BIIB vs. CRL: Biogen vs. Charles River Laboratories Stock Comparison
How do Biogen (BIIB) and Charles River Laboratories (CRL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Biogen (BIIB) and Charles River Laboratories (CRL) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but BIIB is classified in Biotechnology while CRL is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.
| Profile Item | BIIB | CRL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Biogen Inc. | Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Biotechnology | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Biotechnology | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 36.71 billion USD | 16.17 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 17, 1991 | June 23, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | CRL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 65.44% | 110.83% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 4.62% | 27.87% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.96% | -1.57% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) has an aggressive beta of 1.33, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Biogen (BIIB) is defensive at 0.08 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | BIIB | CRL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 34.58% | 47.81% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.08 | 1.33 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -64.35% | -74.73% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.05M | 1.05M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | CRL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.77 | 2.23 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.77 | 3.58 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 1.87% and Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 1.27% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.87%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- BIIB
- 1.87%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
CRL
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.27%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- CRL
- 1.27%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 3.38% and Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 1.01% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
3.38%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- BIIB
- 3.38%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
CRL
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.01%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- CRL
- 1.01%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 24.12% and Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 23.42% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
24.12%
- Max
- 83.12%
- BIIB
- 24.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
CRL
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
23.42%
- Max
- 83.12%
- CRL
- 23.42%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | CRL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 1.87% | 1.27% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.94% | 4.74% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 3.38% | 1.01% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 24.12% | 23.42% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 75.77% | 35.10% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Biogen (BIIB) at 2.22% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at -0.85% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Biogen (BIIB) at -21.38% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at -1,555.00% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | CRL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.22% | -0.85% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.94% | 0.33% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -21.38% | -1,555.00% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -25.04% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 1.95 and Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 1.41 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.95
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- BIIB
- 1.95
- Min
- 0.10
CRL
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.41
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- CRL
- 1.41
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Biogen (BIIB) at 0.41 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 0.87 uses more debt funding than most peers.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.41
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- BIIB
- 0.41
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
CRL
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.87
- Max
- 1.42
- CRL
- 0.87
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | CRL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.95 | 1.41 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.41 | 0.87 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.97 | 2.92 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Biogen (BIIB) nor Charles River Laboratories (CRL) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- BIIB
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CRL
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- CRL
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither Biogen (BIIB) nor Charles River Laboratories (CRL) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- BIIB
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CRL
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- CRL
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | CRL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 107.51 and Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 366.87 trade above their industries’ P/E ratio peer ranges, pointing to unusually expensive trailing earnings relative to peers.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
107.51
- BIIB
- 107.51
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
CRL
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
366.87
- CRL
- 366.87
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Biogen (BIIB) at 3.57 and Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 4.07 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
3.57
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- BIIB
- 3.57
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
CRL
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.07
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- CRL
- 4.07
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Biogen (BIIB) at 1.94 and Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 5.01 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.94
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- BIIB
- 1.94
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
CRL
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.01
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- CRL
- 5.01
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | CRL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 107.51 | 366.87 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.57 | 4.07 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.94 | 5.01 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.20% | 2.74% |