Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Humana Inc — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $288.87 (market cap $13.46B), while Humana Inc trades at $388 (market cap $44.77B). The key difference: Humana Inc is far larger — about 3.3× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and Humana Inc pays a 0.95% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | HUM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | $44.77B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $409.42 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $163.67 |
Enterprise Value | $16.30B | $52.12B |
Dividend Yield | — | 0.95% |
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.
Humana (HUM) trades at $388.96, up 0.9% with a neutral technical signal. The stock shows strong revenue growth reaching $129.7B in 2025 but faces margin compression with net income margin declining to 0.88%. Recent earnings beat expectations for three consecutive quarters, while analyst consensus targets $409.93. The company maintains solid cash flow generation and recently announced key leadership appointments to strengthen its Medicaid business.
Humana presents a mixed outlook with robust revenue expansion offset by margin pressures. Investment opportunity lies in Medicare Advantage growth and cost reduction initiatives, while risks include competitive pressures and regulatory changes in healthcare. Wall Street maintains cautious optimism with 39% buy ratings amid margin recovery challenges.
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 →Humana is one of the largest private health insurers in the U.S. with a focus on administering Medicare Advantage plans. The firm has built a niche specializing in government-sponsored programs, with nearly all its medical membership stemming from individual and group Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and the military's Tricare program. The firm is also a leader in stand-alone prescription drug plans for seniors enrolled in traditional fee-for-service Medicare. Humana offers employer-based plans primarily for small businesses along with specialty insurance offerings such as dental, vision, and life. Beyond medical insurance, the company provides other healthcare services, including primary-care services, at-home services, and pharmacy benefit management.
Read more on HUM →