Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Moderna, Inc. — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $288.87 (market cap $13.46B), while Moderna, Inc. trades at $63.59 (market cap $24.18B). The key difference: Moderna, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Moderna, Inc. nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | MRNA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | $24.18B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $81.80 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $22.36 |
Enterprise Value | $16.30B | $20.33B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) trades at $284.37, up 2.66% today and near its 52-week high, reflecting strong bullish momentum. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, including a Q2 2026 EPS of $3.02 versus $2.77 expected, and the company raised its full-year guidance. Despite negative net income margins, operating cash flow remains robust at $738 million in 2025. Analyst sentiment is overwhelmingly positive with 26 buy ratings and a consensus price target of $277.29.
The outlook is supported by improving biotech demand and cost controls, but high valuation multiples and recent insider selling pose risks. Earnings growth and margin expansion are key catalysts, though profitability challenges and macroeconomic sensitivity could pressure the stock. Investors should weigh strong technicals and analyst support against fundamental weaknesses and execution risks.
Moderna (MRNA) trades at $63.70, up 6.5% recently, with a bullish technical signal and strong moving average support. Despite negative net income margins, the company beat Q2 2026 EPS estimates and secured FDA approval for its mRNA flu vaccine, mFLUSIVA, signaling diversification beyond COVID-19. Revenue has declined from pandemic peaks but is projected to stabilize around $2.2B in 2026.
The outlook is mixed: near-term catalysts from new vaccine approvals and pipeline progress offer upside, but persistent losses and high valuation multiples pose risks. Analyst consensus is cautious with a hold-heavy rating, reflecting uncertainty over profitability timelines amid ongoing R&D investments.
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 →Moderna, Inc. operates as a clinical stage biotechnology company. The Company focuses on the discovery and development of messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines. Moderna develops mRNA medicines for infectious, immuno-oncology, and cardiovascular diseases.
Read more on MRNA →