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CRL vs. NVO: Charles River Laboratories vs. Novo Nordisk Stock Comparison

How do Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) 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 Novo Nordisk (NVO) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but CRL is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services while NVO is classified in Pharmaceuticals.

Charles River Laboratories (CRL) trades as ordinary local shares, while Novo Nordisk (NVO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
Profile ItemCRLNVO
NameCharles River Laboratories International, Inc.Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesDenmark
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization16.17 billion USD177.74 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 23, 2000April 30, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CRL
NVO
GSPC
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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Novo Nordisk (NVO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Novo Nordisk (NVO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricCRLNVO
Total Return (1Y)110.83%-5.29%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)27.87%-23.41%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.57%-4.13%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CRL
NVO
GSPC
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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Novo Nordisk (NVO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Charles River Laboratories (CRL) has an aggressive beta of 1.33, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Novo Nordisk (NVO) is defensive at 0.67 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricCRLNVO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)47.81%45.98%
Beta (5Y)1.330.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)-74.73%-74.70%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.05M12.11M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CRL and NVO are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricCRLNVO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.23-0.21
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.58-0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 58.38% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 1.27% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NVO.

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%

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

58.38%

Max
109.18%
NVO
58.38%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 33.92% 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%

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

33.92%

NVO
33.92%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 23.42% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 40.05% 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%

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

40.05%

Max
83.12%
NVO
40.05%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricCRLNVO
ROE (TTM)1.27%58.38%
ROA (TTM)4.74%19.05%
Net Margin (TTM)1.01%33.92%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.42%40.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)35.10%83.33%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 6.43% 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.

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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 1.77% 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.

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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricCRLNVO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.85%6.43%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.33%20.43%
EPS Growth (YoY)-1,555.00%1.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--23.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 1.41 and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.85 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

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.85

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
NVO
0.85
Min
0.10
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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.62 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 0.87 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.62

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
NVO
0.62
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricCRLNVO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.410.85
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.870.62
Net Debt / EBITDA2.920.49

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Charles River Laboratories (CRL) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports a yield of 29.03%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

29.03%

NVO
29.03%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Charles River Laboratories (CRL) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports a payout of 45.36%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

45.36%

NVO
45.36%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricCRLNVO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%29.03%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%45.36%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 10.18 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 366.87 trades above its peer range — a wide earnings-valuation gap relative to industry peers.

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

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.18

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
NVO
10.18
Min
0.07
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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.53 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 4.07 prices around its industry’s middle — NVO costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.53

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
NVO
0.53
Min
0.01
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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 5.01 and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 5.43 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.43

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
NVO
5.43
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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Charles River Laboratories (CRL) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricCRLNVO
P/E Ratio (TTM)366.8710.18
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.070.53
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.015.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.74%18.43%