BSLK

We rate Bolt Projects Holdings, Inc. (BSLK) as Avoid with a composite score of 30.0/100. 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 (32th percentile) and quality (30th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in stability (2th percentile) and momentum (13th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (30/100), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.

Key items to watch: momentum to confirm whether the current price trend has legs; sustainability of the current growth rate; 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.

Bolt Projects Holdings, 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 30.0/100 places it at rank #4527 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $10M in market capitalization, Bolt Projects Holdings, Inc. is a small-cap player in the Manufacturing space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

Revenue is growing at 7300%, though momentum at the 13th percentile suggests the market has not yet fully recognized this trajectory. This potential disconnect between fundamental improvement and market recognition could represent an opportunity for patient investors if the growth trend persists.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 16% (-26.8pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of -1179% (-1180.8pp vs sector) and net margins of -2021.1%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of -12890%. The significant margin erosion from gross to net suggests elevated operating expenses, high interest costs, or other structural drags that warrant monitoring.

Bolt Projects Holdings, Inc. is trading at a premium to fundamental value. Our value factor score of 32/100 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. The premium valuation implies the market is pricing in significant future growth or quality improvements that are not yet fully reflected in current fundamentals.

The stock currently trades at P/S of 7.1x. We evaluate these multiples in the context of both absolute levels and sector-relative positioning to form our valuation view.

We assign a High uncertainty rating to Bolt Projects Holdings, Inc.. Key risk factors include current negative profitability (net margin -2021.1%), below-average price stability (2th percentile), weak quality scores (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: current negative profitability (net margin -2021.1%); below-average price stability (2th percentile); weak quality scores (30th 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 2th percentile and quality factor at the 30th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

We identify limited risk mitigants at this time, which contributes to our high uncertainty assessment. Investors should monitor for improvement in balance sheet metrics, margin stability, and business predictability that could warrant a downgrade in our risk assessment over time.

We rate Bolt Projects Holdings, Inc.'s capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include negative profitability, weak asset returns (ROA -468.6%). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — Bolt Projects Holdings, 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, Bolt Projects Holdings, Inc. receives a Avoid rating with a composite score of 30.0/100 (rank #4527 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (30/100, trend: stable), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 20/100.

Our analysis does not support a constructive view on Bolt Projects Holdings, 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.