Advertisement
UK markets closed
  • FTSE 100

    8,266.84
    -8.54 (-0.10%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    20,900.49
    +170.37 (+0.82%)
     
  • AIM

    805.75
    -0.04 (-0.00%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1747
    +0.0005 (+0.04%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2791
    +0.0053 (+0.42%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    54,388.44
    +1,159.80 (+2.18%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,488.48
    +20.55 (+1.40%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,266.53
    -10.98 (-0.21%)
     
  • DOW

    38,444.56
    -241.76 (-0.62%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    74.09
    -2.90 (-3.77%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,362.80
    +17.00 (+0.72%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    38,923.03
    +435.13 (+1.13%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    18,403.04
    +323.43 (+1.79%)
     
  • DAX

    18,608.16
    +110.22 (+0.60%)
     
  • CAC 40

    7,998.02
    +5.15 (+0.06%)
     

Should You Be Adding IQVIA Holdings (NYSE:IQV) To Your Watchlist Today?

Investors are often guided by the idea of discovering 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without any revenue, let alone profit. Sometimes these stories can cloud the minds of investors, leading them to invest with their emotions rather than on the merit of good company fundamentals. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, so investors in these companies may be taking on more risk than they should.

If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in IQVIA Holdings (NYSE:IQV). Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide IQVIA Holdings with the means to add long-term value to shareholders.

View our latest analysis for IQVIA Holdings

IQVIA Holdings' Earnings Per Share Are Growing

The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so you'd expect share price to follow earnings per share (EPS) outcomes eventually. Therefore, there are plenty of investors who like to buy shares in companies that are growing EPS. IQVIA Holdings' shareholders have have plenty to be happy about as their annual EPS growth for the last 3 years was 52%. That sort of growth rarely ever lasts long, but it is well worth paying attention to when it happens.

ADVERTISEMENT

Top-line growth is a great indicator that growth is sustainable, and combined with a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin, it's a great way for a company to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. IQVIA Holdings maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 4.0% to US$15b. That's a real positive.

In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings and revenue, over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart.

earnings-and-revenue-history
earnings-and-revenue-history

In investing, as in life, the future matters more than the past. So why not check out this free interactive visualization of IQVIA Holdings' forecast profits?

Are IQVIA Holdings Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Since IQVIA Holdings has a market capitalisation of US$42b, we wouldn't expect insiders to hold a large percentage of shares. But we are reassured by the fact they have invested in the company. We note that their impressive stake in the company is worth US$342m. While that is a lot of skin in the game, we note this holding only totals to 0.8% of the business, which is a result of the company being so large. This still shows shareholders there is a degree of alignment between management and themselves.

Should You Add IQVIA Holdings To Your Watchlist?

IQVIA Holdings' earnings per share have been soaring, with growth rates sky high. That sort of growth is nothing short of eye-catching, and the large investment held by insiders should certainly brighten the view of the company. At times fast EPS growth is a sign the business has reached an inflection point, so there's a potential opportunity to be had here. Based on the sum of its parts, we definitely think its worth watching IQVIA Holdings very closely. What about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for IQVIA Holdings (of which 1 is concerning!) you should know about.

While opting for stocks without growing earnings and absent insider buying can yield results, for investors valuing these key metrics, here is a carefully selected list of companies in the US with promising growth potential and insider confidence.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.