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ICLR vs. IQV: ICON vs. IQVIA Stock Comparison

How do ICON (ICLR) 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

ICON (ICLR) and IQVIA (IQV) 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.

Company profile comparison for ICON (ICLR) and IQVIA (IQV)
Profile ItemICLRIQV
NameICON plcIQVIA Holdings Inc.
Country/RegionIrelandUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesLife Sciences Tools & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesLife Sciences Tools & Services
Market Capitalization15.34 billion USD44.80 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 15, 1998May 9, 2013
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ICLR
IQV
GSPC
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ICON (ICLR) vs. IQVIA (IQV), 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 ICON (ICLR) and IQVIA (IQV). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ICON (ICLR) and IQVIA (IQV)
MetricICLRIQV
Total Return (1Y)30.55%32.11%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-6.05%13.15%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.40%2.00%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ICLR
IQV
GSPC
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ICON (ICLR) vs. IQVIA (IQV), 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 ICON (ICLR) and IQVIA (IQV). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ICON (ICLR) and IQVIA (IQV)
MetricICLRIQV
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)68.62%40.77%
Beta (5Y)1.171.14
Max Drawdown (5Y)-76.87%-51.52%
Avg. Volume (3M)943.50K1.40M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ICLR and IQV 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 ICON (ICLR) and IQVIA (IQV)
MetricICLRIQV
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.380.68
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.521.03

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

IQVIA (IQV) at 21.39% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ICON (ICLR) at 4.70% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for IQV.

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%

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%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. IQVIA (IQV): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both ICON (ICLR) at 5.26% and IQVIA (IQV) at 8.05% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both ICON (ICLR) at 10.73% and IQVIA (IQV) at 13.73% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

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%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. IQVIA (IQV): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ICON (ICLR) and IQVIA (IQV)
MetricICLRIQV
ROE (TTM)4.70%21.39%
ROA (TTM)0.85%5.08%
Net Margin (TTM)5.26%8.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.73%13.73%
Gross Margin (TTM)23.44%33.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% and IQVIA (IQV) at 5.87% 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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ICON (ICLR) vs. IQVIA (IQV): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

IQVIA (IQV) at 4.67% 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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ICON (ICLR) vs. IQVIA (IQV): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ICON (ICLR) and IQVIA (IQV)
MetricICLRIQV
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.76%5.87%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.15%4.21%
EPS Growth (YoY)-71.56%4.67%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-23.82%11.08%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both ICON (ICLR) at 1.32 and IQVIA (IQV) at 0.83 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

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
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ICON (ICLR) vs. IQVIA (IQV): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while IQVIA (IQV) at 2.40 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

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

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
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ICON (ICLR) vs. IQVIA (IQV): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for ICON (ICLR) and IQVIA (IQV)
MetricICLRIQV
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.320.83
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.382.40
Net Debt / EBITDA5.554.46

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

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

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%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

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

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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ICON (ICLR) and IQVIA (IQV)
MetricICLRIQV
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

IQVIA (IQV) at 33.07 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.

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

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
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ICON (ICLR) vs. IQVIA (IQV): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both ICON (ICLR) at 1.86 and IQVIA (IQV) at 2.59 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

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
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ICON (ICLR) vs. IQVIA (IQV): 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 IQVIA (IQV) at 6.73 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.

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

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
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ICON (ICLR) vs. IQVIA (IQV): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ICON (ICLR) and IQVIA (IQV)
MetricICLRIQV
P/E Ratio (TTM)81.9033.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.862.59
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.686.73
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.51%4.72%