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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#4154
Positioning
Market Dominance
Manufacturing
Computer Software
$9.9B
Christopher Urmson
Aurora Innovation, Inc. focuses on developing a suite of self-driving hardware, software, and data services. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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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 | |
$AUR Aurora Innovation, Inc. | 35 | 31 | 43 | 25 | - | - | -38.2% | -34.9% | -450.0% | -22600.0% | -20100.0% | - | 0.0% | 9.0x | $9.9B | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 22.3x | 11.5x | -2.5% | -0.1% | 42.5% | 1.3% | -0.2% | 5.9% | 0.0% | 0.2x | - | REF |
Aurora Innovation, Inc. (AUR) receives a "Avoid" rating with a composite score of 34.6/100. It ranks #4154 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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Core pricing power
Operating efficiency
Bottom-line conversion
Equity capital efficiency
Asset base utilization
Financial leverage load
Direct cash return
Christopher Urmson
Chief Executive Officer
Labor Force
1,700
31
25
30
Audit Verdict: Lower quality and stability scores may indicate governance concerns.
No recent insider transactions available for AUR
Lagging peers — losers tend to keep underperforming
Fair valuation relative to peers
Weak fundamentals — higher risk of value trap
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 AUR.
View All RatingsHigh margin volatility — erratic forensic earnings quality
ROE proxy -38.2% (sector -2.5%)
GM -450% vs sector 43%, OM -22600% vs sector 1%
Capital turnover N/A, R&D intensity 24833.3%
Rev growth N/A, 5yr history
Interest coverage N/A
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 Aurora Innovation, Inc. with an Avoid rating, assigning a composite score of 34.6/100 and 1 out of 5 stars. Ranked #4154 of 7,333 stocks, AUR falls in the bottom tier across key factors. Historically, stocks with this profile have faced elevated risk of underperformance and capital loss.
AUR's quality score of 31/100 is below average, suggesting challenges with profitability or capital efficiency. The company reports a return on equity of -38.2% (sector avg: -2.5%), gross margins of -450.0% (sector avg: 42.5%), net margins of -20100.0% (sector avg: -0.2%). Investors should examine whether management is actively addressing these weaknesses or if they reflect structural industry headwinds.
With a value score of 43/100, AUR appears somewhat expensive relative to its fundamentals. Key valuation metrics include a P/B ratio of 4.34x. Investors paying a premium here are likely betting on above-average growth or margin expansion to justify current prices.
Aurora Innovation, Inc.'s investment score of 25/100 suggests limited reinvestment activity. Key growth metrics include a return on assets of -34.9% (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.
Aurora Innovation, Inc. is experiencing notably weak momentum with a score of just 25/100. The stock has underperformed its peers and is trending below major moving averages. Revenue growth data is not currently available, while a beta of 2.08 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. While deep momentum weakness can occasionally present value opportunities, it often reflects deteriorating fundamentals or structural headwinds that may persist.
AUR's stability score of 30/100 signals elevated volatility and/or leverage concerns. Key stability metrics include a beta of 2.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.00x (sector avg: 0.2x). Investors should be prepared for wider-than-average price swings and consider position sizing accordingly to manage portfolio risk.
Aurora Innovation, Inc.'s short interest score of 26/100 reveals significant bearish positioning, suggesting institutional investors are actively betting against the stock. Specific risk factors include high market sensitivity (beta: 2.08), elevated leverage (D/E: 9.00x). At $9.9B (mid-cap), AUR carries meaningful risk and is best suited for investors with high risk tolerance who have thoroughly evaluated the bear thesis.
Aurora Innovation, Inc. is a mid-cap company in the Manufacturing sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #4154 of 7,333 overall (43rd percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of -38.2% trailing the -2.5% sector median and operating margins of -22600.0% below the 1.3% sector average. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Manufacturing peers.
While AUR 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 Momentum (25) would have the largest impact on the composite score.
ROE 1441% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
Gross Margin 1159% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Op. Margin 1752038% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
AUDIT DATA AS OF SEP 30, 2025 (Q2 FY2025)
We rate Aurora Innovation, Inc. (AUR) as Avoid with a composite score of 34.6/100 at a current price of $4.83. 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 (43th percentile) and quality (31th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in momentum (25th percentile) and investment (25th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (24/100), 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.
Aurora Innovation, 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 34.6/100 places it at rank #4154 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $9.9B in market capitalization, Aurora Innovation, Inc. is a mid-cap player in the Manufacturing space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.
Momentum indicators (25th percentile) suggest caution regarding the near-term price trend. Revenue growth data is unavailable, limiting our ability to confirm whether momentum is fundamentally supported.
The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of -450% (-492.5pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of -22600% (-22601.3pp vs sector) and net margins of -20100.0%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of N/A%. 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 $4.83, Aurora Innovation, Inc. is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 43/100 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/B of 4.3x, P/S of 4647.9x. We evaluate these multiples in the context of both absolute levels and sector-relative positioning to form our valuation view.
A conservative balance sheet (9% D/E) provides financial flexibility for acquisitions, buybacks, or weathering economic downturns without dilution.
The Avoid rating (composite 34.6/100) reflects multi-factor weakness, and historically, stocks in this scoring range have underperformed the market by a meaningful margin.
Thin net margins of -20100.0% provide limited cushion against cost pressures, competitive pricing, or macroeconomic headwinds — even small changes in costs could swing the company to a loss.
Weak momentum (25th percentile) suggests institutional selling pressure and unfavorable technical dynamics that may persist.
Below-average quality (31th percentile) raises durability concerns about the fundamental profile and increases the risk of negative earnings surprises.
We assign a High uncertainty rating to Aurora Innovation, Inc.. Key risk factors include elevated market sensitivity (beta of 2.08), current negative profitability (net margin -20100.0%), below-average price stability (30th 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: elevated market sensitivity (beta of 2.08); current negative profitability (net margin -20100.0%); below-average price stability (30th percentile); weak quality scores (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 30th percentile and quality factor at the 31th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.
Key risk mitigants include: conservative leverage (9% D/E) limits balance sheet risk. 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 Aurora Innovation, Inc.'s capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include low returns on equity (-38.2%), negative profitability, weak asset returns (ROA -34.9%). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — Aurora Innovation, 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, Aurora Innovation, Inc. receives a Avoid rating with a composite score of 34.6/100 (rank #4154 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (24/100, trend: stable), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 31/100.
Our analysis does not support a constructive view on Aurora Innovation, Inc. at this time. The combination of limited competitive advantages, 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 do not assign Aurora Innovation, Inc. a meaningful economic moat, scoring 24/100 on our composite assessment. Current fundamentals do not demonstrate the kind of durable competitive advantages — such as superior returns on invested capital, margin superiority, or reinvestment efficiency — that would protect the company from competitive erosion over the long term. The highest-scoring pillar, financial resilience, reached only 9.2/20.
The strongest moat sources are financial resilience (9.2/20) and reinvestment efficiency (7/20). Interest coverage N/A. Capital turnover N/A, R&D intensity 24833.3%. These pillars form the core of Aurora Innovation, Inc.'s competitive identity and are the primary drivers of excess returns in our framework.
Areas of relative weakness include margin superiority (2.5/20) and economic value creation (2.6/20). GM -450% vs sector 43%, OM -22600% vs sector 1%. 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 Aurora Innovation, Inc.'s moat profile to remain largely unchanged absent a material shift in return on capital or industry dynamics.
Key profit drivers are not clearly identifiable from current fundamentals. This may reflect a company in transition, a cyclical downturn, or structural challenges in the business model. We assign a quality factor of 31/100 which further underscores our concern regarding earnings sustainability.
The margin profile shows gross margins of -450%, operating margins of -22600%, net margins of -20100.0%. Return metrics include ROE of -38.2% and ROA of -34.9%. Relative to the Manufacturing sector, gross margins are 492.5 percentage points below the sector median of 43%, and ROE of -38.2% compares to a sector median of -2.5%.
The balance sheet reflects a conservatively managed balance sheet with D/E of 9%. The sector median D/E is 0%, putting Aurora Innovation, Inc. at higher leverage than the typical peer. Overall balance sheet health is adequate for the current business environment.
High beta of 2.08 means amplified losses in market selloffs — in a broad market correction, this stock would likely decline more than the index.
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081
Aurora Innovation, Inc. (NASDAQ:AUR) is included in our list of the 7 most volatile stocks under $5 for day trading. On February 12, 2026, despite the company’s minimal current revenue, Cantor Fitzgerald maintained its ‘Overweight’ rating and $12.00 price target for Aurora Innovation, Inc. (NASDAQ:AUR). With this update, the investment firm expressed its confidence in […]
Aurora Innovation Inc. (NASDAQ:AUR) is one of the best stocks to buy and hold for the next 6 months.
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