Harsco Corporation (HSC) Stock Analysis
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Analysis by Sedat ANAK, Founder & Editor-in-Chief | AI-powered analysis. Data sourced from SEC filings and institutional-grade financial providers. Editorially reviewed. Not financial advice.
Harsco Corporation (HSC) trades at $9.15 with AI Score 38/100 (Grade D). Harsco Corporation provides environmental solutions for industrial and specialty waste streams globally. Market cap: $730M, Sector: Industrials.
Price as of Jul 23, 2026 · Last analyzed: May 7, 2026Analyst Coverage for HSC: HSC does not currently have published analyst price targets in our coverage universe. This is common for smaller-cap names with limited Wall Street coverage. In the absence of analyst consensus, our AI model evaluates HSC against Industrials peers across nine fundamental dimensions and assigns an underweight signal based on the underlying data.
HSC: 3/3 scored disciplines lean bearish. Dominant signal: Ray Dalio bullish.
How is this calculated? →Why this analysis is different
- A 9-signal quantitative MoonshotScore built from filings, insider activity, and market data — computed from the numbers, not from opinion.
- An AI Council read across up to eight perspectives — value, macro, quantitative, and momentum lenses — that shows where they disagree instead of averaging the tension away.
- Figures come straight from FMP and Yahoo Finance filings data. The AI writes the narrative around the numbers — it never edits the numbers.
Harsco Corporation (HSC) Industrial Operations Profile
Harsco Corporation delivers environmental solutions for industrial and specialty waste streams, focusing on resource recovery and waste management. Operating through Harsco Environmental and Harsco Clean Earth, the company serves iron, steel, metals manufacturing, and hazardous waste sectors, differentiating itself through comprehensive on-site services and recycling solutions.
What Is the Investment Thesis for HSC?
Harsco Corporation presents a compelling investment thesis centered on its strategic positioning within the growing environmental solutions sector. The company's focus on industrial and specialty waste streams, coupled with its comprehensive service offerings through Harsco Environmental and Harsco Clean Earth, provides a diversified revenue base. Key value drivers include increasing demand for sustainable waste management solutions and stricter environmental regulations driving adoption of Harsco's services. The company's ability to generate value-added downstream products from industrial waste streams enhances profitability. However, a current profit margin of -7.6% indicates areas for improvement. Future growth will depend on Harsco's ability to capitalize on market trends and improve operational efficiencies. Investors should monitor the company's ability to improve profitability and manage its debt effectively.
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
HSC Key Highlights
- Harsco operates in the environmental solutions sector, focusing on industrial and specialty waste streams.
- The company is structured into two segments: Harsco Environmental and Harsco Clean Earth, providing diverse services.
- Harsco Environmental offers on-site services for material logistics and resource recovery for iron, steel, and metals manufacturing.
- Harsco Clean Earth provides waste management services, including transportation, specialty waste processing, and recycling.
- The company's market capitalization is $0.73 billion, reflecting its current valuation in the market.
Who Are HSC's Competitors?
HSC is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.
| Company | Price | Change | Market Cap | AI Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WM Waste Management, Inc. | $237.27 | +0.38% | $95.3B | 63 |
| RSG Republic Services, Inc. | $217.42 | +0.42% | $66.9B | 71 |
| GFL GFL Environmental Inc. | $38.93 | -0.43% | $13.6B | 48 |
| HCCI Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc | $45.51 | +0.09% | $1.11B | 46 |
| TNJIF Tianjin Capital Environmental Protection Group Company Limited | $0.46 | +0.00% | $1.23B | 46 |
| SCPJ Scope Industries | $325.00 | +8.33% | $298M | 55 |
| ANRGF Anaergia Inc. | $1.70 | -1.62% | $292M | 47 |
| BFSAF Befesa S.A. | $40.70 | +0.00% | $2.10B | 49 |
AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance
What Are HSC's Key Strengths?
- Comprehensive service offerings in environmental solutions.
- Long-standing relationships with key customers.
- Expertise in managing industrial and specialty waste streams.
- Global presence with operations worldwide.
What Are HSC's Weaknesses?
- Negative profit margin of -7.6%.
- High beta of 2.03 indicates high volatility.
- Dependence on cyclical industries such as steel and metals.
- Potential for environmental liabilities and regulatory challenges.
What Could Drive HSC Stock Higher?
- Increasing demand for sustainable waste management solutions driven by stricter environmental regulations.
- Expansion of services in the hazardous waste management and recycling sectors.
- Potential strategic acquisitions to enhance service offerings and geographic reach.
- Development of new technologies for resource recovery and waste processing.
- Growing adoption of circular economy practices driving demand for recycled products.
What Are the Key Risks for HSC?
- Financial-distress signal — its Altman Z-Score of 1.61 sits in the distress zone (elevated bankruptcy risk).
- Negative return on equity (-70.1%) — the business is not currently generating profit on shareholder capital.
- Weak fundamentals — a Piotroski F-Score of 2/9 flags soft profitability, leverage or efficiency.
- Economic downturns affecting industrial production and demand for Harsco's services.
- Increasing competition in the waste management industry.
- Stricter environmental regulations and compliance costs.
- Fluctuations in commodity prices for recycled materials.
- Environmental liabilities and regulatory challenges.
What Are the Growth Opportunities for HSC?
- Growth opportunity 1: Expanding services in the Harsco Environmental segment represents a significant growth opportunity. By enhancing on-site services for material logistics and resource recovery in the iron, steel, and metals manufacturing industries, Harsco can capture a larger share of the market. The increasing demand for sustainable practices in these industries, driven by stricter environmental regulations, creates a favorable environment for growth. Market size for these services is estimated to grow by 5-7% annually over the next five years.
- Growth opportunity 2: The Harsco Clean Earth segment can capitalize on the growing demand for hazardous waste management and recycling solutions. With increasing regulations on hazardous waste disposal, the need for specialized waste processing and recycling services is rising. By expanding its transportation and processing capabilities, Harsco can attract more customers and increase its market share. The market for hazardous waste management is expected to grow by 6-8% annually over the next five years.
- Growth opportunity 3: Developing value-added downstream products from industrial waste streams presents a lucrative growth opportunity. By investing in research and development to create new products from recycled materials, Harsco can generate additional revenue streams and enhance its sustainability profile. This approach aligns with the growing trend of circular economy practices and can attract environmentally conscious customers. The market for recycled products is projected to grow by 8-10% annually over the next five years.
- Growth opportunity 4: Geographic expansion into emerging markets offers a significant growth opportunity for Harsco. By targeting countries with rapidly industrializing economies and increasing environmental concerns, Harsco can tap into new markets with high growth potential. This strategy requires adapting its services to meet the specific needs of these markets and establishing strategic partnerships with local players. Emerging markets are expected to drive a significant portion of the growth in the waste management industry over the next decade.
- Growth opportunity 5: Leveraging technology to improve operational efficiency and service delivery can drive growth and enhance competitiveness. By investing in digital solutions for waste tracking, data analytics, and process optimization, Harsco can reduce costs, improve service quality, and enhance customer satisfaction. This approach can also enable the company to offer more innovative and customized solutions to its customers. The market for digital solutions in the waste management industry is growing rapidly, driven by the increasing adoption of IoT and AI technologies.
What Opportunities Does HSC Have?
- Expanding services in hazardous waste management and recycling.
- Geographic expansion into emerging markets.
- Developing value-added downstream products from waste streams.
- Leveraging technology to improve operational efficiency.
What Threats Does HSC Face?
- Increasing competition in the waste management industry.
- Stricter environmental regulations and compliance costs.
- Economic downturns affecting industrial production.
- Fluctuations in commodity prices for recycled materials.
What Are HSC's Competitive Advantages?
- Specialized Expertise: Harsco has deep expertise in managing industrial and specialty waste streams, creating a barrier to entry for new competitors.
- Long-Standing Relationships: The company has established long-term relationships with key customers in the iron, steel, and metals manufacturing industries.
- Comprehensive Service Offering: Harsco provides a full suite of environmental solutions, from on-site services to waste processing and recycling.
- Proprietary Technologies: The company utilizes proprietary technologies for resource recovery and waste processing, enhancing its competitive advantage.
What Does HSC Do?
Founded in 1853 and headquartered in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, Harsco Corporation has evolved into a global provider of environmental solutions for industrial and specialty waste streams. The company operates through two primary segments: Harsco Environmental and Harsco Clean Earth. Harsco Environmental offers on-site services for material logistics, product quality improvement, and resource recovery, primarily serving the iron, steel, and metals manufacturing industries. This segment also manufactures and sells industrial abrasives, roofing granules, aluminum dross, and scrap processing systems, producing value-added downstream products from industrial waste streams. Harsco Clean Earth provides comprehensive waste management services, including transportation, specialty waste processing, and recycling and beneficial reuse solutions for hazardous wastes, soil, and dredged materials. Harsco’s services extend globally, providing tailored solutions to meet the specific environmental challenges of its diverse customer base. With a history spanning over a century, Harsco has adapted to changing environmental regulations and industry needs, positioning itself as a key player in the industrial waste management sector.
What Products and Services Does HSC Offer?
- Provides on-site services for material logistics in the iron, steel, and metals manufacturing industries.
- Offers product quality improvement services for industrial processes.
- Engages in resource recovery from industrial waste streams.
- Manufactures and sells industrial abrasives and roofing granules.
- Provides waste management services, including transportation and specialty waste processing.
- Offers recycling and beneficial reuse solutions for hazardous wastes, soil, and dredged materials.
- Produces value-added downstream products from industrial waste streams.
How Does HSC Make Money?
- Provides environmental solutions for industrial and specialty waste streams.
- Generates revenue through on-site services for material logistics and resource recovery.
- Earns income from manufacturing and selling industrial abrasives and roofing granules.
- Derives revenue from waste management services, including transportation, processing, and recycling.
What Industry Does HSC Operate In?
Harsco Corporation operates within the waste management industry, which is experiencing growth driven by increasing environmental regulations and a rising focus on sustainability. The market includes players offering various waste treatment, recycling, and disposal services. Harsco differentiates itself by focusing on industrial and specialty waste streams, providing tailored solutions for specific industries. The global waste management market is projected to continue growing, driven by urbanization and industrialization. Key competitors include companies offering similar environmental solutions and waste management services. Harsco's ability to innovate and adapt to changing regulations will be crucial for maintaining its competitive position.
Who Are HSC's Key Customers?
- Iron and steel manufacturers
- Metals manufacturing companies
- Hazardous waste generators
- Construction companies using roofing granules
How Harsco Corporation Is Valued
Harsco Corporation carries a market capitalization of $730M, placing it in the small-cap category. Relative to its peer group, HSC's quantitative score of 38/100 is below the peer average of 55/100.
ROE -70%Key Financial Metrics
Return on equity for Harsco Corporation stands at -70.1%, a gauge of how efficiently it converts shareholder capital into profit. Return on assets is -7.9%, showing how much profit it generates from its asset base. Its free cash flow yield is -5.1%, a gauge of the cash the business throws off relative to its market value. A current ratio of 1.13 indicates the company holds enough short-term assets to cover its near-term obligations. Its earnings yield is -28.5%, the inverse of the P/E and a quick read on earnings relative to price.
F-Score 2/9Financial Health
Harsco Corporation's Piotroski F-Score is 2/9, a 9-point checklist of profitability, leverage and efficiency — flagging fundamental weakness worth scrutiny. Its Altman Z-Score of 1.61 places it in the distress zone, a signal of elevated financial risk.
HSC Financials
Fundamental Snapshot
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis · FY 2025
Bull Case vs Bear Case
Bull Case
- Comprehensive service offerings in environmental solutions.
- Long-standing relationships with key customers.
- Expertise in managing industrial and specialty waste streams.
- Global presence with operations worldwide.
Bear Case
- Negative profit margin of -7.6%.
- High beta of 2.03 indicates high volatility.
- Dependence on cyclical industries such as steel and metals.
- Potential for environmental liabilities and regulatory challenges.
AI-generated arguments based on insider flow, news sentiment and technicals — not financial advice · July 2026
HSC Latest News
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Stocks That Hit 52-Week Lows Of Monday
· Aug 12, 2019
HSC Analyst Consensus
Consensus Rating
Aggregated Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations from Benzinga, Yahoo Finance, and Finnhub for HSC.
Price Targets
Wall Street price target analysis for HSC.
HSC MoonshotScore
What does this score mean?
The MoonshotScore rates HSC 0-100 on quantitative fundamentals — growth, financial health, valuation, momentum, and risk.
Classification
Industry Waste ManagementLeadership: F. Nicholas Grasberger III
CEO
F. Nicholas Grasberger III has extensive experience in the industrial sector. Prior to joining Harsco Corporation, he held various leadership positions at industrial companies, focusing on strategic growth and operational efficiency. His background includes a strong emphasis on financial management and business development. Grasberger's expertise lies in driving performance improvements and creating shareholder value through strategic initiatives and operational excellence.
Track Record: Under F. Nicholas Grasberger III's leadership, Harsco Corporation has focused on streamlining its operations and expanding its environmental solutions offerings. Key milestones include strategic acquisitions and divestitures aimed at optimizing the company's portfolio. Grasberger has also emphasized innovation and sustainability, driving the development of new technologies and solutions for waste management and resource recovery.
HSC Industrials Stock FAQ
What does the AI Score mean for HSC?
HSC holds an AI Score of 38/100 (Grade: D). This is an educational research signal, not a buy or sell recommendation. Harsco Corporation provides environmental solutions for industrial and specialty waste streams globally. The company operates through two segments: Harsco Environmental and Harsco Clean Earth.
What does Harsco Corporation do?
Harsco Corporation provides environmental solutions for industrial and specialty waste streams worldwide. The company operates through two segments: Harsco Environmental and Harsco Clean Earth. Harsco Environmental offers on-site services for material logistics, product quality improvement, and resource recovery for iron, steel, and metals manufacturing.
What do analysts say about HSC stock?
Analyst consensus on Harsco Corporation (HSC) reflects a mixed outlook, with considerations for both growth potential and financial challenges. Key valuation metrics include the company's market capitalization of $730M and its current profit margin of -7.6%. Growth considerations center on Harsco's ability to capitalize on increasing demand for environmental solutions and improve operational efficiencies.
What are the main risks for HSC?
Harsco Corporation faces several key risks, including economic downturns affecting industrial production, increasing competition in the waste management industry, stricter environmental regulations and compliance costs, fluctuations in commodity prices for recycled materials, and potential environmental liabilities and regulatory challenges. The company's high beta of 2.03 indicates high volatility, making it susceptible to market fluctuations. Effective risk management and adaptation to changing market conditions are crucial for Harsco's long-term success.
What are the key factors to evaluate for HSC?
Harsco Corporation (HSC) holds an AI score of 38/100 (low). Not financial advice.
How frequently does HSC data refresh on this page?
HSC's price was last updated on Jul 23, 2026 and refreshes on page view during U.S. market hours — it is not a real-time exchange feed. Fundamentals update after quarterly filings; the MoonshotScore recalculates nightly; news aggregates continuously.
What has driven HSC's recent stock price performance?
Harsco Corporation (HSC) moves on earnings results, analyst revisions, sector rotation, and market sentiment. Notable catalyst: Comprehensive service offerings in environmental solutions. See the News tab for the latest drivers. Past performance does not predict future results.
Should investors consider HSC overvalued or undervalued right now?
Harsco Corporation (HSC) has no trailing P/E available here, so lean on price-to-sales and cash flow in the Financials tab. Compare P/E, P/S, and EV/EBITDA against sector peers for a full view.
How do I research HSC before investing?
Before investing in Harsco Corporation (HSC), research these four areas: (1) the company's revenue model and competitive position (see Company Overview), (2) financial health through revenue growth, margins, and cash flow (see MoonshotScore), (3) analyst consensus ratings and price targets (see Analyst tab), and (4) specific risk factors that could impact the stock (see Risk Factors section).
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.
Official Resources
Data provided for informational purposes only.
- Information is based on available data and may be subject to change.
- Financial metrics are as of the latest available reporting period.