Fact based stock research
ICON (NasdaqGS:ICLR)
IE0005711209
How to read the free ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
ICON stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 16 (worse than 84% compared with investment alternatives), ICON (Life Sciences Tools & Services, Ireland) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of ICON are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 32 (worse than 68% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 38), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 29), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 16, is a sell recommendation based on ICON's financial characteristics. As the company ICON's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 32), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 38), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 29), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. Such poor financial performance sometimes indicates that the company's business is all concentrated in some distant future. This is sometimes the case for high-tech or biotechnology companies. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and risky today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts are all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that should only amount to a small fraction of a safe portfolio. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | Ireland |
| Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Index | Employee Health EU, NASDAQ |
| Size class | X-Large |
This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.
14-Nov-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.
It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.
Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: ICON
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 56 |
|
33 |
|
19 |
|
32 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 78 |
|
97 |
|
95 |
|
38 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 39 |
|
82 |
|
14 |
|
29 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
38 |
|
63 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
77 |
|
50 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 16 (worse than 84% compared with investment alternatives), ICON (Life Sciences Tools & Services, Ireland) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of ICON are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 32 (worse than 68% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 38), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 29), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 16, is a sell recommendation based on ICON's financial characteristics. As the company ICON's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 32), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 38), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 29), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. Such poor financial performance sometimes indicates that the company's business is all concentrated in some distant future. This is sometimes the case for high-tech or biotechnology companies. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and risky today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts are all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that should only amount to a small fraction of a safe portfolio. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 56 |
|
33 |
|
19 |
|
32 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 78 |
|
97 |
|
95 |
|
38 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 39 |
|
82 |
|
14 |
|
29 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 61 |
|
90 |
|
34 |
|
16 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 32 (worse than 68% compared with alternatives), ICON shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators where three out of four are below average for ICON. Only the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) indicates good stock value with a Price-to-Book Rank of 56, which means that the stock price is lower compared with invested capital than for 56% of comparable investments. All other value indicators are below the market median. Price-to-Sales is 44 which means the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 56% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning ICON's revenue levels. The same is valid for the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 56 and for the dividend yields rank which is lower than for 99% of comparable companies, making the stock more expensive as regards to with the company's expected dividend payouts. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 32, is a hold recommendation based on ICON's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Why are market participants paying such a high price for ICON, where three out of four value indicators are below par? One reason could be that the company is well financed, indicated by the high book capital level, and has a promising future that is not yet visible in reported revenues and profits. That would also explain the low dividend yield because the company needs the cash to invest in its future. If investors can verify a picture in this sense, the stock may still be a good investment, even though current company-reported financials don't fully explain current stock prices. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is essential in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 84 |
|
39 |
|
38 |
|
44 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 77 |
|
25 |
|
28 |
|
34 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 49 |
|
65 |
|
34 |
|
56 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 56 |
|
33 |
|
19 |
|
32 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 38 (better than 38% compared with alternatives), ICON shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where half of the indicators are below and half above average for ICON. Profit Growth, with a rank of 70 (better than 70% of its competitors), and Capital Growth, with a rank of 70, are both positive, which is a healthy sign for positive development. But Sales Growth has only a rank of 25, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 75% of its competitors, and Stock Returns are at a rank of 18. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 38, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Stock returns that are a thing of the past can be less of a problem. Below-average revenue growth may be caused by divestments of underperforming businesses. If that is the case, then the positive developments of profit and capital growth are signs of a company with growth potential. If these are the reasons, overall growth is well on track to making this stock attractive for growth investors. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is mixed here. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 83 |
|
88 |
|
62 |
|
25 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 33 |
|
70 |
|
70 |
|
70 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
93 |
|
73 |
|
70 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 68 |
|
81 |
|
91 |
|
18 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 78 |
|
97 |
|
95 |
|
38 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 29 (better than 29% compared with alternatives), the company ICON has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of ICON is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for ICON and the other two below average. Leverage is at a rank of 57 meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 57% of its competitors.Refinancing is at a rank of 40, which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 60% of its competitors. Liquidity is at a rank of 20, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 80% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 29 (worse than 71% compared with alternatives), ICON has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. This is an indication that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. There is only below-market average liquidity, and a short-term refinancing issue might be around the corner. But in the long-term, the debt levels of ICON are on the safer side. Investors may have a short-term debt challenge and liquidity issues with ICON and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 4 |
|
74 |
|
46 |
|
57 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 62 |
|
35 |
|
25 |
|
40 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 74 |
|
73 |
|
16 |
|
20 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 39 |
|
82 |
|
14 |
|
29 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
49 |
|
68 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
42 |
|
75 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
n/a |
|
n/a |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
38 |
|
30 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
38 |
|
63 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for ICON from November 14, 2024.
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