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ARGX vs. ICLR: argenx vs. ICON Stock Comparison

How do argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ARGX is classified in Biotechnology while ICLR is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.

ICON (ICLR) trades as ordinary local shares, while argenx (ARGX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR)
Profile ItemARGXICLR
Nameargenx SE American Depositary ReceiptICON plc
Country/RegionNetherlandsIreland
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyLife Sciences Tools & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyLife Sciences Tools & Services
Market Capitalization58.31 billion USD15.34 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMay 18, 2017May 15, 1998
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ARGX
ICLR
GSPC
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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricARGXICLR
Total Return (1Y)11.91%30.55%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)25.68%-6.05%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)24.22%-5.40%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ARGX
ICLR
GSPC
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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricARGXICLR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)37.87%68.62%
Beta (5Y)0.451.17
Max Drawdown (5Y)-38.20%-76.87%
Avg. Volume (3M)359.84K943.50K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ARGX and ICLR are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricARGXICLR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.200.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.310.52

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: ICON (ICLR) earns 4.70% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; argenx (ARGX) has no ROE this period.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
ARGX
--

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.70%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
ICLR
4.70%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR): ARGX does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; ICLR is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

argenx (ARGX) at 31.73% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and ICON (ICLR) at 5.26% also retains a top-quartile share.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

31.73%

ARGX
31.73%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.26%

Max
18.05%
ICLR
5.26%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

argenx (ARGX) at 36.27% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of ICON (ICLR) at 10.73%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

36.27%

Max
83.12%
ARGX
36.27%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.73%

Max
83.12%
Q3
14.77%
ICLR
10.73%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricARGXICLR
ROE (TTM)--4.70%
ROA (TTM)--0.85%
Net Margin (TTM)31.73%5.26%
Operating Margin (TTM)36.27%10.73%
Gross Margin (TTM)59.84%23.44%

Growth

Revenue Growth

argenx (ARGX) at 89.64% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for ARGX.

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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

argenx (ARGX) at 53.13% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while ICON (ICLR) at -71.56% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricARGXICLR
Revenue Growth (YoY)89.64%0.76%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)116.25%2.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)53.13%-71.56%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---23.82%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: ICON (ICLR) shows current ratio of 1.32 against its industry benchmark, while argenx (ARGX) has no reading this period.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10
ARGX
--

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.32

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
ICLR
1.32
Min
0.10
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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR): ARGX does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; ICLR is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

argenx (ARGX) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.01

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
ARGX
0.01
Min
0.00

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.38

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
ICLR
0.38
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricARGXICLR
Current Ratio (MRQ)--1.32
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.010.38
Net Debt / EBITDA-2.705.55

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither argenx (ARGX) nor ICON (ICLR) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

ARGX
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

ICLR
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither argenx (ARGX) nor ICON (ICLR) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

ARGX
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

ICLR
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricARGXICLR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

argenx (ARGX) at 32.12 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while ICON (ICLR) at 81.90 sits in the richer quartile — ICLR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

32.12

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
ARGX
32.12
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

81.90

Max
85.34
ICLR
81.90
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

ICON (ICLR) at 1.86 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while argenx (ARGX) at 9.86 prices around its industry’s middle — ICLR costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

9.86

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
ARGX
9.86
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.86

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
ICLR
1.86
Min
0.01
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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

ICON (ICLR) at 1.68 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while argenx (ARGX) at 172.23 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

172.23

ARGX
172.23
Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59

ICLR

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.68

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
ICLR
1.68
Min
-5.59
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argenx (ARGX) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for argenx (ARGX) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricARGXICLR
P/E Ratio (TTM)32.1281.90
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.861.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)172.231.68
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--3.51%