Preclinical testing firm Charles River Laboratories Intl, Inc. (CRL) dropped –11.30% as mergers and acquisitions ramped up in the health-care sector. Health-care consolidations have been rising, the most prominent being a proposed $100 billion acquisition of Astra-Zeneca by Pfizer Inc. (PFE), and with mergers come the rationalization of research capabilities. The market tends to react swiftly and sharply to such events. We think such reactions are generally overblown, as the effects tend to be more short-term than long-term; as such we think Charles River has become a better bargain lately.
From John Rogers (Trades, Portfolio)' Ariel Fund Second Quarter 2014 Commentary.
