Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q3 behind us, let’s have a look at Clean Harbors (NYSE: CLH) and its peers.

Waste management companies can possess licenses permitting them to handle hazardous materials. Furthermore, many services are performed through contracts and statutorily mandated, non-discretionary, or recurring, leading to more predictable revenue streams. However, regulation can be a headwind, rendering existing services obsolete or forcing companies to invest precious capital to comply with new, more environmentally-friendly rules. Lastly, waste management companies are at the whim of economic cycles. Interest rates, for example, can greatly impact industrial production or commercial projects that create waste and byproducts.

The 8 waste management stocks we track reported a softer Q3. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.1%.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 10.2% since the latest earnings results.

Clean Harbors (NYSE: CLH)

Established in 1980, Clean Harbors (NYSE: CLH) provides environmental and industrial services like hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal and emergency spill cleanups.

Clean Harbors reported revenues of $1.53 billion, up 12% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.6%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

“We delivered profitable growth in both our operating segments while improving our consolidated Adjusted EBITDA margin by 100 basis points from the same period a year ago,” said Mike Battles, Co-Chief Executive Officer.

Clean Harbors pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat of the whole group. Still, the market seems discontent with the results. The stock is down 7.2% since reporting and currently trades at $234.37.

Read our full report on Clean Harbors here, it’s free.

Best Q3: Republic Services (NYSE: RSG)

Processing several million tons of recyclables annually, Republic (NYSE: RSG) provides waste management services for residences, companies, and municipalities.

Republic Services reported revenues of $4.08 billion, up 6.5% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.1%. The business performed better than its peers, but it was unfortunately a mixed quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ sales volume estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 7.2% since reporting. It currently trades at $219.11.

Is now the time to buy Republic Services? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q3: Quest Resource (NASDAQ: QRHC)

Recycling corporate waste to help companies be more sustainable, Quest Resource (NASDAQ: QRHC) is a provider of waste and recycling services.

Quest Resource reported revenues of $72.77 million, up 3.3% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 5.6%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 32.9% since the results and currently trades at $5.52.

Read our full analysis of Quest Resource’s results here.

Waste Management (NYSE: WM)

Headquartered in Houston, Waste Management (NYSE: WM) is a provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America.

Waste Management reported revenues of $5.89 billion, up 13% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. More broadly, it was a slower quarter as it logged a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income and EPS estimates.

The stock is up 7.3% since reporting and currently trades at $224.92.

Read our full, actionable report on Waste Management here, it’s free.

Montrose (NYSE: MEG)

Founded to protect a tree-lined two-lane road, Montrose (NYSE: MEG) provides air quality monitoring, environmental laboratory testing, compliance, and environmental consulting services.

Montrose reported revenues of $178.7 million, up 6.4% year on year. This result came in 3.7% below analysts' expectations. Zooming out, it was a mixed quarter as it also produced an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ organic revenue estimates.

Montrose scored the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The stock is down 14.5% since reporting and currently trades at $20.80.

Read our full, actionable report on Montrose here, it’s free.

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