Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc vs Wendys Co — how do they compare? Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc trades at $229.23 (market cap $11.14B), while Wendys Co trades at $7.38 (market cap $1.41B). The key difference: Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc is far larger — about 7.9× Wendys Co's market cap, and Wendys Co pays a 7.55% dividend while Charles River Laboratories Intl. Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CRL | WEN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.14B | $1.41B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $233.60 | $11.33 |
52-Week Low | $145.57 | $6.17 |
Enterprise Value | $14.00B | $5.23B |
Dividend Yield | — | 7.55% |
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.
Wendy's (WEN) trades at $7.50, down 0.66% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and recent meme-driven momentum. The stock shows strong valuation metrics with a P/E of 9.74 and P/S of 0.65, but faces declining net income margins, falling to 7.58% in 2025. Recent earnings beats and a 7.1% dividend yield attract income investors, while Project Fresh initiatives aim to counter traffic and cost pressures.
Outlook remains mixed: low valuation and retail enthusiasm offer upside, but margin compression and high debt pose risks. Analyst consensus is cautious with a $7.96 price target, suggesting limited near-term growth. Key catalysts include Q2 2026 results on August 7 and international expansion progress, though competitive and inflationary headwinds persist.
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 →The Wendy's Company is the second-largest burger quick-service restaurant, or QSR, chain in the United States by systemwide sales, with $11.1 billion in 2021, narrowly edging Burger King ($10.3 billion) and clocking in well behind wide-moat McDonald's ($45.7 billion). After divestitures of Tim Hortons (2006) and Arby's (2011), the firm manages just the burger banner, generating sales across a footprint that spans almost 7,000 total units in 30 countries. Wendy's generates revenue from the sale of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, and fries throughout its company-owned footprint, through franchise royalty and marketing fund payments remitted by its franchisees, which account for 94% of stores, and through franchise flipping and advisory fees.
Read more on WEN →