Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs McDonald's Corp — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $228.24 (market cap $11.14B), while McDonald's Corp trades at $268.17 (market cap $191.08B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is far larger — about 17.2× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and McDonald's Corp pays a 2.77% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | MCD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.14B | $191.08B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $233.60 | $341.06 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $264.54 |
Enterprise Value | $14.00B | $244.79B |
Volume | — | 2,230,036 |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.77% |
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.
McDonald's (MCD) trades at $272.61, down 0.72% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported revenue of $26.89 billion in 2025, with a net income margin of 31.62%, and recently unveiled its 'McDonald's NEXT' growth strategy focusing on automation and menu innovation. Analyst consensus is a Buy with a $325.50 price target, indicating significant upside potential.
The outlook for MCD is positive due to strong fundamentals, consistent profitability, and strategic initiatives to drive growth. Key risks include inflationary pressures on franchisee margins and competitive threats. The stock presents a long-term opportunity supported by analyst optimism and a resilient business model, though near-term volatility may persist.
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 →McDonald's Corporation franchises and operates fast-food restaurants in the global restaurant industry. The Company's restaurants serves a variety of value-priced menu products in countries around the world.
Read more on MCD →