As the Q2 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the drug development inputs & services industry, including Azenta (NASDAQ: AZTA) and its peers.

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 Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 4.1% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.8% above.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 8.3% on average since the latest earnings results.

Best Q2: 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 $161.2 million, up 12% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 8%. Overall, it was an incredible quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 2.4% since reporting and currently trades at $30.85.

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

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 $174 million, up 15.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 9.1%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

UFP Technologies pulled off the biggest analyst estimate beat among its peers. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 3.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $277.59.

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

Slowest Q2: IQVIA (NYSE: IQV)

Created from the 2016 merger of Quintiles (a clinical research organization) and IMS Health (a healthcare data specialist), IQVIA (NYSE: IQV) provides clinical research services, data analytics, and technology solutions to help pharmaceutical companies develop and market medications more effectively.

IQVIA reported revenues of $4.37 billion, up 8.7% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 1.5%. It was a satisfactory quarter as it also posted full-year revenue guidance slightly topping analysts’ expectations.

Interestingly, the stock is up 23.7% since the results and currently trades at $263.81.

Read our full analysis of IQVIA’s results here.

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 $707.3 million, up 17.2% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 2.6%. It was a very strong quarter as it also produced full-year revenue guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations and a solid beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

Medpace delivered the fastest revenue growth and highest full-year guidance raise of the whole group. The stock is up 11.4% since reporting and currently trades at $588.07.

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

Fortrea (NASDAQ: FTRE)

Spun off from Labcorp in 2023 to focus exclusively on clinical research services, Fortrea (NASDAQ: FTRE) is a contract research organization that helps pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies develop and bring their products to market through clinical trials and support services.

Fortrea reported revenues of $678.2 million, down 4.5% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 4.7%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter as it also put up a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and full-year revenue guidance beating analysts’ expectations.

Fortrea had the slowest revenue growth in the group. The stock is down 17.3% since reporting and currently trades at $17.12.

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

Market Update

Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.

Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.

By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.