ARGX vs. IQV: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ARGX and IQV, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
ARGX trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors a convenient way to access its foreign-listed shares. In contrast, IQV is a standard domestic listing.
| Symbol | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | argenx SE | IQVIA Holdings Inc. |
| Country | Netherlands | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry | Biotechnology | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 41.33 billion USD | 32.65 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 18, 2017 | May 9, 2013 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ARGX and IQV by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 1.49% | 1.39% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 7.13% | 33.79% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -8.03% | -2.05% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 20.32% | -21.01% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -5.96% | 3.33% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -6.83% | -2.27% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 0.08M | 1.14M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 0.08M | 2.21M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 36.77% | 45.60% |
| Beta | 0.75 | 1.34 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
ARGX
17.59%
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 77.14%
- Q3
- 10.76%
- Median
- -20.08%
- Q1
- -42.71%
- Min
- -119.20%
In the upper quartile for the Biotechnology industry, ARGX’s Return on Equity of 17.59% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
IQV
19.96%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 19.96%
- Q3
- 11.55%
- Median
- 6.22%
- Q1
- 3.86%
- Min
- -6.95%
In the upper quartile for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, IQV’s Return on Equity of 19.96% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
ARGX
-23.60%
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 59.44%
- Q3
- 16.21%
- Median
- -11.49%
- Q1
- -167.42%
- Min
- -409.07%
ARGX has a negative Net Profit Margin of -23.60%, indicating the company is operating at a net loss as its expenses exceeded its revenues.
IQV
7.88%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 27.28%
- Q3
- 16.17%
- Median
- 7.24%
- Q1
- 3.00%
- Min
- -3.05%
IQV’s Net Profit Margin of 7.88% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
ARGX
-40.34%
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 60.62%
- Q3
- 20.76%
- Median
- -12.41%
- Q1
- -181.14%
- Min
- -482.02%
ARGX has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -40.34%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.
IQV
13.85%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 33.15%
- Q3
- 19.34%
- Median
- 13.02%
- Q1
- 8.05%
- Min
- -4.38%
IQV’s Operating Profit Margin of 13.85% is around the midpoint for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 17.59% | 19.96% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 15.24% | 4.50% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | -23.60% | 7.88% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | -40.34% | 13.85% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 90.83% | 34.25% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
ARGX
5.60
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 19.31
- Q3
- 9.38
- Median
- 4.54
- Q1
- 2.45
- Min
- 0.76
ARGX’s Current Ratio of 5.60 aligns with the median group of the Biotechnology industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
IQV
0.84
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 4.76
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.85
- Q1
- 1.40
- Min
- 0.43
IQV’s Current Ratio of 0.84 falls into the lower quartile for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
ARGX
0.01
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 1.35
- Q3
- 0.64
- Median
- 0.09
- Q1
- 0.00
- Min
- 0.00
ARGX’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.01 is typical for the Biotechnology industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
IQV
2.68
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 1.75
- Q3
- 0.83
- Median
- 0.41
- Q1
- 0.18
- Min
- 0.00
With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.68, IQV operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
ARGX
-81.88
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 72.37
- Q3
- 1.91
- Median
- -7.81
- Q1
- -63.90
- Min
- -153.80
ARGX has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -81.88. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
IQV
3.68
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 29.61
- Q3
- 23.24
- Median
- 6.07
- Q1
- 2.18
- Min
- -14.08
IQV’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 3.68 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 5.60 | 0.84 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 4.92 | 0.81 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.01 | 2.68 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -81.88 | 3.68 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
ARGX
0.00%
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ARGX currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
IQV
0.00%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 1.80%
- Q3
- 0.78%
- Median
- 0.37%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
IQV currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
ARGX
0.00%
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ARGX has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
IQV
0.00%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 156.00%
- Q3
- 65.73%
- Median
- 23.81%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
IQV has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
ARGX
31.14
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 60.14
- Q3
- 38.17
- Median
- 29.01
- Q1
- 15.12
- Min
- 0.00
ARGX’s P/E Ratio of 31.14 is within the middle range for the Biotechnology industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
IQV
26.37
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 117.96
- Q3
- 65.59
- Median
- 37.26
- Q1
- 27.51
- Min
- 1.73
In the lower quartile for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, IQV’s P/E Ratio of 26.37 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
ARGX
29.31
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 76.98
- Q3
- 36.53
- Median
- 9.49
- Q1
- 4.49
- Min
- 0.00
ARGX’s P/S Ratio of 29.31 aligns with the market consensus for the Biotechnology industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
IQV
2.08
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 12.46
- Q3
- 6.70
- Median
- 4.24
- Q1
- 2.68
- Min
- 0.73
In the lower quartile for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, IQV’s P/S Ratio of 2.08 indicates its revenue is valued more conservatively than most of its peers. This could present a compelling opportunity if the market has overlooked its sales-generating capabilities.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
ARGX
5.48
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 20.53
- Q3
- 9.76
- Median
- 4.77
- Q1
- 2.49
- Min
- 0.59
ARGX’s P/B Ratio of 5.48 is within the conventional range for the Biotechnology industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
IQV
4.72
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 7.99
- Q3
- 4.69
- Median
- 3.30
- Q1
- 1.88
- Min
- 1.02
IQV’s P/B Ratio of 4.72 is in the upper tier for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ARGX | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 31.14 | 26.37 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 29.31 | 2.08 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 5.48 | 4.72 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | -- | 16.23 |