HFFG

We rate HF Foods Group Inc. (HFFG) as Avoid with a composite score of 29.0/100 at a current price of $1.62. 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 (36th percentile) and investment (29th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in momentum (18th percentile) and quality (28th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (32/100), Very 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.

HF Foods Group Inc. holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Wholesale Trade sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 29.0/100 places it at rank #4591 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $152M in market capitalization, HF Foods Group Inc. is a small-cap player in the Wholesale Trade space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

Revenue is growing at 2%, though momentum at the 18th 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 17% (-5.5pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 1% (-2.7pp vs sector) and net margins of -0.5%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of -3%. 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 $1.62, HF Foods Group Inc. is trading at a premium to fundamental value. Our value factor score of 36/100 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 EV/EBITDA of 27.0x (at a premium), P/B of 0.3x, P/S of 0.1x. We evaluate these multiples in the context of both absolute levels and sector-relative positioning to form our valuation view.

We assign a Very High uncertainty rating to HF Foods Group Inc.. The stock exhibits multiple compounding risk factors: current negative profitability (net margin -0.5%), below-average price stability (29th percentile), weak quality scores (28th percentile). The extreme uncertainty around future cash flows makes precise valuation difficult, and the range of outcomes is exceptionally wide. Only investors with high risk tolerance and extended time horizons should consider this name.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: current negative profitability (net margin -0.5%); below-average price stability (29th percentile); weak quality scores (28th 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 29th percentile and quality factor at the 28th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

We identify limited risk mitigants at this time, which contributes to our very 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 HF Foods Group Inc.'s capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include low returns on equity (-2.4%), negative profitability, weak asset returns (ROA -1.0%). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — HF Foods Group 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, HF Foods Group Inc. receives a Avoid rating with a composite score of 29.0/100 (rank #4591 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (32/100, trend: stable), Very High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 28/100.

Our analysis does not support a constructive view on HF Foods Group Inc. at this time. The combination of limited competitive advantages, very 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.