Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $285.69 (market cap $13.46B), while Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF trades at $88.89. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | VUG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.46B | — |
Sector | Health | Sector/Thematic |
52-Week High | $282.00 | $90.29 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $70.00 |
Enterprise Value | $16.30B | — |
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.
VUG trades at $88.94, down 0.27% on the day, with a bullish technical signal driven by moving averages. The ETF shows strong institutional accumulation, with multiple firms increasing holdings by over 500% in Q2 2026. RSI levels above 70 indicate potential overbought conditions, while support sits near $88 and resistance at $90.
The outlook remains positive given institutional confidence and growth ETF appeal, but high RSI suggests near-term consolidation risk. Investors face volatility from market sentiment shifts, though long-term growth exposure aligns with historical outperformance versus the S&P 500.
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 →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 →