Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish on Charles River Laboratories Stock?

Wall Street sentiment regarding Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) is predominantly bullish. The company, a global contract research organization, has demonstrated remarkable performance, surging 81.4% over the past year, far surpassing the S&P 500 Index's 18.7% gain. This outperformance has continued into 2026, with CRL climbing 49.2%, compared to the index's 12.2%. Furthermore, CRL has outperformed the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF, which gained 29.5% over the past year.

CRL's financial performance also indicates a positive outlook. In its Q2 FY2026 earnings report, the company reported revenue of $1 billion, down 2.7% from the prior-year quarter, but raised its full-year 2026 guidance. Analysts anticipate a 10.4% increase in diluted EPS for the current fiscal year ending in December 2026, with the consensus rating standing at Strong Buy.

This consensus is based on 11 Strong Buy ratings, two Moderate Buy ratings, and three Hold ratings from 16 analysts covering CRL stock. The stock is currently trading above the mean price target of $290.07, and the Street-high target of $318 suggests a potential upside of 6.8%.