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Business Wire
30-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Clean Harbors Announces Second-Quarter 2025 Financial Results
NORWELL, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clean Harbors, Inc. ('Clean Harbors' or the 'Company') (NYSE: CLH), the leading provider of environmental and industrial services throughout North America, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025. 'Our second-quarter results reflect the consistent profitable growth of our Environmental Services (ES) segment, where we experienced strong demand for our disposal assets, and a stabilization of our Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions (SKSS) segment, where our collection strategies yielded favorable results,' said Mike Battles, Co-Chief Executive Officer. 'We improved our consolidated Adjusted EBITDA margin by 60 basis points from a year ago through lowering our overall cost structure with a sharp focus on our SG&A spend. In addition, we posted the best quarterly safety results in our history by generating a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of just 0.40. We stand at 0.45 for the first half of the year – well on track to achieve our annual target as our programs and emphasis on working safely are helping to keep our employees protected.' Second-Quarter 2025 Results Revenues were $1.55 billion, flat with the same period of 2024. Income from operations was $210.3 million, compared with $215.5 million in the second quarter of 2024. Net income was $126.9 million, or $2.36 per diluted share, compared with $133.3 million, or $2.46 per diluted share, for the same period in 2024. Adjusted EBITDA (see description and reconciliation below) increased to $336.2 million, compared with $327.8 million in the same period of 2024. Q2 2025 Segment Review 'Despite substantial growth in the year ago quarter, our ES segment still achieved 3% growth in revenue and 5% growth in Adjusted EBITDA. This revenue growth, combined with pricing and SG&A cost controls, enabled our ES segment to achieve its 13th consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement in segment Adjusted EBITDA margin,' said Eric Gerstenberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer. 'Top-line growth in the segment was led by Safety-Kleen Environmental Services, which rose 9% through pricing and growth in its core offerings. Technical Services revenue grew 4% on strength in disposal volumes. Incineration utilization, excluding the new Kimball incinerator, was outstanding at 89% as our facilities maximized throughput. Average incineration price rose 7% on a mix-adjusted basis. Field Services and Industrial Services performed well in the quarter, improving margins year-over-year.' 'Results in our SKSS segment were ahead of our expectations, supported by our waste oil collection strategies and success in aggressively managing our re-refining spread,' said Battles. 'We gathered 64 million gallons of waste oil in the quarter, which enabled us to hit our production goals. We believe that our shift to higher charge-for-oil (CFO) pricing, which has continued since our strategic program rollout last November, positions us well for the back half of the year. We currently expect to achieve our annual targets for this business in 2025, while reducing the volatility we've seen in recent years.' Business Outlook and Financial Guidance 'We enter the back half of 2025 with considerable momentum across our core markets, backed by a promising North American economic outlook as reshoring continues,' Gerstenberg said. 'While tariff uncertainty has impacted some customers in the short-term, we expect the tangible benefits of the recent tax bill and incentives to invest in American manufacturing to drive customer activity over the longer-term. We continue to see healthy overall demand from customers within our ES segment, resulting in a substantial project pipeline. Multiple customers are expected to proceed with remediation projects in the coming quarters, which will further support our disposal and recycling network. We are excited about the continued progress at our new Kimball incinerator, which achieved its Q2 volume target. We look forward to further ramping up the facility with a broader mix of waste streams in the second half of this year. For SKSS, our focus will remain on actively managing our collection rates and cost structure, while advancing value-added initiatives like our Castrol partnership and Group III production.' Battles concluded, 'We anticipate a strong second half of the year for the Company based on numerous tailwinds that should drive both top- and bottom-line improvement from a year ago. With an encouraging market outlook, we are also continuing to execute on our pricing strategies, cost mitigation and operational efficiencies to drive further margin improvement.' In the third quarter of 2025, Clean Harbors expects Adjusted EBITDA to grow 9-12% from the comparable quarter of the prior year. For full-year 2025, Clean Harbors is reiterating the midpoints of its prior guidance and expects: Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $1.16 billion to $1.20 billion, or a midpoint of $1.18 billion, which represents 6% growth year over year. This Adjusted EBITDA range is based on anticipated GAAP net income in the range of $383 million to $419 million. Adjusted free cash flow in the range of $430 million to $490 million, or a midpoint of $460 million, which represents a nearly 30% increase from prior year. This range is based on anticipated net cash from operating activities in the range of $775 million to $865 million. Non-GAAP Results Clean Harbors reports Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered an alternative to net income or other measurements under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) but viewed only as a supplement to those measurements. Adjusted EBITDA is not calculated identically by all companies, and therefore the Company's measurement of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Clean Harbors believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides additional useful information to investors because the Company's management routinely evaluates the performance of its businesses based upon levels of Adjusted EBITDA. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as described in the following reconciliation showing the differences between reported GAAP net income and Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands, except percentages): Adjusted Free Cash Flow Reconciliation Clean Harbors reports adjusted free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, which it considers to be a measurement of liquidity that provides useful information to investors about its ability to generate cash. The Company defines adjusted free cash flow as net cash from operating activities less additions to property, plant and equipment plus proceeds from sale and disposal of fixed assets. When necessary, the Company adjusts for the cash impact of items derived from non-operating activities. Adjusted free cash flow should not be considered an alternative to net cash from operating activities or other measurements under GAAP. Adjusted free cash flow is not calculated identically by all companies, and therefore the Company's measurement of adjusted free cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. An itemized reconciliation between reported GAAP net cash from operating activities and adjusted free cash flow is as follows (in thousands): Adjusted EBITDA Guidance Reconciliation An itemized reconciliation between projected GAAP net income and projected Adjusted EBITDA is as follows (in millions): Adjusted Free Cash Flow Guidance Reconciliation An itemized reconciliation between projected GAAP net cash from operating activities and projected adjusted free cash flow is as follows (in millions). The Company excludes significant one-time growth investments, which the Company expects to realize future long-term benefits from, as they are not indicative of free cash flow generation for the current period. Conference Call Information Clean Harbors will conduct a conference call for investors today at 9:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss the information contained in this press release. During the call, management will discuss Clean Harbors' financial results, business outlook and growth strategy. Investors who wish to listen to the webcast and view the accompanying slides should visit the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at The live call also can be accessed by dialing 877.709.8155 or 201.689.8881 prior to the start time. If you are unable to listen to the live conference call, the webcast will be archived on the Company's website. About Clean Harbors Clean Harbors (NYSE: CLH) is North America's leading provider of environmental and industrial services. The Company serves a diverse customer base, including a majority of Fortune 500 companies. Its customer base spans a number of industries, including chemical, manufacturing and refining, as well as numerous government agencies. These customers rely on Clean Harbors to deliver a broad range of services such as end-to-end hazardous waste management, emergency spill response, industrial cleaning and maintenance, and recycling services. Through its Safety-Kleen subsidiary, Clean Harbors also is a leading provider of parts washers and environmental services to commercial, industrial and automotive customers, as well as North America's largest re-refiner and recycler of used oil. Founded in 1980 and based in Massachusetts, Clean Harbors operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and India. For more information, visit Safe Harbor Statement Any statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words 'believes,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'anticipates,' 'plans to,' 'seeks,' 'will,' 'should,' 'estimates,' 'projects,' 'may,' 'likely,' 'potential,' 'outlook' or similar expressions. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company's future financial and operating results, plans, strategy, objectives and goals, cost management initiatives, pricing and productivity initiatives, contingent liabilities, liquidity, business, economic and market conditions, trends, customer demand, impacts of tariffs and new legislation, acquisitions, growth opportunities, expectations, challenges and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the beliefs and expectations of Clean Harbors' management as of the date of this press release only and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation: operational and safety risks; risks relating to the failure of new or existing technologies; cybersecurity risks; the occurrence of natural disasters or other catastrophic events, as well as their residual macroeconomic effects; risks associated with retaining and hiring key personnel; environmental liability and product liability risks relating to hazardous waste management and other components of the Company's business; negative economic, industry or other developments, including market volatility or economic downturns; risks associated with management's assumptions relating to expansion of the Company's landfills; reductions in the demand for emergency response services at industrial facilities or on roadways, railways or waterways, and other remedial projects and regulatory developments; reductions in the demand for oil products and automotive services and volatility in oil prices in the markets the Company serves; changes in statutory and regulatory requirements and risks relating to extensive environmental laws and regulations; risks associated with existing and potential litigation; risks associated with the Company's identification and execution of strategic acquisitions and divestitures and their related liabilities; risks relating to the availability and sufficiency of the Company's insurance coverage, self-insurance, surety bonds, letters of credit and other forms of financial assurance; the impact of new tax legislation or changes in tax regulations and interpretations; the imposition of trade sanctions or tariffs; fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; risks relating to the Company's indebtedness and covenants in its debt agreements; risks associated with certain anti-takeover provisions under the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act and the Company's By-Laws, and those items identified as 'Risk Factors' in Clean Harbors' most recently filed reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Therefore, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Clean Harbors undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements other than through its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be viewed in the 'Investors' section of Clean Harbors' website at CLEAN HARBORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) December 31, 2024 Current assets: (unaudited) Cash and cash equivalents $ 600,186 $ 687,192 Short-term marketable securities 98,888 102,634 Accounts receivable, net 1,117,714 1,015,357 Unbilled accounts receivable 177,910 162,215 Inventories and supplies 383,351 384,657 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 97,332 81,741 Total current assets 2,475,381 2,433,796 Property, plant and equipment, net 2,507,101 2,447,941 Other assets: Operating lease right-of-use assets 247,033 250,853 Goodwill 1,479,805 1,477,199 Permits and other intangibles, net 677,180 701,987 Other long-term assets 53,429 65,502 Total other assets 2,457,447 2,495,541 Total assets $ 7,439,929 $ 7,377,278 Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt $ 15,102 $ 15,102 Accounts payable 432,771 487,286 Deferred revenue 87,792 88,545 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 376,585 419,445 Current portion of closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities 26,524 20,625 Current portion of operating lease liabilities 72,976 71,663 Total current liabilities 1,011,750 1,102,666 Other liabilities: Closure and post-closure liabilities, less current portion 122,795 119,484 Remedial liabilities, less current portion 86,880 101,424 Long-term debt, less current portion 2,766,530 2,771,117 Operating lease liabilities, less current portion 178,343 182,883 Deferred tax liabilities 359,661 363,623 Other long-term liabilities 199,903 162,552 Total other liabilities 3,714,112 3,701,083 Total stockholders' equity, net 2,714,067 2,573,529 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 7,439,929 $ 7,377,278 Expand CLEAN HARBORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 June 30, 2024 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 185,585 $ 203,112 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 228,265 195,569 Allowance for doubtful accounts 3,249 4,349 Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount 3,352 2,937 Accretion of environmental liabilities 7,211 6,521 Changes in environmental liability estimates (8,954 ) 3,963 Deferred income taxes — (88 ) Other expense, net 1,535 1,308 Stock-based compensation 13,698 14,853 Environmental expenditures (7,051 ) (9,934 ) Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: Accounts receivable and unbilled accounts receivable (116,399 ) (116,307 ) Inventories and supplies 2,952 (28,673 ) Other current and long-term assets (13,395 ) (28,870 ) Accounts payable (36,035 ) (12,418 ) Other current and long-term liabilities (54,368 ) (1,728 ) Net cash from operating activities 209,645 234,594 Cash flows used in investing activities: Additions to property, plant and equipment (208,724 ) (273,023 ) Proceeds from sale and disposal of fixed assets 4,063 4,295 Acquisitions, net of cash acquired — (477,201 ) Proceeds from sale of business — 750 Additions to intangible assets including costs to obtain or renew permits (777 ) (1,868 ) Purchases of available-for-sale securities (45,622 ) (55,318 ) Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities 50,318 71,695 Net cash used in investing activities (200,742 ) (730,670 ) Cash flows (used in) from financing activities: Change in uncashed checks (2,767 ) (1,868 ) Tax payments related to withholdings on vested restricted stock (10,456 ) (4,599 ) Repurchases of common stock (67,001 ) (10,215 ) Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan 3,360 — Deferred financing costs paid — (8,148 ) Payments on finance leases (16,754 ) (11,491 ) Principal payments on debt (7,551 ) (7,551 ) Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of discount — 499,375 Net cash (used in) from financing activities (101,169 ) 455,503 Effect of exchange rate change on cash 5,260 (2,133 ) Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (87,006 ) (42,706 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 687,192 444,698 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 600,186 $ 401,992 Expand Supplemental Segment Data (in thousands) Three Months Ended Revenue June 30, 2025 June 30, 2024 Third-Party Revenues Intersegment Revenues (Expenses), net Direct Revenues Third-Party Revenues Intersegment Revenues (Expenses), net Direct Revenues Environmental Services $ 1,330,059 $ 21,976 $ 1,352,035 $ 1,297,298 $ 12,085 $ 1,309,383 Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions 219,706 (21,976 ) 197,730 255,322 (12,085 ) 243,237 Corporate 89 — 89 99 — 99 Total $ 1,549,854 $ — $ 1,549,854 $ 1,552,719 $ — $ 1,552,719 Expand Six Months Ended Revenue June 30, 2025 June 30, 2024 Third-Party Revenues Intersegment Revenues (Expenses), net Direct Revenues Third-Party Revenues Intersegment Revenues (Expenses), net Direct Revenues Environmental Services $ 2,537,097 $ 24,051 $ 2,561,148 $ 2,458,577 $ 23,316 $ 2,481,893 Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions 444,521 (24,051 ) 420,470 470,636 (23,316 ) 447,320 Corporate 186 — 186 201 — 201 Total $ 2,981,804 $ — $ 2,981,804 $ 2,929,414 $ — $ 2,929,414 Expand Three Months Ended Six Months Ended Adjusted EBITDA June 30, 2025 June 30, 2024 June 30, 2025 June 30, 2024 Environmental Services $ 376,194 $ 359,915 $ 650,785 $ 624,390 Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions 38,313 51,476 66,565 81,176 Total $ 336,237 $ 327,816 $ 571,091 $ 557,911 Expand
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CLH Q1 Earnings Call: Clean Harbors Delivers In-Line Revenue and Margin Pressures Amid Segment Shifts
Environmental and industrial services company Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH) met Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 4% year on year to $1.43 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.09 per share was 3.3% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy CLH? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $1.43 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.44 billion (4% year-on-year growth, in line) Adjusted EPS: $1.09 vs analyst estimates of $1.05 (3.3% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $234.9 million vs analyst estimates of $232.6 million (16.4% margin, 1% beat) EBITDA guidance for the full year is $1.18 billion at the midpoint, in line with analyst expectations Operating Margin: 7.8%, down from 9.1% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow was -$115.7 million compared to -$118.4 million in the same quarter last year Organic Revenue rose 2.6% year on year, in line with the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $12.26 billion Clean Harbors' first quarter results reflected stable demand in its core Environmental Services segment and deliberate pricing strategies in its Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions business. Management attributed performance to strong incineration utilization and pricing, ongoing contributions from recent acquisitions, and outperformance in used oil collection, despite weather-related disruptions and continued headwinds in industrial services. Co-CEO Eric Gerstenberg stated, 'Our ES segment began the year with an encouraging first quarter that included a strong contribution in March after a period of unfavorable weather in January.' Looking ahead, Clean Harbors maintained its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance, emphasizing steady demand in disposal services, continued ramp-up of the Kimball incinerator, and an expanding pipeline in PFAS remediation. Management remains cautious on industrial services but cited reshoring trends, regulatory momentum, and proactive cost controls as factors supporting the outlook. CFO Eric Dugas reiterated, 'We continue to expect demand environment and our pricing initiatives to support our anticipated profitable growth this year.' Management's remarks during the earnings call centered on segment-level drivers, pricing actions, and operational investments that shaped quarterly results. The company addressed weather-related headwinds, segment performance divergence, and updates on capacity expansion and regulatory dynamics. Incineration Utilization and Pricing: Clean Harbors achieved an 88% incineration utilization rate, excluding the new Kimball facility, and implemented mid-single-digit price increases. Management credited this to robust demand, capacity investments, and the successful ramp-up of the Kimball incinerator, which processed 5,000 tons in its first quarter of operation. Safety-Kleen Pricing Shift: In Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions (SKSS), the company doubled its average charge for used oil collection since year-end by shifting to a charge-for-oil (CFO) model. This offset continued weakness in base oil prices and helped maintain volumes despite challenging market conditions. PFAS Pipeline Momentum: Management highlighted a growing pipeline for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) remediation, supported by recent EPA policy updates and ongoing regulatory developments. The company expects its incineration study results, relevant to PFAS disposal, to be published in the coming quarter. Industrial Services Weakness: Revenue in industrial services declined 10% year over year, attributed to refinery customers deferring maintenance and spending. Management noted that while some weather effects were temporary, broader refinery cost pressures persisted. Acquisition and Network Expansion: The HEPACO acquisition and the opening of new field service branches contributed to growth in field services, with 32% growth in this area. The company is also developing new processing hubs, such as the recently acquired Phoenix site, to further expand capacity. Clean Harbors' outlook for the remainder of the year is driven by expected growth in disposal and recycling services, continued ramp-up of new capacity, and evolving regulatory and market trends, with management balancing optimism about secular growth drivers against caution in more cyclical segments. Kimball Incinerator Ramp-Up: The Kimball facility is expected to process over 28,000 tons this year, contributing to higher network utilization and enabling growth in technical services and PFAS disposal. Regulatory Tailwinds and PFAS: Anticipated EPA and Department of Defense guidance on PFAS destruction is expected to boost demand for Clean Harbors' hazardous waste solutions, particularly as environmental standards tighten. Industrial Services Recovery Uncertainty: Management remains cautious on the timing of an industrial services rebound, with recovery hinging on refinery maintenance cycles and broader economic conditions. The segment is expected to lag the rest of the business in the near term. Tyler Brown (Raymond James): Asked about the extent of weather-related volume loss and whether it could be recovered in future quarters; management said some revenue is likely lost forever, though March and April showed improvement. Noah Kaye (Oppenheimer): Inquired about the PFAS remediation pipeline and the impact of new EPA guidance; management expects continued double-digit growth in PFAS-related revenue and views regulatory momentum as a long-term opportunity. James Schumm (TD Cowen): Pressed on base oil pricing weakness and SKSS inventory management; management explained aggressive pricing actions in used oil collection are offsetting lower base oil prices, and inventory costs are lower entering Q2. Larry Solow (CJS Securities): Questioned the resilience of Clean Harbors' business in a potential economic slowdown; management described most segments as 'recession resistant' due to the essential nature of environmental services. Adam Bubes (Goldman Sachs): Asked about organic growth cadence in Environmental Services and the impact of new field service branches; management expects organic growth to accelerate as weather normalizes and new capacity comes online. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the scaling of the Kimball incinerator and whether it meets or exceeds planned throughput targets, (2) regulatory and customer activity around PFAS remediation following anticipated publication of Clean Harbors' incineration study, and (3) signs of stabilization or recovery in industrial services as refinery maintenance cycles evolve. Expansion of new processing hubs and field services branches will also be tracked as potential drivers of incremental growth. Clean Harbors currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 28.8×. Is the company at an inflection point that warrants a buy or sell? The answer lies in our free research report. The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Clean Harbors exec says Safety-Kleen business ‘has turned a corner'
This story was originally published on Waste Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Waste Dive newsletter. By the numbers Q1 revenue: $1.43B Up 4% year over year Q1 net income: $58.7M Down 15.9% year over year Q1 adjusted EBITDA: $234.9M Up 2.1% year over year Financial picture: Clean Harbors outperformed expectations for the quarter as it saw continued strength in its environmental services segment and recorded a better-than-expected quarter in its Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions segment. Executives reported a tough start to the year due to extreme weather but month-to-month improvements through March and April. Co-CEO Eric Gerstenberg reported demand for disposal and recycling services were positive in Q1. Tariffs and recession: Executives don't anticipate tariffs will have a significantly negative impact on Clean Harbors, nor do they fear a recession could undercut the business. They said reshoring could be a long-term boost to the industrial services segment. To stay ahead of macroeconomic uncertainty, Gerstenberg said the company is also engaging with key customers, particularly in the industrial services and field services segment. Environmental services strength: Clean Harbors continued to benefit from growth in its environmental services business, with adjusted earnings before income, taxes, depreciation and amortization up 3.8% year over year. The segment was responsible for two-thirds of the company's overall revenue growth in Q1, CFO Eric Dugas said on the call. The segment is now on its third straight year of margin expansion, and Co-CEO Mike Battles expects that business to be "recession resilient" due to the essential service it provides to the industrial sector. Clean Harbors is also expecting continued growth in its field services business, which grew significantly following the acquisition of Hepaco last year. The company opened 10 new field services branches in Q1. SKSS improvements: The Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions segment saw adjusted EBITDA decline 4.9% year over year, but outperformed expectations for the quarter. That performance came amid continued softness in the base oil and lubricants market, which has caused problems for Clean Harbors and led the company to idle a re-refinery last year. Volumes increased in the quarter, in part due to the acquisition of Noble Oil and due to competitors following Clean Harbors in the transition to a charge-for-oil model, Battles said. "We think we've turned a corner," he commented, and expects the segment to meet its 2025 guidance. PFAS progress: Executives were pleased with an announcement from U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on Monday saying the agency would begin updating its destruction and disposal guidance for PFAS annually. The company expects the results of a study it conducted with the federal government to come out in Q2 demonstrating the ability of Clean Harbors' incineration processes to address PFAS-contaminated materials. New facilities: Executives said progress continues on time for Clean Harbors' planned Baltimore facility expansion, which will add container manufacturing capacity and other services. The company also expects to record $15 million in costs related to a new facility in Phoenix that will add hazardous waste collection and service capacity. Kimball plant: Gerstenberg also said the company has become more efficient at ramping up capacity at its new Kimball, Nebraska, kiln thanks to lessons learned from its previous El Dorado project in Arkansas. Kimball processed 5,000 tons of waste in the first quarter as it ramps up, and Clean Harbors expects to process 28,000 tons or more this year at the facility. Recommended Reading Clean Harbors plots growth from incinerator opening, PFAS in 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Clean Harbors Announces First-Quarter 2025 Financial Results
NORWELL, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clean Harbors, Inc. ('Clean Harbors' or the 'Company') (NYSE: CLH), the leading provider of environmental and industrial services throughout North America, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. 'We began 2025 with a solid, first-quarter performance as our Environmental Services (ES) segment closed Q1 with a strong March helping to overcome unfavorable weather impacts early in the quarter and results in our Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions (SKSS) segment exceeded our expectations,' said Mike Battles, Co-Chief Executive Officer. 'Demand trends for our disposal and recycling assets were very strong in the quarter. In addition, we posted the best quarterly safety results in our history, registering a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.46. Our employees have done a great job continuing to embrace our safety culture and our 'Safety Starts with Me' philosophy.' First-Quarter 2025 Results Revenues grew 4% to $1.43 billion, compared with $1.38 billion in the same period of 2024. Income from operations was $111.6 million, compared with $125.5 million in the first quarter of 2024 due to higher depreciation and amortization resulting from acquisitions and the new Kimball incinerator. Net income was $58.7 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, compared with $69.8 million, or $1.29 per diluted share, for the same period in 2024. Adjusted EBITDA (see description and reconciliation below) was $234.9 million, compared with $230.1 million in the same period of 2024. Q1 2025 Segment Review 'Despite unfavorable weather early in the quarter that disrupted multiple businesses, our ES segment achieved 4% growth in Adjusted EBITDA and 3% growth in revenue,' said Eric Gerstenberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer. 'Top-line growth in the segment was led by our Field Services operations, which increased 32% from the prior-year period, reflecting the HEPACO acquisition. Technical Services revenue grew 5% on strength of volumes and pricing in our network. Incineration utilization, excluding the new Kimball incinerator, was an impressive 88% vs. 79% in the year-ago period. Average incineration price rose more than 5% on a mix-adjusted basis. Safety-Kleen Environmental Services continued its growth trajectory with a 5% revenue increase in the ES segment. The growth in those businesses more than offset a downturn in our Industrial Services business, which declined 10% as some refinery customers continued to delay spending and maintenance compared to the prior-year period.' 'Results in our SKSS segment reflected our efforts to combat the ongoing weak demand and pricing environment in the U.S. base oil and lubricants market by reducing our used oil collection costs. We increased customer charges for collection services, while continuing to gather the volumes needed for our production goals,' said Battles. 'Segment revenues increased 9% on greater volumes sold, reflecting our 2024 acquisition of Noble Oil and the shift to higher charge-for-oil (CFO) pricing. These factors, combined with cost-cutting efforts, helped offset a softer commodity price environment year over year, resulting in higher-than-anticipated profitability in SKSS.' Business Outlook and Financial Guidance 'As we look ahead, we remain optimistic about our overall prospects for 2025,' Gerstenberg said. 'While we achieved Q1 results ahead of our initial guidance, we recognize that we are operating in a period of uncertainty regarding U.S. policies on trade and tariffs, and the larger implications for the overall economy. We have taken steps around pricing to offset the additional costs we anticipate from tariffs and have not seen a reduction in demand for our core services. As a result, we are maintaining our Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow guidance.' Battles concluded, 'Our confidence in hitting our targets stems from the array of tailwinds we see that should drive our business this year and beyond, including demand for disposal and other services, the ramp-up of our new Kimball incinerator, the expansion of our Field Services business through HEPACO, the emerging PFAS market opportunity and our current pipeline of remediation and waste projects. For SKSS, our focus will remain on actively managing our collection costs and overall expenses, while advancing initiatives like our Castrol partnership and Group III production.' In the second quarter of 2025, Clean Harbors expects Adjusted EBITDA to grow 1-3% compared with the prior year, with 3-5% growth in the ES segment and lower expense in the Corporate segment more than offsetting an expected year-over-year decline in SKSS. For full-year 2025, Clean Harbors is reiterating its prior guidance and continues to expect: Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $1.15 billion to $1.21 billion, or a midpoint of $1.18 billion, which represents 6% growth year over year. This Adjusted EBITDA range is based on anticipated GAAP net income in the range of $377 million to $428 million. Adjusted free cash flow in the range of $430 million to $490 million, or a midpoint of $460 million, which represents a nearly 30% increase from prior year. This range is based on anticipated net cash from operating activities in the range of $775 million to $865 million. Non-GAAP Results Clean Harbors reports Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered an alternative to net income or other measurements under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) but viewed only as a supplement to those measurements. Adjusted EBITDA is not calculated identically by all companies, and therefore the Company's measurement of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Clean Harbors believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides additional useful information to investors because the Company's management routinely evaluates the performance of its businesses based upon levels of Adjusted EBITDA. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as described in the following reconciliation showing the differences between reported GAAP net income and Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands, except percentages): Adjusted Free Cash Flow Reconciliation Clean Harbors reports adjusted free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, which it considers to be a measurement of liquidity that provides useful information to investors about its ability to generate cash. The Company defines adjusted free cash flow as net cash from operating activities less additions to property, plant and equipment plus proceeds from sale and disposal of fixed assets. When necessary, the Company adjusts for the cash impact of items derived from non-operating activities. Adjusted free cash flow should not be considered an alternative to net cash from operating activities or other measurements under GAAP. Adjusted free cash flow is not calculated identically by all companies, and therefore the Company's measurement of adjusted free cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. An itemized reconciliation between reported GAAP net cash from operating activities and adjusted free cash flow is as follows (in thousands): Adjusted EBITDA Guidance Reconciliation An itemized reconciliation between projected GAAP net income and projected Adjusted EBITDA is as follows (in millions): Adjusted Free Cash Flow Guidance Reconciliation An itemized reconciliation between projected GAAP net cash from operating activities and projected adjusted free cash flow is as follows (in millions). The Company excludes significant one-time growth investments, which the Company expects to realize future long-term benefits from, as they are not indicative of free cash flow generation for the current period. Conference Call Information Clean Harbors will conduct a conference call for investors today at 9:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss the information contained in this press release. During the call, management will discuss Clean Harbors' financial results, business outlook and growth strategy. Investors who wish to listen to the webcast and view the accompanying slides should visit the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at The live call also can be accessed by dialing 877.709.8155 or 201.689.8881 prior to the start time. If you are unable to listen to the live conference call, the webcast will be archived on the Company's website. About Clean Harbors Clean Harbors (NYSE: CLH) is North America's leading provider of environmental and industrial services. The Company serves a diverse customer base, including a majority of Fortune 500 companies. Its customer base spans a number of industries, including chemical, manufacturing and refining, as well as numerous government agencies. These customers rely on Clean Harbors to deliver a broad range of services such as end-to-end hazardous waste management, emergency spill response, industrial cleaning and maintenance, and recycling services. Through its Safety-Kleen subsidiary, Clean Harbors also is a leading provider of parts washers and environmental services to commercial, industrial and automotive customers, as well as North America's largest re-refiner and recycler of used oil. Founded in 1980 and based in Massachusetts, Clean Harbors operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and India. For more information, visit Safe Harbor Statement Any statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words 'believes,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'anticipates,' 'plans to,' 'seeks,' 'will,' 'should,' 'estimates,' 'projects,' 'may,' 'likely,' 'potential,' 'outlook' or similar expressions. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company's future financial and operating results, plans, strategy, objectives and goals, cost management initiatives, pricing and productivity initiatives, contingent liabilities, liquidity, business and market conditions, trends, customer demand, acquisitions, growth opportunities, expectations, challenges and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the beliefs and expectations of Clean Harbors' management as of the date of this press release only and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation, those items identified as 'Risk Factors' in Clean Harbors' most recently filed reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Therefore, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Clean Harbors undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements other than through its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be viewed in the 'Investors' section of Clean Harbors' website at CLEAN HARBORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024 Current assets: (unaudited) Cash and cash equivalents $ 489,417 $ 687,192 Short-term marketable securities 105,895 102,634 Accounts receivable, net 1,077,510 1,015,357 Unbilled accounts receivable 171,089 162,215 Inventories and supplies 376,024 384,657 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 90,747 81,741 Total current assets 2,310,682 2,433,796 Property, plant and equipment, net 2,463,620 2,447,941 Other assets: Operating lease right-of-use assets 247,414 250,853 Goodwill 1,477,307 1,477,199 Permits and other intangibles, net 688,957 701,987 Other long-term assets 58,407 65,502 Total other assets 2,472,085 2,495,541 Total assets $ 7,246,387 $ 7,377,278 Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt $ 15,102 $ 15,102 Accounts payable 443,654 487,286 Deferred revenue 96,171 88,545 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 325,759 419,445 Current portion of closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities 23,792 20,625 Current portion of operating lease liabilities 71,865 71,663 Total current liabilities 976,343 1,102,666 Other liabilities: Closure and post-closure liabilities, less current portion 121,221 119,484 Remedial liabilities, less current portion 89,031 101,424 Long-term debt, less current portion 2,768,815 2,771,117 Operating lease liabilities, less current portion 179,454 182,883 Deferred tax liabilities 360,404 363,623 Other long-term liabilities 179,895 162,552 Total other liabilities 3,698,820 3,701,083 Total stockholders' equity, net 2,571,224 2,573,529 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 7,246,387 $ 7,377,278 Expand CLEAN HARBORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 58,680 $ 69,832 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 111,980 95,065 Allowance for doubtful accounts 2,825 1,728 Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount 1,666 1,329 Accretion of environmental liabilities 3,620 3,217 Changes in environmental liability estimates (9,863 ) 917 Deferred income taxes — (88 ) Other expense, net 932 1,141 Stock-based compensation 7,635 6,338 Environmental expenditures (2,591 ) (4,729 ) Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: Accounts receivable and unbilled accounts receivable (74,576 ) (44,383 ) Inventories and supplies 8,670 (13,572 ) Other current and long-term assets (6,983 ) (25,918 ) Accounts payable (10,989 ) (17,358 ) Other current and long-term liabilities (89,401 ) (54,970 ) Net cash from operating activities 1,605 18,549 Cash flows used in investing activities: Additions to property, plant and equipment (118,695 ) (137,913 ) Proceeds from sale and disposal of fixed assets 1,343 1,008 Acquisitions, net of cash acquired — (475,306 ) Proceeds from sale of business — 750 Additions to intangible assets including costs to obtain or renew permits (248 ) (534 ) Purchases of available-for-sale securities (24,186 ) (31,228 ) Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities 21,456 33,350 Net cash used in investing activities (120,330 ) (609,873 ) Cash flows (used in) from financing activities: Change in uncashed checks (1,714 ) 7,778 Tax payments related to withholdings on vested restricted stock (8,688 ) (3,052 ) Repurchases of common stock (55,000 ) (5,000 ) Deferred financing costs paid — (4,641 ) Payments on finance leases (10,081 ) (4,665 ) Principal payments on debt (3,776 ) (3,776 ) Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of discount — 499,375 Net cash (used in) from financing activities (79,259 ) 486,019 Effect of exchange rate change on cash 209 (1,568 ) Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (197,775 ) (106,873 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 687,192 444,698 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 489,417 $ 337,825 Expand Supplemental information: Cash payments for interest and income taxes: Interest paid $ 56,671 $ 51,243 Income taxes paid, net of refunds 9,280 8,020 Non-cash investing activities: Property, plant and equipment accrued 12,462 28,266 ROU assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities 15,638 23,101 ROU assets obtained in exchange for finance lease liabilities 27,181 14,519 Expand Supplemental Segment Data (in thousands) Three Months Ended Adjusted EBITDA March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024 Environmental Services $ 274,591 $ 264,475 Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions 28,252 29,700 Corporate (67,989 ) (64,080 ) Total $ 234,854 $ 230,095 Expand
