Charles River Laboratories (CRL)vsWaters Corporation (WAT)
CRL
Charles River Laboratories
$177.62
-2.23%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $8.97B
WAT
Waters Corporation
$355.13
+1.32%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $34.41B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Charles River Laboratories generates 7% more annual revenue ($4.02B vs $3.77B). WAT leads profitability with a 11.9% profit margin vs -3.6%. CRL appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.13. WAT earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 52/100 (C-).
CRL
Hold39
out of 100
Grade: F
WAT
Buy52
out of 100
Grade: C-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+21.0%
Fair Value
$210.15
Current Price
$177.62
$32.53 discount
Margin of Safety
-63.1%
Fair Value
$201.83
Current Price
$355.13
$153.30 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Growing faster than its price suggests
Reasonable price relative to book value
Revenue surging 91.5% year-over-year
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Areas to Watch
Distress zone — elevated risk
Operating margin of 4.5%
Weak financial health signals
ROE of -4.2% — below average capital efficiency
Expensive relative to growth rate
Trading at 8.3x book value
ROE of 5.2% — below average capital efficiency
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : CRL
The strongest argument for CRL centers on PEG Ratio, Price/Book. PEG of 0.13 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : WAT
The strongest argument for WAT centers on Revenue Growth, Altman Z-Score. Revenue growth of 91.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : CRL
The primary concerns for CRL are Altman Z-Score, Operating Margin, Piotroski F-Score.
Bear Case : WAT
The primary concerns for WAT are PEG Ratio, Price/Book, Return on Equity. A P/E of 44.6x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
CRL profiles as a turnaround stock while WAT is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
CRL carries more volatility with a beta of 1.45 — expect wider price swings.
WAT is growing revenue faster at 91.5% — sustainability is the question.
CRL generates stronger free cash flow (-15M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
WAT scores higher overall (52/100 vs 39/100) and 91.5% revenue growth. CRL offers better value entry with a 21.0% margin of safety. Both earn "Buy" 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.
Waters Corporation
HEALTHCARE · DIAGNOSTICS & RESEARCH · USA
Waters Corporation is a publicly traded Analytical Laboratory instrument and software company headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts.
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