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ICLR vs. NVS: ICON vs. Novartis Stock Comparison

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

ICON (ICLR) trades as ordinary local shares, while Novartis (NVS) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for ICON (ICLR) and Novartis (NVS)
Profile ItemICLRNVS
NameICON plcNovartis AG Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionIrelandSwitzerland
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 USD307.00 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 15, 1998November 7, 1996
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ICLR
NVS
GSPC
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Novartis (NVS), 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 Novartis (NVS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricICLRNVS
Total Return (1Y)30.55%32.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-6.05%24.72%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.40%18.80%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricICLRNVS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)68.62%27.12%
Beta (5Y)1.170.41
Max Drawdown (5Y)-76.87%-20.42%
Avg. Volume (3M)943.50K2.07M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ICLR and NVS 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 Novartis (NVS)
MetricICLRNVS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.381.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.521.46

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Novartis (NVS) at 24.33% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ICON (ICLR) at 4.70% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NVS.

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%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

24.33%

Max
109.18%
NVS
24.33%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 Novartis (NVS) at 17.49% 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%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.49%

Max
18.05%
NVS
17.49%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Novartis (NVS) at 34.27% 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%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

34.27%

Max
83.12%
NVS
34.27%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricICLRNVS
ROE (TTM)4.70%24.33%
ROA (TTM)0.85%10.86%
Net Margin (TTM)5.26%17.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.73%34.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)23.44%75.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% and Novartis (NVS) at 9.57% 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. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Novartis (NVS) at 21.81% 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. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricICLRNVS
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.76%9.57%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.15%9.25%
EPS Growth (YoY)-71.56%21.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-23.82%31.14%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both ICON (ICLR) at 1.32 and Novartis (NVS) at 0.88 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

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.88

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
NVS
0.88
Min
0.10
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Novartis (NVS) at 1.29 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.29

Max
1.42
NVS
1.29
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 Novartis (NVS)
MetricICLRNVS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.320.88
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.381.29
Net Debt / EBITDA5.551.64

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 Novartis (NVS) reports a yield of 2.88%, 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%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.88%

NVS
2.88%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 Novartis (NVS) reports a payout of 90.46%, 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%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

90.46%

NVS
90.46%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricICLRNVS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%2.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%90.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Novartis (NVS) at 31.02 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

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

31.02

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
NVS
31.02
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 Novartis (NVS) at 5.35 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

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.35

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
NVS
5.35
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 Novartis (NVS) at 8.25 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

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

8.25

Max
13.53
NVS
8.25
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricICLRNVS
P/E Ratio (TTM)81.9031.02
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.865.35
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.688.25
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.51%3.67%