CRL vs. TMO: Charles River Laboratories vs. Thermo Fisher Scientific Stock Comparison
How do Charles River Laboratories (CRL) and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) 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 | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. | Thermo Fisher Scientific 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 | 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 | 257.42 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 23, 2000 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CRL | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 110.83% | 24.62% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 27.87% | 17.34% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -1.57% | 3.11% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CRL | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 47.81% | 29.96% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.33 | 0.83 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -74.73% | -40.95% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.05M | 2.10M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CRL | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 2.23 | 0.68 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 3.58 | 1.02 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 13.38% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 1.27% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for TMO.
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%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.38%
- Max
- 109.18%
- TMO
- 13.38%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 14.94% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 1.01%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
14.94%
- Max
- 18.05%
- TMO
- 14.94%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 23.42% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 20.19% 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%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
20.19%
- Max
- 83.12%
- TMO
- 20.19%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CRL | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 1.27% | 13.38% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.74% | 5.19% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 1.01% | 14.94% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.42% | 20.19% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 35.10% | 41.26% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 3.91% 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
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 7.32% 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 | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.85% | 3.91% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.33% | -0.27% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -1,555.00% | 7.32% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 0.21% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 1.41 and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 1.81 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
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.81
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- TMO
- 1.81
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 0.87 and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 0.75 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.
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
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.75
- Max
- 1.42
- TMO
- 0.75
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CRL | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.41 | 1.81 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.87 | 0.75 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.92 | 2.91 |
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 Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) reports a yield of 0.27%, 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%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.27%
- TMO
- 0.27%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
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 Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) reports a payout of 9.70%, 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%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
9.70%
- TMO
- 9.70%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CRL | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.27% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 9.70% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 36.64 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
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
36.64
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- TMO
- 36.64
- 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 5.44 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
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.44
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- TMO
- 5.44
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Charles River Laboratories (CRL) at 5.01 and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 4.70 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
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.70
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- TMO
- 4.70
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CRL | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 366.87 | 36.64 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.07 | 5.44 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.01 | 4.70 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.74% | 2.50% |