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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#4670
Positioning
Market Dominance
Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical Products
$91M
Bernard Coulie
Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. discovers, develops, and commercializes novel therapies for the treatment of fibrosis and related diseases in the United States. Its lead product candidate is PLN-74809, an oral small-molecule dual selective inhibitor of avß6 and avß1 integrins.
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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 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$ASML ASML HOLDING NV | 77 | 89 | 86 | 83 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$ESLT ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD | 76 | 81 | 87 | 85 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$MT ArcelorMittal | 75 | 71 | 98 | 85 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$AMAT APPLIED MATERIALS INC /DE | 75 | 85 | 87 | 84 | 20.9x | 13.6x | 32.9% | 20.5% | 48.8% | 30.6% | 24.4% | 7.7% | 0.9% | 32.0x | $148.6B | VS | |
$SIMO Silicon Motion Technology CORP | 75 | 84 | 86 | 85 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$CODA Coda Octopus Group, Inc. | 74 | 83 | 90 | 79 | 16.3x | 11.9x | 7.4% | 7.5% | 68.3% | 19.5% | 18.2% | 29.0% | 0.0% | 0.0x | $84M | VS | |
$GSK GSK plc | 74 | 84 | 90 | 70 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$EFXT Enerflex Ltd. | 74 | 80 | 91 | 83 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$BUD Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV | 74 | 84 | 97 | 63 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$PLRX PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC. | 27 | 23 | 5 | 12 | - | - | -91.6% | -66.3% | - | - | - | - | 0.0% | 15.0x | $91M | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 22.3x | 11.5x | -1.9% | 0.9% | 44.1% | 2.5% | 1.0% | 6.7% | 0.0% | 0.2x | - | REF |
PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC. (PLRX) receives a "Avoid" rating with a composite score of 27.4/100. It ranks #4670 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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Lagging peers — losers tend to keep underperforming
Expensive relative to fundamentals — limited margin of safety
Weak fundamentals — higher risk of value trap
High volatility — wider range of outcomes increases timing risk
Moderate investment profile
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 PLRX.
View All Ratings| Factor | Global | Sector | Tilt |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFITABILITY | 23 | 6 | +17ALPHA |
| MOMENTUM | 12 | 4 | +8ALPHA |
| VALUATION | 5 | 2 | +3NEUTRAL |
| INVESTMENT | 37 | 68 | -31DRAG |
| STABILITY | 28 | 12 | +16ALPHA |
| SHORT INT | 33 | 24 | +9ALPHA |
Global = full universe. Sector = relative to industry peers. Positive tilt indicates idiosyncratic strength.
ROE proxy -91.6% (sector -1.9%)
GM N/A vs sector 44%, OM N/A vs sector 3%
Capital turnover N/A
Rev growth N/A, 6yr 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.
We rate PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC. (PLRX) as Avoid with a composite score of 27.4/100 at a current price of $1.26. The stock falls in the bottom quintile, and the multi-factor weakness suggests a high probability of continued underperformance.
PLIANT 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 27.4/100 places it at rank #4670 in our full universe.
No Moat
High
Poor
Fair Value
Stable competitive position in a defensive sector.
Weak momentum suggests persistent institutional selling pressure.
Below-average quality raises earnings sustainability concerns.
Vulnerability to macroeconomic shocks and interest rate volatility.
PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC. represents a avoid based on multi-factor quantitative performance.
Our quantitative model flags PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC. with an Avoid rating, assigning a composite score of 27.4/100 and 1 out of 5 stars. Ranked #4670 of 7,333 stocks, PLRX falls in the bottom tier across key factors. Historically, stocks with this profile have faced elevated risk of underperformance and capital loss.
PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC. registers a weak quality score of just 23/100, indicating significant profitability challenges. The company reports a return on equity of -91.6% (sector avg: -1.9%). Low quality scores are often associated with businesses in turnaround mode, early-stage growth, or structurally challenged industries.
PLRX registers a value score of just 5/100, suggesting the stock trades at a significant premium to its fundamental metrics. Key valuation metrics include a P/B ratio of 0.38x. High-premium valuations like this require strong future execution to avoid multiple compression, and downside risk is elevated if growth disappoints.
PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC.'s investment score of 37/100 suggests limited reinvestment activity. Key growth metrics include a return on assets of -66.3% (sector: 0.9%). 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.
PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC. is experiencing notably weak momentum with a score of just 12/100. The stock has underperformed its peers and is trending below major moving averages. Revenue growth data is not currently available, while a beta of 1.21 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.
PLRX's stability score of 28/100 signals elevated volatility and/or leverage concerns. Key stability metrics include a beta of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.00x (sector avg: 0.2x). Investors should be prepared for wider-than-average price swings and consider position sizing accordingly to manage portfolio risk.
PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC.'s short interest score of 33/100 reveals significant bearish positioning, suggesting institutional investors are actively betting against the stock. Specific risk factors include above-average market sensitivity (beta: 1.21), elevated leverage (D/E: 15.00x), micro-cap liquidity risk. At $91M (micro-cap), PLRX carries meaningful risk and is best suited for investors with high risk tolerance who have thoroughly evaluated the bear thesis.
PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC. is a micro-cap company in the Manufacturing sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #4670 of 7,333 overall (36th percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of -91.6% trailing the -1.9% sector median. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Manufacturing peers.
While PLRX 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.
View Top Manufacturing Alpha →Quant Factor Profile
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Improvement in Value (5) would have the largest impact on the composite score.
ROE 4722% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
Debt/Equity 7043% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN
Div. Yield NaN% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081
Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (PLRX) doesn't possess the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLRX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of integrin-based therapeutics, today announced its participation in the Oppenheimer 36th Annual Healthcare Life Sciences Conference being held in a virtual format February 25-26, 2026. Bernard Coulie, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer and Keith Cummings, M.D., Chief Financial Officer, will partic
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLRX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of integrin-based therapeutics, today announced its participation in the Piper Sandler 37th Annual Healthcare Conference to be held December 2 – 4, 2025.Bernard Coulie, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Keith Cummings, M.D., Chief Financial Officer and Éric Lefebvre, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, will par
Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLRX) posted a loss for its first quarter on Monday. Pliant Therapeutics posted a quarterly loss of 78 cents per share, versus market expectations for a loss of 77 cents per share, according to data from Benzinga Pro. Research and development expenses rose to $37.1 million from $29.3 million for the year-ago quarter, while general and administrative expenses increased to $15.2 million from $14.2 million. “In the first quarter, we made significant progress across our portfolio, highlighted by the positive safety and exploratory efficacy ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
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