Durham, North Carolina-based IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) provides healthcare research services. Valued at $28 billion by market cap, the company offers analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry which helps them in the clinical development and commercialization of medical treatments that improve healthcare outcomes for patients. Shares of this contract research giant have underperformed the broader market over the past year. IQV has declined 11.4% over thi ...

Core Insights - IQVIA Holdings Inc. is valued at $37.6 billion and provides healthcare research services, including analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research to the life sciences industry, aimed at improving healthcare outcomes for patients [1] Performance Overview - Over the past year, IQV shares have gained 12.2%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which increased by nearly 13.7% [2] - In 2025, IQV's stock rose 10%, while the S&P 500 saw a 13.4% rise on a year-to-date basis [2] - Compared to the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV), which gained about 7% over the past year, IQV's performance is relatively better, although the ETF's 10.3% year-to-date returns outshine IQV's gains [3] Financial Results - For Q3, IQV reported an adjusted EPS of $3, exceeding Wall Street expectations of $2.96, and revenue of $4.10 billion, beating forecasts of $4.07 billion [4] - The company expects full-year adjusted EPS to be in the range of $11.85 to $11.95 and revenue between $16.2 billion and $16.3 billion [4] Analyst Expectations - Analysts project IQV's EPS to grow by 5.1% to $10.77 for the current fiscal year ending in December [5] - Among 22 analysts covering IQV, the consensus rating is a "Strong Buy," with 16 "Strong Buy" ratings, one "Moderate Buy," and five "Holds" [5] - A month ago, the bullish sentiment increased, with 15 analysts suggesting a "Strong Buy" [6] Price Targets - BMO Capital initiated coverage of IQV with an "Outperform" rating and a price target of $260, indicating a potential upside of 20.3% from current levels [6] - The mean price target is $244.38, representing a 13.1% premium to current prices, while the highest price target of $265 suggests an upside potential of 22.6% [6]