CRL vs. MTD: Charles River Laboratories vs. Mettler-Toledo Stock Comparison
How do Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Mettler-Toledo (MTD) 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
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Mettler-Toledo (MTD) are both classified in the Life Sciences Tools & Services sub-industry within the broader Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | CRL | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. | Mettler-Toledo International Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | Switzerland |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 16.17 billion USD | 34.25 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 23, 2000 | November 14, 1997 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CRL | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 110.83% | 21.58% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 27.87% | 19.54% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -1.57% | 2.36% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CRL | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 47.81% | 31.70% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.33 | 1.15 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -74.73% | -43.47% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.05M | 197.80K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CRL | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 2.23 | 0.55 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 3.58 | 0.75 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Charles River Laboratories (CRL) earns 1.27% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Mettler-Toledo (MTD) has no ROE this period.
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%
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
- MTD
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 22.25% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 1.01% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
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%
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
22.25%
- MTD
- 22.25%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 23.42% and Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 28.70% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
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%
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
28.70%
- Max
- 83.12%
- MTD
- 28.70%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CRL | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 1.27% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.74% | 20.09% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 1.01% | 22.25% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.42% | 28.70% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 35.10% | 59.16% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 3.98% 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
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 3.88% 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 | CRL | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.85% | 3.98% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.33% | 0.90% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -1,555.00% | 3.88% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 3.06% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 1.41 and Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 1.10 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
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
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.10
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- MTD
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but MTD is more stretched: Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 0.87 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 26.06 is above its industry benchmark range.
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
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
26.06
- MTD
- 26.06
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CRL | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.41 | 1.10 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.87 | 26.06 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.92 | 1.58 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Charles River Laboratories (CRL) nor Mettler-Toledo (MTD) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
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%
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MTD
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither Charles River Laboratories (CRL) nor Mettler-Toledo (MTD) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
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%
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MTD
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CRL | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 37.38 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 366.87 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for CRL’s trailing earnings.
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
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
37.38
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- MTD
- 37.38
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 4.07 and Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 8.16 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
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
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
8.16
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- MTD
- 8.16
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 5.01 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 442.71 prices above its benchmark range — MTD looks rich relative to book.
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
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
442.71
- MTD
- 442.71
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CRL | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 366.87 | 37.38 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.07 | 8.16 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.01 | 442.71 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.74% | 1.97% |