Does CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. have an economic moat?

Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. (CRL) 42.9 out of 100 — a Shallow moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 100, returns on capital 35, balance-sheet safety 0, capital discipline 12.

Is CRL stock trading below its intrinsic value?

Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $96.57 per share versus a recent price of $224.35 — 132% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.

How has CRL's Moat Score changed over time?

The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 42.9 out of 100 (shallow moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

The Moat Index

CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CRL · Consumer Discretionary · $11.0B mkt cap · FY2025 filings · Shallow moat ·

Doesn't clear the bar

Shallow moat

The four filters

Pricing power100

Median gross margin 84.0% over 2y, very stable.

Returns on capital35

Median ROIC 9.0%, above the 9% hurdle in 50% of years.

Balance-sheet safety0

Net debt/EBITDA 4.5x, interest coverage 0x.

Capital discipline12

Owner earnings -17.5%/yr, share count growing (dilution).

Margin of safety

Above valueOn sale

132% above value

Owner earnings (normalized): $427.8M
Est. intrinsic value / share: $96.57
Recent price: $224.35
Discount to value: 132% above value

Conservative model: 9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth (capped at 4%), maintenance capex ≈ min(capex, D&A).

19 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

Across the filed record, revenue grew from $1.3B (FY2008) to $4.0B (FY2025) — about 6.9% a year compounded over 17 years.

It earned 0.4% on invested capital in FY2025, with a median of 9.3% across 18 filed years. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 35/100.

The balance sheet carried $2.1B of total debt in FY2025 against $39.8M of owner earnings — roughly 53.7 years of owner earnings to retire it all. Balance-Sheet Safety scores it 0/100.

The share count fell 25.3% between FY2009 and FY2025 — management has been retiring shares, which concentrates each remaining owner's claim. Capital Discipline scores it 12/100.

Put together: Pricing Power is the strongest of the four filters (100/100) and Balance-Sheet Safety the weakest (0/100), which is how CRL lands at 43/100 — a Shallow moat.

This breakdown is generated from the filed numbers and sub-scores above — no outside narrative, no estimates. Where a filing doesn’t disclose an input, the sentence that would need it is omitted instead of guessed.

RevenueSales, as filed$4.0B FY2025

Gross marginRevenue kept after cost of goods84.4% FY2017

Return on invested capitalOperating profit on the capital employed0.4% FY2025

Owner earningsCash an owner could take out$39.8M FY2025

Gaps in a line mean that item isn’t in CRL’s filings for that year — the series is never interpolated or estimated. The Table view lists every filed value, including operating and net margins, total debt, and share count.

Moat Score history

Moat Score over timeLast scored reading of each day, on the 0–100 scale42.9 / 100

Score history begins Jul 17, 2026 — the record builds from here and can’t be backfilled.

Tier changesSame-methodology crossings of the Wide / Narrow / Shallow bars

None yet — CRL has read Shallow moat for every logged capture since Jul 17, 2026.

Scores are logged append-only and never overwritten — this record can’t be backfilled, which is exactly why it’s worth keeping.

Consumer Discretionary context

#191 of 340 scored Consumer Discretionary companies, ranked by Moat Score.

Nearest peers by Moat Score

#189GPI Group 1 Automotive, Inc43.2 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#190WAB WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION43.1 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#192SMP STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC.42.8 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#193TH TARGET HOSPITALITY CORP.42.8 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat

Compare CRL with its nearest peers →All Consumer Discretionary companies on the Index →

Common questions about CRL

Does CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. have an economic moat?: Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. (CRL) 42.9 out of 100 — a Shallow moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 100, returns on capital 35, balance-sheet safety 0, capital discipline 12.
Is CRL stock trading below its intrinsic value?: Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $96.57 per share versus a recent price of $224.35 — 132% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.
How has CRL's Moat Score changed over time?: The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 42.9 out of 100 (shallow moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

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Scored from primary SEC filings via the public methodology. Educational only — not a recommendation to buy or sell CRL. See the disclaimer.