Clean Harbors (CLH) vs Waste Connections (WCN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Clean Harbors (CLH) has outperformed Waste Connections (WCN) over the past year, gaining 34.8% versus a loss of 10.9%. Over five years, CLH leads with a +194.1% price change compared with +19.3% for WCN. Waste Connections is the larger company by market cap ($38.92 billion vs $16.75 billion), about 2.3 times the size.
On valuation, Waste Connections trades at a lower forward P/E (24.9x vs 31.8x for Clean Harbors). Waste Connections pays a dividend yielding 0.88%, while Clean Harbors does not currently pay one. Waste Connections converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 11.4% versus 6.5%.
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 | WCN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $317.34 | $154.69 |
| Market cap | $16.75B | $38.92B |
| 1-day change | +0.57% | -0.30% |
| YTD return | +35.34% | -11.79% |
| 1-year return | +34.75% | -10.94% |
| 5-year return | +194.05% | +19.27% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 38.47 | 37.36 |
| Forward P/E | 31.75 | 24.92 |
| EPS (TTM) | $8.25 | $4.14 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.88% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.37 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.03B | $9.47B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.39% | +6.14% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $390.97M | $1.08B |
| Gross margin | 31.28% | 42.37% |
| Operating margin | 11.17% | 18.06% |
| Net margin | 6.48% | 11.37% |
| 52-week high | $335.94 | $179.74 |
| 52-week low | $201.34 | $146.89 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -5.54% | -13.94% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +12.92% | +29.83% |
| Average volume | 437.29K | 1.25M |
| Shares outstanding | 52.79M | 251.57M |
| Employees | 22,155 | 24,214 |
| 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
- Waste Connections is about 2.3 times larger than Clean Harbors by market value ($38.92B vs $16.75B).
- CLH has outperformed WCN by 45.7 percentage points over the past year.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Clean Harbors in Industrials and Waste Connections 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 Waste Connections
WCN stock →Waste Connections, Inc. provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, and disposal services in the United States and Canada.
Utilities · Environmental Services · 24,214 employees
CLH vs WCN FAQ
Which is bigger, Clean Harbors or Waste Connections?
Waste Connections (WCN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $38.92B compared with $16.75B for Clean Harbors (CLH).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CLH or WCN?
CLH returned +34.75% over the past 12 months, compared with -10.94% for WCN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CLH or WCN?
WCN has the lower trailing P/E at 37.4, versus 38.5 for CLH. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Clean Harbors or Waste Connections?
Waste Connections pays a dividend yielding 0.88%, while Clean Harbors does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Clean Harbors and Waste Connections in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Environmental Services industry within the Industrials sector.