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

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

Key Stories 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 research firms have weighed in on ICLR. BMO Capital Markets restated a “market perform” rating and set a $100.00 price objective on shares of Icon in a report on Thursday. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Icon from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Robert W. Baird set a $217.00 price target on Icon in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Barclays increased their price objective on Icon from $185.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Truist Financial reissued a “hold” rating and issued a $222.00 price target (down from $231.00) on shares of Icon in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $179.93.

Icon Trading Down 37.6%

The stock has a market capitalization of $6.70 billion, a PE ratio of 11.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $179.90 and a 200-day moving average price of $176.28.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Icon

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership grew its holdings in Icon by 67.4% during the second quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 7,184,870 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $1,045,039,000 after purchasing an additional 2,893,946 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Icon by 739.2% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 3,277,293 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $573,526,000 after buying an additional 2,886,755 shares during the last quarter. Harris Associates L P bought a new position in shares of Icon during the 2nd quarter worth $238,256,000. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in Icon by 555.2% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 1,496,479 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $272,688,000 after acquiring an additional 1,268,095 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new stake in Icon in the 2nd quarter valued at about $158,639,000. Institutional investors own 95.61% of the company’s stock.

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.