Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Illinois Tool Works Inc. — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $228.43 (market cap $11.14B), while Illinois Tool Works Inc. trades at $272 (market cap $78.33B). The key difference: Illinois Tool Works Inc. is far larger — about 7× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and Illinois Tool Works Inc. pays a 2.37% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | ITW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.14B | $78.33B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $233.60 | $299.60 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $241.07 |
Enterprise Value | $14.00B | $86.66B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.37% |
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.
Illinois Tool Works (ITW) trades at $271.50, up 1.0% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $288.25. The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, including Q1 2026 EPS of $2.66 versus $2.57 expected, and maintains strong profitability with a net income margin of 19.32% and ROE of 96.88%. Recent news highlights segment strength and a declared quarterly dividend of $1.61.
The outlook for ITW is positive, supported by earnings momentum and operational efficiency, though risks include construction sector weakness and currency headwinds. The stock offers a balanced opportunity with solid fundamentals and a dividend, but investors should weigh high valuation multiples against growth prospects.
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 →Illinois Tool Works is a diversified global manufacturer that produces specialized industrial equipment, consumables, and related services. The firm operates 87 global divisions through seven distinct operating segments: automotive OEM, construction products, food equipment, specialty products, test/measurement and electronics, polymers and fluids, and welding. About half of its revenue comes from its operations in North America, with the remainder originating from international markets. ITW takes a bottom-up and decentralized approach to portfolio management, with the exception that each segment must apply its 80/20 operating process modeled on the Pareto principle.
Read more on ITW →