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ICLR vs. JNJ: ICON vs. Johnson & Johnson Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for ICON (ICLR) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Profile ItemICLRJNJ
NameICON plcJohnson & Johnson
Country/RegionIrelandUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization15.34 billion USD664.95 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 15, 1998January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ICLR
JNJ
GSPC
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), 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 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
MetricICLRJNJ
Total Return (1Y)30.55%53.82%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-6.05%27.51%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.40%14.71%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ICLR
JNJ
GSPC
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), 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 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
MetricICLRJNJ
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)68.62%21.23%
Beta (5Y)1.170.21
Max Drawdown (5Y)-76.87%-18.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)943.50K6.93M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ICLR and JNJ 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 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
MetricICLRJNJ
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.382.33
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.523.66

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 20.02% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ICON (ICLR) at 4.70% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for JNJ.

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%

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

20.02%

Max
109.18%
JNJ
20.02%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): 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 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 16.20% 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%

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

16.20%

Max
18.05%
JNJ
16.20%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 25.74% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of ICON (ICLR) at 10.73%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

25.74%

Max
83.12%
JNJ
25.74%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
MetricICLRJNJ
ROE (TTM)4.70%20.02%
ROA (TTM)0.85%8.46%
Net Margin (TTM)5.26%16.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.73%25.74%
Gross Margin (TTM)23.44%67.78%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 6.05% 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. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 90.50% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while ICON (ICLR) at -71.56% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.

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ICON (ICLR) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
MetricICLRJNJ
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.76%6.05%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.15%5.60%
EPS Growth (YoY)-71.56%90.50%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-23.82%17.90%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both ICON (ICLR) at 1.32 and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 1.02 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

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.02

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
JNJ
1.02
Min
0.10
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 0.55 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.55

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
JNJ
0.55
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): 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 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
MetricICLRJNJ
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.321.02
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.380.55
Net Debt / EBITDA5.550.79

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

ICON (ICLR) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reports a yield of 1.94%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.94%

JNJ
1.94%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

ICON (ICLR) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reports a payout of 80.12%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

80.12%

JNJ
80.12%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
MetricICLRJNJ
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.94%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%80.12%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 41.92 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

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

41.92

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
JNJ
41.92
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): 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 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 6.69 prices around its industry’s middle — ICLR costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.69

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
JNJ
6.69
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): 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 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) at 8.16 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

JNJ

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

8.16

Max
13.53
JNJ
8.16
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
MetricICLRJNJ
P/E Ratio (TTM)81.9041.92
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.866.69
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.688.16
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.51%2.78%