ICLR vs. TMO: ICON vs. Thermo Fisher Scientific Stock Comparison
How do ICON (ICLR) and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) 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 | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | ICON plc | Thermo Fisher Scientific 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 | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 15.34 billion USD | 257.42 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 15, 1998 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 30.55% | 24.62% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -6.05% | 17.34% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -5.40% | 3.11% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 68.62% | 29.96% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.17 | 0.83 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -76.87% | -40.95% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 943.50K | 2.10M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.38 | 0.68 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.52 | 1.02 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 13.38% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ICON (ICLR) at 4.70% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for TMO.
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%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.38%
- Max
- 109.18%
- TMO
- 13.38%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both ICON (ICLR) at 5.26% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 14.94% 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%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
14.94%
- Max
- 18.05%
- TMO
- 14.94%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 20.19% 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%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
20.19%
- Max
- 83.12%
- TMO
- 20.19%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 4.70% | 13.38% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.85% | 5.19% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 5.26% | 14.94% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 10.73% | 20.19% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 23.44% | 41.26% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 3.91% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 7.32% 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 | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 0.76% | 3.91% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.15% | -0.27% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -71.56% | 7.32% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -23.82% | 0.21% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both ICON (ICLR) at 1.32 and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 1.81 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
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.81
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- TMO
- 1.81
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 0.75 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
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.75
- Max
- 1.42
- TMO
- 0.75
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.32 | 1.81 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.38 | 0.75 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.55 | 2.91 |
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 Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) reports a yield of 0.27%, 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%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.27%
- TMO
- 0.27%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
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 Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) reports a payout of 9.70%, 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%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
9.70%
- TMO
- 9.70%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.27% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 9.70% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 36.64 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
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
36.64
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- TMO
- 36.64
- 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 5.44 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
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.44
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- TMO
- 5.44
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
ICON (ICLR) at 1.68 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 4.70 is valued near its industry’s middle — ICLR is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
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
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.70
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- TMO
- 4.70
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 81.90 | 36.64 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.86 | 5.44 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.68 | 4.70 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.51% | 2.50% |