Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.

New York Stock Exchange
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Bullish +65

Charles River Labs stock trades near record levels on solid earnings outlook

AI-generated analysis

📈 CRL shares trade at $277.71, supported by FY 2026 EPS guidance of $11.15 to $11.45 per share.

🎯 Analyst consensus estimates FY 2026 EPS at roughly $11.33, aligning closely with management's outlook.

📊 Evercore reissues an outperform rating with a price target of $320.00, implying ~15.2% upside.

🏦 Institutional ownership is high at 98.91%, indicating strong interest from hedge funds and asset managers.

💰 Insiders sold $42.6 million worth of shares over the last ninety days, reflecting profit-taking behavior.

📉 The stock trades about $3.90 above the average analyst price target of $273.81 reported by MarketBeat.

🧮 Current valuation implies a forward P/E multiple near 24.6 based on the midpoint of FY 2026 guidance.

Bullish Signals
  • Charles River Laboratories issued FY 2026 EPS guidance between $11.15 and $11.45, signaling strong management confidence in stable earnings delivery.
  • Evercore reissued an outperform rating with a price target of $320.00, implying approximately 15.2% upside from the recent opening price of $277.71.
  • The narrow spread in guidance range indicates high confidence in the company's ability to meet market expectations for fiscal 2026.
Risk Factors
  • Insiders sold $42.6 million worth of shares over the last ninety days, which may reflect profit-taking or portfolio rebalancing at elevated price levels.
  • The average analyst price target of $273.81 sits slightly below the current trading price of $277.71, suggesting some analysts have already priced in recent strong performance.
Full Analysis
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) shares are trading near record levels at $277.71 on the NYSE as of September 21, 2026, driven by a solid earnings outlook and strong investor confidence. The company has issued fiscal year 2026 guidance for earnings per share ranging between $11.15 and $11.45, which aligns closely with analyst consensus estimates of approximately $11.33 EPS. The narrow spread in the company's guidance range signals high management confidence in delivering stable earnings, framing a tight corridor for potential results that supports current valuation levels. Analyst coverage remains supportive, with Evercore reissuing an outperform rating and setting a price target of $320.00, implying roughly 15.2% upside from recent opening levels. Institutional ownership stands at approximately 98.91%, though insider selling activity totaling over $42 million in the last ninety days suggests some profit-taking or portfolio rebalancing at strong price levels. The stock currently trades slightly above the average analyst price target of $273.81, implying a forward P/E multiple near 24.6 based on the guidance midpoint.