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EXEL vs. ICLR: Exelixis vs. ICON Stock Comparison

How do Exelixis (EXEL) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Exelixis (EXEL) and ICON (ICLR)
Profile ItemEXELICLR
NameExelixis Inc.ICON plc
Country/RegionUnited StatesIreland
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 Capitalization16.98 billion USD15.34 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateApril 17, 2000May 15, 1998
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EXEL
ICLR
GSPC
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Exelixis (EXEL) 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 Exelixis (EXEL) and ICON (ICLR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricEXELICLR
Total Return (1Y)74.98%30.55%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)50.33%-6.05%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)31.10%-5.40%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

EXEL
ICLR
GSPC
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Exelixis (EXEL) 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 Exelixis (EXEL) and ICON (ICLR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricEXELICLR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.17%68.62%
Beta (5Y)0.411.17
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.41%-76.87%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.33M943.50K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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EXEL 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 Exelixis (EXEL) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricEXELICLR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.070.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.230.52

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Exelixis (EXEL) at 44.32% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ICON (ICLR) at 4.70% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for EXEL.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

44.32%

Max
109.18%
EXEL
44.32%
Q3
6.23%
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%
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Exelixis (EXEL) at 35.45% 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.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

35.45%

EXEL
35.45%
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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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Exelixis (EXEL) at 40.75% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of ICON (ICLR) at 10.73%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

40.75%

Max
83.12%
EXEL
40.75%
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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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricEXELICLR
ROE (TTM)44.32%4.70%
ROA (TTM)23.52%0.85%
Net Margin (TTM)35.45%5.26%
Operating Margin (TTM)40.75%10.73%
Gross Margin (TTM)96.26%23.44%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Exelixis (EXEL) at 6.98% and ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Exelixis (EXEL) at 57.95% 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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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricEXELICLR
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.98%0.76%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)12.93%2.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)57.95%-71.56%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)70.59%-23.82%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Exelixis (EXEL) at 3.21 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while ICON (ICLR) at 1.32 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ICLR.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.21

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
EXEL
3.21
Q1
2.47
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
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Exelixis (EXEL) at 0.09 and ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.09

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
EXEL
0.09
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
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Exelixis (EXEL) 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 Exelixis (EXEL) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricEXELICLR
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.211.32
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.090.38
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.715.55

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

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

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

EXEL
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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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

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

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

EXEL
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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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricEXELICLR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Exelixis (EXEL) at 20.83 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.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

20.83

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
EXEL
20.83
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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Exelixis (EXEL) 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 Exelixis (EXEL) at 6.80 prices around its industry’s middle — ICLR costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.80

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
EXEL
6.80
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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Exelixis (EXEL) 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 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Exelixis (EXEL) at 9.28 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

9.28

Max
13.53
EXEL
9.28
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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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. ICON (ICLR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and ICON (ICLR)
MetricEXELICLR
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.8381.90
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.801.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)9.281.68
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.47%3.51%