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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#2799
Positioning
Market Dominance
Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical Products
$23M
David J. Mazzo
Caladrius Biosciences, Inc. focuses on developing and commercializing cellular therapies to reverse disease and/or promote the regeneration of damaged tissue. Its product candidates include HONEDRA, a recipient of SAKIGAKE designation that is in Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of critical limb ischemia.
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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 | |
$LSTA LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC. | 45 | 26 | 6 | 82 | - | - | -108.4% | -85.3% | - | -6954.3% | -6655.7% | - | 0.0% | 27.0x | $23M | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 22.3x | 11.5x | -2.5% | -0.1% | 42.5% | 1.3% | -0.2% | 5.9% | 0.0% | 0.2x | - | REF |
LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC. (LSTA) receives a "Reduce" rating with a composite score of 45.0/100. It ranks #2799 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 2-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
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Operating efficiency
Bottom-line conversion
Equity capital efficiency
Asset base utilization
Financial leverage load
Direct cash return
David J. Mazzo
Chief Executive Officer
Labor Force
30
26
25
42
Audit Verdict: Lower quality and stability scores may indicate governance concerns.
No recent insider transactions available for LSTA
Outperforming peers — winners tend to keep winning over 3-12 months
Expensive relative to fundamentals — limited margin of safety
Weak fundamentals — higher risk of value trap
Average volatility — neutral timing signal
Aggressive spending — empire-building risk, dilutive growth
Mid-range overall rating
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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 LSTA.
View All RatingsHigh margin volatility — erratic forensic earnings quality
| Factor | Global | Sector | Tilt |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFITABILITY | 26 | 4 | +22ALPHA |
| MOMENTUM | 82 | 86 | -4NEUTRAL |
| VALUATION | 6 | 1 | +5NEUTRAL |
| INVESTMENT | 25 | 13 | +12ALPHA |
| STABILITY | 42 | 22 | +20ALPHA |
| SHORT INT | 50 | 50 | 0NEUTRAL |
Global = full universe. Sector = relative to industry peers. Positive tilt indicates idiosyncratic strength.
ROE proxy -108.4% (sector -2.5%)
GM N/A vs sector 43%, OM -6954% vs sector 1%
Capital turnover N/A
Rev growth N/A, 10yr 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.
LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC. receives a Reduce rating from our analysis, with a composite score of 45.0/100 and 2 out of 5 stars, ranking #2799 out of 7,333 stocks. LSTA's factor profile shows weakness across multiple dimensions, suggesting the stock may underperform going forward. Existing holders may want to consider trimming positions or tightening stop-losses.
LSTA's quality score of 26/100 is below average, suggesting challenges with profitability or capital efficiency. The company reports a return on equity of -108.4% (sector avg: -2.5%), net margins of -6655.7% (sector avg: -0.2%). Investors should examine whether management is actively addressing these weaknesses or if they reflect structural industry headwinds.
LSTA registers a value score of just 6/100, suggesting the stock trades at a significant premium to its fundamental metrics. Key valuation metrics include a P/B ratio of 2.31x. High-premium valuations like this require strong future execution to avoid multiple compression, and downside risk is elevated if growth disappoints.
LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.'s investment score of 25/100 suggests limited reinvestment activity. Key growth metrics include a return on assets of -85.3% (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.
LSTA shows strong momentum characteristics with a score of 82/100. The stock has been trending above key moving averages, indicating solid demand from institutional buyers. Revenue growth data is not currently available, while a beta of 0.91 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. This level of momentum typically signals sustained investor confidence and favorable near-term price action.
LSTA's stability score of 42/100 signals elevated volatility and/or leverage concerns. Key stability metrics include a beta of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 27.00x (sector avg: 0.2x). Investors should be prepared for wider-than-average price swings and consider position sizing accordingly to manage portfolio risk.
The short interest score of 50/100 for LSTA suggests somewhat elevated bearish positioning by institutional traders. Specific risk factors include elevated leverage (D/E: 27.00x), micro-cap liquidity risk. With a $23M market cap (micro-cap), LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC. may experience above-average volatility. Investors should consider whether the short thesis has merit or if it creates a potential short-squeeze opportunity.
LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC. is a micro-cap company in the Manufacturing sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #2799 of 7,333 overall (62nd percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of -108.4% trailing the -2.5% sector median and operating margins of -6954.3% below the 1.3% sector average. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Manufacturing peers.
While LSTA currently exhibits a REDUCE 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 Value (6) would have the largest impact on the composite score.
ROE 4272% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
Op. Margin 539192% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Debt/Equity 13400% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN
AUDIT DATA AS OF SEP 30, 2025 (Q2 FY2025)
We rate LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC. (LSTA) as a Reduce with a composite score of 45.0/100 at a current price of $4.40. The quantitative profile shows weakness across multiple dimensions, suggesting limited upside potential and elevated risk of underperformance relative to peers over the next 12 months.
The rating is primarily driven by strength in momentum (82th percentile) and stability (42th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in value (6th percentile) and investment (25th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (22/100), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.
Key items to watch: the path to profitability; valuation compression risk if growth disappoints. 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.
LISATA 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 45.0/100 places it at rank #2799 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $23M in market capitalization, LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC. is a small-cap player in the Manufacturing space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.
Momentum indicators (82th percentile) are constructive regarding the near-term price trend. Revenue growth data is unavailable, limiting our ability to confirm whether momentum is fundamentally supported.
Available margin data shows operating margins of -6954%. Incomplete margin data limits our ability to fully assess the cost structure and margin trajectory, though the available metrics provide a partial view of operating efficiency.
At a current price of $4.40, LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC. is trading at a premium to fundamental value. Our value factor score of 6/100 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/B of 2.3x, P/S of 564.5x. We evaluate these multiples in the context of both absolute levels and sector-relative positioning to form our valuation view.
A conservative balance sheet (27% D/E) provides financial flexibility for acquisitions, buybacks, or weathering economic downturns without dilution.
Positive momentum (82th percentile) indicates institutional accumulation and favorable technical dynamics that tend to persist in the intermediate term.
The Reduce rating (composite 45.0/100) reflects multi-factor weakness, and historically, stocks in this scoring range have underperformed the market by a meaningful margin.
Thin net margins of -6655.7% provide limited cushion against cost pressures, competitive pricing, or macroeconomic headwinds — even small changes in costs could swing the company to a loss.
Below-average quality (26th percentile) raises durability concerns about the fundamental profile and increases the risk of negative earnings surprises.
We assign a High uncertainty rating to LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.. Key risk factors include current negative profitability (net margin -6655.7%), weak quality scores (26th 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 -6655.7%); weak quality scores (26th 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 42th percentile and quality factor at the 26th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.
Key risk mitigants include: conservative leverage (27% 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 LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.'s capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include low returns on equity (-108.4%), negative profitability, weak asset returns (ROA -85.3%). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — LISATA 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, LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC. receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 45.0/100 (rank #2799 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (22/100, trend: stable), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 36/100.
Our analysis does not support a constructive view on LISATA THERAPEUTICS, 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 LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC. a meaningful economic moat, scoring 22/100 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, growth durability, reached only 8.4/20.
The strongest moat sources are growth durability (8.4/20) and financial resilience (6.8/20). Rev growth N/A, 10yr history. Interest coverage N/A. These pillars form the core of LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.'s competitive identity and are the primary drivers of excess returns in our framework.
Areas of relative weakness include economic value creation (0/20) and reinvestment efficiency (0/20). ROE proxy -108.4% (sector -2.5%). 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 LISATA THERAPEUTICS, 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 26/100 which further underscores our concern regarding earnings sustainability.
The margin profile shows operating margins of -6954%, net margins of -6655.7%. Return metrics include ROE of -108.4% and ROA of -85.3%. Relative to the Manufacturing sector, sector comparison data is limited, and ROE of -108.4% compares to a sector median of -2.5%.
The balance sheet reflects a conservatively managed balance sheet with D/E of 27%. The sector median D/E is 0%, putting LISATA THERAPEUTICS, INC. at higher leverage than the typical peer. Overall balance sheet health is adequate for the current business environment.
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081
Monteverde & Associates PC, a class action law firm, is investigating four merger transactions: Penumbra's sale to Boston Scientific, RAPT Therapeutics' sale to GSK, Nathan's Famous' sale to Smithfield Foods, and Lisata Therapeutics' sale to Smithfield Foods. The firm is seeking shareholders who may have concerns about these deals.
Lisata Therapeutics (NASDAQ: LSTA) shares surged 85.65% after agreeing to be acquired by Kuva Labs for $4.00 per share in cash, representing an 85% premium to recent closing prices. The deal includes two contingent value rights (CVRs) worth up to $2 per share tied to future milestones, bringing the total implied premium to approximately 180%. Both boards unanimously approved the binding term sheet, with a definitive agreement expected by February 27, 2026.
Operator: At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Earnings Conference Call. With me on the call today is our CEO, Jon Erik Fyrwald, and our CFO, Michael Deveau.
Lisata Therapeutics' lead pipeline candidate, certepetide, has shown promising results in a preclinical study for treating intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, an aggressive form of cancer. The positive data underlines the potential of certepetide in improving the tumor environment and making tumors more responsive to immunotherapy.
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