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ICLR vs. WAT: ICON vs. Waters Stock Comparison

How do ICON (ICLR) and Waters (WAT) 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 Waters (WAT) 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.

Company profile comparison for ICON (ICLR) and Waters (WAT)
Profile ItemICLRWAT
NameICON plcWaters Corporation
Country/RegionIrelandUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesLife Sciences Tools & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesLife Sciences Tools & Services
Market Capitalization15.34 billion USD44.93 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 15, 1998November 17, 1995
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ICLR
WAT
GSPC
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Waters (WAT), 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 Waters (WAT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Waters (WAT)
MetricICLRWAT
Total Return (1Y)30.55%27.70%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-6.05%23.32%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.40%6.27%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Waters (WAT)
MetricICLRWAT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)68.62%35.45%
Beta (5Y)1.171.13
Max Drawdown (5Y)-76.87%-36.47%
Avg. Volume (3M)943.50K816.72K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ICLR and WAT 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 Waters (WAT)
MetricICLRWAT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.380.66
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.520.98

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both ICON (ICLR) at 4.70% and Waters (WAT) at 1.12% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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%

WAT

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.12%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
WAT
1.12%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

ICON (ICLR) at 5.26% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Waters (WAT) at 1.76%, which keeps about the industry-typical 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%

WAT

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.76%

Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
WAT
1.76%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both ICON (ICLR) at 10.73% and Waters (WAT) at 11.38% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

WAT

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

11.38%

Max
83.12%
Q3
14.77%
WAT
11.38%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Waters (WAT)
MetricICLRWAT
ROE (TTM)4.70%1.12%
ROA (TTM)0.85%2.36%
Net Margin (TTM)5.26%1.76%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.73%11.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)23.44%49.83%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% and Waters (WAT) at 6.99% 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. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Waters (WAT) at 0.47% 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. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Waters (WAT)
MetricICLRWAT
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.76%6.99%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.15%2.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)-71.56%0.47%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-23.82%-2.84%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: ICON (ICLR) shows current ratio of 1.32 against its industry benchmark, while Waters (WAT) has no reading this period.

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

WAT

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10
WAT
--
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Waters (WAT): WAT does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; ICLR is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 and Waters (WAT) at 0.34 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

WAT

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.34

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
WAT
0.34
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Waters (WAT): 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 Waters (WAT)
MetricICLRWAT
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.32--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.380.34
Net Debt / EBITDA5.553.23

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither ICON (ICLR) nor Waters (WAT) 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%

WAT

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

WAT
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither ICON (ICLR) nor Waters (WAT) 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%

WAT

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Waters (WAT)
MetricICLRWAT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on trailing earnings: ICON (ICLR) at 81.90 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Waters (WAT) at 191.46 is richer still, above its industry range.

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

WAT

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

191.46

WAT
191.46
Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Waters (WAT): 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 Waters (WAT) at 8.01 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

WAT

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

8.01

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
WAT
8.01
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Waters (WAT): 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 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Waters (WAT) at 2.94 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

WAT

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.94

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
WAT
2.94
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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ICON (ICLR) vs. Waters (WAT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Waters (WAT)
MetricICLRWAT
P/E Ratio (TTM)81.90191.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.868.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.682.94
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.51%--