Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs SkyWest Inc — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $281.43 (market cap $13.46B), while SkyWest Inc trades at $107.89 (market cap $4.19B). The key difference: Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is far larger — about 3.2× SkyWest Inc's market cap, and Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, SkyWest Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | SKYW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | $4.19B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $123.72 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $78.40 |
Enterprise Value | $16.30B | $5.97B |
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.
SkyWest (SKYW) trades at $107.57, down 0.09% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The stock shows solid fundamentals with a P/E of 10.72 and ROE of 15.34%, though Q2 2026 earnings missed estimates. Recent news highlights executive stock sales and a 7.7% post-earnings rally despite misses, supported by fleet expansion and buybacks.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $109.33 and 56% buy ratings, but risks include fuel cost pressures and mixed earnings performance. The stock offers value appeal with reasonable valuation metrics, yet investor caution is warranted due to insider selling and competitive industry dynamics.
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 →SkyWest, Inc. is a major North American regional airline company, operating primarily through its subsidiary, SkyWest Airlines. The company provides regional airline service to various large airlines under contract, including United Airlines (as United Express), Delta Air Lines (as Delta Connection), American Airlines (as American Eagle), and Alaska Airlines (as Alaska SkyWest). SKYW's primary business is providing essential flight services, connecting smaller cities to major airline hubs across the United States.
Read more on SKYW →