Seek Returns

ICLR vs. ZTS: ICON vs. Zoetis Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for ICON (ICLR) and Zoetis (ZTS)
Profile ItemICLRZTS
NameICON plcZoetis Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionIrelandUnited States
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 USD32.26 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 15, 1998February 1, 2013
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ICLR
ZTS
GSPC
Loading price history…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for ICON (ICLR) and Zoetis (ZTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for ICON (ICLR) and Zoetis (ZTS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricICLRZTS
Total Return (1Y)30.55%-30.10%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-6.05%-20.42%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.40%-16.87%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ICLR
ZTS
GSPC
Loading price history…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for ICON (ICLR) and Zoetis (ZTS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricICLRZTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)68.62%38.23%
Beta (5Y)1.170.66
Max Drawdown (5Y)-76.87%-70.45%
Avg. Volume (3M)943.50K4.65M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
ICLR and ZTS 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 Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricICLRZTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.38-0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.52-1.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Zoetis (ZTS) at 57.63% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ICON (ICLR) at 4.70% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ZTS.

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%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

57.63%

Max
109.18%
ZTS
57.63%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Zoetis (ZTS) at 26.41% 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%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

26.41%

ZTS
26.41%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Zoetis (ZTS) at 38.19% 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%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

38.19%

Max
83.12%
ZTS
38.19%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricICLRZTS
ROE (TTM)4.70%57.63%
ROA (TTM)0.85%14.87%
Net Margin (TTM)5.26%26.41%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.73%38.19%
Gross Margin (TTM)23.44%71.65%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ICON (ICLR) at 0.76% and Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.28% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Zoetis (ZTS) at 10.05% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while ICON (ICLR) at -71.56% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricICLRZTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.76%2.28%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.15%5.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)-71.56%10.05%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-23.82%10.27%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both ICON (ICLR) at 1.32 and Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.35 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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.35

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
ZTS
2.35
Min
0.10
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

ICON (ICLR) at 0.38 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.80 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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.80

ZTS
2.80
Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): 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 Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricICLRZTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.322.35
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.382.80
Net Debt / EBITDA5.551.92

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 Zoetis (ZTS) reports a yield of 2.55%, 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%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.55%

ZTS
2.55%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): 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 Zoetis (ZTS) reports a payout of 35.24%, 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%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

35.24%

ZTS
35.24%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricICLRZTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%2.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%35.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Zoetis (ZTS) at 13.50 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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

13.50

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
ZTS
13.50
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): 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 Zoetis (ZTS) at 3.40 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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.40

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
ZTS
3.40
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): 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 Zoetis (ZTS) at 9.80 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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

9.80

Max
13.53
ZTS
9.80
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
Loading chart…
ICON (ICLR) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ICON (ICLR) and Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricICLRZTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)81.9013.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.863.40
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.689.80
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.51%6.36%