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Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 2 lowered, 1 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue down, organic revenue up: Reported revenue was $982.7 million, down 2.2% mainly on May 2026 divestitures. Organic revenue grew 4.7%, led by Manufacturing and DSA. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS up 27.2%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $3.09, up from $2.43, driven primarily by the higher operating margin and a lower tax rate. Source
  • GAAP EPS lifted by tax reversal: GAAP diluted EPS was $6.86, against $1.10 a year earlier. The benefit was $5.06 per share from reversing acquired tax reserves. Source
  • DSA organic growth 5.9%: DSA revenue was $596.3 million, down 0.7% on the European Discovery Services divestiture. Organic revenue rose 5.9% on higher regulated safety assessment study volume. Source
  • DSA bookings and proposals rising: Management said DSA net bookings and proposals kept rising year over year. The release does not give a bookings figure. Source

“In the third quarter, we were encouraged by the continued strength of the biopharmaceutical demand environment and that was reflected in our financial results.”

Birgit Girshick, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth, reported Source2026 full year(2.0)% - (1.5)%Raised from (3.5)% - (2.5)%
Revenue growth, organic Source2026 full yearAt least +1.5%Raised from 0.0% - 1.0%
GAAP diluted EPS Source2026 full year$8.15 - $8.35Raised from $3.05 - $3.35
Non-GAAP diluted EPS Source2026 full year$11.35 - $11.55Raised from $11.15 - $11.45
Acquisition-related amortization (per share) Source2026 full year~$2.10Lowered from ~$2.30
Acquisition- and divestiture-related costs (per share) Source2026 full year~$4.70Lowered from ~$4.75
Reversal of acquired tax reserves (per share) Source2026 full year($5.03)New
Restructuring and efficiency initiative costs (per share) Source2026 full year~$1.50Raised from ~$1.20
Other, net (per share) Source2026 full year($0.03)Raised from ($0.17)
Impact from divestitures Source2026 full year~4.5%Kept
Contribution from acquisitions Source2026 full year0.0% - (0.5)%Kept
Foreign exchange impact Source2026 full year(0.5)% - (1.0)%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: 2026 revenue and EPS guidance raised: organic growth, non-GAAP EPS and GAAP EPS ranges are all higher than the August 5, 2026 update. Source
  • New: The Create the Future initiative was introduced alongside the Pathway to Purpose vision at the 2026 Investor Day. Source
  • New: Charles River announced an industry collaboration with the FDA to validate preclinical screening tools for the abuse potential of new drugs. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue down, organic revenue up: Reported revenue was $982.7 million, down 2.2% mainly on May 2026 divestitures. Organic revenue grew 4.7%, led by Manufacturing and DSA. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS up 27.2%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $3.09, up from $2.43, driven primarily by the higher operating margin and a lower tax rate. Source
  • GAAP EPS lifted by tax reversal: GAAP diluted EPS was $6.86, against $1.10 a year earlier. The benefit was $5.06 per share from reversing acquired tax reserves. Source
  • Operating margins higher year on year: Non-GAAP operating margin rose to 23.0% from 19.7%. GAAP operating margin rose to 20.6% from 13.3%, the company reported. Source

Segments and regions

  • DSA organic growth 5.9%: DSA revenue was $596.3 million, down 0.7% on the European Discovery Services divestiture. Organic revenue rose 5.9% on higher regulated safety assessment study volume. Source
  • DSA non-GAAP margin rose: DSA non-GAAP operating margin rose to 26.8% from 25.4%, on operating leverage from higher study volume and lower sourcing costs for large research models. Source
  • Manufacturing organic growth 7.4%: Manufacturing revenue was $178.9 million, down 6.2% on the CDMO divestiture. Organic revenue rose 7.4% on Biologics Testing Solutions and Microbial Solutions demand. Source
  • Manufacturing margin reached 38.6%: Manufacturing non-GAAP operating margin rose to 38.6% from 26.7%. The company attributed the GAAP and non-GAAP increases mainly to the CDMO divestiture benefit. Source
  • RMS revenue and organic decline: RMS revenue was $207.5 million, down 2.8% on the Cell Solutions divestiture. Organic revenue fell 0.6%, partly offset by small research models in China. Source
  • RMS margin fell on mix: RMS non-GAAP operating margin decreased to 24.4% from 25.0%, driven by unfavorable revenue mix, both geographically and for large research models. Source

“Revenue and earnings per share outperformed our prior expectations, DSA net bookings and proposals continued to show robust, year-over-year increases, and we continued to make meaningful progress towards our strategy and long-term financial targets.”

Birgit Girshick, Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and tax

  • Tax line was a benefit: The company recorded a tax benefit of $163.8 million for the quarter, against a $31.6 million provision a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month CDMO divestiture loss: For nine months, the company booked a $181.7 million loss on the CDMO and Cell Solutions divestiture, net of a $1.4 million gain on European Discovery sites. Source
  • Wilmington asset sale gain: A $38.5 million pre-tax gain on the sale of Wilmington assets is included in cost savings and efficiency initiatives: $23.2 million in RMS and $15.3 million in corporate. Source

Demand and the order book

  • DSA bookings and proposals rising: Management said DSA net bookings and proposals kept rising year over year. The release does not give a bookings figure. Source
  • China and Insourcing offset RMS declines: Higher revenue for small research models in China and for Insourcing Solutions partly offset RMS declines this quarter. Source

“Through our Pathway to Purpose strategy, we are building a more agile, client-centric organization that will deepen client relationships, expand engagement across our portfolio, and increase our share of R&D spend as demand trends continue to improve.”

Birgit Girshick, Chief Executive Officer

Products and platforms

  • Automated Endosafe production suite: The Endosafe Cartridge Technology Automated Manufacturing Suite increases production capacity and strengthens manufacturing controls and digital traceability. Source
  • Apollo Orchestrate launched with Autolomous: Charles River partnered with Autolomous to launch Apollo Orchestrate, a capability to digitize and transform laboratory workflows and add client connectivity. Source
  • Rapid cell banking program: A new rapid cell banking program in Biologics Testing Solutions uses in vitro next-generation sequencing to speed product release timelines under the AMAP initiative. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Operating cash flow lower: Nine-month net cash from operating activities was $474.9 million, against $590.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Acquisition and capital spending: Nine-month spending was $467.3 million on acquisitions of businesses and assets and $133.8 million on capital expenditures. Source
  • Treasury stock purchases: Purchases of treasury stock totaled $324.1 million in the nine months, against $360.6 million in the same period of 2025. Source
  • Long-term debt increased: Long-term debt, net and finance leases was $2,443.5 million at September 26, 2026, up from $2,136.4 million at December 27, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
DSA net bookings and proposals Sourceincreasing year over year (no figure given)
DSA regulated safety assessment study volume Sourcehigher year over year

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: RMS organic revenue declined on lower North America small research model revenue and lower large research model revenue. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it continued to make progress toward its strategy and long-term financial targets. No status was given against specific targets. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.