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ICLR vs. MEDP: ICON vs. Medpace Stock Comparison

How do ICON (ICLR) and Medpace (MEDP) 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 Medpace (MEDP) 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 Medpace (MEDP)
Profile ItemICLRMEDP
NameICON plcMedpace 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 USD18.27 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMay 15, 1998August 11, 2016
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ICLR
MEDP
GSPC
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Medpace (MEDP), 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 Medpace (MEDP). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Medpace (MEDP)
MetricICLRMEDP
Total Return (1Y)30.55%13.29%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-6.05%35.26%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.40%24.49%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Medpace (MEDP)
MetricICLRMEDP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)68.62%44.16%
Beta (5Y)1.171.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)-76.87%-42.87%
Avg. Volume (3M)943.50K258.39K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ICLR and MEDP 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 Medpace (MEDP)
MetricICLRMEDP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.380.20
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.520.26

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Medpace (MEDP) at 117.88% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than ICON (ICLR) at 4.70%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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%

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

117.88%

MEDP
117.88%
Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Medpace (MEDP): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Medpace (MEDP) at 18.24% 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.

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%

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

18.24%

MEDP
18.24%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Medpace (MEDP): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Medpace (MEDP) at 23.12% 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%

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

23.12%

Max
83.12%
MEDP
23.12%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Medpace (MEDP): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Medpace (MEDP)
MetricICLRMEDP
ROE (TTM)4.70%117.88%
ROA (TTM)0.85%18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)5.26%18.24%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.73%23.12%
Gross Margin (TTM)23.44%72.24%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% and Medpace (MEDP) at 19.97% 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. Medpace (MEDP): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Medpace (MEDP) at 20.98% 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. Medpace (MEDP): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Medpace (MEDP)
MetricICLRMEDP
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.76%19.97%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.15%20.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)-71.56%20.98%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-23.82%28.04%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both ICON (ICLR) at 1.32 and Medpace (MEDP) 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

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.83

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
MEDP
0.83
Min
0.10
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Medpace (MEDP): 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 Medpace (MEDP) at 0.29 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

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.29

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
MEDP
0.29
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Medpace (MEDP): 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 Medpace (MEDP)
MetricICLRMEDP
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.320.83
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.380.29
Net Debt / EBITDA5.55-0.84

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither ICON (ICLR) nor Medpace (MEDP) 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%

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither ICON (ICLR) nor Medpace (MEDP) 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%

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Medpace (MEDP)
MetricICLRMEDP
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Medpace (MEDP) at 36.26 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

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

36.26

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
MEDP
36.26
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Medpace (MEDP): 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 Medpace (MEDP) at 6.44 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

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.44

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
MEDP
6.44
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Medpace (MEDP): 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 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Medpace (MEDP) at 31.23 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

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

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

31.23

MEDP
31.23
Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Medpace (MEDP): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Medpace (MEDP)
MetricICLRMEDP
P/E Ratio (TTM)81.9036.26
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.866.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.6831.23
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.51%2.72%