Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $227.54 (market cap $11.14B), while Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF trades at $87.29. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | VUG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.14B | — |
Sector | Health | Sector/Thematic |
52-Week High | $233.60 | $90.29 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $70.00 |
Enterprise Value | $14.00B | — |
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.
VUG trades at $86.15, down 1.43% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and bullish moving averages. Recent news highlights its low 0.03% expense ratio and 411% total return over the past decade. The ETF is heavily concentrated in technology stocks (70% of assets) and executed a 1:6 stock split in April 2026.
Outlook remains positive for long-term growth investors given strong historical performance and cost efficiency, though high tech exposure and market volatility present risks. The fund's ability to adapt to economic growth trends supports its appeal, but investors should weigh concentration risk against diversification benefits.
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 →VUG is an index-based ETF that tracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index, providing concentrated exposure to the largest and fastest-growing companies in the United States. It focuses on stocks with high growth potential across tech, communication, and consumer sectors, serving as a low-cost, high-conviction core holding for long-term capital appreciation.
Read more on VUG →