Acadia Healthcare Company Inc vs Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc — how do they compare? Acadia Healthcare Company Inc trades at $31.94 (market cap $2.90B), while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $285.78 (market cap $13.46B). The key difference: Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is far larger — about 4.6× Acadia Healthcare Company Inc's market cap, and Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Acadia Healthcare Company Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ACHC | CRL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $2.90B | $13.46B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $35.61 | $282.00 |
52-Week Low | $11.68 | $145.57 |
Enterprise Value | $5.29B | $16.30B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ACHC trades at $31.14, down 2.01% today, with a neutral technical signal and mixed fundamentals. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $0.38, beating estimates, but maintains a net loss of -$1.10B for 2025. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $36.00 price target, though ongoing legal investigations and negative profit margins present headwinds. Cash flow from operations improved to $211M in 2026, supporting operational stability amid challenges.
The outlook for ACHC hinges on execution of its turnaround strategy and resolution of legal issues. Upside potential exists if EBITDA guidance improvements and admissions growth persist, but risks from litigation and sustained losses warrant caution. The stock's current valuation at a P/E of 19.82 and P/S of 0.84 may attract value investors if profitability recovers.
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) trades at $277.00, up 3.56% on the day and near its 52-week high of $277.07, reflecting strong bullish momentum. The stock exhibits positive technical signals with moving averages indicating an uptrend, though oscillators suggest overbought conditions. Fundamentally, the company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $3.02, beating estimates, and raised full-year guidance, yet faces profitability challenges with a negative net income margin of -5.96% and elevated valuation ratios like a P/E of 684.85. Recent news highlights improved biotech demand and institutional buying interest.
The outlook for CRL is cautiously optimistic, driven by earnings beats and raised guidance, but high valuation and weak profitability pose risks. Investment opportunity lies in sustained demand for drug development services, while risks include margin pressure, debt levels, and sensitivity to biotech funding cycles. The stock's proximity to all-time highs warrants monitoring for pullbacks.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Acadia Healthcare is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services across the US and Puerto Rico. It operates a network of psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, and clinics for mental health and addiction recovery.
Read more on ACHC →Charles River Laboratories was founded in 1947 and is a leading provider of drug discovery and development services. The company's research model & services segment is the leading provider of animal models for laboratory testing, which breeds and delivers animal research models with specific genetic characteristics for preclinical studies around the world. The discovery & safety assessment segment includes services required to take a drug through the early development process, including discovery services. The manufacturing support segment includes microbial solutions, which provides in vitro (non-animal) testing products, biologics testing services, and avian vaccine services.
Read more on CRL →