Clean HarborsCLH +1.01%87 Gross Margin % is 30.52% as of Mar. 2026, which is 1% below its 10-year median of 30.86. GuruFocus rates CLH with a GF Score™ of 87/100 and a GF Value™ of $243.43 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 236 Waste Management companies, Clean Harbors ranks better than 60.59% on this metric.
Warren Buffett believes that firms with excellent long term economics tend to have consistently higher margins.
Durable competitive advantage creates a high Gross Margin % because of the freedom to price in excess of cost. Companies can be categorized by their Gross Margin %
1. Greater than 40% = Durable competitive advantage
2. Less than 40% = Competition eroding margins
3. Less than 20% = no sustainable competitive advantage
Consistency of Gross Margin is key
Clean Harbors had a gross margin of 30.52% for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 => Competition eroding margins
Be Aware
If a company loses its competitive advantages, usually its gross margin declines well before its sales declines. Watching Gross Margin % and Operating Margin % closely helps avoid value trap situations.
Clean Harbors Gross Margin % Related Terms
Clean Harbors Gross Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Clean Harbors's Gross Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
For the Waste Management subindustry, Clean Harbors's Gross Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Gross Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Clean Harbors Gross Margin % vs Waste Management Industry
For the Waste Management industry and Industrials sector, Clean Harbors's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Clean Harbors's Gross Margin % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
A positive Gross Profit is only the first step for a company to make a net profit. The gross profit needs to be big enough to also cover related labor, equipment, rental, marketing/advertising, research and development and a lot of other costs in selling the products.
Clean Harbors (CLH) has a Gross Margin % of 30.52% as of Mar. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on Clean Harbors and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 30.86. Over the past decade, Clean Harbors' Gross Margin % has ranged from 29.85 to 32.01. According to the industry distribution chart, Clean Harbors ranks #93 out of 236 companies in the Waste Management industry, placing it in the top 39.4%.
Is Clean Harbors' Gross Margin % too high?
Clean Harbors' current Gross Margin % of 30.52% is near median its 10-year median of 30.86. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 29.85 to a high of 32.01. The Waste Management industry median Gross Margin % is 27.35. Clean Harbors' value of 30.52% is 11.6% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Clean Harbors ranks #93 out of 236 companies in the Waste Management industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Clean Harbors has a GF Score™ of 87/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Clean Harbors' Gross Margin % compare to GFL and CWST?
According to the Waste Management industry distribution chart, Clean Harbors ranks #93 out of 236 companies for Gross Margin %. This puts Clean Harbors in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Gross Margin % is 27.35. Clean Harbors' value of 30.52% is 11.6% above this benchmark. Historically, Clean Harbors' own Gross Margin % has ranged from 29.85 to 32.01 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 30.86 vs. the industry median of 27.35, Clean Harbors has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Gross Margin % for a Waste Management company?
The median Gross Margin % among Waste Management companies is 27.35, based on 236 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Gross Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Gross Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Clean Harbors's current Gross Margin % of 30.52% is 11.6% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Gross Margin % mean?
A high Gross Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on Clean Harbors and its competitors. For the Waste Management industry, the median Gross Margin % is 27.35 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Clean Harbors's current Gross Margin % is 30.52%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 30.86. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Clean Harbors stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Clean Harbors (CLH) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $243.43, compared to a current price of $301.79 — trading 24% above its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 30.52%, which is near median its 10-year median of 30.86 and 11.6% above the Waste Management industry median of 27.35. Clean Harbors' overall GF Score™ is 87/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Gross Margin % calculated?
Gross Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Clean Harbors (CLH), the current Gross Margin % is 30.52% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Clean Harbors (CLH) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Clean Harbors stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $301.79 is trading 24% above its estimated GF Value™ of $243.43.
GuruFocus considers Clean Harbors to be Modestly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for CLH:
Gross Margin %: 30.52% (near median its 10-year median of 30.86)
GF Value™: $243.43 vs. price of $301.79 (24% above fair value)
Industry Position: 11.6% above the Waste Management median (#93 of 236)
No single metric tells the full story. See the CLH stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Clean Harbors Inc is an environmental and industrial services provider that provides parts cleaning and related environmental services to commercial, industrial, and automotive customers. Its business segments are Environmental Services and Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions. Environmental Services includes waste collection, transportation, treatment, recycling, and disposal, along with industrial maintenance services. Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions provides used oil collection and manufactures base oil, vacuum gas oil, and lubricants. The company generates the majority of its revenues from the Environmental Services segment and operates in the United States, with maximum revenue, and Canada.
87GF Score
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