NVEC

We rate NVE CORP /NEW/ (NVEC) as a Hold with a composite score of 52.8/100 at a current price of $68.98. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in quality (71th percentile) and value (68th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in investment (37th percentile) and momentum (46th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (56/100), Low uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation.

Key items to watch: quarterly earnings execution and sector-level competitive dynamics. 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.

NVE CORP /NEW/ 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 52.8/100 places it at rank #1562 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $287M in market capitalization, NVE CORP /NEW/ 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 -8% combined with momentum at the 46th 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 80% (+37.9pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 60% (+58.3pp vs sector) and net margins of 56.3%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 70%. This efficient conversion suggests well-controlled operating costs and limited margin leakage between the gross and net levels.

At a current price of $68.98, NVE CORP /NEW/ is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 68/100 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 a P/E of 23.9x (roughly in line with the sector median of 22.3x), EV/EBITDA of 22.5x (at a premium), P/B of 5.5x, P/S of 13.4x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis partially supports given strong quality metrics.

We assign a Low uncertainty rating to NVE CORP /NEW/. The company exhibits strong financial stability with a beta of 1.20, conservative leverage (3% D/E), and a stability factor in the 62th percentile. The predictable nature of the business model and solid financial position reduce the range of potential outcomes, giving us confidence in our fair value estimate.

We identify no major risk factors at this time. The company's stability factor sits at the 62th percentile with quality at the 71th percentile, both of which support our low-risk assessment. The absence of material leverage, profitability, or volatility concerns reduces the likelihood of a permanent capital loss scenario.

Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 80% provide a buffer against cost pressures; conservative leverage (3% D/E) limits balance sheet risk; above-average stability (62th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate NVE CORP /NEW/'s capital allocation as Exemplary. Management demonstrates a strong track record of balancing reinvestment with shareholder returns, evidenced by returns on equity of 22.9%, disciplined leverage (3% D/E), a 6.74% dividend yield. Exemplary allocators typically generate returns on equity above 20% while maintaining debt-to-equity below 50% — NVE CORP /NEW/ meets this high bar.

The balance sheet remains conservatively managed, providing financial flexibility for opportunistic investments while maintaining a margin of safety for shareholders. The company returns capital via a 6.74% dividend yield, and the combination of 22.2% return on assets and controlled leverage suggests management is deploying capital at rates well above the cost of capital — the hallmark of exemplary stewardship.

In summary, NVE CORP /NEW/ receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 52.8/100 (rank #1562 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (56/100, trend: stable), Low uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 57/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on NVE CORP /NEW/. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.