Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs SYSCO Corporation — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $288.87 (market cap $13.46B), while SYSCO Corporation trades at $84.5 (market cap $40.32B). The key difference: SYSCO Corporation is far larger — about 3× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and SYSCO Corporation pays a 2.61% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | SYY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | $40.32B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $91.16 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $69.30 |
Enterprise Value | $16.30B | $53.50B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.61% |
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.
Sysco (SYY) trades at $84.73, up 1.03% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $88.25. The company reported strong Q4 2026 earnings, beating EPS estimates with $1.53 versus $1.51 expected, driven by U.S. foodservice volume growth and cost efficiencies. Revenue reached $81.37 billion in 2025, with net income of $1.83 billion, though profit margins remain thin at 2.08%. Recent news highlights CEO discussions on CNBC and operational initiatives, including AI-driven efficiencies.
The outlook for SYY is positive, supported by earnings beats, steady cash flow, and analyst optimism, but risks include competitive pressures, supply chain disruptions, and macroeconomic uncertainty. Upside potential exists if the company maintains volume growth and margin improvements, but investors should monitor debt levels and food safety issues highlighted in recent reports.
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 →Sysco is the largest U.S. food-service distributor, boasting 17% market share of the highly fragmented food-service distribution industry. Sysco distributes over 400,000 food and nonfood products to restaurants (63% of revenue), healthcare facilities (8%), education and government buildings (8%), travel and leisure (7%), and other locations (14%) where individuals consume away-from-home meals. In fiscal 2022, 82% of the firm's revenue was U.S.-based, with 7% from Canada, 4% from the U.K., 2% from France, and 4% other.
Read more on SYY →