Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Microchip Technology Inc. — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $287.51 (market cap $13.46B), while Microchip Technology Inc. trades at $80.6 (market cap $43.99B). The key difference: Microchip Technology Inc. is far larger — about 3.3× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and Microchip Technology Inc. pays a 2.25% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | MCHP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | $43.99B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $102.97 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $49.02 |
Enterprise Value | $16.30B | $49.12B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.25% |
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.
Microchip Technology (MCHP) trades at $80.45, down 1.15% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst consensus. Recent earnings beats, including Q1 2026 EPS of $0.57 versus $0.505 expected (Zacks Investment Research, 2026-08-07), highlight robust demand recovery and data center growth. The company maintains solid profitability with a 60.19% gross margin but faces high valuation multiples like a P/E of 119.15.
The outlook is positive driven by AI and data center expansion, with a consensus price target of $104.00 (MarketBeat, 2026-08-07). Risks include elevated debt levels and sensitivity to semiconductor cycles. Upside potential exists if execution continues to exceed expectations amid broadening demand.
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 →Microchip became an independent company in 1989 when it was spun off from General Instrument. More than half of revenue comes from MCUs, which are used in a wide array of electronic devices from remote controls to garage door openers to power windows in autos. The company's strength lies in lower-end 8-bit MCUs that are suitable for a wider range of less technologically advanced devices, but the firm has expanded its presence in higher-end MCUs and analog chips as well.
Read more on MCHP →