ICLR vs. MRNA: ICON vs. Moderna Stock Comparison
How do ICON (ICLR) and Moderna (MRNA) 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 Moderna (MRNA) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ICLR is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services while MRNA is classified in Biotechnology.
| Profile Item | ICLR | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | ICON plc | Moderna Inc. |
| Country/Region | Ireland | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Biotechnology |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Biotechnology |
| Market Capitalization | 15.34 billion USD | 101.48 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | May 15, 1998 | December 7, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 30.55% | 1,031.66% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -6.05% | 58.68% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -5.40% | 3.23% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Moderna (MRNA) is heavily traded at around 21.61M shares per day, whereas ICON (ICLR) sees a more moderate 943.50K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | ICLR | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 68.62% | 194.88% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.17 | 1.08 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -76.87% | -93.93% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 943.50K | 21.61M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.38 | 5.27 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.52 | 20.44 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative ROE of -39.00%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile ICON (ICLR) reports 4.70%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-39.00%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- MRNA
- -39.00%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative net margin of -141.43%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile ICON (ICLR) reports 5.26%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-141.43%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
- MRNA
- -141.43%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative operating margin of -557.93%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile ICON (ICLR) reports 10.73%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-557.93%
- Max
- 83.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
- MRNA
- -557.93%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 4.70% | -39.00% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.85% | -13.26% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 5.26% | -141.43% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 10.73% | -557.93% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 23.44% | -66.02% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Moderna (MRNA) at -39.92% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: ICON (ICLR) reports EPS growth of -71.56%, ranked against its industry; Moderna (MRNA) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 0.76% | -39.92% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.15% | -53.30% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -71.56% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -23.82% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both ICON (ICLR) at 1.32 and Moderna (MRNA) at 2.30 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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.30
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- MRNA
- 2.30
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 and Moderna (MRNA) at 0.19 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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.19
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- MRNA
- 0.19
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.32 | 2.30 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.38 | 0.19 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.55 | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither ICON (ICLR) nor Moderna (MRNA) 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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MRNA
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither ICON (ICLR) nor Moderna (MRNA) 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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MRNA
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: ICON (ICLR) trades at 81.90 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Moderna (MRNA) has no P/E ratio this period.
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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
- MRNA
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
ICON (ICLR) at 1.86 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Moderna (MRNA) at 45.55 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.
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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
45.55
- Max
- 58.18
- MRNA
- 45.55
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
ICON (ICLR) at 1.68 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Moderna (MRNA) at 11.58 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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
11.58
- Max
- 13.53
- MRNA
- 11.58
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 81.90 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.86 | 45.55 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.68 | 11.58 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.51% | 0.29% |