ICON Public Limited Company (ICLR) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: ICLRAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

ICLR AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

ICON Public Limited Company (ICLR) is a clinical research organization providing outsourced development and commercialization services for healthcare industries. Across the trailing twelve months, the company generated $8.29B in revenue with an operating margin of 9.4%. However, quarterly earnings fell 63.3% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, while total debt stood at $3.49B.

Market cap
$13.13B
Revenue (TTM)
$8.29B
P/E
179.1x
fwd 14.7x
1Y return
-9.7%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$187.76
10.3% vs last close

Bull case

  • Free cash flow remained positive at $862.0M in FY2025, backed by $1.04B in operating cash flow.
  • Analysts project EPS to rebound 11.4% to $11.78 on revenue of $8.43B for the fiscal year ending in 2027.
  • The company's forward P/E of 14.7x trades below the median of its US-listed Healthcare peers of 17.3x.

Bear case

  • Quarterly earnings dropped 63.3% year-over-year in the period ended June 30, 2026.
  • Annual net income dropped from $791.5M in FY2024 to $229.3M in FY2025, leaving trailing twelve-month profit margin at 0.3%.
  • The stock has lagged broader markets with a 1-year return of -9.7% and a 5-year return of -38.1% compared to S&P 500 gains of 16.8% and 83.0%.

What ICON Public does

Founded in 1990 and based in Dublin, Ireland, ICON Public Limited Company operates as a clinical research organization delivering outsourced development and commercialization services globally. The company manages programs across the clinical development lifecycle, from compound selection through Phase I-IV trials. Its services include early development, patient recruitment, strategic analytics, late-phase research, and technology solutions. ICON also provides medical imaging, laboratory services, project management, site monitoring, data management, biostatistics, medical writing, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory support for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device clients, alongside consulting and advisory services.

Growth and profitability

ICON expanded annual revenue from $5.48B in FY2021 to $8.25B in FY2025, recording a 5-year revenue CAGR of 24.2% from FY2020 to FY2025. Annual net income peaked at $791.5M with a 9.6% net margin in FY2024 before decreasing to $229.3M with a 2.8% net margin in FY2025, as revenue declined 0.4%. Operating margin contracted from 13.3% in FY2024 to 12.3% in FY2025, while gross margin fell to 26.4%. In the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue totaled $8.29B with a profit margin of 0.3%. In the latest quarter, revenue grew 1.2% year-over-year, but earnings contracted 63.3%.

ICLR income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, ICON held $928.4M in cash and short-term investments against $3.49B in total debt, resulting in net debt of $2.56B. The company maintained a current ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37 against shareholders' equity of $9.38B. Operating cash flow reached $1.04B in FY2025, supporting free cash flow of $862.0M after capital expenditures of $174.2M. ICON deployed $750.0M toward share buybacks in FY2025, contributing to a 5-year share count change of -6.6%.

ICLR balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

At a last close of $170.18 on October 16, 2026, ICON carries a market capitalization of $13.13B and an enterprise value of $15.21B. Its trailing P/E of 179.1x and forward P/E of 14.7x compare to 24.6x and 17.3x, respectively, for the median of its US-listed Healthcare peers. Its EV/EBITDA multiple of 22.8x is higher than the peer median of 12.0x, while its price-to-sales ratio of 1.6x sits below the peer median of 4.1x. Over the past year, ICON's stock delivered a return of -9.7%, trailing the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%.

ICLR key metrics →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage consists of 9 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, and 8 Hold ratings, with no Sell or Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target of $187.76 represents a 10.3% premium over the last close of $170.18. For FY2026 ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate revenue of $8.14B and EPS of $10.57, representing an EPS decline of 15.6%. Looking ahead to FY2027, 18 analysts project revenue of $8.43B and EPS of $11.78. ICON has beaten EPS expectations in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with its next earnings report scheduled for October 27, 2026.

ICLR forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Total debt stands at $3.49B against cash and short-term investments of $928.4M, resulting in net debt of $2.56B.
  • The current ratio of 0.95 indicates that short-term liabilities exceed short-term assets as of June 30, 2026.
  • Current fiscal year EPS is projected to decline 15.6% to $10.57 as revenue is expected to drop to $8.14B.
  • The stock carries a beta of 1.24 and has traded across a wide 52-week range from $66.57 to $203.91.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this ICLR AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of ICON Public Limited Company (ICLR). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: ICLR income statement, ICLR balance sheet, ICLR key metrics, ICLR analyst forecast, ICLR chart. See the ICLR stock overview for the latest quote and news.

ICLR AI stock analysis FAQ

What was ICON's revenue and earnings performance in FY2025?

In FY2025, ICON recorded $8.25B in revenue, down 0.4% from $8.28B in FY2024. Net income dropped to $229.3M from $791.5M in the prior year, resulting in an EPS of $12.28.

Does ICON Public Limited Company pay a dividend?

ICON does not pay a dividend based on the reported figures.

What is the consensus analyst price target for ICLR?

Analysts have established a mean price target of $187.76, which is 10.3% above the last close of $170.18.

How much debt does ICON have on its balance sheet?

As of June 30, 2026, ICON held $3.49B in total debt and $928.4M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $2.56B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

When is ICON's next earnings date?

ICON's next earnings release is scheduled for October 27, 2026.

More Healthcare AI stock analysis