Release Date: May 06, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• IQVIA Holdings Inc (IQV, Financial) delivered strong revenue and profit results at the high end of expectations, with total revenue for the first quarter exceeding guidance.
• Technology and Analytics Solutions (TAS) segment showed robust growth, with revenue increasing by 6.4% reported and 7.6% at constant currency, driven by double-digit growth in real-world evidence.
• The company's backlog reached a new record of $31.5 billion, growing 4.8% compared to the prior year, indicating strong future demand.
• IQVIA Holdings Inc (IQV) is well-positioned to navigate near-term challenges due to its scale, diversification, and differentiation in offerings.
• The company is progressing with the deployment of AI agents, which have shown positive results and productivity gains, with plans to scale up to 40 use cases by the end of the year.

Negative Points

• The near-term market environment remains challenging, with delayed decision-making by customers on new programs due to macroeconomic and industry sector caution.
• The funding environment for emerging biopharma (EVP) companies has deteriorated, impacting the company's bookings as some awards were not included due to unsecured funding.
• IQVIA Holdings Inc (IQV) experienced a 10% increase in the average time from RFP issuance to award, reflecting sector uncertainty.
• The R&D Solutions segment showed minimal growth, with revenue increasing only 0.3% reported and 1.1% at constant currency.
• The company faces potential impacts from US government initiatives, including tariffs and drug pricing changes, although the precise effects are currently unknowable.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Could you discuss some of the drivers behind the strength in Real-World Evidence (RWE) in the quarter, and whether this outperformance is durable? A: Ari Bousbib, CEO, explained that RWE delivered better-than-expected revenue growth, driven by strong double-digit growth. This was due to both discretionary and mission-critical parts of the business returning after being delayed. The pent-up demand is expected to continue based on the current book of business.

Q: Could you talk about the opportunities for potential margin expansion and what you could do on the cost side to help achieve that? A: Ronald Bruehlman, CFO, noted that the impact of FX affects the top line but not much on the bottom line. Future margin expansion could be driven by cost reductions, including AI implementation and ongoing efforts to take costs out across the organization.

Q: Given the uncertainty in R&D Solutions (R&DS), is there a risk that this could spill over into TAS or result in further reprioritizations? A: Ari Bousbib, CEO, acknowledged the uncertainty but noted that TAS indicators remain strong due to pent-up demand. The reprioritization process due to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is largely complete, and while there could be other cancellations, they haven't been seen yet.

Q: Could you comment on the pricing environment in R&DS given the macro uncertainty? A: Ari Bousbib, CEO, stated that there has been no change in the pricing environment. Pricing negotiations are always tough, but strategic partnerships with large pharma clients have secured rates, and the company is comfortable operating in the current environment.

Q: Are you seeing any change in the RFP or new bookings mix in terms of Full-Service Outsourcing (FSO) versus Functional Service Provider (FSP)? A: Ari Bousbib, CEO, noted that while there was a trend towards more FSP, recent signals indicate a reversal with more full-service work. This is due to clients realizing the cost and expertise benefits of outsourcing.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.