Icon (NASDAQ:ICLR) Hits New 1-Year Low – Time to Sell?

Icon Plc (NASDAQ:ICLR) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $90.00 and last traded at $75.0010, with a volume of 471306 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $133.14.

Key Headlines Impacting Icon

Here are the key news stories impacting Icon this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Leerink Partners reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and a $105 price target (roughly 31% above current levels), indicating at least one analyst still sees recovery potential if the situation stabilizes. Leerink PT Report
• Neutral Sentiment: ICON issued a formal update saying it has delayed release of Q4 and full‑year 2025 results while its Audit Committee investigates accounting practices — a material corporate disclosure but the company has not yet reported findings or restatements. Business Wire: Company Update
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst consensus (per Zacks) expected a decline in earnings ahead of the report — this weak baseline reduces the likelihood of an easy earnings surprise even before the accounting probe. Zacks Earnings Preview
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction: multiple outlets report a sharp share-price collapse after the probe and earnings delay were disclosed — headlines cite a 30%+ intraday plunge and record one‑day losses, driven by uncertainty over the company’s financials and guidance. Investing.com: Stock Plummets
• Negative Sentiment: ICON pulled its 2025 outlook amid the ongoing probe, amplifying investor concern that prior guidance or reported results may need revision. Seeking Alpha: Outlook Pulled
• Negative Sentiment: Several plaintiff and securities‑fraud law firms (Rosen Law, Johnson Fistel, Block & Leviton) have launched or publicized investigations into potential claims — a common follow‑on after accounting probes that can lead to litigation risk, settlements and added costs. Rosen Law Firm Notice
• Negative Sentiment: Bank of America reaffirmed an “underperform” rating with a $75 target, reinforcing downside risk from some corners of the sell‑side. Finviz / BofA Note

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Mizuho set a $216.00 price objective on Icon in a report on Friday, January 9th. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Icon from $172.00 to $183.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Barclays lifted their target price on Icon from $185.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Icon in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $217.00 price target on Icon in a report on Friday, January 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Icon currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $179.93.

Icon Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $6.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.23, a P/E/G ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 1.27. The company’s 50 day moving average is $179.90 and its 200 day moving average is $176.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Icon

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Mitchell Capital Management Co. acquired a new position in Icon in the third quarter valued at $1,627,000. Tributary Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Icon by 84.5% in the 3rd quarter. Tributary Capital Management LLC now owns 11,752 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $2,057,000 after acquiring an additional 5,381 shares in the last quarter. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC boosted its stake in Icon by 15.7% during the third quarter. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC now owns 480,104 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $84,018,000 after acquiring an additional 65,264 shares in the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC acquired a new position in Icon during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,730,000. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Icon by 739.2% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 3,277,293 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $573,526,000 after acquiring an additional 2,886,755 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.61% of the company’s stock.

About Icon

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.