Charles River Laboratories (CRL)vsJohnson & Johnson (JNJ)
CRL
Charles River Laboratories
$337.52
+7.83%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $17.28B
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
$276.22
+1.43%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $657.68B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Johnson & Johnson generates 2384% more annual revenue ($99.33B vs $4.00B). JNJ leads profitability with a 16.2% profit margin vs -6.0%. CRL appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.12. JNJ earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 54/100 (C-).
CRL
Hold38
out of 100
Grade: F
JNJ
Buy54
out of 100
Grade: C-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-1.4%
Fair Value
$163.67
Current Price
$337.52
$173.85 premium
Intrinsic value data unavailable for JNJ.
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Growing faster than its price suggests
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Strong operational efficiency at 25.7%
Generating 6.4B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
Elevated debt levels
ROE of -8.4% — below average capital efficiency
Revenue declined 2.7%
Earnings declined 17.3%
Trading at 8.2x book value
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : CRL
The strongest argument for CRL centers on PEG Ratio. PEG of 0.12 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : JNJ
The strongest argument for JNJ centers on Market Cap, Operating Margin, Free Cash Flow. Profitability is solid with margins at 16.2% and operating margin at 25.7%.
Bear Case : CRL
The primary concerns for CRL are Debt/Equity, Return on Equity, Revenue Growth.
Bear Case : JNJ
The primary concerns for JNJ are Price/Book, Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio. A P/E of 41.5x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
CRL profiles as a turnaround stock while JNJ is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.
CRL carries more volatility with a beta of 1.40 — expect wider price swings.
JNJ is growing revenue faster at 5.9% — sustainability is the question.
JNJ generates stronger free cash flow (6.4B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
JNJ scores higher overall (54/100 vs 38/100), backed by strong 16.2% margins. Both earn "Buy" and "Hold" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Charles River Laboratories
HEALTHCARE · DIAGNOSTICS & RESEARCH · USA
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., is an American pharmaceutical company specializing in a variety of preclinical and clinical laboratory, gene therapy and cell therapy services for the Pharmaceutical, Medical device and Biotechnology industries. It also supplies assorted biomedical products and outsourcing services for research and development in the pharmaceutical industry and offer support in the fields of basic research, drug discovery, safety and efficacy, clinical support, and manufacturing.
Johnson & Johnson
HEALTHCARE · DRUG MANUFACTURERS - GENERAL · USA
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is an American multinational corporation founded in 1886 that develops medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and consumer packaged goods. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is ranked No. 36 on the 2021 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue. Johnson & Johnson is one of the world's most valuable companies, and is one of only two U.S.-based companies that has a prime credit rating of AAA, higher than that of the United States government.
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