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Icon plc (ICLR)
NASDAQ:ICLR
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Icon (ICLR) AI Stock Analysis

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ICLR

Icon

(NASDAQ:ICLR)

Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
$175.00
▲(10.86% Upside)
Icon's overall stock score reflects strong financial performance and reasonable valuation. Technical indicators present mixed signals, with short-term weakness but medium-term support. The balanced sentiment from the earnings call, despite being excluded from the weighted calculation, suggests a stable outlook.
Positive Factors
Cost Management
Investments in automation and AI for optimizing manual processes have strengthened cost controls, which is a key management focus.
Financial Performance
ICLR delivered improved performance even against a higher bar.
Growth Opportunities
The expansion of large pharma partnerships alongside better results in the biotech space indicates continued growth opportunities.
Negative Factors
Booking Challenges
It is unclear whether bookings strength will continue into the second half.
Cancellation Concerns
Cancellations are still elevated, which may indicate challenges in the near term.
Market Volatility
ICLR's recent results have not been immune to market volatility, with the expectations for this Q fairly muted given potential revenue pressure and excess cancellations.

Icon (ICLR) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Icon Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionICON Public Limited Company, a clinical research organization, provides outsourced development and commercialization services in Ireland, rest of Europe, the United States, and internationally. The company specializes in the strategic development, management, and analysis of programs that support various stages of the clinical development process from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies. It offers clinical development services, including early development, patient recruitment and retention, strategy and analytics, late phase research, data and technology solution, and consulting and analytics services. The company's clinical development services also comprise medical imaging, clinical research and laboratory services, project management, site monitoring and management services, data management, biostatistics and programming, medical writing and publishing, medical affair, endpoint adjudication/data monitoring committees, pharmacovigilance, interactive response technologies, clinical supplies management, strategic regulatory, medical communication, and consulting and advisory services. It serves pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries, as well as government and public health organizations. The company was incorporated in 1990 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.
How the Company Makes MoneyIcon (ICLR) generates revenue primarily through contracts with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies that seek to outsource their clinical research and development activities. The company's key revenue streams include fees for clinical trial management, data management, laboratory services, and consulting. These services help clients bring new drugs and medical devices to market more efficiently and cost-effectively. Icon also collaborates with various healthcare organizations and leverages technology-driven solutions to enhance its service offerings, which contributes to its earnings. Strategic partnerships and long-term service agreements with major pharmaceutical companies are significant factors that bolster Icon's revenue growth.

Icon Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 23, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: -5.98%|
Next Earnings Date:Oct 22, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a balanced view of ICON's performance with notable achievements in business awards, cost management, and strategic initiatives. However, these were offset by revenue declines and elevated cancellations due to market volatility.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Increased Gross Business Awards
Gross business awards rose 11% sequentially over Q1, driven by notable wins from biotech customers and large pharma partnerships.
Improved Financial Metrics
Revenue performance exceeded expectations with higher pass-through revenue, a stable burn rate of 8.2%, and a gross margin increase to 28.3%.
Cost Management Success
SG&A costs reduced by $9 million year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased to 19.6%.
Strategic Investments and Innovations
Launched a Center for Obesity with over 100 U.S. sites, focusing on rapid site activation. Advanced AI tools to enhance service delivery and improve trial start-up times.
Shareholder Returns
Repurchased $250 million in shares and increased share repurchase authorization to $1 billion.
Negative Updates
Revenue Decrease
Year-on-year revenue decreased by 4.8%, despite a 1% sequential increase.
Elevated Cancellations
Net book-to-bill ratio impacted by elevated cancellations, including a large COVID vaccine trial cancellation.
Ongoing Market Volatility
Continued uncertainty due to study delays, elongated timelines, and a competitive pricing environment.
Company Guidance
During ICON Plc's Q2 2025 earnings call, significant guidance was provided on various financial and operational metrics. The company reported a sequential increase in gross business awards by 11% over Q1, driven by biotech customer wins and large pharma partnerships. Q2 revenue was $2.017 billion, with a gross margin of 28.3% and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 19.6%. Adjusted earnings per share rose by 2% to $3.26, despite a net book-to-bill ratio of 1.02x impacted by elevated cancellations. ICON's full-year revenue guidance was increased by $100 million, with a revised range of $7.85 billion to $8.15 billion, while maintaining the midpoint of the adjusted EPS guidance at $13.50. The company also highlighted operational improvements, such as a gross margin increase, SG&A cost reductions, and advancements in key therapeutic areas, particularly in obesity and related metabolic diseases. Additionally, ICON saw encouraging signs in M&A and licensing activities among large pharma companies.

Icon Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Icon shows strong profitability with robust margins and efficient cash flow management. Despite a slight revenue decline, the company maintains a conservative leverage and effective asset utilization.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Icon's TTM results show a strong gross profit margin of 27.18%, indicating efficient cost management. The net profit margin of 9.26% is healthy for the industry, and EBIT and EBITDA margins of 13.24% and 18.73% respectively suggest solid operational efficiency. Despite a slight decline in revenue compared to the previous year, the company's profitability metrics remain robust, reflecting an overall stable performance.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.37, indicating a conservative leverage approach. Return on equity is a strong 7.98%, showcasing effective utilization of shareholders' funds. However, the equity ratio of 56.79% suggests a moderate reliance on debt, which is typical for the industry. The balance sheet is stable, but there is room for improvement in asset utilization.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
Icon demonstrates strong cash flow management with a free cash flow to net income ratio of 1.39, indicating excellent conversion of profits into cash. The operating cash flow to net income ratio of 1.62 further supports operational efficiency. A significant free cash flow growth rate of 3.51% showcases positive cash flow trends, despite a decrease in net income.
BreakdownDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue8.28B8.12B7.74B5.48B2.80B
Gross Profit2.44B2.40B2.21B1.51B808.03M
EBITDA1.56B1.52B1.41B739.43M488.83M
Net Income791.47M612.34M505.30M153.19M327.81M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets16.88B16.99B17.19B17.39B3.44B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments538.78M380.06M290.48M753.92M842.03M
Total Debt3.60B3.94B4.83B5.65B433.61M
Total Liabilities7.35B7.75B8.69B9.32B1.59B
Stockholders Equity9.52B9.24B8.50B8.07B1.85B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.12B1.02B421.15M735.39M543.67M
Operating Cash Flow1.29B1.16B563.32M829.14M594.72M
Investing Cash Flow-266.79M-226.65M-145.87M-6.02B-46.58M
Financing Cash Flow-837.18M-844.04M-864.17M5.11B-235.02M

Icon Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price157.85
Price Trends
50DMA
151.35
Positive
100DMA
151.14
Positive
200DMA
179.40
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
3.99
Positive
RSI
47.56
Neutral
STOCH
5.63
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ICLR, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 157.85 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 163.36, above the 50-day MA of 151.35, and below the 200-day MA of 179.40, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 3.99 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 47.56 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 5.63 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for ICLR.

Icon Risk Analysis

Icon disclosed 57 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Icon reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Icon Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (47)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$12.09B31.8989.38%9.94%25.30%
75
Outperform
$12.09B16.228.30%-2.91%12.92%
72
Outperform
$30.17B25.9219.80%3.53%-10.72%
70
Neutral
$19.35B20.6913.65%1.78%12.58%13.00%
65
Neutral
$7.38B449.94-1.96%-1.21%-115.44%
63
Neutral
$9.97B36.453.61%0.32%3.33%
47
Neutral
C$189.96M-2.29-23.77%3.17%17.52%2.16%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ICLR
Icon
158.44
-154.49
-49.37%
CRL
Charles River Labs
148.74
-52.23
-25.99%
RVTY
Revvity
86.84
-31.60
-26.68%
DGX
Quest Diagnostics
176.96
30.50
20.82%
IQV
IQVIA Holdings
179.86
-57.61
-24.26%
MEDP
Medpace Holdings
434.35
47.70
12.34%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Aug 07, 2025