Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Kraft Heinz Co — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $228.24 (market cap $11.14B), while Kraft Heinz Co trades at $25.47 (market cap $29.74B). The key difference: Kraft Heinz Co is far larger — about 2.7× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and Kraft Heinz Co pays a 6.38% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | KHC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.14B | $29.74B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $233.60 | $28.94 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $21.21 |
Enterprise Value | $14.00B | $46.78B |
Dividend Yield | — | 6.38% |
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.
Kraft Heinz (KHC) trades at $25.23, up 1.53% with a bullish technical trend and strong recent earnings beats. The stock shows attractive valuation metrics with a P/E of 13.04 and P/B of 0.71, though profitability remains challenged with negative net income margins. Recent corporate restructuring aims to accelerate growth, while a 6.4% dividend yield provides income support. Cash flow trends have improved significantly from 2022's negative $2.4B to 2025's positive $1.46B.
The outlook remains cautious despite technical strength. While undervaluation and dividend yield offer appeal, persistent negative profitability and high debt levels pose significant risks. Analyst consensus is predominantly Hold with a $23.50 price target below current levels, suggesting limited near-term upside potential amid execution challenges.
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 →In July 2015, Kraft merged with Heinz to create the third-largest food and beverage manufacturer in North America behind PepsiCo and Nestle and the fifth-largest player in the world. Beyond its namesake brands, the combined firm's portfolio includes Oscar Mayer, Velveeta, and Philadelphia. Outside North America, the firm's global reach includes a distribution network in Europe and emerging markets that drive around one fifth of its consolidated sales base, as its products are sold in more than 190 countries and territories.
Read more on KHC →