Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Moderna, Inc. — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $229.23 (market cap $11.14B), while Moderna, Inc. trades at $67.91 (market cap $26.76B). The key difference: Moderna, Inc. is far larger — about 2.4× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's 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 | $11.14B | $26.76B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $233.60 | $81.80 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $22.36 |
Enterprise Value | $14.00B | $22.85B |
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.
Moderna (MRNA) trades at $67.01, down 1.85% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company continues to post net losses despite beating EPS estimates in recent quarters, with revenue declining from pandemic peaks. Recent news highlights pipeline expansion into oncology and autoimmune diseases, with an FDA decision on its mRNA flu vaccine expected by August 5, 2026.
While Moderna's pipeline diversification offers long-term growth potential, significant risks remain from persistent negative profitability and high valuation multiples. Analyst consensus is cautious with a $49 price target below current levels, suggesting limited near-term upside despite recent positive developments in vaccine approvals and strategic shifts.
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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 →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 →