** Contract research firm Charles River Laboratories' CRL.N shares rise 3.7% to $160.12
** Reports Q4 adj profit of $2.66 per share, beating analysts' average estimate of $2.53 per share - LSEG
** Co posts Q4 sales of $1 billion, beating estimates of $983.6 million
** Expects 2025 reported revenue to decline between 4.5% and 7.5%
** Co expects biotechnology demand to be "stable to slightly improved" this year
** Co also forecast 2025 adj profit in the range of $9.10 per share to $9.60 per share, the mid-point falling below analysts' estimates of $9.57 per share
** All in, while these results are not pretty, they are likely better than worst-case fears - brokerage Evercore ISI
** Stock fell 21.9% in 2024
(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole)
((Siddhiprabhanjan.mahatole@thomsonreuters.com))