IQV vs. WST: IQVIA vs. West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Comparison
How do IQVIA (IQV) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) 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
IQVIA (IQV) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) 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 | IQV | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Name | IQVIA Holdings Inc. | West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | 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 | 44.80 billion USD | 27.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 9, 2013 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | IQV | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 32.11% | 51.68% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 13.15% | 7.13% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.00% | 0.05% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | IQV | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 40.77% | 31.45% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.14 | 1.13 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -51.52% | -59.29% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.40M | 603.86K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | IQV | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.68 | 1.51 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.03 | 2.35 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both IQVIA (IQV) at 21.39% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 21.23% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
21.39%
- Max
- 109.18%
- IQV
- 21.39%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
21.23%
- Max
- 109.18%
- WST
- 21.23%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 18.81% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and IQVIA (IQV) at 8.05% also retains a top-quartile share.
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
8.05%
- Max
- 18.05%
- IQV
- 8.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
18.81%
- WST
- 18.81%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 25.37% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of IQVIA (IQV) at 13.73%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.73%
- Max
- 83.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- IQV
- 13.73%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
25.37%
- Max
- 83.12%
- WST
- 25.37%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | IQV | WST |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 21.39% | 21.23% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.08% | 11.89% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 8.05% | 18.81% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 13.73% | 25.37% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 33.07% | 37.59% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both IQVIA (IQV) at 5.87% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 6.25% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both IQVIA (IQV) at 4.67% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 1.49% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | IQV | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.87% | 6.25% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.21% | 2.12% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 4.67% | 1.49% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.08% | -4.23% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 2.82 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while IQVIA (IQV) at 0.83 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for IQV.
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.83
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- IQV
- 0.83
- Min
- 0.10
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.82
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- WST
- 2.82
- Q1
- 2.47
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 0.11 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while IQVIA (IQV) at 2.40 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.40
- IQV
- 2.40
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.11
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- WST
- 0.11
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | IQV | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.83 | 2.82 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 2.40 | 0.11 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 4.46 | -0.16 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
IQVIA (IQV) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) reports a yield of 0.22%, ranking against industry peers normally.
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- IQV
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.22%
- WST
- 0.22%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
IQVIA (IQV) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) reports a payout of 9.88%, ranking against industry peers normally.
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- IQV
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
9.88%
- WST
- 9.88%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | IQV | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.22% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 9.88% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
IQVIA (IQV) at 33.07 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 44.87 sits in the richer quartile — WST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
33.07
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- IQV
- 33.07
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
44.87
- Max
- 85.34
- WST
- 44.87
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
IQVIA (IQV) at 2.59 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 8.20 prices around its industry’s middle — IQV costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.59
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- IQV
- 2.59
- Min
- 0.01
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
8.20
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- WST
- 8.20
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both IQVIA (IQV) at 6.73 and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 9.40 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
IQV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.73
- Max
- 13.53
- IQV
- 6.73
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
9.40
- Max
- 13.53
- WST
- 9.40
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | IQV | WST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 33.07 | 44.87 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.59 | 8.20 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.73 | 9.40 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.72% | 1.24% |