Analyst Consensus ?
ConsensusBuy36 ratings
Bullish2672.2%
Neutral1027.8%
Bearish00.0%
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. · CRL · FY2026 Q2 · Calendar Q3 2026
Charles River raises guidance as demand and margins improve
The Q2 analysis supports a constructive but conditional view: improving biopharma demand, stronger book-to-bill, portfolio actions, and efficiency gains are reinforcing growth and margin prospects. The thesis is not complete, because AI monetization, funding conditions, NHP cost timing, and China competition remain important tests.
Reported Before market openNYSEHealthcare
$13.44B market cap
100quality score
Earnings scorecard
Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS
$3.02
Consensus $2.74
EPS surprise
+10.2%
Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue
$1.00B
Consensus $977.2M
Revenue surprise
+2.8%
Reported versus consensus
Market reaction
prior-close to event-session close
Stock move
+11.4%
Event window
SPY move
-0.2%
Same window
Abnormal move
+11.6%
Stock minus SPY
Volume
2.1×
Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift
+11.9%
Up to 20 sessions
CRLSPY benchmark
Ask FN2 about CRL FY2026 Q2
Transcript, numbers and history already loaded
Why did CRL rise 11.4% after beating EPS estimates in FY2026 Q2?What changed in CRL's guidance and outlook in FY2026 Q2?Give me the bull and bear case for CRL after FY2026 Q2 earnings.
Free account. Your question opens in FN2 with this report's transcript and numbers attached.
Transcript intelligence
What changed
Compared with the prior quarter, management moved from maintained to raised guidance. The latest analysis also highlights stronger DSA demand, a 20.5% operating margin, continued book-to-bill above 1.0, and additional AI, NGS, partnership, and laboratory-expansion initiatives.
Guidance delta
Management raised full-year revenue and EPS guidance, with low single-digit organic revenue growth and 8–11% EPS growth expected.
Key takeaways
- DSA net book-to-bill exceeded 1.0 for a third straight quarter, supporting the view that biopharma demand is improving.
- Operating margin reached 20.5%, with further H2 expansion expected from divestitures and lower non-human-primate costs.
- AI-enabled digital pathology, NGS, and portfolio refinement add strategic growth avenues, but their financial contribution is still developing.
Management priorities
- Execute the portfolio-refinement strategy, including potential additional M&A.
- Advance AI-enabled digital pathology and NAMs in safety-assessment workflows.
- Expand global laboratory capacity, including the planned Scotland site.
- Improve efficiency and client turnaround through digital and laboratory investments.
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Try FN2 freeEarnings History
Estimate
Beat
Miss
Match
Analyst 52W Price Targets
$286.16Current
$151Low
$285.89Average
$465High
Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Sep 22, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.
Firm-level rating actions
FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.
| Firm | Rating | Prior rating | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evercore ISI Group | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Sep 11, 2026 |
| TD Cowen | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Aug 10, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Aug 7, 2026 |
| RBC Capital | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Aug 6, 2026 |
| JP Morgan | Overweight | Neutral | Upgrade | Aug 6, 2026 |
| CLSA | Hold | Outperform | Downgrade | Jul 20, 2026 |
| Mizuho | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Jul 13, 2026 |
| Barclays | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | May 8, 2026 |
| UBS | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Feb 25, 2026 |
| Citigroup | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jan 16, 2026 |
| Baird | Outperform | Neutral | Upgrade | Nov 6, 2025 |
| William Blair | Outperform | Market Perform | Upgrade | Oct 6, 2025 |
| Jefferies | Buy | Hold | Upgrade | Sep 9, 2025 |
| Redburn Atlantic | Buy | Neutral | Upgrade | May 23, 2025 |
| Goldman Sachs | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Mar 21, 2025 |
| B of A Securities | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Dec 13, 2024 |
| Argus Research | Hold | Buy | Downgrade | Jun 28, 2024 |
| Guggenheim | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Feb 15, 2024 |
| Wells Fargo | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Sep 22, 2023 |
| Credit Suisse | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | May 12, 2023 |
| Deutsche Bank | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jul 14, 2022 |
| Keybanc | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | May 5, 2022 |
| Stephens & Co. | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Apr 7, 2022 |
| Truist Securities | Buy | Buy | Maintain | May 25, 2021 |
| SunTrust Robinson Humphrey | Buy | Buy | Maintain | May 8, 2020 |
| Wolfe Research | Outperform | Peer Perform | Upgrade | Feb 18, 2020 |
| CFRA | Strong Buy | Strong Buy | Maintain | Feb 11, 2020 |
| Bank of America | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Oct 18, 2019 |
| Raymond James | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Nov 8, 2018 |
| Argus | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Mitsubishi UFJ | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Apr 20, 2018 |
| Gabelli & Co. | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Apr 26, 2016 |
| Edward Jones | Buy | Neutral | Upgrade | May 4, 2015 |
| Cantor Fitzgerald | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Oct 1, 2013 |
| Sterne Agee | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jun 11, 2013 |
| ISI Group | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Feb 20, 2013 |
Named analyst price targets
Upside is calculated against the persisted current price $286.16. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.
| Firm | Analyst | 52W target | Price when posted | Upside | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argus Research | Analyst unavailable | $330 | $279.4 | +15.3% | Sep 17, 2026 |
| Evercore ISI | Analyst unavailable | $320 | $277.18 | +11.8% | Sep 11, 2026 |
| Piper Sandler | Analyst unavailable | $300 | $269.64 | +4.8% | Aug 10, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $264 | $267.49 | -7.7% | Aug 10, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $300 | $264.05 | +4.8% | Aug 7, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $291 | $258.92 | +1.7% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| RBC Capital | Analyst unavailable | $282 | $260.72 | -1.5% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| Barclays | Analyst unavailable | $300 | $260.72 | +4.8% | Aug 5, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $230 | $233.41 | -19.6% | Jul 13, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $260 | $223.96 | -9.1% | Jul 9, 2026 |
| BNP Paribas | Analyst unavailable | $250 | $226.79 | -12.6% | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $220 | $184.79 | -23.1% | Jun 17, 2026 |
| CLSA | Analyst unavailable | $219 | $181.34 | -23.5% | May 29, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Eric Coldwell | $213 | $175.56 | -25.6% | May 8, 2026 |
| Evercore ISI | Analyst unavailable | $220 | $176.32 | -23.1% | May 8, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $192 | $181.68 | -32.9% | May 8, 2026 |
| Barclays | Luke Sergott | $220 | $181.68 | -23.1% | May 8, 2026 |
| Barclays | Luke Sergott | $210 | $178.34 | -26.6% | Apr 14, 2026 |
| RBC Capital | Analyst unavailable | $215 | $178.34 | -24.9% | Apr 14, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $175 | $164.24 | -38.8% | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Eric Coldwell | $193 | $158.18 | -32.6% | Feb 19, 2026 |
| Barclays | Luke Sergott | $200 | $158 | -30.1% | Feb 19, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $231 | $221.69 | -19.3% | Jan 13, 2026 |
| Evercore ISI | Analyst unavailable | $260 | $225.11 | -9.1% | Jan 13, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Eric Coldwell | $224 | $219.49 | -21.7% | Jan 9, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Ann Hynes | $215 | $215.51 | -24.9% | Jan 9, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $200 | $195.98 | -30.1% | Dec 18, 2025 |
| Barclays | Analyst unavailable | $215 | $192.97 | -24.9% | Dec 15, 2025 |
| Morgan Stanley | Kallum Titchmarsh | $185 | $176.09 | -35.4% | Dec 1, 2025 |
| Argus Research | Analyst unavailable | $200 | $166.73 | -30.1% | Nov 17, 2025 |
| Mizuho Securities | Ann Hynes | $174 | $174.95 | -39.2% | Oct 17, 2025 |
| Evercore ISI | Elizabeth Anderson | $200 | $181.18 | -30.1% | Oct 3, 2025 |
| Barclays | Luke Sergott | $195 | $170.48 | -31.9% | Oct 2, 2025 |
| Jefferies | Analyst unavailable | $195 | $157.38 | -31.9% | Sep 9, 2025 |
| Barclays | Luke Sergott | $205 | $193.14 | -28.4% | Oct 15, 2024 |
| Redburn Partners | Jamie Clark | $151 | $192.97 | -47.2% | Oct 14, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | Ann Hynes | $210 | $206.44 | -26.6% | Sep 17, 2024 |
| Deutsche Bank | Justin Bowers | $240 | $200.34 | -16.1% | Aug 8, 2024 |
| Robert W. Baird | Eric Coldwell | $239 | $201.85 | -16.5% | Jul 10, 2024 |
| Barclays | Luke Sergott | $230 | $207.35 | -19.6% | Jun 28, 2024 |
| Goldman Sachs | Matthew Sykes | $290 | $216.12 | +1.3% | Jun 6, 2024 |
| Evercore ISI | Elizabeth Anderson | $265 | $230.09 | -7.4% | May 9, 2024 |
| Evercore ISI | Elizabeth Anderson | $300 | $270.95 | +4.8% | Apr 1, 2024 |
| KeyBanc | Donald Hooker | $300 | $257.51 | +4.8% | May 5, 2022 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $325 | $257.75 | +13.6% | Apr 25, 2022 |
| Jefferies | David Windley | $280 | $273.03 | -2.2% | Apr 25, 2022 |
| Jefferies | David Windley | $464 | $357.95 | +62.1% | Jan 11, 2022 |
| Argus Research | David Toung | $440 | $377.51 | +53.8% | Nov 24, 2021 |
| Cowen & Co. | Daniel Brennan | $465 | $417.45 | +62.5% | Aug 17, 2021 |
| Credit Suisse | Katie Tryhane | $385 | $416.31 | +34.5% | Aug 4, 2021 |
| J.P. Morgan | Tycho Peterson | $390 | $337.99 | +36.3% | May 28, 2021 |
| Guggenheim | Sandy Draper | $369 | $329.52 | +28.9% | May 25, 2021 |
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Start freeCompany context
Snapshot as of publicationCharles River Laboratories International, Inc. operates as a contract research organization (CRO), providing essential preclinical services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Its core business revolves around assisting clients with drug discovery, non-clinical development, and thorough safety testing, with its services extending globally across the United States, Europe, Canada, and the Asia Pacific region. The company organizes its diverse offerings into three principal segments: Research Models and Services (RMS), Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA), and Manufacturing Solutions. 1. Research Models and Services (RMS): This division is a key supplier of high-quality rodent research models, including specially bred strains of rats and mice for experimental purposes. It also offers a comprehensive array of support services to help clients effectively utilize these models in their research and for the screening of potential non-clinical drug candidates.…
Historical context
All CRL earningsHealthcare peers this season
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| COO The Cooper Companies, Inc. | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q3 2026 | +2.7% | -14.7% | CooperCompanies beats expectations as inventory reduction weighs on vision revenue |
| MDT Medtronic plc | FY2027 Q1 · Calendar Q3 2026 | +4.3% | +1.5% | Medtronic raises FY27 outlook as growth broadens across platforms |
| A Agilent Technologies, Inc. | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q3 2026 | +8.7% | +1.7% | Agilent raises outlook after Q3 beat; Ignite drives margin gains |
Latest beats and misses
Who reports nextBeat on EPS
- FPSFY2026 Q4 · September 15, 2026+4.3% EPS+9.5% move
- TCOMFY2026 Q2 · September 15, 2026+22.3% EPS+3.0% move
- KRFY2026 Q2 · September 11, 2026+2.8% EPS+2.7% move
- ADBEFY2026 Q3 · September 10, 2026+0.8% EPS+1.4% move
- ORCLFY2027 Q1 · September 10, 2026+10.3% EPS-1.7% move
- CASYFY2027 Q1 · September 8, 2026+8.7% EPS-14.2% move
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Sources
- Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-08-05T20:08:29.789103+00:00
- FN2 earnings calendar · 2026-09-10T01:23:13.706414+00:00
- Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-09-22T18:10:53.693230+00:00
- Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-09-22T18:10:53.690580+00:00
Methodology
Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.
Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.
Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.
By FN2 Research · Updated · As of 2026-09-22. For educational purposes only; not investment advice.