Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Philip Morris International Inc. — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $284.96 (market cap $13.46B), while Philip Morris International Inc. trades at $186.06 (market cap $290.24B). The key difference: Philip Morris International Inc. is far larger — about 21.6× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and Philip Morris International Inc. pays a 3.16% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | PM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | $290.24B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $200.17 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $144.33 |
Enterprise Value | $16.30B | $333.36B |
Dividend Yield | — | 3.16% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) trades at $277.00, up 3.56% on the day and near its 52-week high of $277.07, reflecting strong bullish momentum. The stock exhibits positive technical signals with moving averages indicating an uptrend, though oscillators suggest overbought conditions. Fundamentally, the company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $3.02, beating estimates, and raised full-year guidance, yet faces profitability challenges with a negative net income margin of -5.96% and elevated valuation ratios like a P/E of 684.85. Recent news highlights improved biotech demand and institutional buying interest.
The outlook for CRL is cautiously optimistic, driven by earnings beats and raised guidance, but high valuation and weak profitability pose risks. Investment opportunity lies in sustained demand for drug development services, while risks include margin pressure, debt levels, and sensitivity to biotech funding cycles. The stock's proximity to all-time highs warrants monitoring for pullbacks.
Philip Morris International (PM) trades at $186.00, down 1.88% on the day, with a neutral technical signal. The stock shows strong profitability with a 25.56% net income margin and has beaten earnings estimates in two of the last three quarters. Recent news highlights a $500 million impairment charge and a lowered profit forecast due to cost pressures, though the IQOS brand was recognized as a top global brand. Analyst consensus remains bullish with a $211.17 price target.
The outlook is mixed; strong cash flow and brand strength support long-term value, but near-term headwinds from cost inflation and illicit market growth pose risks. The current valuation at a P/E of 25.57 appears fair given earnings resilience, making PM a hold for investors tolerant of sector-specific volatility.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Philip Morris International is an international tobacco company with a product portfolio primarily consisting of cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor and oral nicotine products, which are sold in markets outside the United States. The company diversified away from nicotine products with the acquisition of Vectura, a provider of innovative inhaled drug delivery solutions, in 2021.
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