Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Matson Inc — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $287.49 (market cap $13.46B), while Matson Inc trades at $214.3 (market cap $6.11B). The key difference: Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is far larger — about 2.2× Matson Inc's market cap, and Matson Inc pays a 0.74% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | MATX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | $6.11B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $223.55 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $88.05 |
Enterprise Value | $16.30B | $6.71B |
Dividend Yield | — | 0.74% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) trades at $286.36, up 3.38% today and near its 52-week high of $277.07. The stock shows strong technical momentum with bullish moving averages and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent Q2 2026 results exceeded expectations with EPS of $3.02 versus $2.77 estimate, driving positive sentiment. However, valuation metrics remain elevated with P/E at 684.85 and negative profitability margins.
While technical indicators and analyst consensus (72% buy ratings) support near-term upside, fundamental concerns persist with negative net income margin (-5.96%) and ROE (-7.7%). The stock faces execution risks in maintaining earnings momentum amid competitive pressures. Current price exceeds consensus target of $277.29, suggesting limited near-term upside potential despite positive business inflection.
Matson (MATX) trades at $212.05, up 1.61% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS of $4.27 surpassing expectations. Revenue and net income are trending upward, supported by a robust China service and resilient consumer demand. The company's valuation ratios, including a P/E of 13.79 and EV/EBITDA of 7.78, appear reasonable relative to earnings growth.
The outlook for MATX is positive, driven by earnings momentum and a favorable analyst consensus with a $265 price target implying significant upside. Key opportunities include continued trade flow strength and dividend growth, while risks involve Trans-Pacific trade volatility and broader economic pressures. The stock presents a compelling case for growth-oriented investors seeking exposure to niche shipping services.
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 →Matson, Inc. is an American shipping and logistics company primarily operating in the Pacific. The company provides ocean transportation services, including container, automobile, and general cargo, particularly between the U.S. West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam. Matson also offers logistics services, including warehousing, less-than-container load (LCL) consolidation, and supply chain management, making it a critical service provider for businesses operating across the Pacific region.
Read more on MATX →