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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#3561
Positioning
Market Dominance
Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical Products
$557M
Daniel Barber
Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. focuses on identifying, developing, and commercializing various products to address unmet medical needs in the United States and internationally. The company markets Sympazan, an oral soluble film formulation of clobazam for the treatment of lennox-gastaut syndrome; Suboxone, a sublingual film formant of buprenorphine and naloxone for the. treatment of opioid dependence.
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| Stock | Rating | Score▼ | Quality | Value | Momentum | P/E | EV/EBITDA | ROE | ROA | Gross Mgn | Op Mgn | Net Mgn | Rev Growth | Div Yield | D/E | Mkt Cap | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$UL UNILEVER PLC | 78 | 96 | 98 | 59 | - | - | 28.5% | 8.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10.4% | -4.6% | 3.3% | 0.0x | $141.8B | VS | |
$ASML ASML HOLDING NV | 77 | 89 | 86 | 83 | - | - | 46.1% | 16.6% | 51.3% | 31.9% | 26.8% | -4.0% | 1.0% | 25.0x | $272.1B | VS | |
$ESLT ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD | 76 | 81 | 87 | 85 | - | - | 10.3% | 3.1% | 24.1% | 7.2% | 4.7% | 14.3% | 0.8% | 25.0x | $11.4B | VS | |
$MT ArcelorMittal | 75 | 71 | 98 | 85 | - | - | 2.2% | 1.5% | 9.3% | 5.3% | 2.2% | -8.5% | 2.2% | 16.0x | $18.9B | VS | |
$AMAT APPLIED MATERIALS INC /DE | 75 | 85 | 87 | 84 | 20.9x | 13.6x | 35.5% | 19.8% | 48.7% | 29.2% | 24.7% | 4.4% | 0.8% | 32.0x | $181.9B | VS | |
$SIMO Silicon Motion Technology CORP | 75 | 84 | 86 | 85 | - | - | 11.8% | 8.8% | 45.9% | 11.3% | 11.1% | 25.7% | 3.7% | 0.0x | $1.8B | VS | |
$CODA Coda Octopus Group, Inc. | 74 | 83 | 90 | 79 | 16.3x | 11.9x | 7.6% | 7.0% | 66.5% | 17.1% | 15.6% | 39.0% | 0.0% | 0.0x | $115M | VS | |
$GSK GSK plc | 74 | 84 | 90 | 70 | - | - | 22.6% | 4.9% | 71.2% | 12.8% | 9.4% | 1.7% | 5.9% | 124.0x | $72.1B | VS | |
$EFXT Enerflex Ltd. | 74 | 80 | 91 | 83 | - | - | 3.0% | 1.1% | 20.9% | 7.3% | 1.3% | 3.0% | 0.9% | 67.0x | $1.2B | VS | |
$BUD Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV | 74 | 84 | 97 | 63 | - | - | 8.2% | 3.5% | 55.3% | 25.9% | 12.4% | 0.7% | 1.7% | 0.0x | $87.0B | VS | |
$AQST Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. | 40 | 39 | 51 | 38 | - | - | 278.5% | -38.8% | 61.1% | -121.6% | -151.0% | -36.3% | 0.0% | - | $557M | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 22.3x | 11.5x | -2.5% | -0.1% | 42.5% | 1.3% | -0.2% | 5.9% | 0.0% | 0.2x | - | REF |
Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (AQST) receives a "Avoid" rating with a composite score of 39.8/100. It ranks #3561 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 1-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
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YOY expansion rate
Core pricing power
Operating efficiency
Bottom-line conversion
Equity capital efficiency
Asset base utilization
Direct cash return
Daniel Barber
Chief Executive Officer
Labor Force
160
39
33
31
Audit Verdict: Lower quality and stability scores may indicate governance concerns.
No recent insider transactions available for AQST
Lagging peers — losers tend to keep underperforming
Fair valuation relative to peers
Average quality profile
High volatility — wider range of outcomes increases timing risk
Aggressive spending — empire-building risk, dilutive growth
Below-average composite — caution warranted
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Relative valuation derived from Manufacturing sector benchmarks. Model weights: EV/EBITDA (40%), P/B (35%), P/S (25%). Re-calculated daily.
No analyst ratings for AQST.
View All RatingsMaterial decline in asset turnover efficiency detected
High margin volatility — erratic forensic earnings quality
ROE proxy 278.5% (sector -2.5%)
GM 61% vs sector 43%, OM -122% vs sector 1%
Capital turnover N/A, R&D intensity 44.4%
Rev growth -36%, 8yr history
Interest coverage -2.7x
Composite assessment of profitability, capital efficiency, and financial strength. Top-tier entities demonstrate sustainable cash flow generation and elite competitive moats.
Profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity
Efficiency of asset utilization
Pricing power and cost efficiency
Core business profitability
Bottom-line profitability
The Quality factor evaluates the persistence and magnitude of realized cash flows. Companies with scores >70 exhibit superior pricing power and structural financial resilience through diverse economic regimes.
Our uncertainty rating tracks the predictability of future cash flows and potential for permanent capital loss. Moderate visibility with standard industry cyclicality.
Our quantitative model flags Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. with an Avoid rating, assigning a composite score of 39.8/100 and 1 out of 5 stars. Ranked #3561 of 7,333 stocks, AQST falls in the bottom tier across key factors. Historically, stocks with this profile have faced elevated risk of underperformance and capital loss.
AQST's quality score of 39/100 is below average, suggesting challenges with profitability or capital efficiency. The company reports a return on equity of 278.5% (sector avg: -2.5%), gross margins of 61.1% (sector avg: 42.5%), net margins of -151.0% (sector avg: -0.2%). Investors should examine whether management is actively addressing these weaknesses or if they reflect structural industry headwinds.
AQST's value score of 51/100 indicates the stock is fairly valued based on its current fundamentals. At this level, neither a clear bargain nor overpriced, the stock's attractiveness depends more on forward growth expectations and qualitative factors.
Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.'s investment score of 33/100 suggests limited reinvestment activity. Key growth metrics include revenue growth of -36.3% vs. a sector average of 5.9% and a return on assets of -38.8% (sector: -0.1%). While this can be positive for mature, cash-generative businesses returning capital to shareholders, it may also signal a lack of growth opportunities or management conservatism.
AQST is currently showing below-average momentum at 38/100, which may indicate weakening institutional interest or negative sentiment shifts. Revenue growth stands at -36.3% year-over-year, while a beta of 1.25 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. Investors should note that declining momentum can precede further price weakness, though contrarian opportunities sometimes emerge at these levels.
AQST's stability score of 31/100 signals elevated volatility and/or leverage concerns. Key stability metrics include a beta of 1.25. Investors should be prepared for wider-than-average price swings and consider position sizing accordingly to manage portfolio risk.
Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.'s short interest score of 39/100 reveals significant bearish positioning, suggesting institutional investors are actively betting against the stock. Specific risk factors include above-average market sensitivity (beta: 1.25), small-cap liquidity risk. At $557M (small-cap), AQST carries meaningful risk and is best suited for investors with high risk tolerance who have thoroughly evaluated the bear thesis.
Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. is a small-cap company in the Manufacturing sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #3561 of 7,333 overall (51st percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of 278.5% exceeding the -2.5% sector median and operating margins of -121.6% below the 1.3% sector average. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Manufacturing peers.
While AQST currently exhibits a AVOID profile, superior opportunities exist within the MANUFACTURING sector. Our model identifies several "Strong Buy" candidates with higher quality scores and more attractive valuations among direct industry competitors.
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Improvement in Stability (31) would have the largest impact on the composite score.
ROE 11331% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Gross Margin 44% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
Op. Margin 9530% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
AUDIT DATA AS OF SEP 30, 2025 (Q2 FY2025)
We rate Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (AQST) as Avoid with a composite score of 39.8/100 at a current price of $4.09. The stock falls in the bottom quintile of our universe across key quantitative factors, and the multi-factor weakness suggests a high probability of continued underperformance.
The rating is primarily driven by strength in value (51th percentile) and quality (39th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in stability (31th percentile) and investment (33th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (41/100), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.
Key items to watch: momentum to confirm whether the current price trend has legs; the path to profitability. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.
Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Manufacturing sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 39.8/100 places it at rank #3561 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $557M in market capitalization, Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. is a small-cap player in the Manufacturing space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.
Revenue contraction of -36% combined with momentum at the 38th percentile paints a cautious picture of the near-term business outlook. The market appears to be pricing in continued challenges, and a catalyst for reversal is not clearly visible from current data.
The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 61% (+18.6pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of -122% (-122.9pp vs sector) and net margins of -151.0%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of -247%. The significant margin erosion from gross to net suggests elevated operating expenses, high interest costs, or other structural drags that warrant monitoring.
At a current price of $4.09, Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 51/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.
The stock currently trades at P/S of 10.7x. We evaluate these multiples in the context of both absolute levels and sector-relative positioning to form our valuation view.
Gross margins of 61% signal strong pricing power and brand/IP advantages — businesses with margins above 40% have historically demonstrated more resilient earnings through economic cycles.
Returns on equity of 278.5% exceed the cost of equity for most companies, indicating genuine shareholder value creation and a reinvestment engine that compounds wealth over time.
The Avoid rating (composite 39.8/100) reflects multi-factor weakness, and historically, stocks in this scoring range have underperformed the market by a meaningful margin.
Revenue decline of -36% signals business deterioration — declining revenues make it difficult to grow into the current valuation and often precede further negative revisions.
Thin net margins of -151.0% provide limited cushion against cost pressures, competitive pricing, or macroeconomic headwinds — even small changes in costs could swing the company to a loss.
We assign a High uncertainty rating to Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.. Key risk factors include current negative profitability (net margin -151.0%), below-average price stability (31th percentile). The wide range of potential outcomes widens our fair value estimate and increases the possibility of permanent capital impairment. Investors considering this name should size positions accordingly and demand a meaningful margin of safety before initiating.
Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: current negative profitability (net margin -151.0%); below-average price stability (31th percentile). Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 31th percentile and quality factor at the 39th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.
Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 61% provide a buffer against cost pressures. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile warrants caution and disciplined position management.
We rate Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.'s capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include negative profitability, weak asset returns (ROA -38.8%). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. significantly underperforms these benchmarks, raising questions about management's ability to create shareholder value.
Investors should scrutinize management's reinvestment decisions and balance sheet trajectory before committing capital. Poor capital allocation often compounds over time: overlevered balance sheets limit strategic flexibility, while low returns on capital destroy shareholder value. We would need to see sustained improvement in profitability metrics and balance sheet discipline before considering an upgrade.
In summary, Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. receives a Avoid rating with a composite score of 39.8/100 (rank #3561 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (41/100, trend: stable), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 38/100.
Our analysis does not support a constructive view on Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. at this time. The combination of the current quantitative profile, high uncertainty, and poor capital allocation suggests unfavorable risk-reward at current levels. We recommend investors avoid new positions and existing holders consider reducing exposure.
Analysis derived from Blank Capital Research quantitative terminal. For informational purposes only. No trade solicitation. Past performance not indicative of future results. Consult a qualified advisor.
We assign Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. a Narrow Moat rating with a composite moat score of 41/100. The company possesses identifiable competitive advantages, though they are less entrenched than those of wide-moat peers. Our analysis indicates that Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. can sustain above-average returns on invested capital for at least 10 years, with the strongest contributor being economic value creation at 17.5/20.
The strongest moat sources are economic value creation (17.5/20) and margin superiority (10.3/20). ROE proxy 278.5% (sector -2.5%). GM 61% vs sector 43%, OM -122% vs sector 1%. These pillars form the core of Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.'s competitive identity and are the primary drivers of excess returns in our framework.
Areas of relative weakness include financial resilience (1.7/20) and growth durability (4.5/20). Interest coverage -2.7x. Improvement in these areas could meaningfully widen the moat over time, while deterioration would be an early warning of competitive erosion.
Our moat trend assessment is Stable. Multi-year ROIC and operating margin trajectories show neither meaningful improvement nor deterioration, suggesting the competitive position is steady. We expect Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.'s moat profile to remain largely unchanged absent a material shift in return on capital or industry dynamics.
Key profit drivers include gross margins of 61% providing a solid profitability foundation, declining revenues (-36%) that pressure the earnings outlook, returns on equity of 278.5% driving shareholder value creation. The margin cascade from 61% gross to -122% operating to -151.0% net reveals the company's cost structure and reinvestment intensity. Our analysis indicates that profit quality raises some durability concerns, with the quality factor at the 39th percentile.
The margin profile shows gross margins of 61%, operating margins of -122%, net margins of -151.0%. Return metrics include ROE of 278.5% and ROA of -38.8%. Relative to the Manufacturing sector, gross margins are 18.6 percentage points above the sector median of 43%, and ROE of 278.5% compares to a sector median of -2.5%.
The balance sheet reflects revenue growth of -36%. Overall balance sheet health is adequate for the current business environment.
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081
Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AQST) is among the 7 Oversold Pharma Stocks to Buy Now. Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AQST) is among the most oversold stocks. TheFly reported on February 3 that Lake Street Capital Markets reduced its price target on AQST to $6 from $8 and maintained a Buy rating. This update followed the company’s announcement that it would resubmit its application in the […]
Board-certified allergist and leading food allergy and anaphylaxis researcher joins Aquestive to support Anaphylm™ (dibutepinephrine) sublingual film NDA resubmission and pipeline WARREN, N.J., Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQST) (“Aquestive” or the “Company”), a pharmaceutical company advancing medicines to bring meaningful improvement to patients' lives through innovative science and delivery technologies, today announced the appointment of Matthew Gre
The Schall Law Firm is investigating Aquestive Therapeutics for potential securities law violations following the company's announcement on January 9, 2026, that the FDA identified deficiencies in its NDA for Anaphylm without specifying details. The stock fell over 37% on the announcement, prompting the class action investigation into whether the company issued false or misleading statements.