Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Unilever plc — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $232.4 (market cap $11.14B), while Unilever plc trades at $60.86 (market cap $129.73B). The key difference: Unilever plc is far larger — about 11.6× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and Unilever plc pays a 3.75% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | UL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.14B | $129.73B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $233.60 | $74.59 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $55.05 |
Enterprise Value | $14.00B | $155.17B |
Dividend Yield | — | 3.75% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) trades at $229.75, down 1.57% on the day, near its consensus price target of $229.80. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with strong moving average signals and support at $225. Fundamentally, CRL has beaten EPS estimates for three consecutive quarters but reported a net loss of $144.34 million in 2025, with negative profit margins. Recent news highlights collaborations in AI and NGS services, supporting growth prospects.
Outlook remains mixed: analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 72% buy ratings and a high target of $260, but profitability challenges and high P/E of 684.85 pose risks. Cash flow stability and strategic partnerships offer upside, while margin pressures and debt levels require monitoring for sustained recovery.
Unilever (UL) trades at $61.48, down 0.39% on the day, with a bullish technical signal driven by moving averages. The company reported $60.76B in 2024 revenue but missed Q1 and Q2 2025 EPS estimates. Recent news highlights strategic moves including a potential bid for Thorne and a $270M innovation center investment. The stock shows strong profitability with a 18.75% net margin and 53.32% ROE, though valuation ratios like P/E of 20.84 suggest fair pricing amid mixed analyst sentiment.
Outlook remains cautious with near-term earnings misses offset by long-term growth initiatives. Investment appeal hinges on successful integration of acquisitions and margin improvement. Key risks include competitive pressures and macroeconomic volatility. Analysts are divided with 24% buy ratings, reflecting balanced risk-reward at current levels.
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 →Unilever is a diversified personal product (42% of 2021 sales by value), home care (20%), and packaged food (38%) company. Its brands include Knorr soups and sauces, Hellmann's mayonnaise, Lipton teas, Axe and Dove skin products, and the TRESemme haircare brand. The firm has been acquisitive in recent years
Read more on UL →