Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs H2O America — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $226.03 (market cap $11.14B), while H2O America trades at $63.3 (market cap $2.63B). The key difference: Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is far larger — about 4.2× H2O America's market cap, and H2O America pays a 2.8% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | HTO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.14B | $2.63B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $233.60 | $62.94 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $44.44 |
Enterprise Value | $14.00B | $4.35B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.8% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
HTO trades at $62.47, up 1.63% with strong technical momentum and bullish analyst sentiment. The stock shows solid fundamentals with 12.87% net margins and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Recent news highlights institutional buying and upcoming Q2 2026 earnings on July 27, 2026, while the company maintains a $0.44 dividend payout.
Outlook remains positive with 80% analyst buy ratings and a $62 consensus target. Key risks include execution of the $2.7B capex plan and regulatory exposure as a utility. The stock offers stable growth potential through rate base expansion and strategic acquisitions like Quadvest.
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 →H2O America is a utility company that provides essential water and wastewater services, primarily in the United States. The company operates a network of regulated water and wastewater systems, focusing on responsible resource management and high-quality service delivery. HTO aims to expand its operational footprint through acquisitions and internal growth, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Read more on HTO →