RFL vs IQV

For growth investors, Rafael Holdings, Inc.

(RFL) is the stronger pick with 44. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 9% for IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV). 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.

Over the past 5 years, IQVIA Holdings Inc.

(IQV) delivered a total return of -23. 9%, compared to -97. 1% for Rafael Holdings, Inc. (RFL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IQV returned +173. 4% versus RFL's -74. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Rafael Holdings, Inc.

(RFL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 99β versus IQVIA Holdings Inc. 's 1. 33β — meaning IQV is approximately 35% more volatile than RFL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Rafael Holdings, Inc. (RFL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 2% for IQVIA Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Rafael Holdings, Inc.

(RFL) is pulling ahead at 44. 0% versus 5. 9% for IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Rafael Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 28. 3% year-over-year, compared to 4. 7% for IQVIA Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, RFL leads at 30. 8% 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.

IQVIA Holdings Inc.

(IQV) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 3% net margin versus -33. 3% for Rafael 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 -28. 5% for RFL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RFL leads at 54. 0%, 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.

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.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Rafael Holdings, Inc.

(RFL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 99)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RFL: -74. 1%, IQV: +173. 4%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (RFL (Real Estate) and IQV (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: RFL is a small-cap high-growth stock; IQV is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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.