Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Nasdaq100 ETF — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $287.43 (market cap $13.46B), while Nasdaq100 ETF trades at $724.15. The key difference: Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Nasdaq100 ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | QQQ | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | — |
Sector | Health | — |
52-Week High | $284.37 | $746.16 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $558.34 |
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.
QQQ trades at $723.65, up 0.39% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a neutral stance from oscillators. The ETF's momentum is supported by positive market breadth and tech earnings beats, though RSI levels suggest some near-term overbought conditions. A dividend of $0.81 per share is scheduled for July 2026.
Outlook remains positive given strong tech sector performance and institutional inflows, but risks include high valuation sensitivity and market volatility. Analyst sentiment is split evenly between buy and sell recommendations, reflecting uncertainty over sustained growth versus potential pullbacks.
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 →The ETF is designed to track the performance of the securities and the stocks in the NASDAQ-100 Index. To maintain the composition and weightings, the advisor adjusts the ETF from time to time to conform to periodic changes in the index target.
Read more on QQQ →