October 10, 2025 a 08:38 pm
CRL: Analysts Ratings - Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) has demonstrated a shifting sentiment among analysts with increasing interest towards hold recommendations. Despite the challenges posed in the non-clinical contract research sector, recent data shows a moderate inclination towards buy ratings, although caution persists. The firm's diverse service offerings seemingly instill confidence but warrant careful monitoring of market dynamics.
Historical Stock Grades
The data from October 1, 2025, indicates a significant leaning towards Hold ratings, which account for over half of the analyst recommendations. While Buy ratings show a decent presence, Strong Buy levels are relatively muted, suggesting mixed confidence levels among analysts.
| Recommendation | Count | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Strong Buy | 2 | |
| Buy | 7 | |
| Hold | 11 | |
| Sell | 0 | |
| Strong Sell | 0 |
Sentiment development
Throughout recent months, there's been a notable increase in Hold ratings, reflecting a more cautious stance among analysts. The Buy category has seen fluctuations but remains stable overall. Meanwhile, Strong Buys have diminished slightly, illustrating a tempered outlook. Trends include:
- An increase in Hold ratings from 12 to 11 over recent months.
- Strong Buy ratings remain below historical highs, indicating selective confidence.
- Stable Buy ratings suggest a steady but cautious approach.
Percentage trends
The percentage distribution of analyst ratings highlights subtle shifts, particularly in the Hold and Buy categories. While Hold ratings rose, indicating increased caution, Strong Buy ratings declined, showing reduced bullish sentiment:
- From August to October 2025, Hold ratings comprised over 50%, up from 44% in earlier months.
- Strong Buy ratings decreased, representing only 10% as opposed to earlier highs of 20%.
- The Buy category remains stable around 30%, indicating moderate positive sentiment.
Latest Analyst Recommendations
Recent analyst activity has included upgrades and maintained recommendations, signifying varied confidence levels across different firms. This table provides a snapshot of the latest sentiment shifts:
| Date | New Recommendation | Last Recommendation | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-06 | Outperform | Market Perform | William Blair |
| 2025-10-03 | Outperform | Outperform | Evercore ISI Group |
| 2025-10-02 | Overweight | Equal Weight | Barclays |
| 2025-09-09 | Buy | Hold | Jefferies |
| 2025-08-08 | Outperform | Outperform | Evercore ISI Group |
Analyst Recommendations with Change of Opinion
When focusing on changes in opinion, recent upgrades indicate a more optimistic outlook among certain analysts. This is exemplified by the following recommendations:
| Date | New Recommendation | Last Recommendation | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-06 | Outperform | Market Perform | William Blair |
| 2025-10-02 | Overweight | Equal Weight | Barclays |
| 2025-09-09 | Buy | Hold | Jefferies |
| 2025-07-09 | Buy | Neutral | Citigroup |
| 2025-05-23 | Buy | Neutral | Redburn Atlantic |
Interpretation
The current analytical climate surrounding CRL suggests a cautious yet not overly pessimistic sentiment. The prevalence of Hold recommendations might indicate market uncertainty, reflecting caution rather than outright skepticism. Nonetheless, recent upgrades reflect some restored confidence, hinting at potential growth and stability. Despite mixed sentiments, the analyst consensus remains without a notable consensus on either excessive optimism or deep caution.
Conclusion
The analysis of Charles River Laboratories' stock highlights both potential and challenges. While the increase in Hold recommendations suggests caution, steady Buy levels may indicate underlying confidence in the company's diverse services. With recent upgrades from notable analysts, there appears to be an optimistic view beginning to take shape. However, the risk of market volatility narrates the need for careful observation. As the firm navigates through the complexities of its sector, staying informed on analyst trends will be crucial for stakeholders.