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 $226.38 (market cap $11.14B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $123.77 (market cap $298.31B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 26.8× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays a 2.82% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.14B | $298.31B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $233.60 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $14.00B | $341.72B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.82% |
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 $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.
Merck (MRK) trades at $123.485, down 0.44% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong institutional accumulation. The company reported solid earnings beats in recent quarters despite a Q1 2026 loss, maintains robust profitability with a 73.91% gross margin and 13.59% net margin, and is actively expanding its oncology pipeline through acquisitions like Terns Pharmaceuticals. Cash flow from operations remains healthy at $16.47B for 2025, supporting strategic investments and shareholder returns.
Outlook remains positive with a $137.30 consensus price target representing 11% upside, supported by 67.57% analyst buy ratings. Key opportunities include pipeline expansion via M&A and sustained profitability, while risks involve integration of acquisitions, patent pressures, and competitive threats in oncology. The stock's valuation at 34.02 P/E appears elevated but justified by growth prospects and market position.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →
