IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) Short Interest Up 25.4% in February

IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 3,510,000 shares, an increase of 25.4% from the February 13th total of 2,800,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,430,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.5 days. Currently, 2.0% of the company’s shares are short sold.

IQVIA Trading Up 1.9 %

Shares of IQVIA stock traded up $3.55 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $188.45. 1,344,794 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,226,685. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.84. The company has a market cap of $33.23 billion, a PE ratio of 25.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 1.50. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $196.34 and a 200-day moving average of $209.96. IQVIA has a 12 month low of $179.28 and a 12 month high of $256.34.

IQVIA (NYSE:IQV) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The medical research company reported $2.90 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.11 by ($0.21). IQVIA had a net margin of 8.91% and a return on equity of 28.81%. As a group, equities analysts expect that IQVIA will post 10.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On IQVIA

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in IQVIA by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,131,734 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $3,956,087,000 after purchasing an additional 105,504 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its holdings in IQVIA by 20.0% in the fourth quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 4,282,024 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $841,461,000 after purchasing an additional 712,958 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in IQVIA by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,175,524 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $818,315,000 after purchasing an additional 77,981 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its holdings in IQVIA by 38.7% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,887,342 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $684,213,000 after purchasing an additional 804,963 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in IQVIA by 53.4% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,590,260 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $509,012,000 after purchasing an additional 902,226 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.62% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

IQV has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Bank of America cut their target price on IQVIA from $255.00 to $235.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 13th. Stephens initiated coverage on IQVIA in a report on Friday, December 20th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $250.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on IQVIA from $245.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Truist Financial reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $263.00 price objective (up from $261.00) on shares of IQVIA in a report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on shares of IQVIA from $273.00 to $261.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $249.05.

IQVIA Company Profile

IQVIA Holdings Inc engages in the provision of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Technology & Analytics Solutions, Research & Development Solutions, and Contract Sales & Medical Solutions.