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IQVIA Holdings Inc. (“IQVIA”) NYSE:IQV today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, IQVIA Inc. (the “Issuer”), intends to raise $2,000,000,000 through an offering of senior notes due 2034 (the “Notes”).

The proceeds from the Notes offering will be used to redeem in full the Issuer’s Senior 5.000% Notes due 2026, to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under the Issuer’s revolving credit facility and to pay fees and expenses related to the Notes offering. The consummation of the Notes offering is subject to market and other customary conditions.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of the Notes in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Notes to be offered have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Notes are being offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in the United States in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States only to non-U.S. investors pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. Any offer of the Notes will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum.

About IQVIA

IQVIA NYSE:IQV is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. IQVIA’s portfolio of solutions are powered by IQVIA Connected Intelligence™ to deliver actionable insights and services built on high-quality health data, Healthcare-grade AI®, advanced analytics, the latest technologies and extensive domain expertise. IQVIA is committed to using AI responsibly, with AI-powered capabilities built on best-in-class approaches to privacy, regulatory compliance and patient safety, and delivering AI to the high standards of trust, scalability and precision demanded by the industry. With approximately 94,000 employees in over 100 countries, including experts in healthcare, life sciences, data science, technology and operational excellence, IQVIA is dedicated to accelerating the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide.

IQVIA is a global leader in protecting individual patient privacy. The company uses a wide variety of privacy enhancing technologies and safeguards to protect individual privacy while generating and analyzing information on a scale that helps healthcare stakeholders identify disease patterns and correlate with the precise treatment path and therapy needed for better outcomes. IQVIA’s insights and execution capabilities help biotech, medical device and pharmaceutical companies, medical researchers, government agencies, payers and other healthcare stakeholders tap into a deeper understanding of diseases, human behaviors and scientific advances, in an effort to advance their path toward cures.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the failure to consummate the Notes offering, and potential changes in market conditions that could cause actual results to differ materially.

IQVIAFIN

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Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IQVIA (NYSE:IQV), a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence, today announced IQVIA Predictive Clinical Development, an AI-powered approach designed to help life sciences sponsors reduce avoidable delays and bring new therapies to patients up to two years faster. Traditional approaches in clinical development no longer keep pace with increasing trial complexity. IQVIA Predictive Clinical.

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for IQVIA Holdings (IQV - Free Report) . Shares have added about 5.6% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is IQVIA due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for IQVIA Holdings Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

IQVIA Surpasses Q2 Earnings EstimatesIQVIA Holdings Inc. has reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.15 per share, rising 12.1% year over year and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.02 by 4.3%. Revenues of $4.36 billion increased 8.7% and topped the consensus mark of $4.29 billion by 1.6%.

The quarter benefited from broad-based segment growth and strengthening demand indicators. R&D Solutions generated record net new bookings of $3.15 billion, up 19% year over year, producing a 1.22X book-to-bill ratio.

IQV's Commercial Solutions Gains MomentumCommercial Solutions revenues were $1.79 billion, increasing 8.6% on a reported basis and 8.4% at constant currency. The business contributed roughly 41% to the total quarterly revenues.

Growth reflected double-digit gains in patient solutions and commercial engagement services. Analytics and consulting delivered high-single-digit organic growth, while increased adoption of IQVIA’s artificial intelligence solutions also contributed to the segment’s accelerating organic growth.

IQVIA's R&D Bookings Signal Strong DemandResearch & Development Solutions revenues reached $2.58 billion, up 8.8% as reported and 8.6% at constant currency. Excluding reimbursed expenses, revenues advanced 6.7% on a reported basis.

Demand indicators strengthened considerably. Trailing-12-month net new bookings rose 13% to $11.3 billion, while contracted backlog stood at $34.2 billion. IQVIA expects $9.2 billion of that backlog to convert into revenues over the next 12 months, representing 7.5% year-over-year growth.

The strong bookings performance provides improved visibility into future clinical research revenues. It also supports management’s expectation for sustained business momentum through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.

IQV's Adjusted Profitability Holds FirmAdjusted EBITDA increased 9.2% year over year to $994 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 22.8%, modestly above the prior-year level, as profit growth slightly outpaced revenue growth.

Adjusted net income increased to $527 million from $486 million. The improvement reflected stronger operating performance despite higher stock-based compensation, restructuring-related expenses and acquisition-related costs included in the company’s reconciliation.

GAAP net income attributable to IQVIA was $256 million, down from $266 million a year earlier. GAAP diluted earnings were $1.53 per share compared with $1.54 in the prior-year quarter.

IQVIA's Operating Costs Reflect InvestmentCost of revenues increased to $2.93 billion from $2.69 billion in the year-ago quarter. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose to $574 million from $509 million, while depreciation and amortization increased to $292 million.

Restructuring costs nearly doubled to $63 million from $32 million. As a result, GAAP income from operations remained unchanged at $506 million despite the higher revenue base.

Interest expenses increased to $197 million from $182 million. These cost pressures explain the contrast between the decline in GAAP net income and stronger growth in adjusted earnings and EBITDA.

IQVIA's Cash Flow Supports Share RepurchasesThe second-quarter operating cash flow climbed 26% year over year to $558 million. The free cash flow rose 23.3% to $360 million after $198 million of property, equipment and software spending.

For the first half, the operating cash flow totaled $1.18 billion and the free cash flow reached $851 million. IQVIA repurchased $398 million of common stock during the quarter, bringing first-half repurchases to $950 million.

IQV's Balance Sheet Remains LeveragedIQVIA ended June with $1.91 billion in cash and cash equivalents, and $16 billion in debt. Net debt was $14.09 billion, while the net leverage ratio stood at 3.59X trailing-12-month adjusted EBITDA.

The company had $2.82 billion remaining under its share-repurchase authorization. Its current portion of long-term debt was $2.29 billion compared with $1.84 billion at the end of 2025.

IQV Raises Its 2026 Financial OutlookIQVIA raised its 2026 revenue guidance to $17.28-$17.48 billion from $17.15-$17.35 billion.

The updated forecast assumes 200 basis points of contribution from acquisitions, up from 150 basis points previously. It also incorporates a foreign-exchange tailwind of approximately 20 basis points, down from the prior assumption of 100 basis points.

Adjusted EBITDA guidance increased to $4-$4.05 billion from $3.98-$4.03 billion. IQVIA also lifted adjusted diluted earnings guidance to $12.80-$13 from $12.65-$12.95, reflecting stronger expected organic revenue growth and revised acquisition and currency impacts.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates review.

VGM ScoresAt this time, IQVIA has a average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, IQVIA has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerIQVIA is part of the Zacks Medical - Instruments industry. Over the past month, Edwards Lifesciences (EW - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 5.9%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.

Edwards Lifesciences reported revenues of $1.74 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +13.6%. EPS of $0.78 for the same period compares with $0.67 a year ago.

For the current quarter, Edwards Lifesciences is expected to post earnings of $0.73 per share, indicating a change of +9% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Edwards Lifesciences has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of B.

Callan Family Office LLC bought a new position in IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 9,044 shares of the medical research company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,747,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in IQVIA in the 2nd quarter worth $2,811,292,000. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of IQVIA by 36.0% during the 4th quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,948 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $2,693,000 after purchasing an additional 3,161 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of IQVIA during the second quarter valued at about $976,000. Nippon Life Global Investors Americas Inc. raised its stake in IQVIA by 36.6% in the fourth quarter. Nippon Life Global Investors Americas Inc. now owns 79,400 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $17,898,000 after buying an additional 21,270 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munich purchased a new stake in IQVIA in the fourth quarter worth about $3,444,000. Institutional investors own 89.62% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have recently issued reports on IQV shares. Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of IQVIA in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on IQVIA from $252.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. William Blair upgraded IQVIA to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Mizuho raised their price objective on IQVIA from $215.00 to $230.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of IQVIA from $225.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $241.88.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on IQV Insider Buying and Selling In other IQVIA news, insider Eric Sherbet sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $249.16, for a total transaction of $1,245,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 20,999 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,232,110.84. This trade represents a 19.23% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Bhavik Patel sold 1,855 shares of IQVIA stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $235.27, for a total transaction of $436,425.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 1,348 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $317,143.96. This trade represents a 57.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 12,913 shares of company stock worth $3,098,793 in the last 90 days. 1.70% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

IQVIA Stock Performance Shares of IQV opened at $260.17 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18. The stock has a market cap of $42.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.28, a P/E/G ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.18. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $213.32 and its 200-day moving average price is $187.21. IQVIA Holdings Inc. has a 52 week low of $154.50 and a 52 week high of $260.40.

IQVIA (NYSE:IQV – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The medical research company reported $3.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.03 by $0.12. IQVIA had a return on equity of 30.25% and a net margin of 8.10%.The company had revenue of $4.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.30 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.81 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. IQVIA has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.800-13.000 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that IQVIA Holdings Inc. will post 11.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

IQVIA declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Thursday, May 7th that permits the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the medical research company to repurchase up to 6.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

IQVIA Company Profile (Free Report)

IQVIA (NYSE: IQV) is a global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry. The company combines clinical research capabilities with large-scale health data and analytics to support drug development, regulatory reporting, commercial strategy and real‑world evidence generation. IQVIA traces its current form to the combination of Quintiles and IMS Health announced in 2016 and subsequently rebranded as IQVIA, bringing together long-established clinical research operations and extensive healthcare information assets.

IQVIA’s principal activities include outsourced clinical development services (acting as a contract research organization for phases I–IV), real‑world evidence and observational research, regulatory and safety services, and a suite of technology platforms that enable data integration, analytics and operational management.

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IQVIA (NYSE:IQV), a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries, today announced that its AI-enabled Clinical Decision Support Tool, developed in collaboration with Breakthrough T1D, has won the 2026 AI Breakthrough Award for Predictive Modeling Solution of the Year. Powered by IQVIA Healthcare-grade AI®, the tool tackles a long-standing proble.

Bruni J V & Co. Co. purchased a new position in IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 66,918 shares of the medical research company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,929,896,000. IQVIA accounts for about 1.2% of Bruni J V & Co. Co.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest position.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of IQVIA by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 19,650,532 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $4,429,426,000 after buying an additional 159,899 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in IQVIA during the second quarter worth about $2,811,292,000. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in IQVIA by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,374,971 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $982,272,000 after purchasing an additional 24,453 shares during the period. Boston Partners increased its stake in shares of IQVIA by 14.9% during the fourth quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,087,380 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $923,276,000 after purchasing an additional 530,672 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of IQVIA by 16.2% during the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,799,600 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $856,468,000 after purchasing an additional 528,753 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.62% of the company’s stock.

IQVIA Trading Down 0.4% IQVIA stock opened at $240.25 on Wednesday. IQVIA Holdings Inc. has a one year low of $154.50 and a one year high of $251.36. The business’s fifty day moving average is $208.88 and its 200 day moving average is $186.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.54 billion, a PE ratio of 29.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.71.

IQVIA (NYSE:IQV – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The medical research company reported $3.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.03 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $4.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.30 billion. IQVIA had a return on equity of 30.25% and a net margin of 8.10%.IQVIA’s revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.81 EPS. IQVIA has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.800-13.000 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that IQVIA Holdings Inc. will post 11.57 EPS for the current year. IQVIA announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Thursday, May 7th that allows the company to buyback $2.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the medical research company to reacquire up to 6.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity at IQVIA In other IQVIA news, insider Bhavik Patel sold 1,855 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $235.27, for a total transaction of $436,425.85. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 1,348 shares in the company, valued at approximately $317,143.96. The trade was a 57.91% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Keriann Cherofsky sold 558 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $245.21, for a total value of $136,827.18. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 2,989 shares in the company, valued at $732,932.69. The trade was a 15.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 12,913 shares of company stock worth $3,098,793 in the last three months. 1.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In IQV has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on IQVIA from $221.00 to $247.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of IQVIA in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $240.00 price target on IQVIA in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of IQVIA from $215.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of IQVIA from $220.00 to $276.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $241.88.

View Our Latest Stock Report on IQV

IQVIA Profile (Free Report)

IQVIA (NYSE: IQV) is a global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry. The company combines clinical research capabilities with large-scale health data and analytics to support drug development, regulatory reporting, commercial strategy and real‑world evidence generation. IQVIA traces its current form to the combination of Quintiles and IMS Health announced in 2016 and subsequently rebranded as IQVIA, bringing together long-established clinical research operations and extensive healthcare information assets.

IQVIA’s principal activities include outsourced clinical development services (acting as a contract research organization for phases I–IV), real‑world evidence and observational research, regulatory and safety services, and a suite of technology platforms that enable data integration, analytics and operational management.

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Key Takeaways IQVIA shares gained 41.5% in three months, outpacing its industry and the S&P 500 Composite.R&DS net new bookings rose 19% to $3.2B, while contracted backlog reached $34.2B as of June 30, 2026.IQVIA raised its 2026 revenue and EPS guidance, while 1H share repurchases totaled $950M. IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV - Free Report) stock has rallied over the past three months. The company’s shares have jumped 41.5%, outperforming the industry’s 17.2% growth and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 3.4% uptick.

3-Month Share Price Performance                                                                 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Let us delve into the factors that have contributed to the company’s outperformance.

Record Net Bookings & Solid BacklogsIQVIA’s net new bookings were $3.2 billion for research and development solutions (R&DS) in the second quarter of 2026. It marked 19% year-over-year growth, resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of 1.22X. As the metric surpasses 1, it implies that new order intake exceeds current revenue recognition.

RD&S’s contracted backlog was $34.2 billion as of June 30, 2026. In the second quarter of 2026, the company anticipated $9.2 billion in backlog to convert to top line in the next 12 months, suggesting a 7.5% year-over-year increase.

A high backlog with substantial probability of future revenue provides analysts and investors long-term visibility into top-line growth, lowering earnings uncertainty. Highly predictable and recurring revenues raise investor confidence.

Raised 2026 Outlook Lifts Investor SentimentIn the second quarter of 2026, management uplifted revenue expectations to $17.28-$17.48 billion from the preceding quarter’s view of $17.15-$17.35 billion. The bottom-line prospect was raised to $12.8-$13 per share from $12.65-$12.95 provided during the first quarter of 2026.

A hike in top- and bottom-line guidance raises investors' confidence and prompts analysts to revise their financial models upward, resulting in higher price targets. Currently, based on short-term price targets provided by 19 analysts, the average price target for the stock is $265.26. It offers a 9.6% upside from the last closing price of $241.99.

                                                                 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Shareholder-Friendly ActionsIQVIA has demonstrated a strong commitment to returning value to its shareholders through an active share repurchase program. In 2025, IQV repurchased shares worth $1.24 billion. In the first half of 2026, the company’s share repurchases amounted to $950 million. This substantial buyback not only reduces the total outstanding share count, thereby increasing earnings per share, but also signals management's belief in the intrinsic value of the stock. 

Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderIQVIA currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Medical sector are Anika Therapeutics (ANIK - Free Report) and BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. (BTSG - Free Report) , each flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

ANIK has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 10%. Anika Therapeutics delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 950%, on average.

BTSG has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 46%. BrightSpring delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 16.1%, on average.

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Stock to Watch: IQVIA Holdings (IQV - Free Report) Headquartered in Durham, NC., IQVIA Holdings Inc. provides advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry. The company was formed through the merger of IMS Health (RX) and Quintiles. The company is focused on helping healthcare clients to better serve patients by bringing in updated and innovative ideas in the process of clinical development and commercialization, speeding innovation and accelerating improvements. IQVIA Holdings operates in more than 100 countries, with around 88,000 employees.

IQV is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Momentum investors should take note of this Medical stock. IQV has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 11.2% over the past four weeks.

Nine analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.12 to $12.92 per share. IQV also boasts an average earnings surprise of +2.2%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, IQV should be on investors' short list.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Aug 5th, 2026

First Trust Advisors LP cut its stake in shares of IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV – Free Report) by 55.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 28,023 shares of the medical research company’s  stock after selling 34,759 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP’s holdings in IQVIA were worth $4,779,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in IQV. Ameliora Wealth Management Ltd. bought a new stake in IQVIA in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Financial Freedom LLC bought a new position in IQVIA during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Ascentis Independent Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of IQVIA during the first quarter worth $25,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of IQVIA in the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Gilpin Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of IQVIA in the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.62% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of IQVIA from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. HSBC restated a “buy” rating and set a $240.00 target price on shares of IQVIA in a research report on Monday, July 6th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of IQVIA from $210.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. TD Cowen boosted their price target on IQVIA from $233.00 to $288.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on IQVIA from $221.00 to $247.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $241.88.

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View Our Latest Analysis on IQVIA

IQVIA Trading Down 2.2% Shares of IQVIA stock opened at $228.18 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $37.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.31, a PEG ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18. IQVIA Holdings Inc. has a 12-month low of $154.50 and a 12-month high of $251.36. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $197.37 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $186.67.

IQVIA (NYSE:IQV – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The medical research company reported $3.15 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.03 by $0.12. IQVIA had a net margin of 8.10% and a return on equity of 30.25%. The company had revenue of $4.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.30 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.81 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. IQVIA has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.800-13.000 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that IQVIA Holdings Inc. will post 11.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

IQVIA announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase plan on Thursday, May 7th that authorizes the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the medical research company to repurchase up to 6.8% of its stock through open market purchases.  Stock repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity In other IQVIA  news, insider W Richard Staub sold 5,500 shares of IQVIA stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 3rd. The  stock was sold at an average price of $232.68, for a total value of $1,279,740.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 13,312 shares in the company, valued at $3,097,436.16. The trade was a 29.24% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Keriann Cherofsky sold 558 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $245.21, for a total value of $136,827.18. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 2,989 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $732,932.69. The trade was a 15.73% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 12,913 shares of company stock valued at $3,098,793 in the last three months. Company insiders own 1.70% of the company’s stock.

Recent news headlines

About IQVIA (Free Report)

IQVIA (NYSE: IQV) is a global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry. The company combines clinical research capabilities with large-scale health data and analytics to support drug development, regulatory reporting, commercial strategy and real‑world evidence generation. IQVIA traces its current form to the combination of Quintiles and IMS Health announced in 2016 and subsequently rebranded as IQVIA, bringing together long-established clinical research operations and extensive healthcare information assets.

IQVIA’s principal activities include outsourced clinical development services (acting as a contract research organization for phases I–IV), real‑world evidence and observational research, regulatory and safety services, and a suite of technology platforms that enable data integration, analytics and operational management.

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Key Takeaways IQV reported Q2 earnings and revenue above estimates, driven by Commercial and R&D Solutions growth.IQV raised 2026 revenue and earnings guidance after record R&D bookings and a larger contracted backlog.IQV trades below its five-year EV/EBITDA median, while leverage and recent gains raise the execution bar. IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV - Free Report) shares climbed 13% in a week as investors weighed better-than-expected quarterly results, stronger bookings and a raised full-year outlook.

The move reflects improving operating momentum, but its durability depends on whether bookings convert into revenue and earnings while leverage remains elevated. After a 29% gain in six months, further upside may require consistent execution rather than another short-term rerating.

IQVIA’s Rally Follows a Strong Earnings BeatSecond-quarter adjusted earnings increased 12.1% year over year to $3.15 per share. Revenues rose 8.7% to $4.36 billion, supported by growth in both Commercial Solutions and Research & Development Solutions.

Earnings exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.3%, while revenues topped the consensus mark by 1.6%. Those results strengthened the investment case, although they should be viewed as one contributor to the weekly price move rather than its sole cause.

IQVIA’s Bookings Improve Revenue VisibilityResearch & Development Solutions generated record net new bookings of $3.15 billion, up 19% year over year, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.22. Trailing-12-month net new bookings reached $11.3 billion, up 13%.

Contracted backlog totaled $34.2 billion at June 30, with about $9.2 billion expected to convert into revenue over the next 12 months. That pipeline improves visibility into future clinical research activity, though conversion timing remains important.

ICON plc (ICLR - Free Report) , another clinical research organization, reported second-quarter net business wins of $3.12 billion and a 1.51 book-to-bill ratio. Fortrea Holdings Inc. (FTRE - Free Report) also competes in outsourced clinical development, making peer booking trends relevant when judging whether IQVIA’s momentum is company-specific or industrywide.

IQVIA’s Raised Outlook Supports MomentumIQVIA raised its 2026 revenue guidance to $17.28 billion-$17.48 billion from $17.15 billion-$17.35 billion. Adjusted earnings guidance increased to $12.80-$13 per share from $12.65-$12.95.

The new revenue midpoint implies 6.5% growth, compared with 5.8% previously. Management incorporated roughly 100 basis points of stronger organic growth and 50 basis points of additional acquisition contribution, partly offset by an 80-basis-point unfavorable change in foreign exchange assumptions.

IQVIA’s Valuation May Limit Further UpsideIQVIA trades at 13.02X trailing enterprise value to EBITDA, below its five-year median of 14.14X. That discount suggests the stock is not stretched relative to its own history and Industry.

                                                                      Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The comparison is less reassuring after the recent rally. Shares have advanced 29% in six months, while net debt stood at $14.09 billion and the net leverage ratio was 3.59. Additional appreciation may therefore depend on earnings growth, cash generation and steady backlog conversion.

IQVIA’s Mixed Scores Temper the RallyThe operating picture supports continued interest, but the weekly surge should not be treated as an unqualified bullish signal. Bookings and guidance improved, while leverage and the size of the recent advance raise the execution bar.

IQVIA currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating a neutral near-term earnings-revision signal. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Its Value Score of B and VGM Score of B add support for investors focused on valuation and a blended style profile.

The Growth Score of C and Momentum Score of C are less decisive. Together, the scores suggest that the stock’s prospects are balanced, with further gains likely to depend on sustained operating progress rather than the recent price move alone.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Aug 3rd, 2026

IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV – Get Free Report) insider Eric Sherbet sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $249.16, for a total transaction of $1,245,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 20,999 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,232,110.84. The trade was a 19.23% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link.

IQVIA Trading Up 0.0% Shares of IQVIA stock opened at $235.09 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.71. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $194.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is $186.82. The stock has a market cap of $38.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 1.20. IQVIA Holdings Inc. has a 1-year low of $154.50 and a 1-year high of $251.36.

IQVIA (NYSE:IQV – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The medical research company reported $3.15 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.03 by $0.12. IQVIA had a return on equity of 30.25% and a net margin of 8.10%.The firm had revenue of $4.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.30 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.81 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. IQVIA has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.800-13.000 EPS. Analysts predict that IQVIA Holdings Inc. will post 11.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

IQVIA announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback plan on Thursday, May 7th that authorizes the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the medical research company to repurchase up to 6.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently issued reports on IQV. HSBC reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $240.00 price objective on shares of IQVIA in a report on Monday, July 6th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of IQVIA from $252.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of IQVIA from $225.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Mizuho raised their price target on shares of IQVIA from $215.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Barclays reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of IQVIA in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $241.88.

Read Our Latest Report on IQVIA

More IQVIA News Here are the key news stories impacting IQVIA this week:

Positive Sentiment: William Blair upgraded IQVIA to “strong buy,” adding to the favorable analyst outlook. Ticker Report article Positive Sentiment: Robert W. Baird raised its IQVIA price target to $287, implying substantial upside from the cited trading level. JPMorgan and Stifel Nicolaus also expressed expectations for further appreciation. American Banking News article on Baird price target American Banking News article on JPMorgan forecast American Banking News article on Stifel outlook Positive Sentiment: IQVIA’s second-quarter results exceeded expectations, with adjusted earnings of $3.15 per share versus the $3.03 consensus and revenue of $4.37 billion versus $4.30 billion expected. Revenue increased 8.7% year over year, reinforcing the company’s growth profile. IQVIA Q2 2026 earnings call summary Neutral Sentiment: Analysts maintain a “moderate buy” consensus, indicating generally favorable sentiment but not unanimous conviction. IQVIA analyst consensus article Negative Sentiment: Two insiders sold shares on July 29: Keriann Cherofsky sold 558 shares for approximately $136,827, while Eric Sherbet sold 5,000 shares for about $1.25 million. Although both retain meaningful holdings, the transactions may create short-term investor concern. SEC insider sale filing for Keriann Cherofsky SEC insider sale filing for Eric Sherbet Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Ameliora Wealth Management Ltd. purchased a new position in IQVIA during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of IQVIA in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Gilpin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of IQVIA during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. CrossGen Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in IQVIA in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Activest Wealth Management increased its holdings in IQVIA by 590.0% in the 4th quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 138 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.62% of the company’s stock.

IQVIA Company Profile (Get Free Report)

IQVIA (NYSE: IQV) is a global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry. The company combines clinical research capabilities with large-scale health data and analytics to support drug development, regulatory reporting, commercial strategy and real‑world evidence generation. IQVIA traces its current form to the combination of Quintiles and IMS Health announced in 2016 and subsequently rebranded as IQVIA, bringing together long-established clinical research operations and extensive healthcare information assets.

IQVIA’s principal activities include outsourced clinical development services (acting as a contract research organization for phases I–IV), real‑world evidence and observational research, regulatory and safety services, and a suite of technology platforms that enable data integration, analytics and operational management.

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Eric Sherbet, an executive at IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV -1.17%), sold 5,000 shares of common stock on July 29, 2026, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value~$1.2 millionShares sold (directly held)5,000Post-transaction shares (directly held)20,999Post-transaction value~$5.2 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($249.16); post-transaction value based on July 29, 2026 market close ($247.56).

Key questionsWhat is the scale of the executive's remaining equity interest?
Following this 19% reduction in direct holdings, Eric Sherbet maintains a position of 20,999 shares. This remaining stake is valued at ~$5.2 million based on the July 29, 2026 market close of $247.56.What are the current financial fundamentals for IQVIA Holdings?
The company generated $17.0 billion in revenue and $1.4 billion in net income over the trailing twelve months. As of the July 30, 2026 market close, the stock was priced at $237.82, supporting a market capitalization of $38.8 billion.How is the company positioned within the healthcare sector?
IQVIA Holdings is a global provider of analytical insights and technology solutions for the life sciences industry, operating through segments including Technology & Analytics Solutions and Research & Development Solutions.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-07-30)$237.82Market Capitalization$38.8 billionRevenue (TTM)$17.0 billionNet Income (TTM)$1.4 billionCompany SnapshotIQVIA provides sophisticated analytical insights, advanced technology solutions, and comprehensive clinical research services to the life sciences industry, with primary revenue streams derived from its Technology & Analytics Solutions, Research & Development Solutions, and Contract Sales & Medical Solutions segments.The company operates a diversified business model that generates revenue through data analytics platforms, clinical trial management services, real-world evidence solutions, and contract sales force deployment, serving as an essential infrastructure provider across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device sectors.IQVIA's primary customers include pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotechnology firms, medical device companies, and healthcare providers across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, positioning the company as a critical partner in drug development, commercialization, and healthcare analytics.IQVIA Holdings Inc. is a leading global provider of integrated solutions for the life sciences industry, employing professionals across multiple continents. The company leverages proprietary data assets, advanced analytics capabilities, and extensive clinical research infrastructure to deliver mission-critical services that accelerate drug development and optimize commercial outcomes for its clients. With a market capitalization of $38.8 billion and TTM revenue of $17.0 billion, IQVIA maintains a competitive advantage through its comprehensive platform approach, combining technology, data, and human expertise to address complex challenges in pharmaceutical development and healthcare commercialization.

What this transaction means for investorsSherbet's timing turned out well. He sold at $249.16, above that day's close and near the stock's high, and within a couple of sessions, the shares had slipped to around $235, roughly 6% below where he transacted. This wasn't an option exercise or a tax event either, just a straight open-market sale, which makes it more of a genuine choice than most insider filings, though selling a slice into strength after a strong report is ordinary enough.

The report, one day before Sherbet’s sale, was the standout part. IQVIA's commercial business accelerated to 5% organic growth, its best in over a year, helped by a 45% jump in new drug launches in the first half of 2026, since launch spending clusters in the first couple of years after approval. Nineteen of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies now use IQVIA's AI tools. Adjusted earnings per share rose 12.1% to $3.15. For long-term investors, that launch wave is the tailwind to track. It's lifting the commercial side now, but it's cyclical, so whether the pipeline keeps refilling is what determines if this pace holds.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Iqvia Holdings. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Aug 1st, 2026

Amundi lowered its holdings in shares of IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV – Free Report) by 19.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 869,003 shares of the medical research company’s stock after selling 206,218 shares during the period. Amundi owned 0.52% of IQVIA worth $148,200,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IQV. Brighton Jones LLC raised its holdings in shares of IQVIA by 244.4% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,575 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $703,000 after buying an additional 2,537 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in shares of IQVIA by 102.1% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 9,728 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $1,715,000 after purchasing an additional 4,915 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of IQVIA in the second quarter valued at about $514,000. First Trust Advisors LP raised its holdings in IQVIA by 14.8% during the 2nd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 92,015 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $14,501,000 after purchasing an additional 11,845 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in IQVIA by 5.4% in the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 22,731 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $3,582,000 after buying an additional 1,155 shares during the period. 89.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Headlines Impacting IQVIA Here are the key news stories impacting IQVIA this week:

Positive Sentiment: William Blair upgraded IQVIA to “strong buy,” adding to the favorable analyst outlook. Ticker Report article Positive Sentiment: Robert W. Baird raised its IQVIA price target to $287, implying substantial upside from the cited trading level. JPMorgan and Stifel Nicolaus also expressed expectations for further appreciation. American Banking News article on Baird price target American Banking News article on JPMorgan forecast American Banking News article on Stifel outlook Positive Sentiment: IQVIA’s second-quarter results exceeded expectations, with adjusted earnings of $3.15 per share versus the $3.03 consensus and revenue of $4.37 billion versus $4.30 billion expected. Revenue increased 8.7% year over year, reinforcing the company’s growth profile. IQVIA Q2 2026 earnings call summary Neutral Sentiment: Analysts maintain a “moderate buy” consensus, indicating generally favorable sentiment but not unanimous conviction. IQVIA analyst consensus article Negative Sentiment: Two insiders sold shares on July 29: Keriann Cherofsky sold 558 shares for approximately $136,827, while Eric Sherbet sold 5,000 shares for about $1.25 million. Although both retain meaningful holdings, the transactions may create short-term investor concern. SEC insider sale filing for Keriann Cherofsky SEC insider sale filing for Eric Sherbet IQVIA Price Performance IQV stock opened at $235.09 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $194.75 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $187.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.75. The stock has a market cap of $38.70 billion, a PE ratio of 29.17, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 1.20. IQVIA Holdings Inc. has a one year low of $154.50 and a one year high of $251.36.

IQVIA (NYSE:IQV – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The medical research company reported $3.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.03 by $0.12. IQVIA had a net margin of 8.10% and a return on equity of 30.25%. The company had revenue of $4.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.30 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.81 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. IQVIA has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.800-13.000 EPS. On average, analysts predict that IQVIA Holdings Inc. will post 11.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

IQVIA announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, May 7th that authorizes the company to buyback $2.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the medical research company to purchase up to 6.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity In other news, insider Eric Sherbet sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $249.16, for a total value of $1,245,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 20,999 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,232,110.84. This represents a 19.23% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Keriann Cherofsky sold 558 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $245.21, for a total transaction of $136,827.18. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 2,989 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $732,932.69. This represents a 15.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 1.70% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets IQV has been the subject of several research analyst reports. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of IQVIA from $233.00 to $288.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday. William Blair raised IQVIA to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $240.00 price objective on IQVIA in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. HSBC reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $240.00 price target on shares of IQVIA in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of IQVIA from $252.00 to $287.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $241.88.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on IQVIA

IQVIA Profile (Free Report)

IQVIA (NYSE: IQV) is a global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry. The company combines clinical research capabilities with large-scale health data and analytics to support drug development, regulatory reporting, commercial strategy and real‑world evidence generation. IQVIA traces its current form to the combination of Quintiles and IMS Health announced in 2016 and subsequently rebranded as IQVIA, bringing together long-established clinical research operations and extensive healthcare information assets.

IQVIA’s principal activities include outsourced clinical development services (acting as a contract research organization for phases I–IV), real‑world evidence and observational research, regulatory and safety services, and a suite of technology platforms that enable data integration, analytics and operational management.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than IQVIA Chevron’s Strong Quarter Shows Why It Still Leads the Energy Sector Amazon’s Earnings Beat Shows Why AWS Is Back at the Center of the Bull Case Apple’s Record Quarter Could Not Outrun Its Guidance Problem McKesson’s Compounding Keeps Adding Up Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IQV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV – Free Report).

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IQVIA Holdings Inc. (“IQVIA”) (NYSE:IQV), a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries, today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. Year-Over-Year Comparisons As previously disclosed, effective January 1, 2026, the company implemented a new, simplified organizational model to strengthen collaboration, enhance efficien.

Beyond Biotech—3 Healthcare Stocks for Growth-Minded InvestorsIQVIA NYSE: IQV reported second-quarter results that exceeded the high end of its guidance, supported by accelerating organic revenue growth, higher R&D Solutions bookings and operational productivity gains. The company also raised its full-year outlook for revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted earnings per share.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ari Bousbib said revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted EPS all surpassed management’s expectations. “The momentum we saw in the first quarter continued with improving market conditions and strong operational execution,” Bousbib said.

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Second-quarter revenue totaled $4.368 billion, up 8.7% on a reported basis and 8.5% at constant currency. Acquisitions accounted for about 2.5 percentage points of the quarter’s revenue growth, according to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mike Fedock.

Adjusted EBITDA rose 9.2% year over year to $994 million, while adjusted diluted EPS increased 12.1% to $3.15. On a GAAP basis, IQVIA reported net income of $256 million, or $1.53 per diluted share.

R&D Solutions bookings and backlog increase R&D Solutions revenue was $2.575 billion in the second quarter, rising 8.8% on a reported basis and 8.6% at constant currency. The business recorded $3.15 billion in net new bookings, up 19.3% from a year earlier and 27% sequentially, producing a book-to-bill ratio of 1.22.

Fedock said cancellations remained within IQVIA’s historical range. The company’s R&D Solutions backlog stood at $34.2 billion as of June 30, with $9.23 billion expected to convert to revenue over the next 12 months, up 7.5% year over year.

Last-12-month net new bookings reached $11.25 billion, an increase of 12.9% year over year. Bousbib said that metric has increased in each of the past four quarters and reflects both an improving demand environment and higher win rates.

Management said bookings strength was broad-based rather than driven by unusually large contracts or changes in cancellation or pass-through trends. Bousbib said full-service outsourcing was strong, while functional service provider activity remained in the low- to mid-double-digit percentage range of total bookings.

The company also updated its customer classifications for benchmarking purposes. Under the new definitions, IQVIA said large pharmaceutical companies account for about 50% of R&D Solutions revenue, midsize pharmaceutical companies account for about 15%, and emerging biopharma companies account for roughly 35%.

Bousbib said emerging biopharma customers are a major source of industry innovation, noting that they account for about 70% of global clinical trial starts today, compared with about 45% a decade ago. He also said emerging biopharma research-and-development spending is expected to grow two to three times faster than large-pharma R&D spending.

Commercial Solutions growth accelerates Commercial Solutions revenue rose 8.6% on a reported basis and 8.4% at constant currency to $1.793 billion. Organic revenue growth in the segment accelerated to 5%, Bousbib said, as clients launched new products and broadened their use of IQVIA services.

Analytics and consulting posted high-single-digit organic growth, its highest rate since 2022, according to management. Commercial engagement services and patient solutions continued to deliver double-digit year-over-year growth.

Bousbib said the commercial environment has been supported by a nearly 45% increase in new drug launches during the first half of 2026 compared with the first half of 2025. He added that IQVIA’s commercial pipeline has grown at a strong double-digit rate year to date, while customer decision timelines have shortened and win rates have increased.

AI investments and productivity efforts Management highlighted artificial intelligence as a differentiator in both clinical and commercial offerings. Bousbib said IQVIA has deployed 294 AI agents across 90 use cases and that 19 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies have deployed IQVIA AI solutions in their workflows. Four of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies have contracted with IQVIA to co-develop AI solutions, he said.

The company said its AI-enabled capabilities have contributed to clinical-trial awards by supporting site startup, enrollment, patient recruitment and patient-reported outcomes. In Commercial Solutions, IQVIA said clients are increasingly moving from AI pilots and data-foundation projects toward broader deployment of AI agents.

Fedock said operational and productivity programs drove about 90 basis points of operational margin expansion during the second quarter. That improvement was partly offset by an approximately 80-basis-point margin drag from pass-through revenue growth, resulting in a 10-basis-point expansion in adjusted EBITDA margin.

Second-quarter cash flow from operations was $558 million, while capital expenditures were $198 million, resulting in free cash flow of $360 million, up 23% year over year. IQVIA repurchased $398 million of shares during the quarter and $950 million during the first half, leaving approximately $2.8 billion under its existing repurchase authorization.

Full-year outlook raised IQVIA raised its 2026 revenue outlook to a range of $17.275 billion to $17.475 billion, representing reported growth of 5.9% to 7.1%. The new midpoint implies 6.5% growth, compared with the prior guidance midpoint of 5.8%.

Adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be $4 billion to $4.05 billion, up 5.6% to 6.9% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to remain approximately flat year over year at about 23.2%. Adjusted diluted EPS is forecast at $12.80 to $13.00, up 7.4% to 9.1% from 2025. Third-quarter revenue is projected at $4.315 billion to $4.390 billion, with adjusted diluted EPS of $3.19 to $3.29. The company said its revised full-year outlook assumes about 200 basis points of contribution from acquisitions and approximately 20 basis points of foreign-exchange tailwind. IQVIA plans to hold an investor day on Dec. 2, 2026.

About IQVIA (NYSE:IQV)IQVIA NYSE: IQV is a global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry. The company combines clinical research capabilities with large-scale health data and analytics to support drug development, regulatory reporting, commercial strategy and real‑world evidence generation. IQVIA traces its current form to the combination of Quintiles and IMS Health announced in 2016 and subsequently rebranded as IQVIA, bringing together long-established clinical research operations and extensive healthcare information assets.

IQVIA's principal activities include outsourced clinical development services (acting as a contract research organization for phases I–IV), real‑world evidence and observational research, regulatory and safety services, and a suite of technology platforms that enable data integration, analytics and operational management.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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IQVIA Holdings leads the index after the company boosted its full-year outlook on the back of a strong second quarter.

CompaniesJuly 28 (Reuters) - IQVIA Holdings (IQV.N), opens new tab raised its annual profit forecast on Tuesday after reporting better-than-expected second-quarter results, driven by strong ​demand for its healthcare data and analytics services, ‌sending its shares up 11% before the bell.

Here are the details:

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IQVIA and other contract research providers have benefited from improving demand ​as biotech funding recovers and drugmakers increase outsourcing of ​clinical development, data analytics and safety testing work.

CEO ⁠Ari Bousbib said favorable indicators across the segments point ​to "sustained momentum for the balance of the year and ​into 2027."

"Against the backdrop of better CRO sentiment (and a higher bar), IQVIA's results came in better across the board," Leerink Partners analysts ​said.

The company raised its 2026 revenue forecast to $17.28 billion ​to $17.48 billion from $17.15 billion to $17.35 billion previously.

IQVIA now expects 2026 adjusted profit ‌of $12.80 ⁠to $13.00 per share, compared with its prior forecast of $12.65 to $12.95 per share.

Second-quarter revenue rose 8.7% to $4.37 billion, topping analysts' estimate of $4.30 billion, while adjusted earnings per share of $3.15 ​exceeded an expectation ​of $3.03 per ⁠share, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Research & Development Solutions revenue, IQVIA's largest segment, increased ​8.8% to $2.58 billion from a year ago, ​above analysts' ⁠estimate of $2.50 billion. Commercial Solutions revenue rose 8.6% to $1.79 billion.

Research & Development Solutions reported net new bookings of $3.15 billion, up ⁠19% ​year-over-year, resulting in a book-to-bill ratio ​of 1.22x. This metric compares the value of new orders to revenue ​recognized.

Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 28th, 2026

Castleark Management LLC bought a new position in IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV – Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm bought 22,580 shares of the medical research company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,851,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG boosted its holdings in shares of IQVIA by 174.3% during the 4th quarter. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG now owns 12,827 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $2,891,000 after buying an additional 8,151 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its stake in shares of IQVIA by 23.9% in the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 55,830 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $12,585,000 after acquiring an additional 10,762 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC purchased a new position in IQVIA during the 4th quarter valued at about $15,724,000. HF Advisory Group LLC boosted its stake in IQVIA by 1,791.6% during the fourth quarter. HF Advisory Group LLC now owns 154,618 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $34,852,000 after acquiring an additional 146,444 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Calamos Advisors LLC grew its holdings in IQVIA by 268.1% in the fourth quarter. Calamos Advisors LLC now owns 188,707 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $42,536,000 after purchasing an additional 137,441 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.62% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In IQV has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $240.00 target price on shares of IQVIA in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. HSBC restated a “buy” rating and issued a $240.00 price target on shares of IQVIA in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on IQVIA from $230.00 to $249.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 1st. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $185.00 target price on shares of IQVIA in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded IQVIA from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, June 27th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $225.71.

View Our Latest Stock Report on IQV

IQVIA Trading Up 2.3% NYSE:IQV opened at $212.76 on Tuesday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $189.02 and its 200-day moving average price is $186.85. IQVIA Holdings Inc. has a 52 week low of $154.50 and a 52 week high of $247.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.20. The stock has a market cap of $35.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.36, a PEG ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.20.

IQVIA (NYSE:IQV – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 5th. The medical research company reported $2.90 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.83 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $4.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.10 billion. IQVIA had a net margin of 8.33% and a return on equity of 30.50%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.70 EPS. IQVIA has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.650-12.950 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that IQVIA Holdings Inc. will post 11.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

IQVIA declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase plan on Thursday, May 7th that allows the company to buyback $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the medical research company to purchase up to 6.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

About IQVIA (Free Report)

IQVIA (NYSE: IQV) is a global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry. The company combines clinical research capabilities with large-scale health data and analytics to support drug development, regulatory reporting, commercial strategy and real‑world evidence generation. IQVIA traces its current form to the combination of Quintiles and IMS Health announced in 2016 and subsequently rebranded as IQVIA, bringing together long-established clinical research operations and extensive healthcare information assets.

IQVIA’s principal activities include outsourced clinical development services (acting as a contract research organization for phases I–IV), real‑world evidence and observational research, regulatory and safety services, and a suite of technology platforms that enable data integration, analytics and operational management.

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 25th, 2026

Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its stake in IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV – Free Report) by 3.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 992,190 shares of the medical research company’s stock after acquiring an additional 30,051 shares during the quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership owned approximately 0.59% of IQVIA worth $169,208,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in IQV. Ameliora Wealth Management Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of IQVIA during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Financial Freedom LLC purchased a new stake in IQVIA during the first quarter worth $25,000. Ascentis Independent Advisors acquired a new stake in IQVIA during the first quarter valued at $25,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in IQVIA in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Gilpin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of IQVIA in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.62% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In IQV has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. HSBC restated a “buy” rating and set a $240.00 target price on shares of IQVIA in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on IQVIA from $230.00 to $249.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 1st. Morgan Stanley restated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $200.00 price objective (down from $225.00) on shares of IQVIA in a research report on Wednesday, June 17th. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $185.00 target price on shares of IQVIA in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $240.00 target price on IQVIA in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, IQVIA currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $225.71.

Read Our Latest Report on IQVIA

IQVIA Stock Up 0.4% Shares of NYSE IQV opened at $208.22 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.20. The business’s 50 day moving average is $188.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $187.38. IQVIA Holdings Inc. has a 52-week low of $154.50 and a 52-week high of $247.04. The firm has a market cap of $34.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.80, a PEG ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.20.

IQVIA (NYSE:IQV – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 5th. The medical research company reported $2.90 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.83 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $4.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.10 billion. IQVIA had a return on equity of 30.50% and a net margin of 8.33%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.70 earnings per share. IQVIA has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.650-12.950 EPS. Research analysts predict that IQVIA Holdings Inc. will post 11.57 EPS for the current year.

IQVIA announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program on Thursday, May 7th that allows the company to buyback $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the medical research company to purchase up to 6.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

IQVIA Profile (Free Report)

IQVIA (NYSE: IQV) is a global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry. The company combines clinical research capabilities with large-scale health data and analytics to support drug development, regulatory reporting, commercial strategy and real‑world evidence generation. IQVIA traces its current form to the combination of Quintiles and IMS Health announced in 2016 and subsequently rebranded as IQVIA, bringing together long-established clinical research operations and extensive healthcare information assets.

IQVIA’s principal activities include outsourced clinical development services (acting as a contract research organization for phases I–IV), real‑world evidence and observational research, regulatory and safety services, and a suite of technology platforms that enable data integration, analytics and operational management.

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The market expects IQVIA Holdings (IQV - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 28, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis clinical testing company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $3.02 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +7.5%.

Revenues are expected to be $4.3 billion, up 7% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.45% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for IQVIA?For IQVIA, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -2.98%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that IQVIA will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that IQVIA would post earnings of $2.83 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.90, delivering a surprise of +2.47%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

IQVIA doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 20th, 2026

California Public Employees Retirement System increased its holdings in IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV – Free Report) by 2.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 337,191 shares of the medical research company’s stock after buying an additional 6,563 shares during the period. California Public Employees Retirement System owned 0.20% of IQVIA worth $57,505,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG increased its holdings in shares of IQVIA by 174.3% in the 4th quarter. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG now owns 12,827 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $2,891,000 after buying an additional 8,151 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC lifted its holdings in shares of IQVIA by 23.9% during the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 55,830 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $12,585,000 after acquiring an additional 10,762 shares during the last quarter. Calamos Advisors LLC grew its position in IQVIA by 268.1% in the fourth quarter. Calamos Advisors LLC now owns 188,707 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $42,536,000 after acquiring an additional 137,441 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC purchased a new position in IQVIA in the fourth quarter worth $15,724,000. Finally, HF Advisory Group LLC increased its stake in IQVIA by 1,791.6% in the fourth quarter. HF Advisory Group LLC now owns 154,618 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $34,852,000 after acquiring an additional 146,444 shares during the last quarter. 89.62% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

IQVIA Stock Performance IQVIA stock opened at $206.26 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $185.04 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $187.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.20. IQVIA Holdings Inc. has a twelve month low of $154.50 and a twelve month high of $247.04. The company has a market capitalization of $34.42 billion, a PE ratio of 25.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.20.

IQVIA (NYSE:IQV – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 5th. The medical research company reported $2.90 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.83 by $0.07. IQVIA had a return on equity of 30.50% and a net margin of 8.33%.The firm had revenue of $4.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.10 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.70 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. IQVIA has set its FY 2026 guidance at 12.650-12.950 EPS. Research analysts expect that IQVIA Holdings Inc. will post 11.57 EPS for the current year.

IQVIA announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, May 7th that authorizes the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the medical research company to reacquire up to 6.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth IQV has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $240.00 price target on IQVIA in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Weiss Ratings upgraded IQVIA from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley restated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $200.00 target price (down from $225.00) on shares of IQVIA in a research report on Wednesday, June 17th. Wall Street Zen lowered IQVIA from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, June 27th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of IQVIA from $230.00 to $249.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 1st. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $225.71.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on IQVIA

About IQVIA (Free Report)

IQVIA (NYSE: IQV) is a global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry. The company combines clinical research capabilities with large-scale health data and analytics to support drug development, regulatory reporting, commercial strategy and real‑world evidence generation. IQVIA traces its current form to the combination of Quintiles and IMS Health announced in 2016 and subsequently rebranded as IQVIA, bringing together long-established clinical research operations and extensive healthcare information assets.

IQVIA’s principal activities include outsourced clinical development services (acting as a contract research organization for phases I–IV), real‑world evidence and observational research, regulatory and safety services, and a suite of technology platforms that enable data integration, analytics and operational management.

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Investors interested in stocks from the Medical - Instruments sector have probably already heard of IQVIA Holdings (IQV - Free Report) and Penumbra (PEN - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.

Everyone has their own methods for finding great value opportunities, but our model includes pairing an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system with a strong Zacks Rank. The Zacks Rank is a proven strategy that targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, while our Style Scores work to grade companies based on specific traits.

Right now, IQVIA Holdings is sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Penumbra has a Zacks Rank of #5 (Strong Sell). The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that IQV has an improving earnings outlook. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.

Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.

The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.

IQV currently has a forward P/E ratio of 16.21, while PEN has a forward P/E of 63.35. We also note that IQV has a PEG ratio of 1.61. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. PEN currently has a PEG ratio of 1.97.

Another notable valuation metric for IQV is its P/B ratio of 5.55. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, PEN has a P/B of 8.51.

These are just a few of the metrics contributing to IQV's Value grade of B and PEN's Value grade of F.

IQV is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that IQV is likely the superior value option right now.

Key Takeaways IQVIA's AI tools, historic R&D backlog and robust free cash flow support its growth outlook.IQV's $34.2B R&D backlog includes $8.9B expected to convert to revenues in the next 12 months.IQVIA faces risks from past industry turmoil, no cash dividend plans and weak liquidity. Shares of IQVIA (IQV - Free Report) have jumped 26.1% over the past year, compared with the industry’s 10.4% decline and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 24.3% rise.

1-Year Share Price Performance                                                                 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 revenues is $17.3 billion. The metric is expected to gain 5.8% year over year. The same growth rate is anticipated for the top line in 2027. The consensus mark for 2026 EPS is set at $12.8, suggesting a 7.4% increase from that reported in the preceding year. For 2027, the expected growth rate is 11.2%.

Factors That Augur Well for IQV’s SuccessAI Enhances Data Integration: IQVIA’s ability to process information is enhanced by recent advancements in AI, including IQVIA.ai, which provides clients with a single point of access to their AI solutions and enables them to explore a broader portfolio. It has built deep industry trust, as evidenced by 19 of the top 20 global pharma companies utilizing IQV’s distinguished AI agents in their workflows.

Life science clients are highly inclined to select IQVIA’s AI-ready data foundations, including 192 specialized AI agents deployed in the field across 64 use cases in Commercial Solutions and R&D Solutions. Large pharma companies leverage IQVIA’s Data-as-a-Service platform to harmonize global commercial intelligence.

Historic Backlog & Pipeline: IQVIA’s growth trajectory is immensely dictated by its record-breaking R&D Solutions backlog of $34.2 billion. It provides a stream of recurring revenues that enhances long-term visibility. During the first-quarter 2026 earnings call, Ari Bousbib, the CEO and chairman, stated that $8.9 billion of the total backlog is expected to convert into revenues over the next 12 months, marking an 8% rise from the year-ago quarter’s actual.

Immaculate Earnings Quality: As of March 31, 2026, IQV registered $618 million in cash flow from operations and incurred $127 million in CapEx, leading to a free cash flow (FCF) of $491 million. This robust FCF represents 100% of adjusted net income. As a result, IQVIA’s balance sheet accrual ratio was pushed downward to -0.9, wider than the industry’s -0.5, verifying high earnings quality.

Shareholder-Friendly Strategy: IQVIA has demonstrated a strong commitment to returning value to its shareholders through an active share repurchase program. In the past year alone, the company repurchased shares worth $1.24 billion. This substantial buyback not only reduces the total outstanding share count, thereby increasing earnings per share, but also signals management's belief in the intrinsic value of the stock.

Risks Faced by IQVIAPast Industry Turmoil: During the first-quarter 2026 earnings call, management stated that the company is coming out of 3-4 years of industry turbulence. It is primarily fueled by a post-COVID deflationary environment affecting budgets, the IRA under the Biden administration and policies announced/enacted during the Trump regime. These factors collectively forced large pharma to halt discretionary spending that had driven historic organic growth.

No Dividend Discourages Investors: The company currently has no plan to pay out cash dividends on common stock. Payment of dividends in the future depends on factors such as its financial condition, cash requirements and contractual restrictions. Investors seeking cash dividends should avoid buying the IQVIA stock. 

Weak Liquidity: IQV ended the first quarter of 2026 with a cash chest of $2.1 billion against a current debt of $1.8 billion. While the current debt was a tad bit lower than cash, the larger picture reveals that IQV’s current liabilities position exceeds its current assets.

As a result, the company ended the aforesaid quarter with a current ratio of 0.75, which has stayed below 1 over the past multiple quarters, hinting at a sustained weak liquidity position. The inability to cover short-term debt does not bode well with investors.

IQV’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderThe company has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present.

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader Zacks Medical sector are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) and Integra LifeSciences (IART - Free Report) , currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Globus Medical has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 10.2%. GMED delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 26.3%, on average.

Integra LifeSciences has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 5.9%. IART delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 16.8%, on average.

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Combining AI-powered media orchestration and human expertise with healthcare-grade data to deliver highly targeted, measurable engagement across HCP and patient audiences.

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--StackAdapt (www.stackadapt.com), the leading AI advertising and orchestration platform, today announced a collaboration with IQVIA Digital to advance more relevant and compliant engagement with healthcare audiences. IQVIA Digital’s integrated solutions enable marketers to quickly transform data-driven insights into meaningful, privacy-conscious activation across the healthcare ecosystem.

Through this collaboration, StackAdapt’s programmatic advertising capabilities are now available within Media OS, IQVIA Digital’s end-to-end platform purpose-built for healthcare marketers. This integration enables brands and agencies to activate campaigns with StackAdapt’s best-in-class DSP directly from Media OS, a centralized environment designed around healthcare identities and compliance requirements.

Healthcare marketers have traditionally relied on separate platforms and partners across data, activation, and measurement, often resulting in disconnected workflows and limited visibility into campaign performance. By bringing these components together within Media OS, IQVIA Digital and StackAdapt simplify execution and improve visibility, enabling marketers to reach intended healthcare professionals with enhanced audience fidelity and relevant targeting across channels including CTV, video, display, native, and audio.

“StackAdapt is proud to work closely with IQVIA Digital to enhance the Media OS platform and support healthcare marketers with more connected advertising workflows,” said Mike Novosel, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships at StackAdapt. “Together, we are helping marketers reach healthcare audiences more seamlessly, reduce onboarding complexity, and gain clearer visibility into media measurement.”

For advertisers who prefer to activate campaigns directly within StackAdapt, IQVIA Digital audiences remain seamlessly accessible within the platform. This includes custom HCP audience creation, pre-built audience segments, and integrated healthcare measurement workflows, without requiring additional onboarding, external integrations, or third-party workflows.

For those centralizing campaigns within Media OS, the platform delivers a unified experience that brings together the best of healthcare-specific media and audience intelligence in one place. In addition to DSP-based activation, Media OS provides access to premium endemic healthcare environments, including electronic health record platforms, medical journals, and telehealth settings, as well as broader channels such as email, search, and social.

This release builds on StackAdapt’s growing healthcare offering, where IQVIA Digital’s healthcare intelligence supports HCP engagement, campaign measurement, and reporting capabilities designed for pharmaceutical and healthcare advertisers. StackAdapt works with healthcare organizations like Advanced Diabetes Supply, Mass General Brigham, VSP Vision Care, Indiana University Health, Genomic Health, and US Med.

About StackAdapt

StackAdapt is the leading AI advertising and orchestration platform marketers rely on to drive brand growth and revenue. Built entirely in-house with an easy-to-use interface, StackAdapt unifies programmatic and owned channels—including CTV, DOOH, display, native, audio, email, and more—into one seamless experience. The platform makes it easy to find the right audience, personalize creative, run campaigns, optimize, and measure results in one place. Trusted by the most forward-thinking brands and agencies, StackAdapt combines speed of innovation, deep vertical expertise, and partnership that powers real business growth. For further information, visit www.stackadapt.com.

About IQVIA Digital

IQVIA Digital powers exceptional brand experiences, delivering innovative solutions based on a customer-first, insights-driven, and integrated omnichannel vision. We provide authenticated, data and analytics, innovative fit-for-purpose healthcare technology, and the expertise to enable an effective and adaptable marketing model that drives better quality of care and patient outcomes. IQVIA is the leading global provider of data, advanced analytics, technology solutions and clinical research services for the life sciences industry. Contact us at www.IQVIADigital.com.

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