Charles River Laboratories International (CRL) cut its 2026 earnings guidance after reporting a second quarter net loss and slightly lower revenue. The company also continued its share repurchase program during the same period.

Despite the cut to 2026 earnings guidance and the recent quarterly net loss, Charles River Laboratories International’s share price has risen strongly over recent months, with a 30-day share price return of 24.44% and a 90-day share price return of 78.93%. The 1-year total shareholder return of 76.17% contrasts with a weaker 5-year total shareholder return of a 34.69% decline, suggesting that recent momentum has picked up after a tougher longer period.

If this shift in sentiment has you thinking about other potential opportunities in the market, it could be a useful moment to see what else is moving through 42 healthcare AI stocks

Charles River Laboratories International has rebounded sharply, even as guidance and recent results point to pressure on earnings. Given that backdrop and the ongoing buybacks, does it make more sense to wait for a better entry, or to lean into the rerating now?

Most Popular Narrative: 11% Undervalued

Charles River Laboratories International’s most followed narrative points to a fair value of $313.61 versus the last close of $279.19. That gap frames the debate around whether the recent rally has already done most of the work or if the market is still playing catch up with the narrative.

The Hidden Bottleneck in Drug Development: Why Charles River Acquired a Cambodian Primate Supplier

On January 12, 2026, Charles River Laboratories announced that it had signed an agreement to acquire the assets of K.F. (Cambodia) Ltd., a major non-human primate (NHP) breeding and supply company. [$510M]

At first glance, this transaction might appear to be a routine supply chain acquisition in the contract research organization (CRO) industry.

However, the deeper implication is far more significant.

The deal effectively expands and secures access to NHP supply, highlighting how critical primate availability has become in modern drug development.

In other words, this acquisition reveals one of the hidden bottlenecks in the pharmaceutical research ecosystem: the supply of non-human primates.

Want to see why this narrative still arrives at a higher fair value than today’s share price? According to AnimalDoctorKwon, the story leans heavily on tighter primate supply, revenue growth assumptions and future margins tied to that bottleneck. The full narrative spells out how those moving parts connect to that $313.61 figure without assuming blue sky outcomes.

Result: Fair Value of $313.61 (UNDERVALUED)

However, Charles River Laboratories International still faces clear risks if primate supply conditions ease faster than expected, or if regulators tighten rules on NHP sourcing and use.

Next Steps

With Charles River Laboratories International pulling in both concern and optimism right now, it makes sense to move fast and test the numbers for yourself. To see the full balance of potential upside against the issues that investors are worried about, start with these 3 key rewards and 2 important warning signs.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.