Charles River Laboratories (CRL)vsMerck & Company Inc (MRK)
CRL
Charles River Laboratories
$277.33
-2.73%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $13.39B
MRK
Merck & Company Inc
$148.10
-1.88%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $355.10B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Merck & Company Inc generates 1565% more annual revenue ($66.57B vs $4.00B). MRK leads profitability with a 4.8% profit margin vs -6.0%. CRL appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.12. CRL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 43/100 (D).
CRL
Hold43
out of 100
Grade: D
MRK
Hold36
out of 100
Grade: F
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-2.1%
Fair Value
$162.50
Current Price
$277.33
$114.83 premium
Margin of Safety
-77.2%
Fair Value
$83.04
Current Price
$148.10
$65.06 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Growing faster than its price suggests
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Generating 4.5B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
Elevated debt levels
ROE of -8.4% — below average capital efficiency
Revenue declined 2.7%
Earnings declined 17.3%
Trading at 8.7x book value
ROE of 7.6% — below average capital efficiency
4.8% margin — thin
Elevated debt levels
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : CRL
The strongest argument for CRL centers on PEG Ratio. PEG of 0.12 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : MRK
The strongest argument for MRK centers on Market Cap, Free Cash Flow.
Bear Case : CRL
The primary concerns for CRL are Debt/Equity, Return on Equity, Revenue Growth.
Bear Case : MRK
The primary concerns for MRK are Price/Book, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. A P/E of 116.1x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 4.8% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
CRL profiles as a turnaround stock while MRK is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
CRL carries more volatility with a beta of 1.41 — expect wider price swings.
MRK is growing revenue faster at 5.1% — sustainability is the question.
MRK generates stronger free cash flow (4.5B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
CRL scores higher overall (43/100 vs 36/100). Both earn "Hold" and "Hold" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Charles River Laboratories
HEALTHCARE · DIAGNOSTICS & RESEARCH · USA
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., is an American pharmaceutical company specializing in a variety of preclinical and clinical laboratory, gene therapy and cell therapy services for the Pharmaceutical, Medical device and Biotechnology industries. It also supplies assorted biomedical products and outsourcing services for research and development in the pharmaceutical industry and offer support in the fields of basic research, drug discovery, safety and efficacy, clinical support, and manufacturing.
Merck & Company Inc
HEALTHCARE · DRUG MANUFACTURERS - GENERAL · USA
Merck & Co. is an American multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Kenilworth, New Jersey. It is named after the Merck family, which set up Merck Group in Germany in 1668.
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