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CLH vs. CTAS: Clean Harbors vs. Cintas Stock Comparison

How do Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS) both belong to the Commercial Services & Supplies industry, though CLH is classified under Environmental & Facilities Services while CTAS falls under Diversified Support Services.

Company profile comparison for Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS)
Profile ItemCLHCTAS
NameClean Harbors, Inc.Cintas Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryCommercial Services & SuppliesCommercial Services & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryEnvironmental & Facilities ServicesDiversified Support Services
Market Capitalization14.98 billion USD88.29 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateNovember 24, 1987August 19, 1983
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CLH
CTAS
GSPC
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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricCLHCTAS
Total Return (1Y)38.70%21.43%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)22.86%20.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)21.84%16.37%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CLH
CTAS
GSPC
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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricCLHCTAS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.31%23.96%
Beta (5Y)0.870.85
Max Drawdown (5Y)-30.86%-27.68%
Avg. Volume (3M)465.54K1.91M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CLH and CTAS are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricCLHCTAS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.360.72
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.091.06

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cintas (CTAS) at 41.38% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Clean Harbors (CLH) at 17.93% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CTAS.

CLH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

17.93%

Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
CLH
17.93%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

41.38%

Max
47.06%
CTAS
41.38%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%
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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Cintas (CTAS) at 17.82% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Clean Harbors (CLH) at 8.05%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CLH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

8.05%

Max
23.28%
Q3
11.35%
CLH
8.05%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

17.82%

Max
23.28%
CTAS
17.82%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%
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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Cintas (CTAS) at 24.10% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Clean Harbors (CLH) at 17.02%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CLH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

17.02%

Max
38.50%
Q3
18.84%
CLH
17.02%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

24.10%

Max
38.50%
CTAS
24.10%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%
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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricCLHCTAS
ROE (TTM)17.93%41.38%
ROA (TTM)6.94%16.66%
Net Margin (TTM)8.05%17.82%
Operating Margin (TTM)17.02%24.10%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.13%50.99%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Clean Harbors (CLH) at 2.39% and Cintas (CTAS) at 8.94% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Clean Harbors (CLH) at -1.89% and Cintas (CTAS) at 11.59% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricCLHCTAS
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.39%8.94%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.29%8.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)-1.89%11.59%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.25%14.77%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Clean Harbors (CLH) at 1.95 and Cintas (CTAS) at 1.45 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CLH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.95

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
CLH
1.95
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
Min
0.45

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.45

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
CTAS
1.45
Q1
1.09
Min
0.45
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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Clean Harbors (CLH) at 1.08 and Cintas (CTAS) at 0.52 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CLH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.08

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
CLH
1.08
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.52

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
Median
0.88
CTAS
0.52
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricCLHCTAS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.951.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.080.52
Net Debt / EBITDA2.120.76

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Clean Harbors (CLH) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Cintas (CTAS) reports a yield of 0.83%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CLH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.00%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
Median
0.60%
CLH
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.83%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
CTAS
0.83%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Clean Harbors (CLH) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Cintas (CTAS) reports a payout of 36.88%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CLH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.00%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
Median
17.27%
CLH
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

36.88%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
CTAS
36.88%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%
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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricCLHCTAS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.83%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%36.88%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Clean Harbors (CLH) at 28.50 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Cintas (CTAS) at 43.86 sits in the richer quartile — CTAS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CLH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

28.50

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
CLH
28.50
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

43.86

Max
49.47
CTAS
43.86
Q3
33.76
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Clean Harbors (CLH) at 2.28 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Cintas (CTAS) at 7.64 clears its benchmark range — CTAS looks notably rich on sales.

CLH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.28

Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
CLH
2.28
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.64

CTAS
7.64
Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11
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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Clean Harbors (CLH) at 4.81 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Cintas (CTAS) at 17.07 prices above its benchmark range — CTAS looks rich relative to book.

CLH

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

4.81

Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
CLH
4.81
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78

CTAS

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

17.07

CTAS
17.07
Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78
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Clean Harbors (CLH) vs. Cintas (CTAS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Clean Harbors (CLH) and Cintas (CTAS)
MetricCLHCTAS
P/E Ratio (TTM)28.5043.86
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.287.64
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.8117.07
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.76%1.98%