Clean Harbors And Smithfield Foods Looking To Assist Japan (CLH, SFD)

Nasdaq is reporting that Clean Harbors (NYSE: CLH) and Smithfield Foods (NYSE: SFD) could play a vital role in the rebuilding of Japan.

As Japan looks to pick itself up after a horrendous March, it will be looking for help cleaning up hazardous waste and feeding its people. That is where Clean Harbors and Smithfield Foods come in.

Following the earthquake, tsunami and the ongoing nuclear power plant crisis, investors are looking to the stock market for opportunities. CLH is experienced in site decontamination and waste disposal, services that Japan desperately needs. While the majority of its 50,000 customers are in North America, it does have a strong presence in Asia. It also has experience dealing with large-scale disasters, after assisting the efforts following Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. CLH's 2010 revenues were boosted by the BP spill, with net income more than tripling to $130.5 million.

Meanwhile, Smithfield Foods is the world's leading pork producer and, with the Japanese struggling to stock the shelves due to radiation being found in milk, vegetables and even drinking water, Smithfields could well be a beneficiary. Shares in the company are up 10 percent in 2011 and, with a current consensus target price of $26, there is still room to the upside.

While it seems crass to discuss financial gain from horrific world events, the reality is that there is work to be done and that both Clean Harbors and Smithfield Foods can genuinely help.