Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Johnson Controls International PLC — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $288.87 (market cap $13.46B), while Johnson Controls International PLC trades at $155.05 (market cap $93.74B). The key difference: Johnson Controls International PLC is far larger — about 7× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and Johnson Controls International PLC pays a 1.03% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | JCI | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | $93.74B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $154.76 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $103.52 |
Enterprise Value | $16.30B | $102.58B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.03% |
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.
JCI trades at $153.59, up 1.92% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook and strong institutional support. Recent Q3 2026 earnings beat expectations with $1.42 EPS versus $1.30 expected, driven by double-digit organic growth in data-center thermal systems. The company raised FY26 guidance, reflecting robust demand and operational momentum. Valuation ratios remain elevated, with a P/E of 43.59 and P/S of 3.82, indicating premium pricing relative to historical norms.
The outlook is positive, supported by earnings momentum and AI-driven demand for cooling solutions, but risks include high valuation sensitivity and debt levels. Analyst consensus price target is $168.25, suggesting ~9.5% upside, with no sell ratings among 45 analysts. Investors should monitor execution on guidance and macroeconomic impacts on construction and HVAC markets.
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 →Johnson Controls manufactures, installs, and services HVAC systems, building management systems and controls, industrial refrigeration systems, and fire and security solutions. Commercial HVAC accounts for about 40% of sales, fire and security also represents 40% of sales, and residential HVAC, industrial refrigeration, and other solutions account for the remaining 20% of revenue. In fiscal 2021, Johnson Controls generated over $23.5 billion in revenue.
Read more on JCI →