Charles River Laboratories Shares Drop 10.25% Despite 49.73% Volume Surge Ranking 339th in Market Activity as Order Cancellations Weigh on Investor Sentiment

On August 6, 2025, Charles River Laboratories (CRL) saw a trading volume of $0.35 billion, a 49.73% increase from the previous day, ranking 339th in market activity. The stock closed with a 10.25% decline, reflecting investor concerns over recent business developments.

Investor sentiment was dampened by elevated client order cancellations, despite the company raising its 2025 adjusted profit forecast to $9.90–$10.30 per share. The quarterly book-to-bill ratio of 0.82x fell short of Wall Street expectations of 0.94x, signaling lingering demand uncertainty. CEO Jim Foster noted higher cancellation rates from biotech clients, attributing this to tighter funding for smaller firms, though mid-sized biotechs showed resilience in sustaining R&D programs without external capital.

Charles River reported Q2 revenue of $1.03 billion, exceeding estimates of $985.1 million, with adjusted earnings of $3.12 per share outperforming forecasts of $2.50. While the firm highlighted stabilization in biopharmaceutical demand, analysts remain cautious about near-term growth sustainability, particularly given the sector’s sensitivity to biotech funding cycles.

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