Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Nucor Corporation — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $287.3 (market cap $13.46B), while Nucor Corporation trades at $270.61 (market cap $61.93B). The key difference: Nucor Corporation is far larger — about 4.6× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and Nucor Corporation pays a 0.82% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | NUE | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | $61.93B |
Sector | Health | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $274.74 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $131.78 |
Enterprise Value | $16.30B | $66.34B |
Dividend Yield | — | 0.82% |
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.
Nucor (NUE) trades at $269.50, down 1.86% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings with EPS of $4.84 beating estimates of $4.46, driven by record steel mill shipments and higher prices. Revenue trends show recovery from 2024 lows, with 2026 projections indicating $36.1B revenue and improved margins. Analyst consensus remains positive with 59% buy ratings and a $279.63 price target, representing 3.8% upside potential.
Nucor presents a compelling investment case with earnings momentum, favorable analyst sentiment, and technical strength. Key opportunities include continued demand recovery and operational efficiency gains. However, risks include cyclical steel industry exposure, tariff policy uncertainties, and declining operating cash flow trends from 2022 peaks. The stock offers moderate upside to consensus targets but faces macroeconomic headwinds affecting industrial demand.
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 →Nucor Corp manufactures steel and steel products. The company also produces direct reduced iron for use in its steel mills. The operations include international trading and sales companies that buy and sell steel and steel products manufactured by the company and others. The operating business segments are: steel mills, steel products and raw materials, the steel mills segment derives maximum revenue.
Read more on NUE →