Brown-Forman Corporation Class B vs Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc — how do they compare? Brown-Forman Corporation Class B trades at $25.18, while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $231 (market cap $11.14B). The key difference: Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Brown-Forman Corporation Class B nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BF.B | CRL | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $31.26 | $233.60 |
52-Week Low | $22.80 | $145.57 |
Market Cap | — | $11.14B |
Enterprise Value | — | $14.00B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
BF.B trades at $26.25, up 0.31% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but mixed oscillators. Recent earnings show three consecutive beats, with Q2 2024 EPS of $0.48 exceeding the $0.46 estimate. Analyst sentiment is divided, with a 25% buy rating amid cautious technical indicators.
The stock's outlook is balanced by strong earnings momentum against bearish technicals. Opportunities lie in continued earnings outperformance, while risks include weak technical trends and lack of consensus among analysts. Investors should weigh fundamental strength against near-term price pressure.
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) trades at $229.75, down 1.57% on the day, near its consensus price target of $229.80. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with strong moving average signals and support at $225. Fundamentally, CRL has beaten EPS estimates for three consecutive quarters but reported a net loss of $144.34 million in 2025, with negative profit margins. Recent news highlights collaborations in AI and NGS services, supporting growth prospects.
Outlook remains mixed: analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 72% buy ratings and a high target of $260, but profitability challenges and high P/E of 684.85 pose risks. Cash flow stability and strategic partnerships offer upside, while margin pressures and debt levels require monitoring for sustained recovery.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Brown-Forman is the largest U.S.-domiciled producer of distilled spirits. The firm reports only a single operating segment, and whiskey represents its primary business driver, generating roughly three-quarters of sales, undergirded by the Jack Daniel's brand as well as bourbons such as Woodford Reserve and Old Forrester. Notable nonwhiskey offerings include tequilas such as el Jimador and Herradura. The firm operates globally, with products sold in more than 170 countries, and adapts its route-to-consumer model depending on regulation as well as the prevailing competitive dynamics in a given market. For example, it sells through distributors in the U.S. but operates its own logistics apparatus in many other countries. The company remains under the control of the Brown family.
Read more on BF.B →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 →