ICLR vs. MTD: ICON vs. Mettler-Toledo Stock Comparison
How do ICON (ICLR) and Mettler-Toledo (MTD) 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 Mettler-Toledo (MTD) 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.
| Profile Item | ICLR | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Name | ICON plc | Mettler-Toledo International Inc. |
| Country/Region | Ireland | Switzerland |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 15.34 billion USD | 34.25 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 15, 1998 | November 14, 1997 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 30.55% | 21.58% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -6.05% | 19.54% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -5.40% | 2.36% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 68.62% | 31.70% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.17 | 1.15 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -76.87% | -43.47% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 943.50K | 197.80K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.38 | 0.55 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.52 | 0.75 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: ICON (ICLR) earns 4.70% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Mettler-Toledo (MTD) has no ROE this period.
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%
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
- MTD
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 22.25% 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%
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
22.25%
- MTD
- 22.25%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 28.70% 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%
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
28.70%
- Max
- 83.12%
- MTD
- 28.70%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 4.70% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.85% | 20.09% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 5.26% | 22.25% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 10.73% | 28.70% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 23.44% | 59.16% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% and Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 3.98% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 3.88% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while ICON (ICLR) at -71.56% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 0.76% | 3.98% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.15% | 0.90% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -71.56% | 3.88% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -23.82% | 3.06% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both ICON (ICLR) at 1.32 and Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 1.10 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
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.10
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- MTD
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 26.06 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
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
26.06
- MTD
- 26.06
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.32 | 1.10 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.38 | 26.06 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.55 | 1.58 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither ICON (ICLR) nor Mettler-Toledo (MTD) 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%
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MTD
- 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 Mettler-Toledo (MTD) 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%
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MTD
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 37.38 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
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
37.38
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- MTD
- 37.38
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
ICON (ICLR) at 1.86 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 8.16 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
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
8.16
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- MTD
- 8.16
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
ICON (ICLR) at 1.68 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 442.71 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
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
442.71
- MTD
- 442.71
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | MTD |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 81.90 | 37.38 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.86 | 8.16 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.68 | 442.71 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.51% | 1.97% |