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Upturn AI Summary - About
ICON PLC(ICLR)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for ICLR
11/09/2026: ICLR (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
ICON PLC is a prominent global contract research organization that assists pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in developing new drugs and medical devices. The company has a leading position in the industry, benefiting from a broad range of services and significant operational scale, particularly following its acquisition of PRA Health Sciences. Its main growth opportunity lies in the continued trend of biopharma outsourcing and the adoption of technology-driven decentralized trials. However, investors should monitor risks related to biopharma R&D budget sensitivity, debt levels from past acquisitions, and intense market competition. This stock may suit investors seeking long-term growth exposure to the life sciences sector, provided they can tolerate inherent industry volatility.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Strong fit | The company is a major beneficiary of long-term biopharma outsourcing trends. |
| Momentum investor | Mixed fit | Fit depends on positive price trends and sustained quarterly execution. |
| Value investor | Mixed fit | Valuation is often tied to growth expectations rather than traditional value multiples. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | The company does not pay a regular cash dividend. |
| Low-risk investor | Mixed fit | While established, the sector is sensitive to biopharma R&D budget fluctuations. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium / high | The stock is sensitive to broader biopharma market sentiment. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Growth expectations are typically priced into the stock's premium. |
| Competition risk (CRO landscape) | Medium / high | Intense competition for talent and large contracts impacts margins. |
| Business quality | Strong | ICON is a Tier-1 provider with high barriers to entry. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | No dividend payments are provided. |
| Execution risk | Medium | Large-scale integrations and global trial management require high operational precision. |
Price Behavior
Strong Uptrend
The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.
Extreme Price Shocks
The stock has experienced exceptionally large and disruptive price movements during the period.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 6.93% | Avg. Invested days 37 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | Stock Returns Performance  2.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 11/09/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Large-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 15.34B USD | Price to earnings Ratio 81.9 | 1Y Target Price 231.29 |
Price to earnings Ratio 81.9 | 1Y Target Price 231.29 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 1.1M shares | Beta 1.18 | 52 Weeks Range 66.57 - 219.04 | Updated Date 11/08/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 66.57 - 219.04 | Updated Date 11/08/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 2.5 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Development | Phase I-IV clinical trial execution and management. | The primary revenue driver involving day-to-day management of drug trials for pharma companies. |
| Laboratory/Specialty | Central labs and biomarker analysis services. | Higher-margin technical services supporting trial data collection. |
| Geography: North America | Operations in the US and Canada. | The largest regional contributor to group revenue. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Revenue by Geography
Geography revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date 2026-10-27 | When After Market | Estimate 2.4 | Actual 2.46 |
Profitability
Profit Margin 5.26% | Operating Margin (TTM) 10.73% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 0.85% | Return on Equity (TTM) 4.7% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 81.9 | Forward PE 17.99 | Enterprise Value 18.01B | Price to Sales(TTM) 1.86 |
Enterprise Value 18.01B | Price to Sales(TTM) 1.86 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 2.19 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 16.57 | Shares Outstanding 74.92M | Shares Floating 74.86M |
Shares Outstanding 74.92M | Shares Floating 74.86M | ||
Percent Insiders 0.46 | Percent Institutions 111.11 |
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
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