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Dec 31, 2020

Clean Harbors Q4 2020 Earnings Report

Clean Harbors reported a strong fourth quarter, with revenue growth driven by the Environmental Services segment and strength in COVID-19 decontamination work.

Key Takeaways

Clean Harbors announced strong Q4 2020 results, with revenue at $796.2 million and net income at $39.3 million, or $0.71 per diluted share. The Environmental Services segment led the performance, driven by high-value waste streams and COVID-19 decontamination work.

Revenue grew nearly $17 million sequentially from Q3 2020.

Environmental Services segment drove better-than-expected results.

Average price per pound in the quarter increased by 16% from Q4 2019.

COVID-19 decontamination work revenue totaled $31 million.

Total Revenue
$796M
Previous year: $871M
-8.6%
EPS
$0.63
Previous year: $0.42
+50.0%
Adjusted EBITDA
$136M
Previous year: $132M
+3.0%
Gross Profit
$247M
Previous year: $255M
-3.1%
Cash and Equivalents
$519M
Previous year: $372M
+39.5%
Free Cash Flow
$67.3M
Previous year: $86.7M
-22.4%
Total Assets
$4.13B
Previous year: $4.11B
+0.6%

Clean Harbors

Clean Harbors

Clean Harbors Revenue by Segment

Forward Guidance

Clean Harbors expects a measurable recovery as the year progresses, with the COVID-19 decontamination business serving as a natural hedge. They anticipate additional waste streams, a rebound in the U.S. chemical and manufacturing industries, and growing demand for sustainable solutions.

Positive Outlook

  • Positive momentum on many fronts – financially, operationally and within the markets served.
  • Expect to experience a measurable recovery as the year progresses.
  • COVID-19 decontamination business continues to serve as a natural hedge.
  • Start the year with a healthy backlog of waste in disposal facilities.
  • Growing demand for sustainable solutions.

Challenges Ahead

  • Pandemic continues to weigh on some lines of business.
  • New shelter-in-place restrictions in areas limited the ability of the branch business to continue its recovery to pre-pandemic levels.
  • Lower vehicle miles driven continued to dampen market demand for lubricants.
  • Incineration utilization rate of 84% was lower than last year due to a higher-than-expected number of maintenance days in the quarter.
  • Landfill volumes were down 37%.

Revenue & Expenses

Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income