Employee Benefit Plans |
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| Retirement Benefits [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employee Benefit Plans | Employee Benefit Plans Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans The Company sponsors both funded and unfunded defined benefit pension plans. These plans provide benefits based on various criteria, including, but not limited to, years of service and salary. The Company also sponsors an unfunded postretirement benefit plan in the United States that provides health and prescription drug benefits to retirees who meet the eligibility requirements. The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for all pension and postretirement benefit plans. The following table summarizes changes in the benefit obligation, the plan assets and the funded status of the pension benefit plans:
The following table summarizes the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets related to the pension benefit plans:
As of December 31, 2025, the benefit obligation and amount recognized in AOCI for other postretirement benefits were immaterial. The following table summarizes the accumulated benefit obligation for all pension benefit plans:
The following table provides the information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets and projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
The components of net periodic benefit cost changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in comprehensive income were as follows:
All components of net periodic benefit cost other than service cost are recorded in other income, net on the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Gains (losses) affecting the benefit obligation for the year ending December 31, 2025 were primarily related to the changes in discount rates, as well as changes in other actuarial assumptions, which are driven by changing market conditions. Assumptions The weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost were as follows for the years ended December 31:
The weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations were as follows as of December 31:
The discount rate represents the interest rate used to determine the present value of the future cash flows currently expected to be required to settle the Company’s defined benefit plan obligations. The discount rates are derived using weighted average yield curves on AA-rated corporate bonds. The cash flows from the Company’s expected benefit obligation payments are then matched to the yield curve to derive the discount rates. The Company’s assumption for the expected return on plan assets was determined by the weighted average of the long-term expected rate of return on each of the asset classes invested as of the balance sheet date. For plan assets invested in government bonds, the expected return was based on the yields on the relevant indices as of the balance sheet date. There is considerable uncertainty for the expected return on plan assets invested in equity and diversified growth funds. Under the Company’s United States qualified retirement plan, participants have a notional retirement account that increases with pay and investment credits. The rate used to determine the investment credit (cash balance crediting rate) varies monthly and is equal to 1/12th of the yield on 30-year U.S. Government Treasury Bonds, with a minimum of 0.25%. At retirement, the account is converted to a monthly retirement benefit. Plan Assets The Company’s pension plan target asset allocations and weighted average asset allocations, by asset category, were as follows:
The following table summarizes United States plan assets measured at fair value:
(1) Investments funds includes cash and cash equivalents. (2) Certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value ("NAV") per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in the above plan asset tables are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value of plan assets in the fair value hierarchy to the plan asset amounts presented in the above funded status table as of December 31, 2025 and 2024. The following table summarizes non-United States plan assets measured at fair value:
(1) Investments funds includes cash and cash equivalents. Investments in mutual funds are valued at quoted market prices. Investments in common/collective trusts and pooled funds are valued at the NAV as reported by the trust. The NAV is based on the fair value of the underlying investments held by the fund less its liabilities. Level 2 inputs utilize observable prices consistent with the definition noted within Note 6. In certain cases, funds that hold government and corporate debt securities classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy are valued at the NAV of their shares held at year end, which represents fair value. Insurance contracts are valued at the amount of the benefit liability. The Company has no Level 3 assets that rely on unobservable inputs to measure fair value. Investment Policies and Strategies The Company invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of debt and equity securities that provide for long-term growth within reasonable and prudent levels of risk. The asset allocation targets established by the Company are strategic and applicable to the plan’s long-term investing horizon. The portfolio is constructed and maintained to provide adequate liquidity to meet associated liabilities and minimize long-term expense and provide prudent diversification among asset classes in accordance with the principles of modern portfolio theory. The plans employ a diversified mix of actively managed investments around a core of passively managed index exposures in each asset class. Within each asset class, rapid market shifts, changes in economic conditions or an individual fund manager’s outlook may cause the asset allocation to fall outside the prescribed targets. The majority of the Company’s plan assets are measured quarterly against benchmarks established by the Company’s investment manager and the Company’s Investment Committee, who review actual plan performance and have the authority to recommend changes as deemed appropriate. Assets are rebalanced periodically to their strategic targets to maintain the plan’s strategic risk/reward characteristics. The Company periodically conducts asset liability modeling studies to ensure that the investment strategy is aligned with the obligations of the plans and that the assets will generate income and capital growth to meet the cost of current and future benefits that the plans provide. The pension plans did not have investments in Company stock as of December 31, 2025 and 2024. The portfolio for the Company’s United Kingdom pension plans seek to invest in a range of suitable assets of appropriate liquidity that are sufficient to meet benefit payments when they fall due, while controlling the long-term costs of the plans, avoiding short-term volatility of investment returns, and managing risks in accordance with the plans investment strategies. The plans seek to achieve these objectives by investing largely in monetary (fixed interest) assets, which are expected to provide a suitable balance between a modest level of returns and management of risk. The trustees periodically conduct asset liability modeling exercises to ensure the investments are aligned with the appropriate benchmark to better reflect the plans’ liabilities. The trustees also undertake to review this benchmark on a regular basis. Cash Flows Contributions The Company expects to contribute approximately $34 million in required contributions to its pension and postretirement benefit plans during 2026. The Company may make additional contributions into its pension plans in 2026 depending on, among other factors, how the funded status of those plans change or in order to meet minimum funding requirements as set forth in employee benefit and tax laws, plus additional amounts the Company may deem to be appropriate. Estimated future benefit payments The following benefit payments (net of expected participant contributions) for pension benefits are expected to be paid as follows:
Benefit payments (net of expected participant contributions) for other postretirement benefits are expected to be immaterial over the years presented. Defined Contribution Plans Defined contribution or profit sharing plans are offered in various countries in which the Company operates. In some cases, these plans are required by local laws or regulations. In the United States, the Company has a 401(k) plan under which the Company matches employee deferrals at varying percentages and specified limits of the employee’s salary. For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, the Company expensed $82 million, $80 million and $81 million, respectively, related to matching contributions. Certain key executives of the Company participate in an unfunded defined contribution executive retirement plan, assumed in the merger between Quintiles and IMS Health, which was frozen to additional accruals for future service contributions in 2012. Participants continue to receive an annual investment credit based on the average of the annual yields at the end of each month on the AA-AAA rated 10 plus year maturity component of the Merrill Lynch United States Corporate Bond Master Index. Plans Accounted for as Postretirement Benefits The Company provides certain executives with postretirement medical, dental and life insurance benefits. These benefits are individually negotiated arrangements in accordance with their individual employment arrangements. The above tables do not include the Company’s expense or obligation associated with providing these benefits. The obligation related to these benefits as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the Company’s expense for the years then ended, were not material. Stock Incentive Plans Stock incentive plans provide incentives to eligible employees, officers and directors in the form of non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock awards, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance awards, covered annual incentive awards, cash-based awards and other stock-based awards, in each case subject to the terms of the stock incentive plans. In April 2017, the Company’s 2017 Incentive and Stock Award Plan (the “2017 Plan”) was approved by the Company’s stockholders. The 2017 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, SARs, restricted and deferred stock (including RSUs), performance awards, dividend equivalents, other stock-based awards and cash-based awards. The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $247 million, $206 million and $217 million in the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense is included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The associated future income tax benefit recognized was $43 million, $36 million and $34 million in the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, there was approximately $262 million of total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to outstanding non-vested stock-based compensation arrangements, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted average period of 1.3 years. As of December 31, 2025, there were approximately 6.6 million shares available for future grants under all of the Company’s stock incentive plans. The Company used the following assumptions when estimating the value of the stock-based compensation for Stock Settled SARs granted as follows:
Stock Appreciation Rights – Stock Settled The stock-settled SARs (“SSRs”) have an exercise price that is equal to the closing market price of the Company’s common stock as of the grant date and expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant. The SSRs are eligible to vest in three equal annual installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant. The Company’s SSR activity in the year ended December 31, 2025 is as follows:
The weighted average fair value per share of SSRs granted in the year ended December 31, 2025 was $69.71. The total intrinsic value of SSRs exercised was approximately $72 million, $88 million and $51 million in the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The weighted average remaining contractual life of the SSRs outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2025 is 5.3 years and 4.1 years, respectively. The total aggregate intrinsic value of the exercisable SSRs and the SSRs expected to vest as of December 31, 2025 was approximately $178 million. Stock Options The option price is determined by the Board at the date of grant and the options expire 10 years from the date of grant. All outstanding stock options are fully vested. The Company’s stock option activity in the year ended December 31, 2025 is as follows:
The total intrinsic value of options exercised was approximately $8 million, $15 million and $23 million in the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company received cash of approximately $4 million, $5 million and $7 million in 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, from options exercised. The weighted average remaining contractual life of the options outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2025 is 0.2 years. The total aggregate intrinsic value of the exercisable stock options as of December 31, 2025 was approximately $4 million. Performance Awards The Company awarded performance awards that contain service, performance-based and/or market-based vesting criteria. Vesting occurs if the recipient remains employed and depends on the degree to which performance goals are achieved during the three-year performance period (as defined in the award agreements). The Company’s performance award activity in the year ended December 31, 2025 is as follows:
As of December 31, 2025, there are 1,222,735 performance awards outstanding with an intrinsic value of approximately $276 million. Restricted Stock Units – Stock Settled The Company’s RSUs will settle in shares of the Company’s common stock within 30 days of the applicable vesting date. In general, RSUs granted to employees vest either (i) one-third per year beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, (ii) 100% at the end of the three-year period following the grant date or (iii) 50% on the second anniversary of the grant date and 50% on the third anniversary of the grant date. Members of the Company’s Board receive RSUs that are fully vested when granted. The Company’s RSU activity in the year ended December 31, 2025 is as follows:
(1) Pursuant to the IQVIA Holdings Inc. Non-Employee Director Deferral Plan (the “Director Deferral Plan”), non-employee directors may elect to defer receipt of their cash and/or equity retainers. If a director elects to defer his or her retainer, he or she will instead be credited with that value in deferred shares under the Director Deferral Plan. Deferred shares become payable in Company common stock following a termination of the director’s Board service or the director’s death, or upon a change in control of the Company. The Company granted 9,295 deferred RSUs in 2025. As of December 31, 2025, there are 1,476,093 RSUs outstanding with an intrinsic value of approximately $333 million. Stock Appreciation Rights – Cash Settled The Company’s cash settled SARs (“CSRs”) require the Company to settle in cash an amount equal to the difference between the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise and the grant price, multiplied by the number of CSRs being exercised. All outstanding CSRs are fully vested. As of December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, the weighted average fair value per share of the CSRs outstanding was $123.72, $109.83 and $152.17, respectively. The Company paid approximately $1 million, $3 million and $11 million to settle exercised CSRs in the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The weighted average remaining contractual life of the CSRs outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2025 is 2.7 years. The total aggregate intrinsic value of the exercisable CSRs as of December 31, 2025 was approximately $3 million. Restricted Stock Units – Cash Settled The Company’s cash settled RSUs (“Cash RSUs”) require the Company to settle in cash an amount equal to the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the vest date multiplied by the number of vested Cash RSUs. These awards vest either (i) 100% at the end of the three-year period following the date of grant, or (ii) one-third per year beginning on the first grant date anniversary. As of December 31, 2025, there are 9,319 Cash RSUs outstanding with an intrinsic value of approximately $2 million. Long Term Incentive Awards - Stock Settled During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company entered into long term incentive award agreements with certain employees totaling a fixed monetary amount of $80 million to issue a variable number of common shares based on the fair market value when the awards vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. The Company accounts for the awards as liability-classified awards with the liability recorded in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024. The Company recorded approximately $19 million, $26 million and $22 million of stock-based compensation expense for these awards during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2025, 378,510 awards vested. There are no awards outstanding as of December 31, 2025. Other The Company sponsors a supplemental non-qualified deferred compensation plan, covering certain management employees, and maintains other statutory indemnity plans as required by local laws or regulations. |
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