Let’s dig into the relative performance of Medpace (NASDAQ: MEDP) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q1 drug development inputs & services earnings season.

Companies specializing in drug development inputs and services play a crucial role in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology value chain. Essential support for drug discovery, preclinical testing, and manufacturing means stable demand, as pharmaceutical companies often outsource non-core functions with medium to long-term contracts. However, the business model faces high capital requirements, customer concentration, and vulnerability to shifts in biopharma R&D budgets or regulatory frameworks. Looking ahead, the industry will likely enjoy tailwinds such as increasing investment in biologics, cell and gene therapies, and advancements in precision medicine, which drive demand for sophisticated tools and services. There is a growing trend of outsourcing in drug development for nimbleness and cost efficiency, which benefits the industry. On the flip side, potential headwinds include pricing pressures as efforts to contain healthcare costs are always top of mind. An evolving regulatory backdrop could also slow innovation or client activity.

The 8 drug development inputs & services stocks we track reported a very strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 4%.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 7.5% on average since the latest earnings results.

Medpace (NASDAQ: MEDP)

Founded in 1992 as a scientifically-driven alternative to traditional contract research organizations, Medpace (NASDAQ: MEDP) provides outsourced clinical trial management and research services to help pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies develop new treatments.

Medpace reported revenues of $558.6 million, up 9.3% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 6%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ organic revenue and EPS estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 9.2% since reporting and currently trades at $315.

We think Medpace is a good business, but is it a buy today? Read our full report here, it’s free.

Best Q1: UFP Technologies (NASDAQ: UFPT)

With expertise dating back to 1963 in specialized materials and precision manufacturing, UFP Technologies (NASDAQ: UFPT) designs and manufactures custom solutions for medical devices, sterile packaging, and other highly engineered products for healthcare and industrial applications.

UFP Technologies reported revenues of $148.1 million, up 41.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5.9%. The business had an incredible quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

UFP Technologies achieved the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 22.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $242.31.

Is now the time to buy UFP Technologies? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Slowest Q1: Azenta (NASDAQ: AZTA)

Serving as the guardian of some of medicine's most valuable materials, Azenta (NASDAQ: AZTA) provides biological sample management, storage, and genomic services that help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies preserve and analyze critical research materials.

Azenta reported revenues of $143.4 million, up 5.2% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 2%. Still, it was a slower quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 18.5% since the results and currently trades at $30.11.

Read our full analysis of Azenta’s results here.

Charles River Laboratories (NYSE: CRL)

Named after the Massachusetts river where it was founded in 1947, Charles River Laboratories (NYSE: CRL) provides non-clinical drug development services, research models, and manufacturing support to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Charles River Laboratories reported revenues of $984.2 million, down 2.7% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 4.6%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

Charles River Laboratories had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 28.7% since reporting and currently trades at $148.40.

Read our full, actionable report on Charles River Laboratories here, it’s free.

Repligen (NASDAQ: RGEN)

With over 13 strategic acquisitions since 2012 to build its comprehensive bioprocessing portfolio, Repligen (NASDAQ: RGEN) develops and manufactures specialized technologies that improve the efficiency and flexibility of biological drug manufacturing processes.

Repligen reported revenues of $169.2 million, up 10.4% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 3%. Taking a step back, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates but a miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

The stock is down 14.2% since reporting and currently trades at $123.35.

Read our full, actionable report on Repligen here, it’s free.

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post-pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump’s presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by potential trade policy changes and corporate tax discussions, which could impact business confidence and growth. The path forward holds both optimism and caution as new policies take shape.

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