Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $288.87 (market cap $13.46B), while IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. trades at $571 (market cap $46.22B). The key difference: IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is far larger — about 3.4× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | IDXX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | $46.22B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $766.68 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $526.44 |
Enterprise Value | $16.30B | $47.12B |
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.
IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) trades at $570.58, down 4.23% over 24 hours, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamentals. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with Q2 2026 EPS of $4.27 surpassing the $3.94 expectation. Revenue growth remains robust, supported by a 74.21% ROE and expanding diagnostic offerings. Recent news highlights product expansion, including a dual-species cardiac test, reinforcing its market leadership in veterinary diagnostics.
The outlook is positive, driven by durable competitive advantages and international growth potential. However, elevated valuation multiples and competitive pressures pose risks. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $683.33 price target, suggesting significant upside from current levels, though investors should monitor execution on guidance and macroeconomic headwinds.
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 →Idexx Laboratories primarily develops, manufactures, and distributes diagnostic products, equipment, and services for pets and livestock. Its key product lines include single-use canine and feline test kits that veterinarians can employ in the office, benchtop chemistry and hematology analyzers for test-panel analysis on-site, reference lab services, and tests to detect and manage disease in livestock. The firm also offers vet practice management software and consulting services to animal hospitals. Idexx gets about 38% of its revenue from outside the United States.
Read more on IDXX →