IQVIA lifts annual profit forecast as pharma spending improves

IQVIA Holdings

05/05/2026 14:02

May 5 (Reuters) - IQVIA Holdings IQV.N raised its full-year earnings forecast on Tuesday after the clinical research and data analytics firm reported better-than-expected first-quarter results, buoyed by strong demand for its clinical research and technology services used by pharmaceutical clients.

Here are the results:

The results offer the latest sign that conditions are gradually improving for life sciences service providers, with drugmakers stepping up investment in both clinical development and data-driven commercial strategies after a period of cautious spending.

The company now expects 2026 adjusted earnings in the range of $12.65 to $12.95 per share, higher than its prior view of $12.55 to $12.85 per share. Analysts on average were expecting an annual profit of $12.70 per share, according to LSEG data.

"IQVIA delivered an outstanding start to the year," Chief Executive Ari Bousbib said in a statement.

The research and development solutions unit, which provides clinical research services, rose 6.2% to $2.40 billion in the quarter, topping expectations.

IQVIA said AI‑enabled offerings are "gaining traction with customers," alongside solid bookings growth "in a stabilizing market environment", easing earlier investor concerns about AI disrupting its core services.

In premarket trading, however, the company's shares dropped by more than 5% following IQVIA's first-quarter R&D Solutions book-to-bill ratio of 1.04x. This metric, which compares the value of incoming new orders to the billings, did not meet the consensus estimates provided by three analysts.

Leerink Partners analyst Michael Cherny said "the headline that will likely be the main focus is the 1.04x book-to-bill" that would "overshadow what was an otherwise solid print across the board."

The company's quarterly adjusted profit was $2.90 per share for the quarter ended March 31, beating analysts' estimates of $2.82.

Quarterly revenue came in at $4.15 billion, compared with expectations of $4.10 billion.

 (Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)

 ((Kamal.Choudhury@thomsonreuters.com;))