AVTR vs. ICLR: Avantor vs. ICON Stock Comparison
How do Avantor (AVTR) 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
Avantor (AVTR) and ICON (ICLR) are both classified in the Life Sciences Tools & Services sub-industry within the broader Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | AVTR | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Avantor, Inc. | ICON plc |
| Country/Region | United States | Ireland |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 10.48 billion USD | 15.34 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | May 17, 2019 | May 15, 1998 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 36.41% | 30.55% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -5.02% | -6.05% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -16.62% | -5.40% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 43.39% | 68.62% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.94 | 1.17 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -82.42% | -76.87% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.56M | 943.50K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.74 | 0.38 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.17 | 0.52 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Avantor (AVTR) at 5.91% and ICON (ICLR) at 4.70% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.91%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- AVTR
- 5.91%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
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%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Avantor (AVTR) at 5.08% and ICON (ICLR) at 5.26% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.08%
- Max
- 18.05%
- AVTR
- 5.08%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Avantor (AVTR) at 8.19% and ICON (ICLR) at 10.73% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
8.19%
- Max
- 83.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- AVTR
- 8.19%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 5.91% | 4.70% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.83% | 0.85% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 5.08% | 5.26% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 8.19% | 10.73% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 31.59% | 23.44% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Avantor (AVTR) at -3.41% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Avantor (AVTR) at -175.00% and ICON (ICLR) at -71.56% post bottom-quartile EPS growth versus peers, pointing to weaker earnings momentum than typical rivals.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -3.41% | 0.76% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -4.46% | 2.15% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -175.00% | -71.56% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -23.82% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Avantor (AVTR) at 1.89 and ICON (ICLR) at 1.32 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.89
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- AVTR
- 1.89
- Min
- 0.10
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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Avantor (AVTR) at 0.63 and ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.63
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- AVTR
- 0.63
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.89 | 1.32 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.63 | 0.38 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.40 | 5.55 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Avantor (AVTR) nor ICON (ICLR) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- AVTR
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither Avantor (AVTR) nor ICON (ICLR) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- AVTR
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Avantor (AVTR) at 30.94 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.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
30.94
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- AVTR
- 30.94
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Avantor (AVTR) at 1.58 and ICON (ICLR) at 1.86 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.58
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- AVTR
- 1.58
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
ICON (ICLR) at 1.68 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Avantor (AVTR) at 1.80 is valued near its industry’s middle — ICLR is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.80
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- AVTR
- 1.80
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.94 | 81.90 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.58 | 1.86 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.80 | 1.68 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.21% | 3.51% |