Medpace (MEDP) is differentiated as the most efficient contract research organization per employee and is positioned to benefit from biopharma end markets expected to see robust clinical trial activity, RBC Capital Markets said in a Monday research report.

The company's growing efficiency is a byproduct of investment in training and prudent hiring in recent years. Any increase in hiring could be a safe indicator of steady demand signals, according to the note.

The recent uptick in trial cancellations looks transitory, not structural, and is more suspension-focused while terminations trended downward, according to RBC.

The brokerage said it initiated coverage of the stock with an outperform rating and a price target of $522 per share.

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