FTRE
Fortrea Holdings Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$1.46B
5Y Perf.-54.0%
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Stock Comparison
FTRE vs CRL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CRL
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.
Medical - Diagnostics & Research
Market Cap$8.97B
5Y Perf.-13.6%
FTRE vs CRL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | FTRE | CRL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Medical - Diagnostics & Research |
| Market Cap | $1.46B | $8.97B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.71B | $4.02B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-447M | $-144M |
| Gross Margin | 12.1% | 32.9% |
| Operating Margin | -1.1% | 10.7% |
| Forward P/E | 23.1x | 16.4x |
| Total Debt | $68M | $3.07B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $175M | $214M |
FTRE vs CRL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
FTRE
CRL
| Stock | Jun 23 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortrea Holdings In… (FTRE) | 100 | 46.0 | -54.0% |
| Charles River Labor… (CRL) | 100 | 86.4 | -13.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FTRE vs CRL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CRL leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Fortrea Holdings Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
FTRE
Fortrea Holdings Inc.
The Growth Play
FTRE is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 1.0%, EPS growth -194.6%, 3Y rev CAGR -1.4%
- 1.0% revenue growth vs CRL's -0.9%
- +183.8% vs CRL's +57.5%
Best for: growth exposure
CRL
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.
The Income Pick
CRL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.52
- 124.7% 10Y total return vs FTRE's -51.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.52, Low D/E 95.5%, current ratio 1.29x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | FTRE | 1.0% revenue growth vs CRL's -0.9% |
| Value | CRL | Lower P/E (16.4x vs 23.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | CRL | -3.6% margin vs FTRE's -16.5% |
| Stability / Safety | CRL | Beta 1.52 vs FTRE's 2.35 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | FTRE | +183.8% vs CRL's +57.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CRL | -1.9% ROA vs FTRE's -16.3%, ROIC 6.3% vs -1.6% |
FTRE vs CRL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
FTRE vs CRL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCRLLAGGINGFTRE
FTREFortrea Holdings Inc.
0leads
CRLCharles River Laborat…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs FTREMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CRL5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CRL5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CRL4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CRL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CRL and FTRE operate at a comparable scale, with $4.0B and $2.7B in trailing revenue. CRL is the more profitable business, keeping -3.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to FTRE's -16.5%.
| Metric | FTREFortrea Holdings … | CRLCharles River Lab… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.7B | $4.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $48M | $832M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$447M | -$144M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $215M | $518M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +12.1% | +32.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -1.1% | +10.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -16.5% | -3.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.0% | +12.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.3% | -0.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +95.9% | -33.2% |
CRL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — FTRE and CRL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, CRL's 13.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than FTRE's 28.6x.
| Metric | FTREFortrea Holdings … | CRLCharles River Lab… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.5B | $9.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.4B | $11.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1.45x | -62.45x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 23.10x | 16.40x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 28.60x | 12.97x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.54x | 2.23x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.53x | 2.81x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.56x | 17.29x |
Evenly matched — FTRE and CRL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CRL leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CRL delivers a -4.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-4 in annual profit, vs $-79 for FTRE. FTRE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.12x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CRL's 0.95x.
| Metric | FTREFortrea Holdings … | CRLCharles River Lab… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -79.1% | -4.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -16.3% | -1.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -1.6% | +6.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -1.4% | +8.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.12x | 0.95x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$107M | $2.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $175M | $214M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $68M | $3.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -7.33x | 3.72x |
CRL leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CRL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CRL five years ago would be worth $5,395 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,887 for FTRE. Over the past 12 months, FTRE leads with a +183.8% total return vs CRL's +57.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CRL at -1.5% vs FTRE's -21.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FTREFortrea Holdings … | CRLCharles River Lab… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -7.0% | -10.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +183.8% | +57.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -51.1% | -4.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -51.1% | -46.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -51.1% | +124.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -21.2% | -1.5% |
CRL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — FTRE and CRL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CRL is the less volatile stock with a 1.52 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than FTRE's 2.35 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. FTRE currently trades 83.8% from its 52-week high vs CRL's 79.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | FTREFortrea Holdings … | CRLCharles River Lab… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.35x | 1.52x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $18.67 | $228.88 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.97 | $113.89 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.8% | +79.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 79.8 | 60.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.4M | 803K |
Evenly matched — FTRE and CRL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FTRE as "Hold" and CRL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 20.4% upside for FTRE (target: $19) vs 13.0% for CRL (target: $205).
| Metric | FTREFortrea Holdings … | CRLCharles River Lab… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $18.83 | $205.43 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +4.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
CRL leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 2 categories are tied.
Best OverallCharles River Laboratories … (CRL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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FTRE vs CRL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FTRE or CRL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Fortrea Holdings Inc.
(FTRE) is the stronger pick with 1. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 9% for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL). Analysts rate Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) a "Buy" — based on 36 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — FTRE or CRL?
Over the past 5 years, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.
(CRL) delivered a total return of -46. 0%, compared to -51. 1% for Fortrea Holdings Inc. (FTRE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRL returned +124. 7% versus FTRE's -51. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — FTRE or CRL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.
(CRL) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 52β versus Fortrea Holdings Inc. 's 2. 35β — meaning FTRE is approximately 55% more volatile than CRL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fortrea Holdings Inc. (FTRE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 95% for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — FTRE or CRL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Fortrea Holdings Inc.
(FTRE) is pulling ahead at 1. 0% versus -0. 9% for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Fortrea Holdings Inc. grew EPS -194. 6% year-over-year, compared to -1555. 0% for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CRL leads at 0. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
05Which has better profit margins — FTRE or CRL?
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.
(CRL) is the more profitable company, earning -3. 6% net margin versus -36. 2% for Fortrea Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps -3. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CRL leads at 12. 6% versus -1. 1% for FTRE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CRL leads at 30. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is FTRE or CRL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.
(CRL) trades at 16. 4x forward P/E versus 23. 1x for Fortrea Holdings Inc. — 6. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FTRE: 20. 4% to $18. 83.
07Which pays a better dividend — FTRE or CRL?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
08Is FTRE or CRL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.
(CRL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+124. 7% 10Y return). Fortrea Holdings Inc. (FTRE) carries a higher beta of 2. 35 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRL: +124. 7%, FTRE: -51. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between FTRE and CRL?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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