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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#1546
Positioning
Market Dominance
Manufacturing
Medical Equipment
$1.3B
Caren L. Mason
STAAR Surgical Company designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells implantable lenses for the eye. The company provides Visian implantable Collamer lens product family (ICLs) to treat visual disorders, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia; and Hyperopic ICL, which treats far-sightedness. It also offers preloaded silicone cataract intraocular lenses and injector systems.
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X-AXIS: EV/EBITDA (LOWER = CHEAPER) | Y-AXIS: ROE (HIGHER = ELITE) | RED CIRCLE = STAA ANALYSIS TARGET
| 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 | |
$STAA STAAR SURGICAL CO | 53 | 81 | 74 | 27 | 101.1x | 11.8x | -14.7% | -11.4% | 74.8% | -44.1% | -36.1% | -4.3% | 0.0% | 29.0x | $1.3B | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 22.3x | 11.5x | -1.9% | 0.9% | 44.1% | 2.5% | 1.0% | 6.7% | 0.0% | 0.2x | - | REF |
STAAR SURGICAL CO (STAA) receives a "Hold" rating with a composite score of 52.9/100. It ranks #1546 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 3-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
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Headcount
960
HQ Base
MONROVIA, California
Lagging peers — losers tend to keep underperforming
Trading at a discount to fundamentals — favorable entry valuation
High profitability & efficiency — strong quality floor supports entry
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.
Projection based on user-defined inputs. Re-calculated daily against current market data.
Reverse DCF Framework — Mauboussin Methodology
Institutional-grade Reverse DCF analysis. This model identifies the growth hurdles embedded in current market prices. When implied growth is significantly lower than historical or projected rates, a margin of safety may exist. Re-audited daily.
No analyst ratings for STAA.
View All Ratings| Factor | Global | Sector | Tilt |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFITABILITY | 81 | 93 | -12DRAG |
| MOMENTUM | 27 | 14 | +13ALPHA |
| VALUATION | 74 | 76 | -2NEUTRAL |
| INVESTMENT | 28 | 32 | -4NEUTRAL |
| STABILITY | 58 | 55 | +3NEUTRAL |
| SHORT INT | 54 | 61 | -7DRAG |
Global = full universe. Sector = relative to industry peers. Positive tilt indicates idiosyncratic strength.
ROE proxy -14.7% (sector -1.9%)
GM 75% vs sector 44%, OM -44% vs sector 3%
Capital turnover N/A, R&D intensity 18.2%
Rev growth -4%, 10yr history
Interest coverage N/A, Net debt/EBITDA -9.5x
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 STAAR SURGICAL CO (STAA) as a Hold with a composite score of 52.9/100 at a current price of $19.74. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling.
STAAR SURGICAL CO 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 52.9/100 places it at rank #1546 in our full universe.
No Moat
Medium
Poor
Undervalued
Gross margins of 75% signal strong pricing power.
Value factor score of 74 suggests attractive pricing.
Stable competitive position in a defensive sector.
Elevated P/E ratio of 101.1x leaves little room for execution misses.
Weak momentum suggests persistent institutional selling pressure.
Vulnerability to macroeconomic shocks and interest rate volatility.
STAAR SURGICAL CO represents a hold based on multi-factor quantitative performance.
Our model assigns STAAR SURGICAL CO a Hold rating, with a composite score of 52.9/100 and 3 out of 5 stars. Ranked #1546 of 7,333 stocks, STAA presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to initiate new positions nor weak enough to warrant selling. Investors already holding may consider maintaining their position while monitoring for changes in the factor profile.
STAA earns a quality score of 81/100, indicating above-average business quality. The company reports a return on equity of -14.7% (sector avg: -1.9%), gross margins of 74.8% (sector avg: 44.1%), net margins of -36.1% (sector avg: 1.0%). Companies in this tier generally demonstrate consistent profitability and efficient capital deployment, though they may face some competitive pressure.
STAA carries a solid value score of 74/100, pointing to an attractively priced stock relative to peers. Key valuation metrics include a P/E ratio of 101.11x, an EV/EBITDA of 11.85x, a P/B ratio of 2.48x. This score suggests reasonable compensation for the risks involved, with potential upside if the market recognizes the stock's underlying worth.
STAAR SURGICAL CO's investment score of 28/100 suggests limited reinvestment activity. Key growth metrics include revenue growth of -4.3% vs. a sector average of 6.7% and a return on assets of -11.4% (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.
STAAR SURGICAL CO is experiencing notably weak momentum with a score of just 27/100. The stock has underperformed its peers and is trending below major moving averages. Revenue growth stands at -4.3% year-over-year, while a beta of 0.58 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.
With a stability score of 58/100, STAA exhibits average financial resilience. Key stability metrics include a beta of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.00x (sector avg: 0.2x). While the balance sheet is not a major concern, the stock is subject to typical market volatility and may experience sharper drawdowns during risk-off episodes.
The short interest score of 54/100 for STAA suggests somewhat elevated bearish positioning by institutional traders. Specific risk factors include elevated leverage (D/E: 29.00x), small-cap liquidity risk. With a $1.3B market cap (small-cap), STAAR SURGICAL CO may experience above-average volatility. Investors should consider whether the short thesis has merit or if it creates a potential short-squeeze opportunity.
STAAR SURGICAL CO is a small-cap company in the Manufacturing sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #1546 of 7,333 overall (79th percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of -14.7% trailing the -1.9% sector median and operating margins of -44.1% below the 2.5% sector average. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Manufacturing peers.
While STAA currently exhibits a HOLD 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
Key factor gap
Quality (81) vs Momentum (27) — closing this gap could shift the rating.
EV/EBITDA IN LINE WITH SECTOR BENCHMARKS
ROE 676% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
Gross Margin 70% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
The cataract surgery devices market is poised for growth, projected to expand from USD 9.25 billion in 2025 to USD 12.47 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 3.80%. Key drivers include rising cataract incidences among aging populations, technological advancements, and increased awareness of early intervention. Devices such as phacoemulsification systems, femtosecond lasers, and ophthalmic viscosurgical tools enhance precision and recovery times in surgeries. Major players like Alcon, Johnson & Johnso
LAKE FOREST, Calif., February 23, 2026--STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ: STAA), the global leader in phakic IOLs with the EVO family of Implantable Collamer® Lenses (EVO ICL™) for vision correction, today announced that it will release financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 2, 2026, on Tuesday, March 3 after the market close. The Company will also host an earnings call and webcast at 5:30 p.m. ET to discuss its financial results and business progress.
LAKE FOREST, Calif., February 17, 2026--STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ: STAA), the global leader in phakic IOLs with the EVO family of Implantable Collamer® Lenses (EVO ICL™) for vision correction, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an expanded age indication for EVO/EVO+ Visian® Implantable Collamer Lenses, extending use to patients 21 to 60 years old. The approval came shortly after publication of three-year FDA clinical trial safety data, reinforcing
STAAR Surgical announced that shareholders did not approve its merger with Alcon Inc., which was valued at approximately $1.6 billion. The deal will be terminated with no termination fees owed by either party. STAAR will remain a standalone publicly traded company and focus on profitable growth and expanding its EVO ICL technology globally. Major shareholder Broadwood Partners (30.2% stake) and Yunqi Capital Limited (5.1% stake) had opposed the merger.
Top investors of STAAR Surgical, including Yunqi Capital and Broadwood Partners, have rejected Alcon's revised acquisition offer of $30.75 per share, citing a flawed sale process and insufficient valuation.
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081