TMO vs ABT vs DHR vs IQV vs CRL

For growth investors, IQVIA Holdings Inc.

(IQV) is the stronger pick with 5. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 9% for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL). Abbott Laboratories (ABT) offers the better valuation at 11. 4x trailing P/E (15. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) a "Buy" — based on 42 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.

On trailing P/E, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the cheapest at 11.

4x versus Danaher Corporation at 34. 9x. On forward P/E, IQVIA Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: IQVIA Holdings Inc. wins at 0. 35x versus Danaher Corporation's 34. 35x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

(TMO) delivered a total return of +2. 8%, compared to -46. 9% for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TMO returned +229. 1% versus CRL's +119. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

25β versus Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. 's 1. 52β — meaning CRL is approximately 512% more volatile than ABT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 2% for IQVIA Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), IQVIA Holdings Inc.

(IQV) is pulling ahead at 5. 9% versus -0. 9% for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Abbott Laboratories grew EPS 133. 6% year-over-year, compared to -1555. 0% for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IQV leads at 4. 2% 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.

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the more profitable company, earning 31.

9% net margin versus -3. 6% for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 31. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DHR leads at 20. 9% versus 12. 6% for CRL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DHR leads at 60. 9%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 35x versus Danaher Corporation's 34. 35x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) trades at 14. 1x forward P/E versus 20. 8x for Danaher Corporation — 6. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ABT: 47. 9% to $128. 71.

In this comparison, ABT (2.

5% yield), DHR (0. 7% yield), TMO (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. IQV, CRL do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

25), 2. 5% yield, +173. 7% 10Y return). Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) carries a higher beta of 1. 52 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ABT: +173. 7%, CRL: +119. 2%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: TMO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ABT is a mid-cap deep-value stock; DHR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; IQV is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CRL is a small-cap quality compounder stock. ABT, DHR pay a dividend while TMO, IQV, CRL do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.