ARGX vs. IQV: argenx vs. IQVIA Stock Comparison
How do argenx (ARGX) and IQVIA (IQV) 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 IQVIA (IQV) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ARGX is classified in Biotechnology while IQV is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.
IQVIA (IQV) 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.
| Profile Item | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| Name | argenx SE American Depositary Receipt | IQVIA Holdings Inc. |
| Country/Region | Netherlands | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Biotechnology | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Biotechnology | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 58.31 billion USD | 44.80 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 18, 2017 | May 9, 2013 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 11.91% | 32.11% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 25.68% | 13.15% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 24.22% | 2.00% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 37.87% | 40.77% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.45 | 1.14 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -38.20% | -51.52% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 359.84K | 1.40M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.20 | 0.68 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.31 | 1.03 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: IQVIA (IQV) earns 21.39% 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
- --
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
21.39%
- Max
- 109.18%
- IQV
- 21.39%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
argenx (ARGX) at 31.73% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and IQVIA (IQV) at 8.05% 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%
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
8.05%
- Max
- 18.05%
- IQV
- 8.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
argenx (ARGX) at 36.27% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of IQVIA (IQV) at 13.73%, 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%
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.73%
- Max
- 83.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- IQV
- 13.73%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 21.39% |
| ROA (TTM) | -- | 5.08% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 31.73% | 8.05% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 36.27% | 13.73% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 59.84% | 33.07% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
argenx (ARGX) at 89.64% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while IQVIA (IQV) at 5.87% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for ARGX.
EPS Growth
Both argenx (ARGX) at 53.13% and IQVIA (IQV) at 4.67% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 89.64% | 5.87% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 116.25% | 4.21% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 53.13% | 4.67% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 11.08% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: IQVIA (IQV) shows current ratio of 0.83 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
- --
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.83
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- IQV
- 0.83
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
argenx (ARGX) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while IQVIA (IQV) at 2.40 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.
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
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.40
- IQV
- 2.40
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | 0.83 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.01 | 2.40 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -2.70 | 4.46 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither argenx (ARGX) nor IQVIA (IQV) 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%
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- IQV
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither argenx (ARGX) nor IQVIA (IQV) 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%
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- IQV
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both argenx (ARGX) at 32.12 and IQVIA (IQV) at 33.07 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
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
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
33.07
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- IQV
- 33.07
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
IQVIA (IQV) at 2.59 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while argenx (ARGX) at 9.86 prices around its industry’s middle — IQV 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
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.59
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- IQV
- 2.59
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: IQVIA (IQV) at 6.73 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and argenx (ARGX) at 172.23 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.73
- Max
- 13.53
- IQV
- 6.73
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 32.12 | 33.07 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 9.86 | 2.59 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 172.23 | 6.73 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | 4.72% |