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A vs IQV
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Agilent Technologies (A) vs. IQVIA Holdings (IQV) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- A and IQV both delivered strong second-quarter 2026 results with earnings beats and raised full-year guidance, supporting positive momentum in recent market activity.
- A focuses on analytical instruments and diagnostics, while IQV provides clinical research services and healthcare data analytics, offering complementary exposure within the life sciences sector.
- Recent performance shows A trading near multi-month highs with analyst target upgrades, and IQV approaching its 52-week high amid robust bookings growth.
- Both companies benefit from sector tailwinds in precision medicine and clinical development, though IQV carries higher leverage compared to A’s more stable balance sheet profile.
- Upcoming catalysts include A’s earnings release on August 26, 2026, while IQV continues to highlight record net new bookings and share repurchase activity.
- Market sentiment remains constructive for both, with moderate buy to strong buy analyst consensus and price targets above recent trading levels.
Introduction
Agilent Technologies (A) and IQVIA Holdings (IQV) represent two distinct yet related plays in the life sciences tools and services industry. Investors and traders often compare the pair to evaluate relative positioning between precision diagnostics and instrumentation versus clinical research outsourcing and data analytics. This analysis examines recent performance, business fundamentals, and market dynamics to provide context for those assessing healthcare sector exposure amid evolving regulatory and innovation trends. The comparison may appeal to portfolio managers seeking balanced exposure or active traders monitoring earnings catalysts and sector rotation.
A Overview and Recent Performance
Agilent Technologies (A) develops analytical instruments, diagnostics, and laboratory solutions serving life sciences, applied markets, and diagnostics end-markets. In recent weeks, the stock has benefited from a strong second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings beat, with non-GAAP EPS of $1.49 exceeding estimates and revenue rising 10% year over year to $1.835 billion. Management raised full-year guidance, citing broad-based growth across reporting segments. Analyst sentiment improved with price target increases, including a lift to $175 at Morgan Stanley. The shares traded near 52-week highs amid positive developments in precision oncology approvals and emerging applications such as cannabis testing. Upcoming third-quarter results on August 26, 2026, represent a near-term focus for investors tracking execution on raised outlook.
IQV Overview and Recent Performance
IQVIA Holdings (IQV) delivers clinical research services, commercial insights, and healthcare intelligence primarily to pharmaceutical and biotech clients. Recent market activity reflected a solid second-quarter 2026 performance, with revenue advancing 8.7% to $4.368 billion and adjusted diluted EPS of $3.15 beating consensus. Record net new bookings of $3.15 billion supported a raised full-year 2026 outlook for revenue between $17.275 billion and $17.475 billion and adjusted EPS of $12.80 to $13.00. The stock approached its 52-week high near $260 amid continued share repurchases and partnerships in areas such as cardiac gene therapy. Analyst consensus holds at moderate buy with average targets above recent levels, reflecting visibility from a substantial contracted backlog.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Agilent Technologies (A) operates an asset-light model centered on high-margin instrumentation and diagnostics, while IQVIA Holdings (IQV) emphasizes service-based clinical development with greater scale in revenue but higher debt levels. Growth drivers for A include instrument adoption and regulatory approvals in oncology testing; IQV benefits from R&D outsourcing demand and data analytics integration. Recent momentum favors both following earnings beats, though A faces an imminent quarterly report while IQV leverages backlog visibility. Risk factors differ, with IQV exhibiting elevated leverage relative to A’s stronger liquidity position. Sector exposure overlaps in life sciences yet diverges in capital intensity and client concentration, creating distinct trade-offs for investors balancing stability against growth scalability.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency following earnings beats, upcoming catalysts, and relative positioning within the sector, Tickeron’s AI models currently assign a modestly higher probability of favorable near-term momentum to A. The combination of raised guidance execution and an imminent earnings release provides a measurable catalyst edge, though sustained outperformance remains contingent on delivery and broader market conditions.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is A is a Hold and IQV is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
A’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileIQV’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- A’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- IQV’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
A’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while IQV’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- A’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
- IQV’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
A (@Medical Specialties) experienced а -1.94% price change this week, while IQV (@Medical Specialties) price change was +2.30% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical Specialties industry was +5.68%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +11.00%, and the average quarterly price growth was +34.25%.
Reported Earning Dates
A is expected to report earnings on Nov 30, 2026.
IQV is expected to report earnings on Nov 04, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Medical Specialties (+5.68% weekly)Medical specialties are companies that make equipment used by the health care industry. Equipment manufactured and distributed by these companies include dialysis machines, blood analysis equipment, surgical equipment, dental instruments, and diagnostic tools, among other items. Large companies typically aim to produce and distribute high-quality products across a broad market spectrum. Smaller firms are more likely to specialize in a particular market segment. Due to the industry’s close association with medical treatments, they typically have low sensitivity to macroeconomic fluctuations. Within this industry, Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic Plc and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. are some of the companies with multi-billion market capitalizations in the U.S. stock markets.
| A | IQV | A / IQV | |
| Capitalization | 42.5B | 44.1B | 96% |
| EBITDA | 2.04B | 3.53B | 58% |
| Gain YTD | 11.535 | 18.792 | 61% |
| P/E Ratio | 29.76 | 33.30 | 89% |
| Revenue | 7.37B | 17B | 43% |
| Total Cash | 1.76B | 2.08B | 85% |
| Total Debt | 3.95B | 16.2B | 24% |
A | IQV | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 95 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 11 Undervalued | 65 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 89 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 45 | 43 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 22 | 5 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 43 | 22 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
A's Valuation (11) in the Biotechnology industry is somewhat better than the same rating for IQV (65) in the Servicestothe Health Industry industry. This means that A’s stock grew somewhat faster than IQV’s over the last 12 months.
IQV's Profit vs Risk Rating (89) in the Servicestothe Health Industry industry is in the same range as A (100) in the Biotechnology industry. This means that IQV’s stock grew similarly to A’s over the last 12 months.
IQV's SMR Rating (43) in the Servicestothe Health Industry industry is in the same range as A (45) in the Biotechnology industry. This means that IQV’s stock grew similarly to A’s over the last 12 months.
IQV's Price Growth Rating (5) in the Servicestothe Health Industry industry is in the same range as A (22) in the Biotechnology industry. This means that IQV’s stock grew similarly to A’s over the last 12 months.
IQV's P/E Growth Rating (22) in the Servicestothe Health Industry industry is in the same range as A (43) in the Biotechnology industry. This means that IQV’s stock grew similarly to A’s over the last 12 months.
| A | IQV | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 58% | 4 days ago 56% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 61% | 4 days ago 56% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 56% | 4 days ago 67% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 51% | 4 days ago 50% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 63% | 4 days ago 63% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 60% | 4 days ago 67% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 12 days ago 60% | 5 days ago 62% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 63% | 7 days ago 66% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 71% | 4 days ago 53% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 64% | 4 days ago 61% |
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A and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, A has been closely correlated with TMO. These tickers have moved in lockstep 74% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if A jumps, then TMO could also see price increases.
IQV and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, IQV has been closely correlated with CRL. These tickers have moved in lockstep 72% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if IQV jumps, then CRL could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To IQV | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IQV | 100% | -1.42% | ||
| CRL - IQV | 72% Closely correlated | -1.65% | ||
| TMO - IQV | 69% Closely correlated | -0.75% | ||
| MEDP - IQV | 65% Loosely correlated | -0.35% | ||
| RVTY - IQV | 62% Loosely correlated | -0.31% | ||
| A - IQV | 60% Loosely correlated | +0.59% | ||
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