Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Five Below Inc — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $281.43 (market cap $13.22B), while Five Below Inc trades at $234.71 (market cap $13.01B). The key difference: Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc and Five Below Inc are close in size by market cap, and Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Five Below Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | FIVE | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.22B | $13.01B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $277.00 | $247.71 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $131.94 |
Enterprise Value | $16.06B | $13.90B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) trades at $267.49, up 0.75% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but overbought RSI readings. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates with EPS of $3.02 versus $2.77 expected, and raised full-year guidance. Despite negative net income margins and high valuation multiples, analyst sentiment remains overwhelmingly positive with 72% buy ratings.
CRL shows operational strength with consistent earnings beats and improved demand, yet faces risks from high debt and profitability challenges. The consensus price target of $277.29 suggests modest upside, but investors must weigh growth prospects against valuation concerns and macroeconomic pressures on biotech spending.
Five Below (FIVE) is trading at $244.37, up 5.73% with strong bullish momentum. The stock shows consistent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.22 exceeding expectations of $1.77. Technical indicators signal bullish sentiment, supported by positive moving averages. Revenue growth remains solid, projected to reach $5.1B in 2026, though net margins have compressed from 9.78% in 2022 to 6.54% in 2025. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 62% buy ratings and a $252.36 price target.
FIVE presents a compelling growth story with expanding revenue and strong institutional support. However, elevated valuation multiples (P/E 30.79) and compressed profit margins pose risks. The stock's proximity to 52-week highs suggests limited near-term upside without significant catalysts. Execution on store expansion and margin improvement will be critical for sustained outperformance.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Five Below is a value-oriented retailer that operated 1,190 stores in the United States as of the end of fiscal 2021. Catering to teen and preteen consumers, stores feature a wide variety of merchandise, the vast majority of which is priced below $6. The assortment focuses on discretionary items in several categories, particularly leisure (such as sporting goods, toys, and electronics
Read more on FIVE →