Icon (NASDAQ:ICLR) Stock Price Up 9.5% – Still a Buy?

Icon Plc (NASDAQ:ICLR)’s share price traded up 9.5% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $88.48 and last traded at $87.6620. 1,696,537 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 9% from the average session volume of 1,873,080 shares. The stock had previously closed at $80.08.

Icon News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Icon this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Elevated trading and short‑covering dynamics that followed the sharp selloff can drive a rebound as short positions are closed and bargain hunters buy the post‑selloff dip. (Market trading data showed volume well above average.)
• Positive Sentiment: Some analysts maintained coverage after the drop (Leerink reaffirmed a Market Perform with a ~$105 price target), providing a potential floor for buyers. Finviz – analyst notes
• Neutral Sentiment: ICON issued an update delaying release of its fourth‑quarter and full‑year 2025 results while the Audit Committee continues an internal investigation into certain accounting practices; the company has not yet concluded the probe. ICON plc Provides Update on Timing of Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: ICON disclosed an internal investigation focused on revenue recognition for fiscal years 2023–2025, which triggered an immediate, severe market reaction and undermines near‑term earnings visibility. Hagens Berman – Investigation / Revenue Recognition
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple plaintiff and shareholder‑rights law firms have opened investigations and are soliciting clients, increasing the risk of class actions and potential legal exposure/costs. Representative notices: Glancy Prongay (investigation), Rosen Law, Holzer & Holzer and others. Glancy Prongay – Investor Notice
• Negative Sentiment: The accounting/revenue recognition questions and delayed filings materially increase uncertainty around 2025 guidance and could lead to restatements, regulatory scrutiny, and longer reporting delays—key downside risks for investors. Investing.com – accounting probe / delayed earnings

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently commented on ICLR. Mizuho set a $216.00 price target on Icon in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Robert W. Baird set a $119.00 target price on shares of Icon in a report on Friday. TD Cowen reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Icon in a research note on Thursday. Truist Financial reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a $222.00 price objective (down previously from $231.00) on shares of Icon in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Icon from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $173.40.

Icon Trading Up 16.4%

The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $177.79 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $175.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.77, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Icon

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ICLR. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in Icon by 44.0% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 393 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $57,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Aberdeen Group plc lifted its position in shares of Icon by 5.6% during the second quarter. Aberdeen Group plc now owns 59,211 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $8,612,000 after purchasing an additional 3,165 shares in the last quarter. TD Asset Management Inc boosted its stake in shares of Icon by 2.7% in the second quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 22,511 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $3,274,000 after purchasing an additional 583 shares during the period. Mutual Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Icon by 3.6% in the second quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 2,698 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $392,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the period. Finally, Coho Partners Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Icon in the second quarter valued at approximately $33,649,000. 95.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Icon Company Profile

Icon plc (NASDAQ: ICLR) is a global provider of outsourced drug development and clinical research services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The company partners with clients at all stages of the product life cycle, offering expertise in protocol design, trial execution and regulatory compliance across a broad range of therapeutic areas.

Icon’s service portfolio encompasses clinical trial management, data management and biostatistics, medical imaging, pharmacovigilance and safety monitoring, laboratory sciences and specialized analytical solutions.