E Fund Management Co. Ltd. Reduces Stake in IQVIA Holdings Inc.

E Fund Management Co. Ltd. has significantly cut its stake in IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) by 51.7% during the fourth quarter, as reported in its latest SEC disclosure. Following the sale of 2,169 shares, the fund now holds 2,024 shares, valued at $398,000 at the end of the quarter. This reduction highlights the fund's adjustment in investment strategy concerning the medical research company.

In addition to E Fund Management, several other institutional investors have also made movements in their positions regarding IQVIA. For instance, Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake by 35.2% in the previous quarter, acquiring an additional 106 shares to bring its total to 407 shares, valued at $96,000. Impax Asset Management Group plc raised its holdings by 9.7%, now owning 1,793,010 shares worth approximately $423.9 million after an acquisition of 157,809 shares.

Moreover, Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC has boosted its stake by 5.6%, totaling 5,679 shares valued at $1.35 million after purchasing 301 additional shares. Graypoint LLC also enhanced its holdings by 6.3%, now owning 1,262 shares worth $299,000 after acquiring 75 shares in the last quarter. Lastly, Principal Financial Group Inc. has increased its stake by 0.8%, holding 209,021 shares valued at $49.53 million.

Currently, institutional investors hold 89.62% of IQVIA's shares, reflecting strong interest from large financial entities.

IQVIA Stock Performance

As of Friday, IQVIA's shares have seen an increase of 3.4% and opened at $191.69. Over the past year, the stock has experienced a low of $179.28 and a high of $261.72. The company's market capitalization stands at $33.80 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 25.56 and a beta value of 1.50, indicating some volatility in the stock price.

The fifty-day and 200-day moving averages are $197.79 and $212.87 respectively, suggesting a slight downward trend compared to long-term averages. The company's current and quick ratios are both at 0.84, while a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12 indicates a leveraged position.

IQVIA recently announced its earnings for the last quarter, reporting an EPS of $2.90, which was below analysts' estimates of $3.11 by $0.21. The company demonstrated a return on equity of 28.81% and a net margin of 8.91%. Analysts anticipate that IQVIA will achieve an EPS of 10.84 for the ongoing fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings for IQVIA

Several market analysts have expressed their views on IQVIA’s stock. Truist Financial maintained a 'buy' rating, raising the price target from $261.00 to $263.00, while Citigroup reduced its target from $225.00 to $210.00 and issued a 'neutral' rating. Stifel Nicolaus adjusted its target from $273.00 to $261.00 with a 'buy' recommendation. Furthermore, Stephens has started coverage with an 'overweight' rating, setting a target price of $250.00. Barclays also revised its outlook, reducing the target from $255.00 to $235.00 but maintained an 'overweight' rating.

Overall, four analysts have given the stock a hold rating, while seventeen analysts have rated it as a buy, with one issuing a strong buy rating. According to data from MarketBeat, the average rating stands at 'Moderate Buy,' with a consensus price target of $249.05.

About IQVIA Holdings Inc.

IQVIA Holdings Inc. specializes in providing advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services tailored for the life sciences sector across various global regions including the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. The company operates through three primary segments: Technology & Analytics Solutions, Research & Development Solutions, and Contract Sales & Medical Solutions.

IQVIA, E_Fund, Investment