Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Sells 41,084 Shares of Clean Harbors, Inc. $CLH

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lowered its stake in Clean Harbors, Inc. (NYSE:CLH) by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 614,844 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 41,084 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned about 1.15% of Clean Harbors worth $142,782,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in CLH. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Clean Harbors in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $147,632,000. Nordea Investment Management AB bought a new position in shares of Clean Harbors during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $108,608,000. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP purchased a new position in shares of Clean Harbors in the second quarter valued at $44,446,000. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. grew its holdings in shares of Clean Harbors by 41.9% in the third quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 362,730 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $84,233,000 after purchasing an additional 107,150 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its position in Clean Harbors by 29.7% in the second quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 395,069 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $91,332,000 after purchasing an additional 90,491 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.43% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on CLH shares. CJS Securities raised shares of Clean Harbors to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Robert W. Baird set a $300.00 target price on shares of Clean Harbors in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Raymond James Financial restated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $320.00 target price on shares of Clean Harbors in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Needham & Company LLC increased their price target on shares of Clean Harbors from $290.00 to $308.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Clean Harbors from $290.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $292.18.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Sharon M. Gabriel sold 3,540 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $282.07, for a total transaction of $998,527.80. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 23,193 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,542,049.51. This trade represents a 13.24% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director John R. Welch sold 750 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $273.07, for a total value of $204,802.50. Following the transaction, the director owned 10,237 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,795,417.59. The trade was a 6.83% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 7,679 shares of company stock valued at $2,132,403. Corporate insiders own 5.60% of the company’s stock.

Clean Harbors Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of CLH opened at $286.43 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.00, a current ratio of 2.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01. The business has a fifty day moving average of $267.28 and a 200 day moving average of $243.96. The company has a market cap of $15.16 billion, a PE ratio of 39.35 and a beta of 0.93. Clean Harbors, Inc. has a 52-week low of $178.29 and a 52-week high of $298.12.

Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The business services provider reported $1.62 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.59 by $0.03. Clean Harbors had a net margin of 6.48% and a return on equity of 14.47%. The firm had revenue of $1.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.46 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.55 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Clean Harbors, Inc. will post 7.89 EPS for the current year.

About Clean Harbors

Clean Harbors, Inc is a leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services in North America. The company specializes in the collection, transportation and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, emergency spill response and remediation, industrial cleaning and on-site field services. Its comprehensive service offering also includes chemical neutralization, drum crushing, high-pressure water blasting, tank cleaning and vacuum services designed to help customers meet stringent environmental regulations.

Founded in 1980 by Alan S.