Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Gilead Sciences, Inc. — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $287.43 (market cap $13.58B), while Gilead Sciences, Inc. trades at $136 (market cap $168.47B). The key difference: Gilead Sciences, Inc. is far larger — about 12.4× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and Gilead Sciences, Inc. pays a 2.41% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | GILD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.58B | $168.47B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $284.37 | $155.80 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $110.56 |
Enterprise Value | $16.41B | $191.54B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.41% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) trades at $284.37, up 2.66% today and near its 52-week high, reflecting strong bullish momentum. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, including a Q2 2026 EPS of $3.02 versus $2.77 expected, and the company raised its full-year guidance. Despite negative net income margins, operating cash flow remains robust at $738 million in 2025. Analyst sentiment is overwhelmingly positive with 26 buy ratings and a consensus price target of $277.29.
The outlook is supported by improving biotech demand and cost controls, but high valuation multiples and recent insider selling pose risks. Earnings growth and margin expansion are key catalysts, though profitability challenges and macroeconomic sensitivity could pressure the stock. Investors should weigh strong technicals and analyst support against fundamental weaknesses and execution risks.
Gilead Sciences (GILD) trades at $135.78, up 2.04% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong support at $134. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat revenue estimates despite a net loss, driven by 10% base business growth from HIV drugs like Biktarvy. The company raised its full-year sales outlook, but faces a negative net income margin of -10.64% and elevated debt levels.
The outlook is mixed: robust HIV franchise growth and a 67% analyst buy rating support upside to the $151.22 consensus target, but acquisition costs, patent cliff risks, and volatile cash flows pose challenges. Investment appeal hinges on pipeline execution offsetting margin pressure.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Gilead Sciences develops and markets therapies to treat life-threatening infectious diseases, with the core of its portfolio focused on HIV and hepatitis B and C. The acquisitions of Corus Pharma, Myogen, CV Therapeutics, Arresto Biosciences, and Calistoga have broadened this focus to include pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Gilead's acquisition of Pharmasset brought rights to hepatitis C drug Sovaldi, which is also part of combination drug Harvoni, and the Kite, Forty Seven, and Immunomedics acquisitions boost Gilead's exposure to cell therapy and noncell therapy in oncology.
Read more on GILD →