Stock fact sheet · data as of
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Healthcare · Medical - Diagnostics & Research · United States · Speculative / Distressed
Is CRL undervalued?
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) closed at 306.24 on 16 Oct 2026, 123% above the GLS average fair value of 137.46. 2 of the 2 models that produced a number value the shares below the current price. A gap this wide usually means the market is paying for growth or a story the trailing numbers do not show yet; the models work from filed results, not forecasts, so they are conservative by design.
The average is built from just 2 models (DCF, 10 Cap) - the rest returned nothing because an input they need (dividends, free cash flow, book value) is zero or negative - so treat it with more caution than usual.
The nightly engine files CRL under Speculative / Distressed - negative earnings or a Piotroski score of 3 or less - which caps its Wheel Score at 45 and keeps it out of the Sunday Scan.
Nine valuation models for CRL
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 78.17 | -74% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | - | - | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share; no value tonight |
| Graham Growth | - | - | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields; no value tonight |
| Lynch | - | - | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25%; no value tonight |
| GLS Growth | - | - | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year; no value tonight |
| 10 Cap | 196.76 | -36% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | - | - | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself; no value tonight |
| DDM | - | - | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend; no value tonight |
| EPV | - | - | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth; no value tonight |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -51.43 | -117% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 308.36 | +1% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. scores 5 of 9 on the Piotroski F-score: a middling result that falls one point short of the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule. Some of the nine tests on profitability, leverage and efficiency are failed, so the accounts are worth a look before selling a put on the name. On durability CRL scores 5.2/10 on the GLS Moat - a middle reading; the Scorecard on the Quote page's Financials tab shows which ten-year lines are steady and which are not.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC -2.3%, ROE -4.6%, ROA -2.0% - with debt at 0.97 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 2.5%.
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. pays no dividend, so the DDM model does not apply and a covered-call holder earns only the premium and any price gain. Revenue comes mainly from Discovery and Safety Assessment 60%, Research Models and Services 21%, Manufacturing Support 19% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 3/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales; the last recorded insider buy was on 5 Oct 2026.
| Piotroski F-score | 5 / 9 | ROIC | -2.3% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 5.2 / 10 | ROE | -4.6% |
| Debt / equity | 0.97 | ROA | -2.0% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 2.5% | Payout ratio | 0% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 3 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 45: Weak
With a Wheel Score of 45 Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. sits in the Weak band, capped at 45 because the engine files it as Speculative / Distressed. The parts - Value 0/25, Health 11/20, Moat 8/15, Premium 19/20, Stability 17/20 - show where: Value (0/25) scores lowest.
Implied volatility is 62% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out - above the 60% ceiling of the sweet spot. Premiums are large, but the Wheel Score tapers the Premium points (19 of 20) because volatility this high usually comes with a reason. Chain open interest is 11,393 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 919k shares a day on a market cap of $14.8B, with a beta of 1.40 - a high beta, so the stock tends to move more than the market and a strike can be gapped through; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 17 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 0 / 25 | -123% margin of safety | |
| Health | 11 / 20 | Piotroski 5/9 | |
| Moat | 8 / 15 | moat 5.2/10 | |
| Premium | 19 / 20 | implied volatility 62% | |
| Stability | 17 / 20 | 919k shares/day, $14.8B cap, beta 1.40 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
The next earnings report is due on 4 Nov 2026 (before the open), 19 days away; a 30-45-day put sold today would expire after it, which is worth weighing against the premium.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Medical - Diagnostics & Research
The 12 companies below are the closest to Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. by market cap within the Medical - Diagnostics & Research industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
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| GH Guardant Health, Inc. | 165.88 | - | - | 45Weak | $22.3B |
| QGEN Qiagen N.V. | 45.56 | 34.12 | -34% | 62Fair | $9.4B |
| LH Labcorp Holdings Inc. | 325.07 | 187.71 | -73% | 56Fair | $26.4B |
| DGX Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | 239.01 | 149.02 | -60% | 58Fair | $26.4B |
| MTD Mettler-Toledo International Inc. | 1,639.04 | 647.54 | -153% | 60Fair | $32.8B |
| GRAL GRAIL Inc. | 135.46 | - | - | 45Weak | $6.1B |
| RDNT RadNet, Inc. | 69.16 | 9.51 | -627% | 45Weak | $5.4B |
| ILMN Illumina, Inc. | 267.93 | 113.15 | -137% | 58Fair | $40.5B |
| WAT Waters Corporation | 436.91 | 85.55 | -411% | 57Fair | $42.9B |
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about CRL
Is CRL undervalued right now?
No: at 306.24 the stock trades 123% above the GLS average fair value of 137.46 (data as of 16 Oct 2026), well beyond what trailing earnings, cash flow and book value support.
What is the Wheel Score of CRL and what does it mean?
CRL scores 45 out of 100 (Weak). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for CRL?
137.46 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 2 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 4 Nov 2026 (before the open), 19 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does CRL have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 478 listed contracts with 11,393 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 62% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.