Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Unilever plc — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $282.01 (market cap $13.22B), while Unilever plc trades at $61.88 (market cap $134.76B). The key difference: Unilever plc is far larger — about 10.2× Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc's market cap, and Unilever plc pays a 3.63% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | UL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.22B | $134.76B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $74.59 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $55.05 |
Enterprise Value | $16.06B | $160.58B |
Dividend Yield | — | 3.63% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) trades at $267.49, up 0.75% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but overbought RSI readings. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates with EPS of $3.02 versus $2.77 expected, and raised full-year guidance. Despite negative net income margins and high valuation multiples, analyst sentiment remains overwhelmingly positive with 72% buy ratings.
CRL shows operational strength with consistent earnings beats and improved demand, yet faces risks from high debt and profitability challenges. The consensus price target of $277.29 suggests modest upside, but investors must weigh growth prospects against valuation concerns and macroeconomic pressures on biotech spending.
Unilever (UL) trades at $62.96, down 1.1% over 24 hours, with technical indicators showing a bullish trend and strong support at $62. The company reported $50.5B revenue in 2025 with a net income margin of 18.75%, though recent quarters saw earnings misses. Positive sentiment is driven by a potential merger with McCormick and strong Q2 2026 volume growth, while analyst consensus is mixed with 24% buy ratings.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic due to merger synergies and margin expansion potential, but risks include integration challenges and competitive pressures. Cash flow volatility and debt levels warrant monitoring. The stock presents a value opportunity if execution improves, but near-term volatility may persist amid macroeconomic uncertainties.
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 →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 →