CRL Jumps 33.3% in the Past Month: Can This Strong Rally Keep Running?

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. CRL shares have risen 33.3% over the past four weeks. The move has lifted expectations just as operating trends are beginning to improve.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Second-quarter earnings, better Discovery and Safety Assessment demand indicators and higher 2026 guidance support the recovery case. Still, weak Research Models and Services demand, margin pressure and a premium valuation leave less room for execution missteps.

CRL's One-Month Surge Sets a Higher Bar

Charles River reported second-quarter 2026 company-defined non-GAAP earnings of $3.02 per share, down 3.2% year over year but 17.6% above the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Revenues of $1 billion declined 2.7% but topped the consensus mark by 3%.

Management also raised non-GAAP earnings guidance to $11.15-$11.45 per share from $10.80-$11.30. That combination gives investors more fundamental support for the rally, but the higher share price raises the bar for subsequent results.

Charles River's DSA Demand Signals Are Improving

Discovery and Safety Assessment organic revenues rose 0.2% in the second quarter, marking the segment's first organic growth since the third quarter of 2023. Net bookings increased 12.6% sequentially to $701 million while backlog reached $1.97 billion.

Net book-to-bill, a measure of bookings relative to revenues, improved to 1.19x, the third consecutive quarter above 1x. Medpace Holdings, Inc. MEDP is among CRL's Medical Services peers, providing another reference point for outsourced research demand. IQVIA Holdings Inc. IQV is another listed peer that can help investors gauge broader industry conditions.

CRL Margin Upside Depends on Study Costs and NHPs

The demand improvement has not yet translated into stronger DSA profitability. The segment's non-GAAP operating margin declined 180 basis points year over year to 25.6%, primarily because of higher study-related direct costs.

Charles River expects lower Cambodian non-human primate sourcing costs to begin benefiting DSA margins in the third quarter, with a larger contribution in the fourth quarter. The timing makes margin execution an important confirmation point for the recovery.

Charles River Still Faces RMS Demand Weakness

Research Models and Services organic revenues fell 1.4% in the second quarter. That was better than the 5.5% decline in the first quarter as non-human primate shipment timing normalized.

North American small-model demand and research model services remained weak, partly offset by growth in China. Management still expects a low-to-mid-single-digit organic revenue decline for RMS in 2026, leaving the segment as a drag on a broader recovery.

CRL's Premium Valuation Raises Execution Pressure

CRL trades at 24.06X forward 12-month earnings, compared with 16.41X for its Zacks sub-industry and 22.14X for the Zacks Medical sector. Its five-year median is 18.44X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The premium means stronger bookings alone may not be enough to extend the rally. Investors will likely look for bookings to convert into revenues while expected sourcing savings and portfolio changes support margins.

CRL's Positive Signal Meets Weak Style Scores

The near-term setup remains constructive but mixed. CRL currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current fiscal year's earnings has moved 2.69% higher over the past four weeks.

The stock has a VGM Score of F, with a Value Score of D, Growth Score of D and Momentum Score of F. Because Style Scores complement the Zacks Rank, those weak readings temper the favorable short-term estimate signal. Further gains remain possible, but sustaining the rally will require operating improvement to keep pace with a valuation that already reflects higher expectations.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research