Positioning political selling, disclosed 2026-09-14
Options put/call open interest 1.38, read 2026-11-02
Ethical does not pass the values gate
Price271.83 USD
Fair value310.06
Ethical score10.0/100
Value readUndervaluedas of 6 Nov 2026
Our investment reviews on this name
2026-10-26Read Accumulation271.04+0.3% to today ✓Markdown gives way to Accumulation
2026-10-22Read Markdown271.04+0.3% to today Accumulation gives way to Markdown first Markdown read since October
2026-10-20Read Accumulation271.04+0.3% to today ✓Markdown gives way to Accumulation
2026-10-14Read Markdown259.88+4.6% to today Accumulation gives way to Markdown with deal news in the headlines
Our analytic regime reads on this name, dated and marked against the screened price. Small sample per name, and separate from the daily-framework accuracy on the Track Record page.
IQVIA holds its Accumulation at $271.83. The statistical read favours the sellers, held for 46 days.
As held on the ledger · 2026-11-06
Phase
Accumulation
Quantitative state
The statistical read favours the sellers, held for 46 days
Price at the screen
$271.83
Valuation
32.52 trailing · 18.78 forward price to earnings
Values screen
FAIL· score 10.0
Beta
1.17
The Workings
Five Screens, Shown in Full
Does not pass. Debt ratio
Test
Figure
Limit
What it means
Status
Business activity
Permissible
Core business clean
Its core business isn't built on prohibited lines: no gambling, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, or interest-based lending.
Pass
Debt load
53.26%
Below 33%
Interest-bearing debt is 53.3% of its assets, above the one-third ceiling the screen allows.
Fail
Interest-bearing cash
1.44%
Below 33%
Cash held in interest-bearing accounts and securities is 1.4% of assets, under the one-third limit.
Pass
Receivables
12.18%
Below 49%
Money owed to the company is 12.2% of assets, under the 49% limit.
Pass
Revenue purity
0.28%
Below 5%
Only 0.3% of revenue comes from non-compliant sources, under the 5% line.
Pass
Five checks adapted from AAOIFI screening standards: business activity plus four balance-sheet ratios. All five must pass for ethical clearance. Every figure is arithmetic on public accounts, not judgement.
The Ethical Read
Why It Falls Short, in Plain English
IQVIA's business is in a permissible area, but its interest-bearing debt is about 53% of the company, well over the ~33% line, so it does not pass on the financial screens.
Read as at 2026-11-07. It updates when the underlying figures move, and past reads are kept below.
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What the Numbers Say It Is Worth
The Fair Value Range
Our analysis reads Undervalued vs our fair value, as of 6 Nov 2026: it trades at roughly a 15% discount to our $310.06 fair value, narrow competitive moat, 8.00% revenue growth.
Fair value range in USD, drawn from the 2026-11-06 screen. The gold marker is the market price at the same screen. A 12.3% discount to the base estimate.
Where our models see it going: fair-value estimate $310.06, with a range of $241.20 to $391.40, dated to the 2026-11-06 screen.
Fair value and rating are our own model estimates; the Street's range reflects third-party analyst estimates. Analysis, not advice.
The Business, in Plain Words
Data middleman stumbles on its own borrowings
Every new drug trial needs someone to crunch the patient numbers and run the logistics. IQVIA sits in that middle ground between pharma and the clinic. We pass because the ethical screen flags the debt ratio and a narrow moat plus 8 percent profit margins leave little room to absorb shocks.
Revenue is growing 8 percent and return on equity reaches 22 percent, yet the 14.6 times forward earnings multiple sits against a business that analysts rate strong buy at a 230 dollar median target. The 31 percent gap to our fair value does not move the needle once the debt screen has already ruled it out.
High leverage remains the core concern and leaves the firm exposed if trial volumes slow or interest costs rise. The narrow moat offers little protection in a crowded field of research providers. Analysis, not advice.
Another profit measure, before interest, tax and non-cash costs: EBITDA.
The risks · The things to watch: it carries a real debt load, which raises the stakes if revenue slips.
Plain-English interpretation of our own screen data. Analysis, not advice.
Where & How to Trade
IQV trades on a US exchange. As a listed security it is accessible through almost any international broker offering its home market. New to this, or investing from abroad? Our guide to accessing global markets covers brokers, currencies and the practical steps.
The Dated Journal · Newest First, Never Edited
Every Entry, As Written
2026-11-03Accumulation$258.44-4.6%Entry 16
The analysis reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 4.6% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 30% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 13%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 16%. The street (20 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $229.
2026-10-27Accumulation$271.04+0.0%Entry 15
The analysis reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 30% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 13%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 16%. The street (20 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $229. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
The framework has shifted from markdown to accumulation since the last review. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 30% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 13%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 16%. The street (20 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $229. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-10-25Markdown$271.04+0.0%Entry 13
The analysis reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it A, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 25% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are up 13%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 16%. The street (20 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $229. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-10-24Markdown$271.04+0.0%Entry 12
The analysis reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it A, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 25% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are up 13%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 16%. The street (20 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $229. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-10-23Markdown$271.04+0.0%Entry 11
The analysis reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it A, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 25% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are up 13%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 16%. The street (20 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $229. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-10-22Markdown · changed$271.04+0.0%Entry 10
The framework has shifted from accumulation to markdown since the last review. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it A, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 25% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are up 13%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 16%. The street (20 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $229. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-10-21Accumulation$271.04+0.0%Entry 9
The analysis reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it A, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 25% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are up 13%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 16%. The street (20 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $229. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
The framework has shifted from markdown to accumulation since the last review. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved up 4.3% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it A, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 25% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are up 13%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 16%. The street (20 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $229. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-10-14Markdown · changed$259.88-4.1%Entry 7
The framework has shifted from accumulation to markdown since the last review. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 4.1% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading oversold. Over the past year the shares are up 13%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 16%. The street (20 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $229.
Each entry above was written on its date, before the outcome. A journal you can prune is not a journal.