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ALC vs IQV
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Alcon Inc. (ALC) vs. IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- ALC has delivered a year-to-date (YTD) gain of approximately 6.58%, showing relative stability near its 52-week low of $71.55, while IQV boasts a stronger YTD return of 30.01% but trades well off its 52-week high of $247.05.
- Both stocks are positioned for upcoming earnings reports on May 5, 2026, with ALC announcing a dividend ex-date of May 6 amid recent vision research collaborations.
- ALC's market cap stands at $37 billion with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 37.42 (trailing twelve months, TTM), compared to IQV's $26.5 billion cap and lower P/E of 20.12 (TTM).
- Recent market activity has seen ALC exhibit less volatility than IQV, which faced pressure from AI-related concerns despite NVIDIA partnership announcements.
- IQV generates higher trailing twelve-month (TTM) revenue at $16.3 billion versus ALC's $10.4 billion, reflecting broader life sciences exposure.
Introduction
Alcon Inc. (ALC) and IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) represent distinct facets of the healthcare sector, with ALC focusing on eye care devices and IQV on data analytics and clinical research services. This comparison is particularly relevant for investors seeking diversified exposure within healthcare amid fluctuating market conditions. Traders monitoring relative performance may find value in evaluating their recent momentum, valuation metrics, and sector-specific catalysts, especially with both companies reporting earnings soon. Understanding these dynamics aids in assessing stock positioning for short-term trades or longer-term portfolios in a sector influenced by innovation and regulatory shifts.
ALC Overview and Recent Performance
Alcon Inc. (ALC) is the world's largest eye care device company, operating in ophthalmic surgical equipment, intraocular lenses (IOLs), and vision care products like contact lenses and pharmaceuticals. In recent market activity, the stock has traded around $74 per share, near the lower end of its 52-week range of $71.55 to $98.56, reflecting a YTD gain of 6.58%. Sentiment has been shaped by broader medical device sector pressures, offset by positive developments such as a recent collaboration with PerZeption Inc. on vision research and results from the 2026 Annual General Meeting. Upcoming Q1 earnings on May 5 and a $0.28 dividend (ex-date May 6) are key focuses, supporting steady demand in surgical and vision care amid economic uncertainties.
IQV Overview and Recent Performance
IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) provides advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to pharmaceutical, biotech, and medtech firms, leveraging vast healthcare data sets. The stock recently closed at $157.77, within a 52-week range of $134.65 to $247.05, with a robust YTD return of 30.01% despite a pullback from January highs. Recent weeks have seen downward pressure from AI-related valuation concerns and shelf registration for share issuance, even as the company launched IQVIA.ai with NVIDIA and prepares for Q1 earnings on May 5. Performance reflects volatility tied to life sciences R&D spending and competitive dynamics in data services.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
ALC and IQV diverge in business models: ALC emphasizes tangible products in surgical and vision care, benefiting from recurring demand and innovation in devices, while IQV relies on service-based revenue from analytics and clinical trials, exposed to pharma R&D cycles. Growth drivers for ALC include aging populations and elective procedures, contrasting IQV's reliance on biotech funding and AI integrations. Recent momentum favors ALC's steadier path versus IQV's sharper declines. Risk factors involve regulatory hurdles for both, with IQV facing higher tech disruption risks. Sector exposure centers on healthcare devices for ALC and broader life sciences for IQV, influencing divergent market sentiment.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI models currently lean toward ALC for its greater trend consistency and lower volatility in recent market activity, particularly as it approaches earnings with supportive catalysts like dividends and research partnerships. While IQV offers compelling growth potential through AI advancements and higher YTD returns, its recent drawdown introduces elevated short-term risks. This positioning suggests a probabilistic edge for ALC in the near term, based on relative stability and sector resilience.
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. Disclaimers and Limitations
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 ALC 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).
ALC’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileIQV’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- ALC’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- IQV’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 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.
ALC’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while IQV’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ALC’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
- IQV’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
ALC (@Pharmaceuticals: Other) experienced а +0.78% price change this week, while IQV (@Medical Specialties) price change was +0.68% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Pharmaceuticals: Other industry was -2.97%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -0.88%, and the average quarterly price growth was -13.78%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical Specialties industry was -3.28%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +13.41%, and the average quarterly price growth was -7.34%.
Reported Earning Dates
ALC is expected to report earnings on Aug 10, 2026.
IQV is expected to report earnings on Jul 28, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Pharmaceuticals: Other (-2.97% weekly)Pharmaceuticals (Other) comprise companies that are involved in the discovery, development or manufacturing of therapeutic and preventative medicines. They often collaborate with or acquire other pharmaceutical/healthcare firms. Examples of companies in this segment include Bausch Health Companies Inc., Icon Plc and Perrigo Company Plc.
@Medical Specialties (-3.28% 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.
| ALC | IQV | ALC / IQV | |
| Capitalization | 32.8B | 30.6B | 107% |
| EBITDA | 2.54B | 3.52B | 72% |
| Gain YTD | -15.226 | -18.615 | 82% |
| P/E Ratio | 40.01 | 22.79 | 176% |
| Revenue | 10.6B | 16.6B | 64% |
| Total Cash | 1.66B | 2.1B | 79% |
| Total Debt | 5.25B | 16.1B | 33% |
ALC | IQV | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 57 | 24 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 18 Undervalued | 61 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 89 | 43 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 62 | 50 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 48 | 39 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 75 |
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.
ALC's Valuation (18) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry is somewhat better than the same rating for IQV (61) in the Servicestothe Health Industry industry. This means that ALC’s stock grew somewhat faster than IQV’s over the last 12 months.
ALC's Profit vs Risk Rating (100) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry is in the same range as IQV (100) in the Servicestothe Health Industry industry. This means that ALC’s stock grew similarly to IQV’s over the last 12 months.
IQV's SMR Rating (43) in the Servicestothe Health Industry industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ALC (89) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry. This means that IQV’s stock grew somewhat faster than ALC’s over the last 12 months.
IQV's Price Growth Rating (50) in the Servicestothe Health Industry industry is in the same range as ALC (62) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry. This means that IQV’s stock grew similarly to ALC’s over the last 12 months.
IQV's P/E Growth Rating (39) in the Servicestothe Health Industry industry is in the same range as ALC (48) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry. This means that IQV’s stock grew similarly to ALC’s over the last 12 months.
| ALC | IQV | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 51% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 67% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 48% | 2 days ago 66% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 55% | 2 days ago 57% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 60% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 50% | 2 days ago 62% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 57% | 3 days ago 58% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 56% | 12 days ago 65% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 58% | 2 days ago 59% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 57% | 2 days ago 53% |
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ALC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ALC has been loosely correlated with SYK. These tickers have moved in lockstep 54% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if ALC jumps, then SYK could also see price increases.