Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Tidewater Inc — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $281.43 (market cap $13.46B), while Tidewater Inc trades at $91.5 (market cap $4.54B). The key difference: Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is far larger — about 3× Tidewater Inc's market cap. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | TDW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | $4.54B |
Sector | Health | Utilities |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $91.20 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $47.29 |
Enterprise Value | $16.30B | $4.58B |
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.
Tidewater (TDW) trades at $91.86, up 2.49% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and ADX indicators. The company reported Q2 2026 earnings of $0.43 per share, beating estimates (Zacks, August 3, 2026), though it missed expectations in prior quarters. Revenue for the quarter was $342.3 million, with net income margins around 18%. Analyst sentiment is mixed, with 26.92% recommending Buy and 57.7% Hold.
Outlook: Strong day rates and utilization support revenue growth, but earnings misses and Middle East operational costs pose risks. The stock's valuation (P/E 18.5) is reasonable, but investors face volatility from oil market exposure and execution challenges. Upside depends on sustained operational improvements and cost management.
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 →Tidewater is the leading global provider of offshore support vessels (OSVs) to the energy industry. With the world's largest fleet of platform supply vessels (PSVs) and anchor handling tugs (AHTS), it provides critical logistics and marine support for offshore oil, gas, and renewable energy projects. Following a period of massive strategic consolidation, Tidewater is now focused on maximizing day rates and free cash flow in a supply-constrained market, positioning itself as a primary beneficiary of the multi-year offshore upcycle.
Read more on TDW →