Charles River Laboratories InternationalCRL +8.31%71 Operating Margin % is 12.04% as of Mar. 2026, which is 18% below its 10-year median of 14.71. GuruFocus rates CRL with a GF Score™ of 71/100 and a GF Value™ of $194.70 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 204 Medical Diagnostics & Research companies, Charles River Laboratories International ranks better than 71.57% on this metric.
CRL'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 9.99 Med: 14.71 Max: 16.66
Current: 11.08
CRL's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 71.57% of 204
companies
in the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry
Industry Median: -3.195
vs CRL: 11.08
Charles River Laboratories International (NYSE:CRL) Operating Margin % Explanation
Just like Gross Margin %, it is important to see a company maintains its operating margin over time. Among the same industry, a company with higher operating margin is more efficient in its operation. It is also more stable during industry slowdown or recessions. Peter Lynch prefers those with higher margins than those with lower margins.
Be Aware
Operating Margin % can be manipulated by adjusting the rate of depreciation, depletion and amortization (DDA).
If a company is facing competition, its Operating Margin % may decline. Often the Operating Margin % declines well before the company's Revenue or even profit decline. Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important indicator of whether the company is facing problems.
For instance, by 2012, Nokia (NOK)'s problems were well known and its stock had lost more than 90% of its market value since 2007. But Nokias Operating Margin % had already been in decline since 2002, although its Earnings per Share (Diluted) were still rising. Investors who paid attention to Operating Margin % would have avoided this huge loss. The same can be said for Research-in-Motion (RIMM).
Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important screening filter for GuruFocus. GuruFocus's Buffett-Munger screener requires that the profit margin is either consistent or expanding. The Model Portfolio of the Buffett-Munger screener has outperformed the market every year since inception in 2009.
Charles River Laboratories International Operating Margin % Related Terms
Charles River Laboratories International Operating Margin % Historical Data
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Charles River Laboratories International Operating Margin % Chart
Charles River Laboratories International Annual Data
CRL vs QGEN, ICLR, RVTY: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Diagnostics & Research subindustry, Charles River Laboratories International's Operating Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Operating Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Charles River Laboratories International Operating Margin % vs Medical Diagnostics & Research Industry
For the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry and Healthcare sector, Charles River Laboratories International's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Charles River Laboratories International's Operating Margin % falls into.
Charles River Laboratories International Operating Margin % Calculation
Operating Margin % - also known as operating income margin, operating profit margin and return on sales (ROS) - is the ratio of Operating Income divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Charles River Laboratories International (CRL) has a Operating Margin % of 12.04% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Charles River Laboratories International and its competitors. This is 18% below median its historical median of 14.71. Over the past decade, Charles River Laboratories International's Operating Margin % has ranged from 9.99 to 16.66. According to the industry distribution chart, Charles River Laboratories International ranks #58 out of 204 companies in the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry, placing it in the top 28.4%.
Is Charles River Laboratories International's Operating Margin % too high?
Charles River Laboratories International's current Operating Margin % of 12.04% is 18% below median its 10-year median of 14.71. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 9.99 to a high of 16.66. Based on the distribution chart, Charles River Laboratories International ranks #58 out of 204 companies in the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Charles River Laboratories International has a GF Score™ of 71/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Charles River Laboratories International's Operating Margin % compare to QGEN and ICLR?
According to the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry distribution chart, Charles River Laboratories International ranks #58 out of 204 companies for Operating Margin %. This puts Charles River Laboratories International in the upper half of its industry. Historically, Charles River Laboratories International's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 9.99 to 16.66 over the past decade. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Operating Margin % for a Medical Diagnostics & Research company?
A good Operating Margin % depends on the Medical Diagnostics & Research industry context. However, Operating Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Operating Margin % mean?
A high Operating Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Charles River Laboratories International and its competitors. Charles River Laboratories International's current Operating Margin % is 12.04%, which is 18% below median its own 10-year median of 14.71. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Charles River Laboratories International stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Charles River Laboratories International (CRL) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $194.70, compared to a current price of $202.10 — trading 3.8% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 12.04%, which is 18% below median its 10-year median of 14.71. Charles River Laboratories International's overall GF Score™ is 71/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Operating Margin % calculated?
Operating Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Charles River Laboratories International (CRL), the current Operating Margin % is 12.04% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Charles River Laboratories International (CRL) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Charles River Laboratories International stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $202.10 is trading 3.8% above its estimated GF Value™ of $194.70.
GuruFocus considers Charles River Laboratories International to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for CRL:
Operating Margin %: 12.04% (18% below median its 10-year median of 14.71)
GF Value™: $194.70 vs. price of $202.10 (3.8% above fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the CRL stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Charles River Laboratories International Business Description
Charles River Laboratories was founded in 1947 and is a leading provider of drug discovery and development services. The company's research model & services segment is the leading provider of animal models for laboratory testing, which breeds and delivers animal research models with specific genetic characteristics for preclinical studies around the world. The discovery & safety assessment segment includes services required to take a drug through the early development process, including discovery services. The manufacturing support segment includes microbial solutions, which provides in vitro (non-animal) testing products, biologics testing services, and avian vaccine services.
71GF Score
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