Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Idx Fd — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $288.87 (market cap $13.46B), while First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Idx Fd trades at $53.21. The key difference: Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Idx Fd nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | QCLN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | — |
Sector | Health | Sector/Thematic |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $68.47 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $36.11 |
Enterprise Value | $16.30B | — |
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.
QCLN trades at $53.09, up 2.0% with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The ETF benefits from clean energy sector momentum driven by data center power demand and global energy security concerns. Recent news highlights clean energy ETF gains amid volatile oil markets, though regulatory challenges and supply chain pressures present headwinds. Key support sits at $51-52 with resistance at $53-55.
The outlook remains positive given structural energy transition trends, but investors face regulatory uncertainty from U.S. permit delays and China trade tensions. Wall Street sentiment leans bullish on clean energy themes, though valuation metrics are unavailable for this ETF. Risks include geopolitical supply chain disruptions and policy shifts affecting renewable project economics.
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 →QCLN invests in U.S.-listed companies engaged in clean energy technologies. It focuses on solar power, wind, electric vehicles, and energy storage, with major holdings in firms like Tesla, ON Semiconductor, and Rivian.
Read more on QCLN →