Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL)

Over the past six months, Charles River Laboratories' stock experienced several analyst rating changes. Citigroup upgraded its outlook for CRL from Neutral to Buy on July 9, 2025. On July 22, 2025, CRL's stock price saw a significant increase, climbing by $15.11 to reach $164.90. Redburn Atlantic upgraded its outlook for CRL from Neutral to Buy on May 23, 2025. On May 7, 2025, Charles River Laboratories reported better-than-expected first-quarter 2025 results, leading to a premarket stock increase of 17.84%. Goldman Sachs downgraded its outlook for CRL from Buy to Neutral on March 21, 2025. Citigroup upgraded its outlook for CRL from Sell to Neutral on March 4, 2025. On March 12, 2025, Charles River Laboratories announced a $350 million share repurchase program. William Blair downgraded its outlook for CRL from Outperform to Market Perform on January 22, 2025. The average one-year price target for CRL has been revised to $150. The share price as of July 16, 2025, was $154.94, representing a decline of 30.57% from July 17, 2024, when it was $223.15.

Demand for Charles River Laboratories' products and services is influenced by factors like biotech funding and seasonal trends in testing volumes. First-quarter testing volumes in the Biologics Testing business can fluctuate based on seasonal trends. Demand from early-stage biotech clients for CRADL services is expected to be constrained due to funding challenges. The company anticipates a gradual improvement in market conditions, particularly in the biotech sector. Preclinical services demand remained high in 2024, contributing to revenue growth. The company's stable recurring revenues and earnings visibility are bolstered by the increasing demand for outsourced research services.

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) is an American pharmaceutical company operating as a contract research organization (CRO) and a non-clinical global drug development partner. It specializes in preclinical and clinical laboratory services, gene therapy, and cell therapy services and supplies. CRL operates through three segments: Research Models and Services (RMS), Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA), and Manufacturing Solutions. The RMS segment provides animal models and related services. The DSA segment offers early and in vivo discovery services and safety assessment services. The Manufacturing Solutions segment provides in vitro methods for quality control testing. CRL serves a diverse client base, including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, and academic institutions, focusing on therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular diseases, COVID-19, immunology, oncology, and rare diseases.

Charles River Laboratories has a significant global presence, operating in over 150 facilities across 21 countries worldwide, including North America, Europe, and Asia. Specific countries with facilities include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The company's headquarters are located in Wilmington, Massachusetts, U.S.

Charles River Laboratories has a strong reputation for quality and scientific expertise. The company supports its employees and was recognized on Forbes' lists for company culture and as a top employer in the Drugs & Biotechnology sector in 2024. However, it has faced criticism from animal rights activists regarding its use of animals in research. Charles River is committed to the "3 Rs" of ethical animal use and has formalized its Alternative Methods Advancement Project (AMAP) initiative, investing $30 million in non-animal testing methods. In June 2025, the company partnered with TerraCycle to launch a recycling program for single-use plastic cartridges.

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) has a primarily institutional ownership structure, with institutional investors holding around 90% of shares. As of July 16, 2025, CRL has 1,118 institutional owners and shareholders who have filed 13D/G or 13F forms with the SEC, holding a total of 60,330,866 shares. Major institutional owners include Vanguard Group Inc., Wellington Management Group Llp, and BlackRock, Inc. Individual insiders, including executive officers and board members, also own a portion of the company.