Compare Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc (CRL) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $301.79 (market cap $14.23B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $145.6 (market cap $351.28B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 24.7× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays a 2.39% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc for 33 Days and Merck & Co., Inc. for 98 Days on average.
| CRL | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $14.23B | $351.28B |
Volume | 1,176,885 | 7,969,665 |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $310.77 | $156.43 |
52-Week Low | $149.93 | $82.49 |
Typical Hold Time | 33 Days | 98 Days |
Enterprise Value | $17.06B | $398.04B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.39% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) trades at $298, down 0.77% on the day, with strong analyst support showing 73% buy ratings and a $305.50 consensus price target. The stock maintains a bullish technical outlook with support at $292 and resistance at $301, while recent earnings have consistently beaten expectations despite negative net income margins. The company's 2026 Investor Day highlighted a strategic vision targeting 5-7% organic growth and $300 million in savings by 2030.
CRL presents a compelling growth story with solid operational cash flow and strategic initiatives, though investors face risks from negative profitability metrics and elevated valuation multiples. The stock's current position near analyst targets suggests limited upside without improved earnings execution, while ongoing margin pressures and debt levels require careful monitoring amid the company's transformation efforts.
Merck (MRK) trades at $142.40, down 0.28% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and key support at $140. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $2.14. Revenue grew to $65.01B in 2025, and net income reached $18.25B, though the P/E ratio is elevated at 113.9. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline.
The outlook for MRK is mixed, with solid fundamentals and analyst optimism countered by high valuation and bearish technicals. The consensus price target of $158.78 suggests upside potential, but investors face risks from competitive pressures and integration challenges from recent M&A activity. Earnings growth and pipeline developments remain key catalysts.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc
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 →About Merck & Co., Inc.
Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent hepatitis B and pediatric diseases as well as HPV and shingles. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the firm's sales are generated in the United States.
Read more on MRK →
