Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Outlook for CRL Earnings

Key Points

• Zacks Research raised its Q4 2026 EPS estimate for Charles River Laboratories to $3.15 from $3.13 and maintained a “Strong Buy” rating. The consensus full-year earnings estimate is $11.36 per share.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $300.11; Jefferies and Robert W. Baird recently raised their targets to $340 and $334, respectively.
• Charles River recently beat quarterly earnings expectations with $3.02 EPS versus $2.77 expected, although revenue fell 2.7% year over year and the stock’s elevated valuation may temper enthusiasm.

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL - Free Report) - Stock analysts at Zacks Research boosted their Q4 2026 earnings per share estimates for Charles River Laboratories International in a note issued to investors on Monday, October 5th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the medical research company will earn $3.15 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $3.13. Zacks Research has a "Strong-Buy" rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Charles River Laboratories International's current full-year earnings is $11.36 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Charles River Laboratories International's Q1 2027 earnings at $2.57 EPS and Q4 2027 earnings at $3.42 EPS.

A number of other analysts have also recently commented on CRL. Citigroup reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Charles River Laboratories International in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of Charles River Laboratories International in a report on Monday, September 28th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $250.00 price target on shares of Charles River Laboratories International in a research report on Wednesday, July 1st. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on Charles River Laboratories International from $305.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, September 28th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their target price on shares of Charles River Laboratories International from $291.00 to $334.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, September 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $300.11.

Charles River Laboratories International Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CRL opened at $305.95 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.35. The business's fifty day moving average price is $280.49 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $220.15. The stock has a market cap of $14.61 billion, a PE ratio of -63.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.40. Charles River Laboratories International has a one year low of $146.20 and a one year high of $333.30.

Charles River Laboratories International (NYSE:CRL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The medical research company reported $3.02 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.77 by $0.25. Charles River Laboratories International had a negative net margin of 5.96% and a positive return on equity of 15.75%. The business had revenue of $1 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $980.53 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.12 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. Charles River Laboratories International has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.150-11.450 EPS.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Charles River Laboratories International

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CRL. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Charles River Laboratories International by 14.6% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,652,484 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $285,001,000 after buying an additional 210,260 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in shares of Charles River Laboratories International by 5.0% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,135,027 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $195,792,000 after acquiring an additional 54,500 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its stake in shares of Charles River Laboratories International by 8.7% during the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 836,240 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $166,813,000 after purchasing an additional 66,803 shares in the last quarter. Amundi grew its position in Charles River Laboratories International by 175.2% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 773,315 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $133,397,000 after acquiring an additional 492,301 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC boosted its holdings in Charles River Laboratories International by 23.0% in the fourth quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 511,618 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $102,058,000 after purchasing an additional 95,619 shares in the last quarter. 98.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Charles River Laboratories International

In other news, EVP Shannon Parisotto sold 5,046 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.00, for a total transaction of $1,327,098.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 4,807 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,264,241. This represents a 51.21% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Birgit Girshick sold 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $279.90, for a total value of $1,819,350.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 36,013 shares in the company, valued at $10,080,038.70. This represents a 15.29% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders sold 90,990 shares of company stock valued at $25,731,388. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Key Charles River Laboratories International News

Here are the key news stories impacting Charles River Laboratories International this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised earnings forecasts: Zacks Research increased its FY2026 EPS estimate to $11.17 from $11.15, FY2027 to $12.54 from $12.49, and FY2028 to $13.92 from $13.82. It also raised several quarterly estimates by $0.01-$0.02 and maintained a “Strong-Buy” rating, signaling improving expectations for Charles River’s earnings outlook. Zacks Research earnings estimates
• Positive Sentiment: UBS upgraded the stock: The brokerage reportedly raised Charles River Laboratories to “Strong Buy,” potentially adding institutional support and reinforcing the bullish analyst view. UBS upgrades Charles River Laboratories to Strong Buy
• Positive Sentiment: Digital laboratory partnership announced: Charles River and Autolomous launched Apollo Orchestrate within Charles River’s Apollo platform, aiming to improve laboratory execution and workflow automation. The initiative could strengthen the company’s technology offering and support longer-term growth. Charles River and Autolomous launch Apollo Orchestrate
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent rally may be prompting profit-taking: CRL recently gained 5.6% during a broad market rally and reached a new 52-week high. That momentum is supportive, but investors may be locking in gains, contributing to near-term weakness. Charles River Laboratories gains in broad rally
• Negative Sentiment: Fundamental concerns remain: The company’s latest reported revenue declined 2.7% year over year, while its valuation remains elevated after the sharp advance. Those factors may be limiting enthusiasm despite the favorable analyst revisions.

Charles River Laboratories International Company Profile

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc is a contract research organization that provides products and services to support pharmaceutical, biotechnology and academic research. The company helps customers discover, develop and manufacture new medicines, vaccines and other healthcare products.

Its offerings include research models and related services, preclinical drug discovery, pharmacology, toxicology, bioanalysis and safety assessment. Charles River also provides laboratory and manufacturing solutions for biologics, cell and gene therapies, microbial testing and other specialized life sciences applications.

Founded in 1947, Charles River Laboratories serves customers worldwide through operations across North America, Europe and Asia.

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