ICLR vs. VRTX: ICON vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Comparison
How do ICON (ICLR) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ICLR is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services while VRTX is classified in Biotechnology.
| Profile Item | ICLR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | ICON plc | Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Common Stock |
| 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 | 138.71 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | May 15, 1998 | July 24, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 30.55% | 34.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -6.05% | 14.44% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -5.40% | 23.65% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 68.62% | 29.73% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.17 | 0.29 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -76.87% | -29.07% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 943.50K | 1.25M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.38 | 1.03 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.52 | 1.68 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 20.80% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ICON (ICLR) at 4.70% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for VRTX.
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%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
20.80%
- Max
- 109.18%
- VRTX
- 20.80%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 30.70% 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%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
30.70%
- VRTX
- 30.70%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 35.57% 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%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
35.57%
- Max
- 83.12%
- VRTX
- 35.57%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 4.70% | 20.80% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.85% | 10.62% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 5.26% | 30.70% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 10.73% | 35.57% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 23.44% | 54.81% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 8.90% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: ICON (ICLR) reports EPS growth of -71.56%, ranked against its industry; Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 0.76% | 8.90% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.15% | 10.35% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -71.56% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -23.82% | 6.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both ICON (ICLR) at 1.32 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 2.34 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
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.34
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- VRTX
- 2.34
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 0.31 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
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.31
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- VRTX
- 0.31
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.32 | 2.34 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.38 | 0.31 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.55 | 0.03 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither ICON (ICLR) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) 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%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- VRTX
- 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) 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%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- VRTX
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 35.21 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
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
35.21
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- VRTX
- 35.21
- 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 10.71 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
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
10.71
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- VRTX
- 10.71
- 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 6.63 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
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.63
- Max
- 13.53
- VRTX
- 6.63
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ICLR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 81.90 | 35.21 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.86 | 10.71 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.68 | 6.63 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.51% | 1.69% |