Charles River Laboratories (CRL)vsWaters Corporation (WAT)
CRL
Charles River Laboratories
$277.33
-2.73%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $13.39B
WAT
Waters Corporation
$420.57
-1.21%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $41.62B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Waters Corporation generates 16% more annual revenue ($4.64B vs $4.00B). WAT leads profitability with a 3.6% profit margin vs -6.0%. CRL appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.12. WAT earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 45/100 (D+).
CRL
Hold43
out of 100
Grade: D
WAT
Hold45
out of 100
Grade: D+
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
-45.9%
Fair Value
$225.66
Current Price
$420.57
$194.91 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Growing faster than its price suggests
Revenue surging 113.4% year-over-year
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Reasonable price relative to book value
Areas to Watch
Elevated debt levels
ROE of -8.4% — below average capital efficiency
Revenue declined 2.7%
Earnings declined 17.3%
Expensive relative to growth rate
ROE of 1.1% — below average capital efficiency
3.6% margin — thin
Weak financial health signals
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 : WAT
The strongest argument for WAT centers on Revenue Growth, Altman Z-Score, Price/Book. Revenue growth of 113.4% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : CRL
The primary concerns for CRL are Debt/Equity, Return on Equity, Revenue Growth.
Bear Case : WAT
The primary concerns for WAT are PEG Ratio, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. A P/E of 107.0x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.6% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
CRL profiles as a turnaround stock while WAT is a hypergrowth play — different risk/reward profiles.
CRL carries more volatility with a beta of 1.41 — expect wider price swings.
WAT is growing revenue faster at 113.4% — sustainability is the question.
WAT generates stronger free cash flow (153M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
WAT scores higher overall (45/100 vs 43/100) and 113.4% revenue growth. 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.
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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