Charles River Laboratories International (CRL) vs Quest Diagnostics (DGX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Charles River Laboratories International (CRL) has outperformed Quest Diagnostics (DGX) over the past year, gaining 71.8% versus a gain of 27.6%. Over five years, DGX leads with a +59.3% price change compared with -26.2% for CRL. Quest Diagnostics is the larger company by market cap ($25.48 billion vs $14.35 billion), about 1.8 times the size.
On valuation, Quest Diagnostics trades at a lower forward P/E (19.2x vs 23.3x for Charles River Laboratories International). Quest Diagnostics pays a dividend yielding 1.44%, while Charles River Laboratories International does not currently pay one. Quest Diagnostics converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.0% versus -3.6%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CRL | DGX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $298.00 | $230.81 |
| Market cap | $14.35B | $25.48B |
| 1-day change | -0.77% | +1.65% |
| YTD return | +49.39% | +33.01% |
| 1-year return | +71.79% | +27.60% |
| 5-year return | -26.15% | +59.34% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 24.50 |
| Forward P/E | 23.33 | 19.18 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-4.80 | $9.42 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.44% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $3.32 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.02B | $11.04B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -0.85% | +11.78% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-144.34M | $992.00M |
| Gross margin | — | 33.21% |
| Operating margin | 0.63% | 14.10% |
| Net margin | -3.59% | 8.99% |
| 52-week high | $333.30 | $248.84 |
| 52-week low | $146.20 | $171.18 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.59% | -7.25% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +2.35% | +7.48% |
| Average volume | 956.13K | 1.04M |
| Shares outstanding | 48.17M | 110.37M |
| Employees | 18,300 | 46,000 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Biotechnology: Commercial Physical & Biological Resarch | Medical Specialities |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- CRL has outperformed DGX by 44.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Quest Diagnostics offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.44% vs 0.00%).
- Quest Diagnostics is more profitable, keeping 9.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -3.6 cents for Charles River Laboratories International.
- Quest Diagnostics grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+11.78% vs -0.85%).
About Charles River Laboratories International
CRL stock →Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. provides drug discovery, non-clinical development, and safety testing services in the United States, Europe, Canada, the Asia Pacific, and internationally.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Commercial Physical & Biological Resarch · 18,300 employees
About Quest Diagnostics
DGX stock →Quest Diagnostics Incorporated provides diagnostic testing and services in the United States. The company develops and delivers diagnostic information services, such as routine, non-routine and advanced clinical testing, anatomic pathology testing, and other diagnostic information services.
Health Care · Medical Specialities · 46,000 employees
CRL vs DGX FAQ
Which is bigger, Charles River Laboratories International or Quest Diagnostics?
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $25.48B compared with $14.35B for Charles River Laboratories International (CRL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CRL or DGX?
CRL returned +71.79% over the past 12 months, compared with +27.60% for DGX (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Charles River Laboratories International or Quest Diagnostics?
Quest Diagnostics pays a dividend yielding 1.44%, while Charles River Laboratories International does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Charles River Laboratories International and Quest Diagnostics in the same industry?
Both are in the Health Care sector, but in different industries: Biotechnology: Commercial Physical & Biological Resarch for Charles River Laboratories International and Medical Specialities for Quest Diagnostics.