Latest Ratios: P/E Ratio 408.0x · EV/EBITDA 22.5x · ROE -4.3%. (1998–2025 historical series)
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $16.3B | $10.1B | $9.6B | $12.2B | $11.2B | $19.4B | $12.6B | $7.6B | $5.5B | $5.3B | $3.7B |
| Enterprise Value | $19.1B | $12.9B | $12.1B | $15.0B | $14.0B | $22.3B | $14.6B | $9.4B | $7.0B | $6.3B | $4.8B |
| P/E Ratio → | 408.03 | — | 930.80 | 25.64 | 22.99 | 49.58 | 34.70 | 30.13 | 24.50 | 43.09 | 23.59 |
| P/S Ratio | 4.09 | 2.51 | 2.37 | 2.95 | 2.81 | 5.47 | 4.32 | 2.90 | 2.45 | 2.86 | 2.17 |
| P/B Ratio | 5.21 | 3.14 | 2.74 | 3.32 | 3.70 | 7.48 | 5.90 | 4.56 | 4.15 | 5.00 | 4.28 |
| P/FCF | 40.68 | 19.47 | 19.16 | 33.29 | 37.91 | 36.42 | 33.28 | 22.30 | 18.43 | 22.73 | 15.03 |
| P/OCF | 22.04 | 13.68 | 13.08 | 17.78 | 18.04 | 25.47 | 23.14 | 15.78 | 12.58 | 16.81 | 12.25 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 3.22 | 3.00 | 3.62 | 3.53 | 6.31 | 4.99 | 3.58 | 3.11 | 3.39 | 2.84 |
| EV / EBITDA | 22.54 | 14.21 | 20.61 | 16.05 | 14.71 | 26.12 | 21.83 | 17.07 | 14.29 | 15.01 | 13.10 |
| EV / EBIT | 37.63 | 1720.16 | 55.33 | 20.83 | 20.58 | 40.28 | 27.32 | 25.70 | 20.41 | 19.27 | 19.04 |
| EV / FCF | — | 24.97 | 24.20 | 40.92 | 47.61 | 41.99 | 38.36 | 27.55 | 23.41 | 26.93 | 19.63 |
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 30.5% | 30.5% | 32.9% | 36.4% | 36.8% | 37.7% | 36.7% | 36.6% | 37.1% | 37.7% | 38.3% |
| Operating Margin | 12.6% | 12.6% | 5.6% | 14.9% | 16.4% | 16.7% | 14.8% | 13.4% | 14.6% | 15.5% | 14.1% |
| Net Profit Margin | -3.6% | -3.6% | 0.3% | 11.5% | 12.2% | 11.0% | 12.5% | 9.6% | 10.0% | 6.6% | 9.2% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | -4.3% | -4.3% | 0.3% | 14.2% | 17.3% | 16.5% | 19.1% | 16.8% | 18.8% | 12.9% | 19.1% |
| ROA | -2.0% | -2.0% | 0.1% | 6.0% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 6.7% | 4.4% | 6.5% |
| ROIC | 6.3% | 6.3% | 2.7% | 7.5% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.6% | 8.4% | 10.2% | 10.8% | 10.2% |
| ROCE | 8.1% | 8.1% | 3.3% | 9.0% | 10.4% | 11.1% | 10.0% | 9.6% | 11.5% | 12.1% | 11.8% |
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 0.95 | 0.95 | 0.78 | 0.84 | 1.02 | 1.24 | 1.01 | 1.22 | 1.27 | 1.08 | 1.45 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 3.36 | 3.36 | 4.62 | 3.29 | 3.24 | 3.75 | 3.24 | 3.69 | 3.44 | 2.73 | 3.39 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 0.89 | 0.72 | 0.76 | 0.95 | 1.14 | 0.90 | 1.07 | 1.12 | 0.92 | 1.31 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.13 | 3.13 | 4.29 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 3.47 | 2.89 | 3.25 | 3.05 | 2.34 | 3.07 |
| Debt / FCF | — | 5.50 | 5.04 | 7.64 | 9.71 | 5.57 | 5.08 | 5.25 | 4.99 | 4.20 | 4.60 |
| Interest Coverage | 0.07 | 0.07 | 1.74 | 5.25 | 11.51 | 7.50 | 6.17 | 5.99 | 5.42 | 10.97 | 9.05 |
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 1.29 | 1.29 | 1.41 | 1.52 | 1.32 | 1.23 | 1.43 | 1.44 | 1.61 | 1.78 | 1.53 |
| Quick Ratio | 1.02 | 1.02 | 1.13 | 1.16 | 1.08 | 1.04 | 1.21 | 1.21 | 1.38 | 1.54 | 1.31 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.19 | 0.19 | 0.20 | 0.26 | 0.21 | 0.24 | 0.27 | 0.34 | 0.35 | 0.35 | 0.27 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 0.56 | 0.54 | 0.50 | 0.52 | 0.50 | 0.53 | 0.56 | 0.59 | 0.63 | 0.62 |
| Inventory Turnover | 9.33 | 9.33 | 9.76 | 6.91 | 9.83 | 11.07 | 9.96 | 10.35 | 11.15 | 10.06 | 10.83 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 64.44 | 64.97 | 68.98 | 69.07 | 67.06 | 77.11 | 71.58 | 76.06 | 84.49 | 79.03 |
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Payout Ratio | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 0.2% | — | 0.1% | 3.9% | 4.4% | 2.0% | 2.9% | 3.3% | 4.1% | 2.3% | 4.2% |
| FCF Yield | 2.5% | 5.1% | 5.2% | 3.0% | 2.6% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 4.5% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 6.7% |
| Buyback Yield | 2.2% | 3.6% | 1.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 2.0% | 0.3% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 2.2% | 3.6% | 1.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 2.0% | 0.3% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $50M | $52M | $51M | $51M | $51M | $51M | $50M | $49M | $49M | $48M |
Includes 30+ ratios · 28 years · Updated daily
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Quick answers to the most common questions about buying CRL stock.
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.'s current P/E ratio is 408.0x. The historical average is 27.9x. This places it at the 100th percentile of its historical range.
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.'s current EV/EBITDA is 22.5x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 14.3x.
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) is -4.3%. The historical average is 7.1%.
Based on historical data, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. is trading at a P/E of 408.0x. This is at the 100th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. has 30.5% gross margin and 12.6% operating margin. Operating margin between 10-20% is typical for established companies.
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.'s Debt/EBITDA ratio is 3.4x, indicating high leverage. A ratio between 2-4x is manageable but warrants monitoring.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Earnings volatility and non-cash charges
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Trailing Multiples Distorted by Losses
Based on reported figures, CRL trades at a trailing P/E of -115.99 but a forward P/E of 29.66, a gap that indicates the trailing earnings base is depressed by charges rather than reflecting the underlying earnings power investors are pricing.
The negative trailing P/E makes the multiple uninformative on its own, so the forward P/E of 29.66 and forward EV/EBITDA of 14.72 are the more usable anchors. Compared with ICON at 70.60 trailing P/E and IQVIA at 34.67, CRL's forward pricing appears moderate, though the premium to ICON's 13.32 EV/EBITDA suggests the market is paying for margin recovery. Investors should monitor whether forward earnings estimates hold, since the Q3 2026 EPS miss weakens confidence in the forward figure.
Operating Margin Stable Despite Net Losses
As reported in financial statements, CRL's operating margin held between 7.6% and 20.6% over the last ten quarters, while net margin swung from -27.8% to 33.9%, a divergence that points to non-operating items driving most reported earnings volatility.
The operating margin of 12.6% in the latest quarter is the cleaner indicator of earning power, and it sits well above the 4.6% net margin of ProAssurance but below Medpace's 17.8%. The sharp net margin swings, particularly the -27.8% in Q4 2025, are more consistent with impairments or restructuring than with deteriorating unit economics. Investors should treat operating margin as the primary profitability gauge until non-recurring items are clearly quantified.
Returns Recovering From Impairment Lows
Based on reported quarterly figures, CRL's ROIC climbed from -2.0% in Q4 2024 to 2.6% in Q3 2026, a recovery that remains well below the 6.2% ICON and 154.9% Medpace figures, indicating returns are rebuilding from a low base.
The ROIC trend suggests capital efficiency is improving as the impairment-driven losses roll off, though the 2.6% level is modest for a business carrying roughly $7.5B in assets dominated by goodwill. The ROE of 10.9% in Q3 2026 partly reflects a shrinking equity base rather than purely higher returns, so ROIC is the more reliable read. Whether returns compound further depends on sustaining margins while acquired goodwill remains on the balance sheet.
Leverage Improves on Shrinking Equity
According to recent SEC filings, CRL's debt-to-equity fell from 1.06 to 0.87 over recent quarters, yet interest coverage of 6.95 and a debt-to-EBITDA of 10.36 suggest that much of the improvement reflects equity contraction rather than debt reduction.
Total equity declined from roughly $3.8B to $3.2B while debt stayed in a $2.6B to $3.1B band, so the lower D/E ratio may overstate the deleveraging achieved. The debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 10.36 remains elevated and is well above the 2.44 D/E-equivalent comparison levels seen at peers on a balance-sheet basis, warranting monitoring. Coverage has recovered to 6.95x, though quarterly volatility in this ratio, including negative readings in earlier periods, signals earnings reliability concerns.
Headline Leverage Ratio Can Mislead
The ratio most commonly misapplied to CRL is debt-to-equity, since a shrinking equity base from impairments and buybacks can make leverage look improved even when absolute debt and EBITDA-based coverage have not improved.
For a company with goodwill of roughly $2.8B to $3.1B against about $3.2B of equity, book-value-based ratios such as D/E and P/B are sensitive to write-downs in ways that do not reflect cash debt service capacity. Debt-to-EBITDA or net debt to free cash flow would better capture repayment ability, though EBITDA itself is affected by the same non-cash charges. Investors should monitor whether the 0.87 D/E improvement persists when measured against tangible equity and cash flow.