Clean Harbors (CLH) vs Casella Waste Systems (CWST)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Clean Harbors (CLH) has outperformed Casella Waste Systems (CWST) over the past year, gaining 36.0% versus a loss of 8.9%. Over five years, CLH leads with a +192.4% price change compared with +4.6% for CWST. Clean Harbors is the larger company by market cap ($16.68 billion vs $5.29 billion), about 3.2 times the size, while Casella Waste Systems is growing revenue faster (+18.0% vs +2.4%).
On valuation, Clean Harbors trades at a lower forward P/E (31.6x vs 56.8x for Casella Waste Systems). Clean Harbors converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 6.5% versus 0.4%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CLH | CWST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $316.08 | $83.16 |
| Market cap | $16.68B | $5.29B |
| 1-day change | +0.17% | -0.67% |
| YTD return | +34.57% | -14.52% |
| 1-year return | +36.01% | -8.90% |
| 5-year return | +192.38% | +4.65% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 38.31 | 924.00 |
| Forward P/E | 31.63 | 56.77 |
| EPS (TTM) | $8.25 | $0.09 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.03B | $1.84B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.39% | +17.95% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $390.97M | $7.87M |
| Gross margin | 31.28% | 33.77% |
| Operating margin | 11.17% | 3.47% |
| Net margin | 6.48% | 0.43% |
| 52-week high | $335.94 | $107.96 |
| 52-week low | $201.34 | $74.05 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -5.91% | -22.97% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.37% | +33.48% |
| Average volume | 437.29K | 572.32K |
| Shares outstanding | 52.79M | 62.65M |
| Employees | 22,155 | 5,600 |
| Sector | Industrials | Utilities |
| Industry | Environmental Services | Environmental Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Clean Harbors is about 3.2 times larger than Casella Waste Systems by market value ($16.68B vs $5.29B).
- CLH has outperformed CWST by 44.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Casella Waste Systems trades at a higher earnings multiple (924.0x vs 38.3x trailing P/E).
- Clean Harbors is more profitable, keeping 6.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 0.4 cents for Casella Waste Systems.
- Casella Waste Systems grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+17.95% vs +2.39%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Clean Harbors in Industrials and Casella Waste Systems in Utilities.
About Clean Harbors
CLH stock →Clean Harbors, Inc. provides environmental and industrial services in the United States and Canada.
Industrials · Environmental Services · 22,155 employees
About Casella Waste Systems
CWST stock →Casella Waste Systems, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a vertically integrated solid waste services company in the United States. The company offers resource management expertise and services primarily in the areas of solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling and organics services to residential, commercial, municipal, institutional, and industrial customers.
Utilities · Environmental Services · 5,600 employees
CLH vs CWST FAQ
Which is bigger, Clean Harbors or Casella Waste Systems?
Clean Harbors (CLH) is larger, with a market capitalization of $16.68B compared with $5.29B for Casella Waste Systems (CWST).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CLH or CWST?
CLH returned +36.01% over the past 12 months, compared with -8.90% for CWST (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CLH or CWST?
CLH has the lower trailing P/E at 38.3, versus 924.0 for CWST. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are Clean Harbors and Casella Waste Systems in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Environmental Services industry within the Industrials sector.