Investopedia: Clean Harbors Goes Back To Its Roots In A Big Way

Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH) is an interesting company. Built around hazardous waste collection and disposal, the company remains a leader when it comes to these services, but perhaps not as many investors are aware of how it has also built a large oil and gas services business (largely through acquisitions). At the end of October, however, the company took a big step back to its roots in announcing the acquisition of Safety-Kleen.

Continue here:
http://www.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2012/Clean-Harbors-Goes-Back-To-Its-Roots-In-A-Big-Way-CLH-VE-WM-ECOL1030.aspx

Investopedia: Casella Waste - Even The Environmental Sector Has Challenges

Perhaps one of the more interesting lessons of the recession and this sluggish recovery has been the deconstruction of the idea of "safe" industries where investors can take refuge in bad times. Food companies have been squeezed by input-cost inflation, healthcare companies have seen patients disappear, and the environmental sector, too, has seen business deteriorate more than many would have guessed.

As a small regional player, Casella Waste Systems (Nasdaq:CWST) has a host of challenges. The company does not have the sort of scale that benefits giants like Waste Management (NYSE:WM) or Republic Services (NYSE:RSG), and its balance sheet probably precludes a lot of expansion on its own. Though there could certainly be some long-term value here, this isn't an especially safe place to wait out the market's turbulence.
To read more, follow the link below:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/Casella-Waste--Even-The-Environmental-Sector-Has-Challenges-CWST-WM-RSG-BIN-WCN-CLH-SRCL0831.aspx

Investopedia: Can EnergySolutions Power Up With Nuclear Energy?

Shakespeare may have thought that it was better to try and fail than to never try at all, but Wall Street is seldom so forgiving. While EnergySolutions (NYSE:ES) has a lot going for it as a very rare pure play on nuclear energy services, the company is going through a difficult adjustment. After trying to compete as a tier-1 player, the company looks to be retrenching, and near-term earnings performance is not looking robust. Nevertheless, patient investors may want to keep an eye on this name as there may be more power to the business than near-term results suggest. (For background reading, check out The Biggest Nuclear Operators In The United States.)

A Tough End to the Year 

Due in part to some accounting readjustments, the fourth quarter of this fiscal year was not very strong for EnergySolutions. Revenue was effectively flat, gross profit was down 15%, and EBITDA fell 6%. None of that is likely to impress analysts, even on an adjusted basis.

Looking around on a division basis does not really help the picture much. The company's international business, its largest component, was basically flat on a revenue basis, but operating income fell more than 20% on lower fees from a major contract. Elsewhere, the commercial services business saw revenue jump, but operating income swung to a loss anyway.

To continue, please click below:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/Can-EnergySolutions-Power-Up-With-Nuclear-Energy-ES-EXC-URS-SHAW-FLR-BWC-CLH0405.aspx

I'm Such An Idiot

Sometimes I feel like I have to look in the mirror, take a deep breath, and confess to myself that I'm an idiot.

For all the time I've spent talking about BP (NYSE: BP) and Transocean (NYSE: RIG) and all that, I don't know how I could have missed one of the slam-dunk plays on this mess.

Clean Harbors (NYSE: CLH).

One of their main business units is spill clean-up. Hell, it's basically in their name!. Now, I don't know how much (if any) business they're getting from the mess in the Gulf ... and I'm too ticked at myself to go look it up right away. What I do know is that the stock has done quite well ever since it was clear that this would be a serious spill.

What is interesting, as a side note, is that Veolia (NYSE: VE), a French services company which also does industrial/environmental clean-up has gone the opposite direction since the spill. Go figure.

Anyways ... maybe there's still money to be made in Clean Harbors. But I know this missed opportunity is going to bug me for a few days...