Charles River Laboratories sees stock rise amid cold chain market growth
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 23 2026
0mins
Source: AlphaStreet
Charles River Laboratories International Inc's stock rose by 5.01% as it crossed above the 5-day SMA, reflecting positive investor sentiment.
The increase in stock price comes amid the rapid expansion of the cold chain monitoring market, which is projected to grow significantly, indicating strong demand for related services and products. This trend is particularly relevant for Charles River, as the company is involved in the pharmaceutical sector, which relies heavily on cold chain logistics for the safe transport of temperature-sensitive products.
This growth in the cold chain market could lead to increased business opportunities for Charles River Laboratories, enhancing its position in the industry and potentially driving future revenue growth.
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Analyst Views on CRL
Wall Street analysts forecast CRL stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
9 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 181.340
Low
185.00
Averages
226.70
High
265.00
Current: 181.340
Low
185.00
Averages
226.70
High
265.00
About CRL
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. is a drug development company. It provides essential products and services to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies and academic institutions around the globe accelerate their research and drug development efforts. Its Research Models and Services segment includes three businesses that provide foundational tools that enable its clients to discover new molecules: Research Models, Research Model Services, and Cell Solutions. Its Discovery and Safety Assessment segment provides regulated and non-regulated DSA services to support the research, development, and regulatory-required safety testing of potential new drugs, including therapeutic discovery and optimization plus in vitro and in vivo studies, laboratory support services, and strategic non-clinical consulting and program management to support product development. Its Manufacturing Solutions segment includes Microbial Solutions and Biologics Solutions.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Major Wall Street Rating Changes Overview
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- Viper Energy Initiation: RBC initiated coverage of Viper Energy with an Outperform rating and a $58 price target, highlighting its advantages in scale and core Permian focus, positioning it as a best-in-class mineral and royalty company.
- SentinelOne Buy Rating: Bank of America upgraded SentinelOne from neutral to buy, viewing its solid quarterly performance as a strong entry point after an 18% decline in after-hours trading, reflecting confidence in its future growth prospects.
- XPeng Upgrade: Macquarie upgraded XPeng from neutral to outperform, noting its volume growth in the Chinese EV market, while future investments in humanoids and robotaxis provide additional upside potential for its stock.
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Cold Chain Monitoring Market Expands Rapidly
- Market Size Growth: According to Valuates Reports, the global cold chain monitoring market was valued at $7.414 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $15.39 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 11.2%, indicating strong market demand and investment potential.
- Technology-Driven Transformation: As the demand for compliance and quality increases, companies are transitioning from basic temperature logging systems to advanced connected monitoring solutions, which not only enhance transparency in transportation and storage but also improve management capabilities for temperature-sensitive products, reducing financial losses and compliance risks.
- Rising Hardware Demand: Cold chain monitoring relies on reliable sensors and data logging devices, with increasing market demand for these hardware components, particularly in the pharmaceutical and food sectors, ensuring the safety and quality of high-value shipments and driving continuous deployment of equipment.
- Last-Mile Challenges: Last-mile delivery has become a significant growth factor for the cold chain monitoring market, as monitoring systems assist logistics teams in tracking shipment conditions and triggering alerts, ensuring product quality is maintained until delivery to the final customer, meeting the growing demands of home healthcare and e-commerce.
See More
Charles River Laboratories Q1 2026 Results Exceed Expectations
- Strong Performance: Charles River Laboratories reported Q1 2026 sales of $995.8 million, reflecting a 1.2% year-on-year growth that surpassed analyst expectations of $977.4 million, indicating robust market performance.
- Profitability Improvement: The non-GAAP EPS of $2.06 exceeded analysts' forecast of $1.94 by 6%, showcasing the company's success in cost control and efficiency enhancements.
- Strategic Restructuring: The company completed the divestiture of its CDMO and Cell Solutions businesses and plans to sell certain European discovery sites, aiming to sharpen its focus on core drug development and testing capabilities to enhance future profitability.
- Technology Investments: Charles River is increasing investments in digital platforms and artificial intelligence, which are expected to accelerate scientific workflows and improve client experiences, driving future business growth.
See More
Charles River Labs Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates but Lowers FY2026 Forecast
- Earnings Beat: Charles River Laboratories exceeded Q1 earnings estimates, indicating strong performance in the biopharmaceutical services sector, although specific figures were not disclosed, this result boosts investor confidence.
- FY2026 Forecast Cut: The company lowered its FY2026 forecast, reflecting uncertainties in the future market environment, which may impact investor confidence in long-term growth.
- Analysts Maintain Positive Outlook: Despite the forecast cut, analysts remain optimistic about Charles River Labs, raising price targets, indicating strong market confidence in the company's future development.
- Positive Market Reaction: Investors reacted positively to the analysts' optimistic outlook, which may drive stock prices up in the short term, further solidifying the company's position in the biopharmaceutical services market.
See More
Charles River Laboratories Set to Announce Q1 Earnings on May 7
- Earnings Announcement: Charles River Laboratories is set to release its Q1 2023 earnings report on May 7 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $1.94, reflecting a 17.1% year-over-year decline, and revenue estimate at $977.44 million, down 0.7% year-over-year, indicating potential performance challenges.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, CRL has consistently beaten both EPS and revenue estimates 100% of the time, showcasing its financial stability and market confidence, although recent downward revisions in EPS and revenue forecasts suggest emerging concerns.
- Revision Trends: In the last three months, there have been no upward revisions for EPS estimates, with 8 downward adjustments, while revenue estimates also saw no upward revisions and 6 downward adjustments, reflecting a cautious market outlook on the company's future growth.
- Market Sentiment: Despite disruptions related to NAMs, RBC has assigned an
See More
Charles River Laboratories to Release Q1 2026 Financial Results
- Earnings Release Schedule: Charles River Laboratories is set to announce its Q1 2026 financial results on May 7, 2026, before the market opens, reflecting its ongoing performance and growth in the biopharmaceutical sector.
- Conference Call Details: A conference call will be held on the same day at 8:30 AM ET to discuss the financial results, allowing investors to engage and enhancing transparency and communication.
- Live Webcast and Replay: Investors will have the opportunity to listen to a live webcast of the conference call through the company's website, with a replay also available, ensuring broad dissemination and access to information.
- Company Overview: Charles River Laboratories provides essential products and services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology companies, and academic institutions globally, focusing on accelerating research and drug development to improve the discovery and safe manufacture of new therapies.
See More
Major Wall Street Rating Changes Overview
- Dell Upgrade: Susquehanna upgraded Dell from neutral to positive, citing increased confidence in a sustainable 8-10% operating margin and a 6% free cash flow margin, which supports a potential rerating of its EV/sales multiple to 3x, indicating strong market potential.
- Viper Energy Initiation: RBC initiated coverage of Viper Energy with an Outperform rating and a $58 price target, highlighting its advantages in scale and core Permian focus, positioning it as a best-in-class mineral and royalty company.
- SentinelOne Buy Rating: Bank of America upgraded SentinelOne from neutral to buy, viewing its solid quarterly performance as a strong entry point after an 18% decline in after-hours trading, reflecting confidence in its future growth prospects.
- XPeng Upgrade: Macquarie upgraded XPeng from neutral to outperform, noting its volume growth in the Chinese EV market, while future investments in humanoids and robotaxis provide additional upside potential for its stock.
See More
Cold Chain Monitoring Market Expands Rapidly
- Market Size Growth: According to Valuates Reports, the global cold chain monitoring market was valued at $7.414 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $15.39 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 11.2%, indicating strong market demand and investment potential.
- Technology-Driven Transformation: As the demand for compliance and quality increases, companies are transitioning from basic temperature logging systems to advanced connected monitoring solutions, which not only enhance transparency in transportation and storage but also improve management capabilities for temperature-sensitive products, reducing financial losses and compliance risks.
- Rising Hardware Demand: Cold chain monitoring relies on reliable sensors and data logging devices, with increasing market demand for these hardware components, particularly in the pharmaceutical and food sectors, ensuring the safety and quality of high-value shipments and driving continuous deployment of equipment.
- Last-Mile Challenges: Last-mile delivery has become a significant growth factor for the cold chain monitoring market, as monitoring systems assist logistics teams in tracking shipment conditions and triggering alerts, ensuring product quality is maintained until delivery to the final customer, meeting the growing demands of home healthcare and e-commerce.
See More
Charles River Laboratories Q1 2026 Results Exceed Expectations
- Strong Performance: Charles River Laboratories reported Q1 2026 sales of $995.8 million, reflecting a 1.2% year-on-year growth that surpassed analyst expectations of $977.4 million, indicating robust market performance.
- Profitability Improvement: The non-GAAP EPS of $2.06 exceeded analysts' forecast of $1.94 by 6%, showcasing the company's success in cost control and efficiency enhancements.
- Strategic Restructuring: The company completed the divestiture of its CDMO and Cell Solutions businesses and plans to sell certain European discovery sites, aiming to sharpen its focus on core drug development and testing capabilities to enhance future profitability.
- Technology Investments: Charles River is increasing investments in digital platforms and artificial intelligence, which are expected to accelerate scientific workflows and improve client experiences, driving future business growth.
See More
Charles River Labs Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates but Lowers FY2026 Forecast
- Earnings Beat: Charles River Laboratories exceeded Q1 earnings estimates, indicating strong performance in the biopharmaceutical services sector, although specific figures were not disclosed, this result boosts investor confidence.
- FY2026 Forecast Cut: The company lowered its FY2026 forecast, reflecting uncertainties in the future market environment, which may impact investor confidence in long-term growth.
- Analysts Maintain Positive Outlook: Despite the forecast cut, analysts remain optimistic about Charles River Labs, raising price targets, indicating strong market confidence in the company's future development.
- Positive Market Reaction: Investors reacted positively to the analysts' optimistic outlook, which may drive stock prices up in the short term, further solidifying the company's position in the biopharmaceutical services market.
See More
Charles River Laboratories Set to Announce Q1 Earnings on May 7
- Earnings Announcement: Charles River Laboratories is set to release its Q1 2023 earnings report on May 7 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $1.94, reflecting a 17.1% year-over-year decline, and revenue estimate at $977.44 million, down 0.7% year-over-year, indicating potential performance challenges.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, CRL has consistently beaten both EPS and revenue estimates 100% of the time, showcasing its financial stability and market confidence, although recent downward revisions in EPS and revenue forecasts suggest emerging concerns.
- Revision Trends: In the last three months, there have been no upward revisions for EPS estimates, with 8 downward adjustments, while revenue estimates also saw no upward revisions and 6 downward adjustments, reflecting a cautious market outlook on the company's future growth.
- Market Sentiment: Despite disruptions related to NAMs, RBC has assigned an
See More
Charles River Laboratories to Release Q1 2026 Financial Results
- Earnings Release Schedule: Charles River Laboratories is set to announce its Q1 2026 financial results on May 7, 2026, before the market opens, reflecting its ongoing performance and growth in the biopharmaceutical sector.
- Conference Call Details: A conference call will be held on the same day at 8:30 AM ET to discuss the financial results, allowing investors to engage and enhancing transparency and communication.
- Live Webcast and Replay: Investors will have the opportunity to listen to a live webcast of the conference call through the company's website, with a replay also available, ensuring broad dissemination and access to information.
- Company Overview: Charles River Laboratories provides essential products and services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology companies, and academic institutions globally, focusing on accelerating research and drug development to improve the discovery and safe manufacture of new therapies.
See More
