Shares of ICON PLC (ICLR) plummeted 14.28% in after-hours trading on Wednesday following the release of the company's third-quarter 2025 financial results. The clinical research organization's earnings report revealed several challenges that appear to have disappointed investors.
The most striking figure in ICON's Q3 report was the dramatic drop in GAAP net income, which fell to just $2.4 million or $0.03 per diluted share, compared to $2.36 per share in the same quarter of 2024. This significant decline was largely attributed to a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $165.3 million recorded for the Data Solutions Reporting Unit. Additionally, the company's revenue growth was minimal, increasing only 0.6% year-over-year to $2.04 billion, or decreasing by 1.0% on a constant currency basis.
Further adding to investor concerns, ICON amended its full-year 2025 financial guidance. While the company slightly increased its revenue forecast to a range of $8,050 - $8,100 million, it also updated its adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance to a range of $13.00 - $13.20. CEO Barry Balfe acknowledged ongoing challenges in the sector, including "delayed decision making, elevated cancellations and uncertainty in the macro environment." These factors, combined with the lower-than-expected earnings and the goodwill impairment charge, likely contributed to the sharp sell-off in ICON's stock during after-hours trading.