This life sciences stock has a secret weapon, and AI will only make it more valuable

IQVIA, with its vast trove of health information, sits at the center of drug development, providing data, tools and services to conduct research and perform clinical trials. After a supply chain destocking cycle, growth and backlog are improving and have allowed the company to raise its guidance. IQVIA recently launched an AI platform in partnership with NVDIA. This could enhance its competitive advantage and accelerate drug development and demand. However, many investors aren't recognizing the potential value AI will unlock. Artificial intelligence is reshaping drug discovery, and IQVIA may be one of the market's most overlooked beneficiaries. The company owns a database of more than 1.2 billion healthcare records that function like a toll booth across the research and development process -- every new drug target, clinical trial, and AI-powered research initiative increases demand for its data and services. As drug companies race to develop medicines faster and more efficiently, IQVIA is positioned to benefit. Yet despite record backlog, growing AI adoption, rising market share, and improving earnings, the stock still trades near its lowest valuation in five years. Many investors feared that AI would allow healthcare and life sciences companies to bring research activities in-house, reducing demand for contract research providers like IQVIA. …