FTRE
Fortrea Holdings Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$1.46B
5Y Perf.-54.0%
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Stock Comparison
FTRE vs IQV
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
IQV
IQVIA Holdings Inc.
Medical - Diagnostics & Research
Market Cap$29.95B
5Y Perf.-21.5%
FTRE vs IQV — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | FTRE | IQV |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Medical - Diagnostics & Research |
| Market Cap | $1.46B | $29.95B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.71B | $16.63B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-447M | $1.39B |
| Gross Margin | 12.1% | 26.1% |
| Operating Margin | -1.1% | 13.9% |
| Forward P/E | 23.1x | 13.9x |
| Total Debt | $68M | $16.17B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $175M | $1.98B |
FTRE vs IQV — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
FTRE
IQV
| Stock | Jun 23 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortrea Holdings In… (FTRE) | 100 | 46.0 | -54.0% |
| IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) | 100 | 78.5 | -21.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FTRE vs IQV
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: IQV leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Fortrea Holdings Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
FTRE
Fortrea Holdings Inc.
The Defensive Pick
FTRE is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 2.35, Low D/E 12.1%, current ratio 0.98x
- +183.8% vs IQV's +20.7%
Best for: sleep-well-at-night
IQV
IQVIA Holdings Inc.
The Income Pick
IQV carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 1.33
- Rev growth 5.9%, EPS growth 4.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.2%
- 167.5% 10Y total return vs FTRE's -51.1%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | IQV | 5.9% revenue growth vs FTRE's 1.0% |
| Value | IQV | Lower P/E (13.9x vs 23.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | IQV | 8.3% margin vs FTRE's -16.5% |
| Stability / Safety | IQV | Beta 1.33 vs FTRE's 2.35 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | FTRE | +183.8% vs IQV's +20.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | IQV | 4.7% ROA vs FTRE's -16.3%, ROIC 8.7% vs -1.6% |
FTRE vs IQV — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
FTRE vs IQV — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLIQVLAGGINGFTRE
FTREFortrea Holdings Inc.
0leads
IQVIQVIA Holdings Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs FTREMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
IQV5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
IQV5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
IQV4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IQV leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IQV is the larger business by revenue, generating $16.6B annually — 6.1x FTRE's $2.7B. IQV is the more profitable business, keeping 8.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to FTRE's -16.5%. On growth, IQV holds the edge at +8.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | FTREFortrea Holdings … | IQVIQVIA Holdings In… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.7B | $16.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $48M | $3.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$447M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $215M | $2.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +12.1% | +26.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -1.1% | +13.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -16.5% | +8.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.0% | +16.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.3% | +8.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +95.9% | +15.0% |
IQV leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — FTRE and IQV each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, IQV's 12.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than FTRE's 28.6x.
| Metric | FTREFortrea Holdings … | IQVIQVIA Holdings In… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.5B | $29.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.4B | $44.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1.45x | 22.51x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 23.10x | 13.89x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.56x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 28.60x | 12.87x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.54x | 1.84x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.53x | 4.62x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.56x | 14.60x |
Evenly matched — FTRE and IQV each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IQV leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IQV delivers a 22.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $-79 for FTRE. FTRE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.12x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to IQV's 2.44x.
| Metric | FTREFortrea Holdings … | IQVIQVIA Holdings In… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -79.1% | +22.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -16.3% | +4.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -1.6% | +8.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -1.4% | +11.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.12x | 2.44x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$107M | $14.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $175M | $2.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $68M | $16.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -7.33x | 3.10x |
IQV leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
IQV leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IQV five years ago would be worth $7,632 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,887 for FTRE. Over the past 12 months, FTRE leads with a +183.8% total return vs IQV's +20.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IQV at -2.4% vs FTRE's -21.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FTREFortrea Holdings … | IQVIQVIA Holdings In… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -7.0% | -21.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +183.8% | +20.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -51.1% | -7.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -51.1% | -23.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -51.1% | +167.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -21.2% | -2.4% |
IQV leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — FTRE and IQV each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IQV is the less volatile stock with a 1.33 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than FTRE's 2.35 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. FTRE currently trades 83.8% from its 52-week high vs IQV's 71.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | FTREFortrea Holdings … | IQVIQVIA Holdings In… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.35x | 1.33x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $18.67 | $247.05 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.97 | $134.65 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.8% | +71.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 79.8 | 58.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.4M | 1.6M |
Evenly matched — FTRE and IQV each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FTRE as "Hold" and IQV as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 27.9% upside for IQV (target: $226) vs 20.4% for FTRE (target: $19).
| Metric | FTREFortrea Holdings … | IQVIQVIA Holdings In… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $18.83 | $225.63 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 44 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +4.2% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
IQV leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 2 categories are tied.
Best OverallIQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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FTRE vs IQV: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FTRE or IQV a better buy right now?
For growth investors, IQVIA Holdings Inc.
(IQV) is the stronger pick with 5. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 0% for Fortrea Holdings Inc. (FTRE). IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) offers the better valuation at 22. 5x trailing P/E (13. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) a "Buy" — based on 44 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — FTRE or IQV?
On forward P/E, IQVIA Holdings Inc.
is actually cheaper at 13. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FTRE or IQV?
Over the past 5 years, IQVIA Holdings Inc.
(IQV) delivered a total return of -23. 7%, compared to -51. 1% for Fortrea Holdings Inc. (FTRE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IQV returned +167. 5% versus FTRE's -51. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — FTRE or IQV?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), IQVIA Holdings Inc.
(IQV) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 33β versus Fortrea Holdings Inc. 's 2. 35β — meaning FTRE is approximately 77% more volatile than IQV relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fortrea Holdings Inc. (FTRE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 2% for IQVIA Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — FTRE or IQV?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), IQVIA Holdings Inc.
(IQV) is pulling ahead at 5. 9% versus 1. 0% for Fortrea Holdings Inc. (FTRE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IQVIA Holdings Inc. grew EPS 4. 7% year-over-year, compared to -194. 6% for Fortrea Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IQV leads at 4. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — FTRE or IQV?
IQVIA Holdings Inc.
(IQV) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 3% net margin versus -36. 2% for Fortrea Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IQV leads at 14. 0% versus -1. 1% for FTRE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IQV leads at 26. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is FTRE or IQV more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, IQVIA Holdings Inc.
(IQV) trades at 13. 9x forward P/E versus 23. 1x for Fortrea Holdings Inc. — 9. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IQV: 27. 9% to $225. 63.
08Which pays a better dividend — FTRE or IQV?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
09Is FTRE or IQV better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, IQVIA Holdings Inc.
(IQV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+167. 5% 10Y return). Fortrea Holdings Inc. (FTRE) carries a higher beta of 2. 35 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (IQV: +167. 5%, FTRE: -51. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between FTRE and IQV?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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