while also noting changes in executive leadership.

Clean Harbors Director's Stock Sale Occurs Amid Strategic Growth and Leadership Transition
CLH

Key Points

  • The firm's recent Q1 2026 earnings showed strong EPS performance ($1.19 vs $1.16 expected), though revenue slightly missed projections.
  • Clean Harbors is executing strategic growth via the acquisition of Terra Nova Solutions for $225 million, aiming to enhance services in both hazardous and non-hazardous waste management.
  • The company's leadership structure is undergoing a transition, with founder Alan S. McKim planning retirement from his roles as Executive Chairman and CTO upon the appointment of an independent chair.

A recent SEC filing detailed an insider transaction involving Lauren States, who serves as a director at Clean Harbors Inc. (NASDAQ:CLH). On May 26, 2026, Ms. States disposed of shares of the company's common stock. The specific details of this sale involved disposing of 789 shares, executed at a price point of $286.19 per share. This transaction resulted in a total value realized from the sale amounting to $225,803.

Following the execution of this sale, Ms. States' direct holdings of Clean Harbors common stock were reported as 11,359 shares. The timing of this insider activity comes amid several significant corporate developments for Clean Harbors. Financially, the company has demonstrated robust performance recently, with its stock showing a cumulative return of 26% over the last six months.

The market valuation metrics for Clean Harbors currently show a Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of 38.52 and a total market capitalization estimated at $15.15 billion. Furthermore, analysis from InvestingPro suggests that the stock may be overvalued relative to its Fair Value estimate, classifying it among companies designated as 'Most Overvalued.' Investors interested in deeper valuation insights can access comprehensive reports through InvestingPro, which also provides 11 additional ProTips specifically for CLH.


Beyond the insider trading report, Clean Harbors Inc. recently released its first-quarter earnings report for 2026. The company surpassed expectations regarding earnings per share (EPS), reporting $1.19 compared to the consensus estimate of $1.16. However, the revenue figures indicated a slight shortfall against forecasts, with the firm posting $1.46 billion when analysts had projected $1.47 billion.

To bolster its operational scope, Clean Harbors also announced the acquisition of Terra Nova Solutions for a consideration of $225 million in cash. This strategic move is designed to expand the company's service capabilities across both hazardous and non-hazardous waste solutions. Management anticipates that Terra Nova will contribute between $45 million and $50 million annually in revenue, alongside providing approximately $15 million in adjusted EBITDA.

The positive operational guidance has led industry analysts to raise their price targets for Clean Harbors. Specifically, Oppenheimer increased its target price to $316, while TD Cowen set its target at $335. Both institutions maintained a positive rating on the stock following these updates.


In addition to the corporate expansion, the company is undergoing a leadership transition. Alan S. McKim, the founder, has declared his intention to step down from his roles as Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer once an independent chair is appointed later this summer. These combined developments underscore a period of notable strategic growth, operational expansion, and executive change for Clean Harbors.

Risks

  • The stock was flagged by analysis as potentially overvalued relative to its Fair Value estimate.
  • Despite strong growth signals, the company slightly missed revenue expectations in Q1 2026 ($1.46 billion reported vs $1.47 billion forecasted).
  • The leadership transition involving founder Alan S. McKim's retirement introduces a change in executive governance.

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