Seek Returns

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.

Company profile comparison for ICON (ICLR) and Moderna (MRNA)
Profile ItemICLRMRNA
NameICON plcModerna Inc.
Country/RegionIrelandUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesBiotechnology
GICS Sub-IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesBiotechnology
Market Capitalization15.34 billion USD101.48 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMay 15, 1998December 7, 2018
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ICLR
MRNA
GSPC
Loading price history…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for ICON (ICLR) and Moderna (MRNA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for ICON (ICLR) and Moderna (MRNA). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Moderna (MRNA)
MetricICLRMRNA
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

ICLR
MRNA
GSPC
Loading price history…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for ICON (ICLR) and Moderna (MRNA). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

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.

Risk profile metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Moderna (MRNA)
MetricICLRMRNA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)68.62%194.88%
Beta (5Y)1.171.08
Max Drawdown (5Y)-76.87%-93.93%
Avg. Volume (3M)943.50K21.61M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
ICLR and MRNA 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 Moderna (MRNA)
MetricICLRMRNA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.385.27
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.5220.44

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%
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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%
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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%
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Moderna (MRNA)
MetricICLRMRNA
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.

Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Moderna (MRNA)
MetricICLRMRNA
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
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA): 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 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
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA): 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 Moderna (MRNA)
MetricICLRMRNA
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.322.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.380.19
Net Debt / EBITDA5.55--

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%
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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%
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Moderna (MRNA)
MetricICLRMRNA
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
--
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA): MRNA does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; ICLR is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

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
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA): 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 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
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Moderna (MRNA): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Moderna (MRNA)
MetricICLRMRNA
P/E Ratio (TTM)81.90--
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.8645.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.6811.58
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.51%0.29%