CRL
HealthcareCharles River Laboratories International, Inc. · Medical - Diagnostics & Research · $8B
What is Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.?
Charles River Laboratories International is a contract research organization supporting pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies across the full non-clinical drug development pipeline. Headquartered in Wilmington, the company serves clients in the United States, Europe, Canada, and the Asia Pacific.
Charles River generates revenue by providing outsourced research and testing services that help drug developers move candidates from early discovery through regulatory-ready safety assessment. Its three operating segments cover research model production and services, early-stage drug discovery and in-depth safety testing, and quality control testing for pharmaceutical manufacturers. Clients range from large pharmaceutical companies to emerging biotech firms that rely on Charles River's specialized infrastructure rather than building it in-house.
The company was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in Wilmington, US.
- Rodent research models and purpose-bred laboratory animals
- Early-stage drug discovery and in vivo target validation services
- Toxicology, pathology, and safety pharmacology assessment
- Bioanalysis, drug metabolism, and pharmacokinetics services
- In vitro quality control testing for sterile and non-sterile pharmaceuticals
Is CRL a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates CRL as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful headwinds across several key dimensions of stock quality.
Among the five pillars, Valuation stands out as the relative bright spot — the stock appears attractively priced relative to its fundamentals, which may interest investors who believe the business can stabilize. The Moat pillar registers as Neutral, suggesting Charles River retains some structural advantages through its specialized infrastructure and long-standing client relationships, even if those advantages are not dominant.
Quality, Growth, and Risk all carry Weak ratings, pointing to pressures on profitability, limited near-term expansion signals, and an elevated risk profile that warrants careful consideration.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does CRL pay dividends?
No — Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.
Charles River Laboratories does not currently pay a dividend. For a capital-intensive contract research organization, retaining cash to fund laboratory capacity, technology investments, and potential acquisitions is a common strategic choice. Income-focused investors should note the absence of a dividend, while growth-oriented investors may view reinvestment as aligned with long-term capacity building.
When does CRL report earnings?
Charles River Laboratories reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
The company has faced a challenging operating environment in recent periods, with softer demand from biotech clients and ongoing cost pressures weighing on results. These dynamics are reflected in the Weak ratings across the Quality and Growth pillars in the UQS framework.
For the most recent quarter's results and forward guidance, visit Charles River Laboratories' investor relations page directly.
CRL Price History
-45.8% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.?
Based on Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
CRL Long-term Outlook
The fundamental outlook for CRL is cautious. Weak Growth and Risk pillar ratings suggest the near-term path to revenue recovery and margin improvement faces real obstacles, including reduced outsourcing budgets among biotech clients and a more selective funding environment. That said, the Neutral Moat rating indicates the company's specialized capabilities and regulatory expertise provide a degree of resilience. The Attractive Valuation label suggests the market has already priced in a significant portion of the risk, which could limit further downside if business conditions stabilize.
Growth drivers
- Recovery in biotech funding and outsourced research spending
- Expansion of biologics quality control testing as drug pipelines grow
- Cross-selling opportunities across discovery, safety, and manufacturing segments
Key risks
- Prolonged weakness in biotech client budgets reducing outsourcing demand
- Execution risk in restoring profitability amid elevated cost structures
- Competitive pressure from peers with broader service offerings or lower-cost models
CRL vs Peers
Charles River operates in a competitive contract research and life science services landscape alongside several specialized peers.
ICON focuses primarily on clinical-stage contract research, complementing rather than directly mirroring Charles River's non-clinical specialization.
Qiagen centers on molecular diagnostics and sample technology, giving it a distinct product-driven revenue model compared to Charles River's service-based approach.
Revvity offers instruments, reagents, and informatics across life science and diagnostics, competing with Charles River in select testing and detection workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Charles River Laboratories do?
Charles River Laboratories is a contract research organization that provides outsourced drug discovery, non-clinical development, and safety testing services. It supplies research animal models, runs toxicology and pharmacology studies, and performs quality control testing for pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers — essentially serving as an external laboratory partner across the drug development process.
Does CRL pay dividends?
No, Charles River Laboratories does not currently pay a dividend. The company retains its cash flow to fund laboratory infrastructure, technology, and strategic investments. Investors seeking regular income should factor this into their assessment of CRL.
When does CRL report earnings?
Charles River Laboratories reports financial results on a quarterly basis, in line with standard US-listed company practice. For exact dates and the most recent earnings materials, check the investor relations section of the company's official website.
Is CRL a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates CRL as Below Average, driven by Weak readings across Quality, Growth, and Risk pillars. The Valuation pillar is rated Good, suggesting the stock may be attractively priced relative to current fundamentals. Whether that represents an opportunity depends on an investor's view of the company's recovery trajectory. The full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.
Is CRL overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, CRL does not appear overvalued — the rating is Good, indicating the stock trades at a level that reflects its current fundamental challenges. This is one of the few positive signals in an otherwise cautious overall profile.
How does CRL compare to its competitors?
Charles River competes with ICON (ICLR) in the broader contract research space, though ICON focuses on clinical-stage work. Qiagen (QGEN) and Revvity (RVTY) overlap in select testing and life science tools segments. Charles River's differentiation lies in its depth of non-clinical services and its proprietary research model supply chain. UQS Pro members can view side-by-side quality comparisons.
What is CRL's market cap bracket?
Charles River Laboratories is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a range that typically offers more liquidity than small-cap peers while remaining more sensitive to sector-specific headwinds than large-cap contract research organizations.
Who founded Charles River Laboratories?
Charles River Laboratories traces its origins to a company founded by Henry Foster in 1947, though the current publicly traded entity was incorporated in 2000. Detailed founding history is widely available through the company's official corporate history and public filings.
Is CRL a long-term quality stock?
As a long-term quality indicator, CRL's current UQS profile is cautious. Weak ratings in Quality, Growth, and Risk suggest the business faces structural and cyclical pressures that need to resolve before the stock demonstrates durable long-term quality characteristics. The Neutral Moat rating does indicate some underlying competitive positioning worth monitoring over time.
What is the main competitive advantage of Charles River Laboratories?
Charles River's primary advantage lies in its specialized infrastructure — decades of expertise in research animal models, regulatory-grade safety testing facilities, and deep client relationships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies. These create meaningful switching costs and barriers to entry that underpin its Neutral Moat rating, even during periods of business pressure.
What sector does CRL belong to?
Charles River Laboratories operates in the Healthcare sector, specifically within the contract research and life science services industry. It serves pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies that outsource non-clinical research and testing rather than maintaining full in-house capabilities.
Is CRL a growth stock or value stock?
Based on UQS pillar labels, CRL currently leans toward neither category in a straightforward way. The Growth pillar is rated Weak, indicating limited near-term expansion signals. However, the Valuation pillar is rated Good, suggesting the stock may appeal to value-oriented investors willing to accept current business headwinds in exchange for a lower entry price.
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Pro Analysis
CRL — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 38.3 | 27.9 | 42.0 | 27.0 | 25.8 | 76.9 | 0.0 |
| May 22, 2026 | 38.3 | 27.9 | 42.0 | 27.0 | 25.8 | 77.2 | -0.1 |
| May 21, 2026 | 38.4 | 27.9 | 42.0 | 27.0 | 25.8 | 78.0 | -0.1 |
| May 20, 2026 | 38.5 | 27.9 | 42.0 | 27.0 | 25.8 | 78.7 | -0.1 |
| May 19, 2026 | 38.6 | 27.9 | 42.0 | 27.0 | 25.8 | 79.2 | 0.0 |
| May 16, 2026 | 38.6 | 27.9 | 42.0 | 27.0 | 25.8 | 79.0 | +0.2 |
| May 15, 2026 | 38.4 | 27.9 | 42.0 | 27.1 | 25.8 | 77.4 | +0.1 |
| May 14, 2026 | 38.3 | 27.9 | 42.0 | 27.1 | 25.8 | 76.7 | +0.2 |
| May 12, 2026 | 38.1 | 27.9 | 42.0 | 27.3 | 25.8 | 75.6 | +0.2 |
| May 11, 2026 | 37.9 | 27.9 | 42.0 | 27.3 | 25.8 | 74.1 | +1.4 |
CRL — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 27.9/100 (25%)Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 27.0/100 (20%)Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 25.8/100 (15%)Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 78.7/100 (15%)Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 42/100 (25%)Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for CRL.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the CRL UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.