Latest news with #ICONPublicLimitedCompany
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Do You Believe in the Upside Potential of ICON PLC (ICLR)?
Oakmark Funds, advised by Harris Associates, released its 'Oakmark Equity and Income Fund' Q2 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The equity portfolio returned 4.67% in the second quarter compared to 10.94% for the S&P 500 Index. An underweight in technology stocks and an overweight in value and mid-cap stocks led to the underperformance of the fund. The fixed income portfolio returned 1.97% compared to 1.21% for the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. In addition, you can check the fund's top 5 holdings to determine its best picks for 2025. In its second quarter 2025 investor letter, Oakmark Equity and Income Fund highlighted stocks such as ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR). Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) is a clinical research organization. The one-month return of ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) was 1.69%, and its shares lost 56.13% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 14, 2025, ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) stock closed at $149.52 per share with a market capitalization of $11.884 billion. Oakmark Equity and Income Fund stated the following regarding ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) is the second-largest contract research organization (CRO) and the leading pure play company in the industry behind IQVIA Holdings. CROs provide clinical trial outsourcing and associated services to large biopharma companies. Stock prices in the sector have declined amidst uncertainty related to government policy and drug pricing pressure, which have weighed on biopharma R&D spending. We believe biopharma R&D spending will ultimately recover and the historical trend toward outsourcing will continue, leading to a reacceleration in earnings growth at top CROs like ICON. We were pleased to purchase shares in ICON at roughly 11x earnings, near its lowest multiple in history." A laboratory setting with a team of scientists working on a clinical trial. ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 44 hedge fund portfolios held ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) at the end of the first quarter, which was 46 in the previous quarter. ICON Public Limited Company's (NASDAQ:ICLR) first quarter revenue declined 4.3% year-over-year to $2 billion. While we acknowledge the potential of ICLR as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. In another article, we covered ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) and shared ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Strategy's views on the company. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Clearbridge Large Cap Growth Strategy Sold Its Stake in ICON Public Limited Company (ICLR)
ClearBridge Investments, an investment management company, released its 'ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Strategy' second quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, the growth stocks rebounded from tariff uncertainty, with technology and communication services sectors leading in the return to a risk-on environment. The S&P 500 Index returned 10.9% in the quarter, while the technology-heavy NASDAQ Composite soared 17.7%. The benchmark, the Russell 1000 Growth Index, rose 17.8% in the quarter, outperforming the Russell 1000 Value Index. Against this backdrop, the strategy underperformed its benchmark in the second quarter. IT and communication services sectors contributed to the performance while the health care sector detracted. In addition, please check the fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its second quarter 2025 investor letter, ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Strategy highlighted stocks such as ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR). Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) is a clinical research organization. The one-month return of ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) was 7.90%, and its shares lost 53.21% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 3, 2025, ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) stock closed at $150.10 per share, with a market capitalization of $11.931 billion. ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Strategy stated the following regarding ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "Biotech funding challenges and government funding pressure have negatively impacted companies supporting biopharmaceutical development like contract research organization (CRO) ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR). This has pushed out the timing of a CRO growth recovery, even after multiple quarters of spending rationalization among its customers. We exited ICON due to the lowering of our confidence in the timing of CRO business normalization." A laboratory setting with a team of scientists working on a clinical trial. ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 44 hedge fund portfolios held ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) at the end of the first quarter, which was 46 in the previous quarter. ICON Public Limited Company's (NASDAQ:ICLR) first quarter revenue declined 4.3% year-over-year to $2 billion. While we acknowledge the potential of ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is as promising as NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the undervalued AI stock set for massive gains. In another article, we covered ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) and shared Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund's views on the company in the previous quarter. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. While we acknowledge the potential of ICLR as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Will ICON PLC (ICLR) Benefit from R&D Spending?
Parnassus Investments, an investment management company, released the 'Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund' first quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Russell Midcap Growth Index fell 7.12% in the first quarter, starting with a continuation of the late 2024 rally but later experiencing a sharp decline. The Fund (Investor Shares) fell -9.98% (net of fees) in the quarter, compared to the Russell Midcap Growth Index's -7.12% fall. Stock selection in Consumer Discretionary and Industrials contributed to the relative performance, while Communication Services and Health Care detracted. In addition, please check the fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its first-quarter 2025 investor letter, Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund highlighted stocks such as ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR). Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) is a clinical research organization. The one-month return of ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) was 8.03%, and its shares lost 52.57% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 2, 2025, ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) stock closed at $150.82 per share, with a market capitalization of $11.988 billion. Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund stated the following regarding ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) in its Q1 2025 investor letter: "ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) is the second largest player in the clinical research organization (CRO) market due to competitive advantages created by its scale and long-standing customer relationships. We bought the stock after it sold off following delays in R&D spend in the biotech industry. With the stock trading at a low valuation on cyclically depressed earnings, we think ICON will benefit as R&D spend improves and as the company continues to gain market share." A laboratory setting with a team of scientists working on a clinical trial. ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 44 hedge fund portfolios held ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) at the end of the first quarter, which was 46 in the previous quarter. ICON Public Limited Company's (NASDAQ:ICLR) first quarter revenue declined 4.3% year-over-year to $2 billion. While we acknowledge the potential of ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is as promising as NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the undervalued AI stock set for massive gains. In another article, we covered ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) and shared Wasatch U.S. Select Strategy's views on the company. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q1 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. While we acknowledge the potential of ICLR as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Should You Hold ICON PLC (ICLR)?
Wasatch Global Investors, an asset management company, released its 'Wasatch U.S. Select Strategy' first-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. US equities declined in the first quarter due to potential tariffs and government funding cuts. Against this backdrop, the strategy was down but exceeded the Russell Midcap® Growth Index, which lost -7.12%. In addition, please check the fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its first-quarter 2025 investor letter, Wasatch U.S. Select Strategy highlighted stocks such as ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR). Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) is a clinical research organization. The one-month return of ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) was 11.32%, and its shares lost 53.42% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On June 25, 2025, ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) stock closed at $145.91 per share, with a market capitalization of $11.597 billion. Wasatch U.S. Select Strategy stated the following regarding ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) in its Q1 2025 investor letter: "ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) also detracted. The Irish health-care company provides contracted clinical-research services to global biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms. Concerns about the funding environment for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies likely weighed on ICON's stock price this quarter, but we continue to like the business. ICON's valuation is near historical lows, and we like the stock's risk-reward potential from here. Further, accelerated stock buybacks signal more confidence from management that growth could be poised to accelerate." A laboratory setting with a team of scientists working on a clinical trial. ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 44 hedge fund portfolios held ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) at the end of the first quarter, which was 46 in the previous quarter. ICON Public Limited Company's (NASDAQ:ICLR) first quarter revenue declined 4.3% year-over-year to $2 billion. While we acknowledge the potential of ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is as promising as NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the undervalued AI stock set for massive gains. In another article, we covered ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) and shared small-cap healthcare stocks hedge funds are buying. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q1 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. While we acknowledge the potential of ICLR as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ICON Public Limited Company (ICLR): Among Small-Cap Healthcare Stocks Hedge Funds Are Buying
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) stands against other small-cap healthcare stocks hedge funds are buying. The U.S. healthcare sector has performed better in 2025 compared to the broader market. After two years of weak performance, the healthcare sector kicked off on a strong note in 2025. In a letter from Federated Hermes, within the S&P 500, the healthcare sector soared nearly 2.59% as of April 30. Whereas the Information Technology sector reported an 11.24% loss, the Consumer Discretionary sector was down 14.08%, and the S&P 500 recorded a 4.92% decline as a whole. READ ALSO: Why These 15 Healthcare Stocks Are Surging in 2025 As inflation eases, things will be better economically for the healthcare sector. The Investment Director of Federated Hermes, Jordan Stuart, mentioned that when inflation has eased historically, healthcare stocks have performed better. Stuart added: 'Typically, healthcare stocks underperform when inflation is high due to increased costs and pricing pressures. However, inflation has, ever so slowly, begun to decline again, and optimism around rate cuts has resurfaced, giving life back to healthcare stocks. This shift in economic conditions will likely enhance the attractiveness of health care investments, as lower inflation and interest rates create a more favourable environment for growth and profitability.' According to BlackRock, an average of 75% of healthcare companies exceeded earnings expectations in the first three quarters of 2024. This led to an improved local investor sentiment, with nearly $80 million of inflows to the iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) in 2024. BlackRock expects the 2025 projected earnings in the healthcare sector to rebound even further, recording the highest year-over-year growth in 18 years, excluding the COVID-19 period. The U.S. healthcare sector now accounts for a fifth of the U.S. economy. With digital transformation, non-acute care shifts, and innovation in biosimilars and speciality drugs, the healthcare sector remains poised for growth in 2025. According to SNS Insider Research, the healthcare market is expected to reach $44.76 trillion in 2032 from $21.22 trillion reported in 2023. This marks a CAGR of 9.07% between 2024 and 2032. North America accounts for almost 44% of the global healthcare market share. Trump's tariffs remain a major hurdle for healthcare, and they may threaten around a 10-15% cost increase for drugs and medical devices, as per Forbes. According to the Medical Device Network, around 69% of the U.S.-marketed medical devices are manufactured outside of the U.S. David Risinger from Leerink Partners highlighted that potential tariffs would likely drive the U.S. drug prices, even though the companies moved their production to the U.S. Reducing costs with domestic production could take years, added Risinger. Reportedly, President Trump is expected to sign an executive order to slash U.S. prescription drug prices. The President plans to match drug prices overseas and control the price hike anticipated by analysts. Lately, the U.S. government has been striving to make trade deals with its partners. After talks between the U.S. and China, both countries have decided to slash tariffs for 90 days, with duties set to drop by 115 percentage points. This move will drop American tariffs on Chinese goods to as low as 30%, and China's retaliatory duties will go down from 125% to 10%. To compile the list of the 15 small-cap healthcare stocks hedge funds are buying, we used the Finviz screener to shortlist healthcare stocks that are trading at a market cap of at least $10 billion. For this article, we are defining small-cap stocks as those that trade between $10 billion and $20 billion. We have ranked the stocks in ascending order of the number of hedge fund holders. Data for the number of hedge fund investors for each stock was taken from Insider Monkey's database, updated as of Q4 2024. In cases where two or more stocks were held by an equal number of hedge funds, we used the upside potential as a tiebreaker. The analysts' upside potential data is taken from CNN. Please note that the data was collected on May 13, 2025. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds and billionaire investors pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here). A laboratory setting with a team of scientists working on a clinical trial. No. of Hedge Fund Holders: 46 Market Capitalization: $11.03 Billion Analyst Upside: 33.74% ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR), a Contract Research Organization (CRO), is a healthcare intelligence and clinical research firm. The company offers services to pharmaceutical companies that need to conduct clinical trials. Drug companies outsource ICON's services instead of conducting complex and costly processes in-house. ICON manages everything from patient recruitment to regulatory compliance. ICON Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:ICLR) recently posted its Q4 results with its adjusted earnings around $3.19, beating estimates by $0.10 per share. The revenue came in at $2 billion, slightly short of the consensus estimate and a year-over-year decline of 4.6%. The company experienced high levels of cancellations in Q1, impacting overall bookings. However, on the positive side, the company posted a better-than-expected adjusted EBITDA margin of 19.5%, indicating effective cost control and resource allocation. ICON saw a major increase in overall opportunities in the Biotech segment, with a modest win rate of closing projects. The company's shift towards increased R&D spending, AI-driven drug discovery, and global diversification of trials reflects a structural growth opportunity. During Q1, the company launched two new AI-enabled tools, iSubmit and SmartDraft. These AI tools will improve operational efficiencies and accelerate clinical trials. In Q1, the company repurchased shares worth $250 million, highlighting its commitment to returning capital to shareholders. Overall, ICLR ranks 14th on our list of small-cap healthcare stocks hedge funds are buying. While we acknowledge the potential of ICLR to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that has gone up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks have lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ICLR but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at . Sign in to access your portfolio
