11 Worst Performing Stocks in S&P 500 So Far in 2025

3. Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL)

YTD Decline in Share Price: -37.22%

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL) is a drug development company that provides essential products and services to help pharmaceutical and biotech companies, academic institutions, and government agencies worldwide accelerate their R&D efforts.

It is among the worst performing stocks this year. The company’s shares have slumped this month after the FDA announced plans to replace animal testing for monoclonal antibody therapies and other drugs with more effective methods, such as AI-based models. The decision has come as a huge blow to Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL), which is heavily reliant on animal-based preclinical research.

Shortly after the announcement, analysts adjusted their positions on Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL). This included Mizuho, which lowered its price target to $155 per share from $175, and Barclays, which revised the target to $145 from $160. The consensus analyst rating for CRL is now Hold, reflecting the growing uncertainty around the company.

Upslope Capital Management stated the following regarding Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL) in its Q1 2025 investor letter:

“Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL) (CRL, testing, discovery, and safety for biopharma) – sold due to a thesis break when the FDA announced the phase-out of animal testing requirements for certain drugs. This was a risk I’d worried about, and given an already-challenging environment for the company I decided the thesis (cyclical bottom) had been broken.”

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL) is scheduled to announce financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 on May 7. Based on the forecast of 8 analysts, the company is expected to report EPS of $2.06, down from $2.27 during the same period last year.