DailyIQ
|
Sector:HealthcareAll sectors
Last updated 2 minutes ago

CRL·Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.

$.
-. (-.%)
After Hours
High
$237.86
Open
$235.00
Market Cap
11.29B
52W High
$236.62
Low
$232.61
P. Close
$233.57
P/E
-
52W Low
$144.26
Fwd P/E
18.95
DailyIQ Est.
$231.29
Technical Score (1D)
91
BUY
News Sentiment
79
BULLISH
Morgan Stanley lifted its price target for CRL to $260 from $220, citing a stronger earnings outlook and a robust product pipeline. The upgrade signals a bullish stance on CRL’s growth prospects, suggesting that the market may see upside if the company meets its earnings expectations. Traders should monitor the upcoming earnings release for guidance updates and watch for new product announcements that could further support the stock. The same analyst reiterated an Overweight rating and the higher target, reinforcing confidence that CRL’s valuation is attractive relative to peers. This stance implies that short‑term gains could materialize if earnings and guidance remain favorable, so the next 1–10 trading days will be critical for confirming the earnings trajectory. Analysts also noted that sector‑wide regulatory developments could influence demand for CRL’s services, so watch for any changes in biopharma regulatory approvals that might affect the pipeline. A broader analyst consensus has shifted from sell to overweight, with multiple firms raising targets to $250, indicating a growing belief in improved earnings prospects and a growing contract research services pipeline. Evercore ISI’s recent upgrade to $260 and an Overweight rating further underscores confidence in CRL’s revenue growth and potential upside, so keep an eye on how the earnings and product pipeline developments align with this target. Finally, lingering concerns about regulatory uncertainty, competitive pressure, and valuation relative to peers suggest that any adverse regulatory news or intensified competition could temper the bullish outlook, so watch for regulatory announcements and competitive moves in the next few weeks.
Earnings Summary
Charles River Laboratories International (CRL) is a global provider of essential services for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, operating through Research Models and Services, Discovery and Safety Assessment, and Manufacturing Solutions segments. The company’s business model supports the entire drug‑development lifecycle, from preclinical research to quality control testing, positioning it within the Healthcare sector’s Diagnostics & Research industry. In the most recent reporting cycle, CRL’s Q1 2026 earnings exceeded expectations, with an EPS of $2.06 versus an estimate of $1.94 and revenue of $995.83 million against an estimate of $987.26 million, indicating a modest beat. The preceding quarter, Q3 2025, delivered an EPS of $2.43 versus an estimate of $2.34 and revenue of $1.00485 billion versus an estimate of $998.10 million, also a beat, while Q4 2025 saw an EPS of $2.39 versus an estimate of $2.56 and revenue of $994.23 million versus an estimate of $998.10 million, a miss. Over the six quarters of available data, CRL has posted EPS beats in three quarters and revenue growth that has hovered around flat to slightly positive, suggesting a stable but modest expansion trajectory. Recent analyst commentary has highlighted a bullish upgrade of price targets to $250–$260 by major research houses, reflecting confidence in the company’s expanding contract‑research pipeline, while some analysts have cautioned about regulatory uncertainty and currency headwinds that could pressure margins. Investors should watch for the upcoming Q2 2026 earnings release, where management’s guidance on new contract wins, the integration of the TuneLab platform, and currency‑hedging strategies will be pivotal; monitoring regulatory developments and competitive dynamics in the preclinical services market will also help assess the sustainability of CRL’s growth.

EPS

EstBeatMiss
$1.77$2.15$2.53$2.91$3.30Q1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q2'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q2'26$2.73 - -
Q1'26$1.94$2.06+6.0%
Q4'25$2.56$2.39-6.6%
Q3'25$2.34$2.43+3.9%
Q2'25$2.55$3.12+22.4%
Q1'25$2.07$2.34+12.8%

Revenue

EstBeatMiss
$976M$992M$1.0B$1.0B$1.0BQ1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q2'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q2'26$983M - -
Q1'26$987M$996M+0.9%
Q4'25$998M$994M-0.4%
Q3'25 - $1.0B -
Q2'25 - $1.0B -
Q1'25 - $984M -
Full Earnings BreakdownEstimates, actuals, guidance, and historical context
→

Market Data

CRL Stock Snapshot

CRL is currently trading at $233.41, giving Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. a market cap of 11.29B. Today's range spans $232.61–$237.86, with shares opening at $235.00 and moving down $0.16 (0.1%) from the prior close. DailyIQ's technical score sits at 91/100 (BUY) with a news sentiment reading of 79/100.

Over the past year CRL has traded between $144.26 and $236.62 - the current price is +61.8% off the 52-week low and -1.4% from the high. 25 analysts cover the stock with a Buy consensus and a mean 12-month target of $220.67 (range $135.00–$265.00), implying downside of -5.5%.

In the Healthcare peer group, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) stands out for a BUY signal backed by aligned sentiment - score 91/100, sentiment bullish at 79/100, price $233.41 (near 52-week highs). With 11.29B in market cap, this is large enough to feature on institutional watch lists but small enough to re-rate meaningfully on a positive earnings surprise. The 52-week span of $144.26–$236.62 shows the stock has already proven it can make significant moves.

What makes CRL's BUY setup (91/100) particularly actionable at 11.29B in Healthcare capitalization is the scale-to-move ratio: large enough to feature on institutional mandates but not so large that the percentage upside is already compressed by index inertia. At $233.41 (near 52-week highs in $144.26–$236.62), with sentiment running bullish at 79/100, the setup rewards conviction-sized positioning more than it does speculative small bets.