AWARE INC /MA/
AWREAbout the company
Aware, Inc., a biometric identity platform company, provides biometrics software products and services for government agencies and commercial entities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally.
Investment snapshot
Positive
1
BUY / PASS
Neutral / negative
2 / 13
NEUTRAL / FAIL
Median fair value
$0.82
-11.8% vs price
Models with upside
0 / 17
Positive margin of safety
Key risk
No clean pass — all 13 investors flag at least one valuation criterion
Framework analysis
| Verdict | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BUY | Positive purchase signal: the framework's buy requirements are met. |
| PASS | The company clears the framework's checklist or screen, but the framework does not produce a buy signal. For valuation frameworks this often means margin of safety is missing, insufficient, or unavailable; some screen-only frameworks have no intrinsic-value BUY state. |
| NEUTRAL | Neither a positive nor negative conclusion. It does not mean to hold an existing position. |
| FAIL | The company does not clear the framework's requirements. |
| Ranked | Ranked strategies do not use PASS: selected cohort is BUY, outside the cohort is FAIL, and unranked is NEUTRAL. |
Current investor scores use trailing 12-month flows and the latest balance sheet where supported. Multi-year and EPS tests retain annual history; each framework shows its financial basis below. Intrinsic values use annual financials.
| Metric | Graham Defensive Value | Buffett Quality Compounder | Lynch GARP | Greenblatt Magic Formula | Piotroski F-Score | Dreman Contrarian Value | Munger Quality Focus | Pabrai Dhandho Framework | Akre Three-Legged Stool | Marks Risk-Aware Value | Ackman Activist Value | Templeton Global Bargain Hunter | Sleep Scale Economies Shared | Asness Systematic Factors | Neff Low-P/E Total Return | Schloss Asset-Value Discipline | O'Shaughnessy Systematic Factor Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL · Rank #2592 (Top 83.7%) | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | PASS | FAIL | NEUTRAL | FAIL | FAIL | NEUTRAL |
| Score | |||||||||||||||||
| Analysis | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… |
| Intrinsic Value (annual) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Margin of Safety | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | -13.4% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Financial Basis | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-03-06 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 vs 2025-09-30 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-03-06 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-03-06 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-03-06 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-03-06 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2026-03-06 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-03-06 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2026-03-06 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Annual history · FY 2025 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 |
Where It Passes
Where It Falls Short
- Valuation0% pass✓ 8✗ 20▾
No clean pass — all 13 investors flag at least one valuation criterion
Price / 3-yr avg EPS✗Graham<= 15xPrice-to-Book Ratio0.8x✓Graham<= 1.5xP/E x P/B✗Graham<= 22.5Basic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)EBIT / Enterprise Value-50.2%✗Greenblatt> 10%Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=-50.2%, ROC=-46.9%✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%Price / EPS✗Dreman< 12x✗Templeton< 12x (fixed ceiling; proxy for the market's cheapest 40%)Price / (CFO / Shares)N/A (negative CFPS)✗Dreman< 8xPrice / Book Value per Share0.8x✓Dreman< 1.2x✓Templeton< 1.5x✓SchlossP/B <= 0.80x (app cutoff)Valuation ReasonablenessOE Yield=-27.2%✗MungerP/E < 25 or Owner Earnings Yield > 5%P/E or FCF YieldFCF Yield=-27.3%✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%P/B or P/E vs. Historical AverageP/B=0.8x✓MarksP/E < 15 or P/B < 2.0Discount to Intrinsic ValueN/A (negative normalized EPS)✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePrice / FCF per ShareN/A (negative FCF)✗Ackman<= 25Price vs. Trailing Low100% of trailing low ($0.93)✓Templeton<= 120% of trailing low (certified split-adjusted live window)Net income / market capitalization-40.66%; #4949/6340 (top 78.1%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionPositive book equity / market capitalization+0.9855; #1512/6449 (top 23.4%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionPrice / Diluted EPS✗NeffP/E <= 15x (app proxy for a P/E 40%-60% below the market)(EPS CAGR % + Dividend Yield %) / P/E✗Neff> 0.7 (Neff's published traditional edge)Price / Tangible Book Value per Share0.94x✓SchlossP/TBV <= 1.00x (app cutoff)Book Value per Share Change-43.1%✗SchlossLatest BVPS >= earliest BVPS over >= 3 years (app rule)Revenue / market capitalization+0.7728; #2089/5247 (top 39.8%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization-29.23%; #3649/4519 (top 80.7%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionTrailing six-month price return through the evaluation date-21.85%; #4063/6202 (top 65.5%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section - Profitability6% pass✓ 5✗ 30▾
15 of 16 flag AWRE's profitability — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +12 more
Positive EPS (10 years)12/23 years positive✗GrahamPositive EPS every year for 10 yearsEPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)✗Graham>= 33% growthNet Income Positive (10+ years)12/23 years positive✗BuffettPositive every year for 10+ yearsROE (up to 5-year arithmetic mean)-15.3%✗Buffett> 15% arithmetic mean (app rule)Operating Margin (10-yr trend)-37.9% (latest)✗BuffettStable or rising over 10 yearsFree Cash Flow Proxy$-5.5M✗BuffettPositive and growingEarnings Variance (10-yr CoV)✗BuffettCoV < 0.3Retained Earnings Effectiveness✗Buffett$1 retained -> > $1 market value createdBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR✗Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passROE-41.3%✗Lynch> 15%EBIT / Enterprise Value-50.2%✗Greenblatt> 10%Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=-50.2%, ROC=-46.9%✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%Net Income / Total Assets-15.79%✗PiotroskiROA > 0ROA Change YoY-10.39% -> -15.79% (delta: -5.40%)✗PiotroskiCurrent ROA > Prior ROA(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=-14.51%, ROA=-15.79%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAGross Margin Change YoY95.2% -> 92.3%✗PiotroskiImproved YoYPre-Tax Income / Revenue-51.1%✗Dreman>= 8%Net Income / Shareholders' Equity-41.3%✗Dreman> 12%Margin of SafetyP/B=0.8x✓PabraiP/B < 1.5 or P/E < 15Return on Equity-19.4% (3-yr avg)✗AkreROE > 20% (3-year avg)Discount to Intrinsic ValueN/A (negative normalized EPS)✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePositive Net Income Frequency12/19 years positive✓MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 yearsOperating Income / Revenue-55.9%✗Ackman>= 15%Net Income / Shareholders Equity-41.3%✗Ackman>= 15%5-Year EPS CAGR✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Operating Margin Trend-46.8% (2023) -> -37.9% (2025)✓TempletonNon-negative operating-margin trend over 3 yearsRevenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendgross margin 93.0% -> 92.3%, operating margin -46.8% -> -37.9%✗SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holdingNet income / market capitalization-40.66%; #4949/6340 (top 78.1%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionGross profit / total assets+42.94%; #873/3702 (top 23.6%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNet income / positive book equity-41.26%; #4095/5226 (top 78.4%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNegative 5-year standard deviation of ROA-0.0457; #2461/5884 (top 41.8%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR✗Neff7%-20% annualizedPositive Diluted-EPS Years3/10 years positive✗Schloss>= 70% positive over 5-10 observed years (app rule) - Verdicts7% pass✓ 1✗ 14▾
Split decision: 13 FAIL · 2 NEUTRAL · 1 PASS
Overall verdict✗GrahamFAIL (2/9)✗BuffettFAIL (0/9)✗LynchFAIL (1/7)✗GreenblattRank #2592✗PiotroskiFAIL (F-Score 3)✗DremanFAIL (2/11)✗MungerFAIL (0/4)✗PabraiFAIL (1/3)✗AkreFAIL (1/6)✗MarksFAIL (3/5)✗AckmanFAIL (2/9)✓TempletonPASS (4/8)✗SleepFAIL (2/6)•AsnessNEUTRAL (Not ranked)✗NeffFAIL (1/6)✗SchlossFAIL (3/7)•OshaughnessyNEUTRAL (Not ranked) - Debt & Leverage8% pass✓ 3✗ 12▾
11 of 12 flag AWRE's debt & leverage — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +8 more
LT Debt vs Net Current Assets✗GrahamLT Debt <= Net Current AssetsDebt/Equity & Interest Coverage✗BuffettD/E < 0.5 AND Interest Coverage > 5xTotal Debt / Equity✗Lynch< 0.33Cash - Long-term Debt✗LynchPositive preferredLT Debt / Total Assets Change0.00% -> 0.00%✓PiotroskiDecreased YoYCurrent Assets / Current Liabilities3.00✓Dreman> 1.5✓SchlossCurrent ratio >= 1.50x (app cutoff)Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity✗Dreman< 0.8✗Templeton< 1.0 (fixed cap; proxy for below-sector-median leverage)✗SchlossD/E < 1.00xDebt Levels✗MungerDebt/Equity < 0.5✗AkreDebt/Equity < 0.3Interest Coverage & Debt/EBITDA✗MarksInterest Coverage > 3x; Debt/EBITDA < 4xTotal Debt / Shareholders Equity✗Ackman<= 1.0Negative debt-to-equity (higher means less debt)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section - Cash Flow10% pass✓ 2✗ 10▾
9 of 10 flag AWRE's cash flow — Buffett, Lynch, Piotroski +6 more
Free Cash Flow Proxy$-5.5M✗BuffettPositive and growingFCF Positive and Growing$-5.9M✗LynchPositive and growingOperating Cash Flow$-5.4M✗PiotroskiCFO > 0(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=-14.51%, ROA=-15.79%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAPrice / (CFO / Shares)N/A (negative CFPS)✗Dreman< 8xP/E or FCF YieldFCF Yield=-27.3%✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%FCF Positive9/17 years FCF positive✓MarksPositive FCF in majority of recent years(OCF - CapEx) / Market Cap-29.6%✗Ackman>= 4%Price / FCF per ShareN/A (negative FCF)✗Ackman<= 25Positive Operating Cash Flow frequency9/17 years positive✗SleepPositive OCF in >= 70% of available yearsOperating Cash Flow - Capital Expenditures$-5.9M✗Neff> $0 (app proxy for a strong fundamental case)(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization-29.23%; #3649/4519 (top 80.7%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section - Growth13% pass✓ 4✗ 9▾
7 of 8 flag AWRE's growth — Graham, Lynch, Dreman +4 more
EPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)✗Graham>= 33% growthBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR✗Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passInventory Growth vs Revenue GrowthN/A (no inventory)✓LynchInventory growth < Revenue growthEPS Growth Direction✗DremanPositive over recent yearsEPS CAGR✗Dreman> 5% annualizedPositive Net Income Frequency12/19 years positive✓MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 years3yr Median Revenue Growth-0.6%✗Ackman>= 5%Positive EPS Growth Frequency3/5 years with positive EPS growth✓AckmanPositive EPS growth in >= 3 of last 5 years5-Year EPS CAGR✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Revenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendgross margin 93.0% -> 92.3%, operating margin -46.8% -> -37.9%✗SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holding5-year Revenue CAGR8.9%✓SleepCAGR > 7%3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR✗Neff7%-20% annualized - Efficiency25% pass✓ 3✗ 8▾
6 of 8 flag AWRE's efficiency — Buffett, Greenblatt, Piotroski +3 more
Current Ratio3.00✓Graham>= 2.0ROIC (3-5 yr avg)✗Buffett> 10%ROIC - WACC✗BuffettPositive (WACC = 10%)EBIT / (NWC + Net Fixed Assets)-46.9%✗Greenblatt> 25%Current Ratio Change YoY4.19 -> 3.77✗PiotroskiIncreased YoYRevenue / Total Assets Change YoY0.41x -> 0.46x✓PiotroskiImproved YoYCurrent Assets / Current Liabilities3.00✓Dreman> 1.5Return on Invested Capital✗Munger> 15%ROIC (high and growing)FY2023: ROIC=unavailable; FY2024: ROIC=unavailable; FY2025: ROIC=unavailable✗AkreLatest 3 consecutive FYs: ROIC > 15% in eachReinvestment Rate x ROIC✗AkreReinvestment Rate * ROIC > 10%ROIC (5-year)✗SleepROIC > 12% in a majority of years
Business & financials
Financial snapshot: annual FY 2025. Current investor scores may use newer quarterly data.
Company Profile
Financial Snapshot
Shareholder Return
Fiscal 2025
Issued 2.4% of shares last year, 2.5% issued over two.
- Buybacks
- $115.0K
- Dividends
- $0
Company Financials
Latest TTM and quarters alongside annual years
TTM sums four consecutive quarters and uses the latest quarter-end balances. Quarter columns show three-month results; annual columns show full-year totals. Growth compares the same period a year earlier. EPS is not added for TTM; full-year ratios are blank for quarters.
The latest annual period end is unavailable. Showing the latest fiscal cycle’s quarters; quarter and annual columns may overlap. Quarterly shows the full quarter history.
| Metric | TTM · 2026-09-30 2025-10-01 – 2026-09-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: revenue, net income, operating income, ebit, pre tax income, operating cash flow, depreciation amortization, capex, buybacks. | Q3 FY 2026 2026-07-01 – 2026-09-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: operating cash flow, depreciation amortization, capex, buybacks. | Q2 FY 2026 2026-04-01 – 2026-06-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: operating cash flow, depreciation amortization, capex, buybacks. | Q1 FY 2026 2026-01-01 – 2026-03-31 Sources | FY 2025Sources
| FY 2024Sources
| FY 2023Sources
| FY 2022Sources
| FY 2021Sources
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $20.3Mcurrent | -- | -- | -- | $39.1Mest. | $34.4Mest. | $32.7Mest. | $38.0Mest. | $63.8Mest. |
| Revenue | $15.7M↓10% | $4.4M↓14% | $3.3M↓16% | $3.4M↓6% | $17.3M↓1% | $17.4M↓5% | $18.2M↑14% | $16.0M↓5% | $16.9M |
| Operating Income | -$8.8M↓33% | -$940.0K↑27% | -$2.7M↓40% | -$3.6M↓97% | -$6.6M↓18% | -$5.5M↑35% | -$8.5M↓285% | -$2.2M↑64% | -$6.1M |
| Net Income | -$8.3M↓47% | -$791.0K↑25% | -$2.6M↓45% | -$3.5M↓116% | -$5.9M↓33% | -$4.4M↑39% | -$7.3M↓324% | -$1.7M↑70% | -$5.8M |
| EPS (Diluted) | -- | $-0.04↑20% | $-0.12↓50% | $-0.16↓100% | $-0.28↓33% | $-0.21↑40% | $-0.35↓337% | $-0.08↑70% | $-0.27 |
| Gross Margin | — | — | — | — | 92.3%↓3% | 95.2%↑2% | 93.0%↑1% | 92.1%↓1% | 92.8% |
| Operating Margin | -55.9%↓48% | -21.3%↑16% | -84.2%↓67% | -107.8%↓110% | -37.9%↓19% | -31.9%↑32% | -46.8%↓238% | -13.8%↑62% | -36.2% |
| ROE | -41.3%↓100% | — | — | — | -22.5%↓57% | -14.3%↑33% | -21.3%↓397% | -4.3%↑69% | -14.0% |
| Total Debt | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Shareholders' Equity | $20.0M↓26% | $20.0M↓26% | $20.6M↓26% | $22.9M↓22% | $26.1M↓15% | $30.9M↓10% | $34.3M↓15% | $40.2M↓3% | $41.5M |
| Current Ratio | 3.00↓11% | 3.00↓11% | 3.73↓19% | 3.56↓23% | 3.77↓10% | 4.19↓12% | 4.75↓26% | 6.43↓5% | 6.76 |
| Debt / Equity | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Operating Cash Flow | -$5.8M↓1% | -$1.4M↑39% | -$2.8M↓140% | -$2.7M↑9% | -$5.4M↓71% | -$3.2M↓273% | $1.8M↑136% | -$5.0M↑19% | -$6.2M |
| Free Cash Flow | -$5.9M↓2% | -$1.4M↑39% | -$2.8M↓140% | -$2.7M↑10% | -$5.6M↓74% | -$3.2M↓277% | $1.8M↑131% | -$5.8M↑8% | -$6.3M |
Score history
Historical Score Timeline
Industry peers
Industry Peers
Similar companies in Business Services
AWRE vs Peers — Financial Grading
| Company | Market Cap | Price | Revenue | Net Income | ROE | D/E | Op. Margin | Curr. Ratio | Graham | Buffett | Lynch | Greenblatt | Piotroski | Dreman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING INCADP | $122.3B | $309.93 | $21.9B | $4.4B | 73.2% | 0.82 | 24.2% | 1.05 | 4/9 | 5/9 | 3/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 6 | 5/11 |
| ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.EA | $52.9B | $209.70 | $7.5B | $887.0M | 13.1% | 0.22 | 15.4% | 1.05 | 1/9 | 4/9 | 4/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 6 | 6/11 |
| Rubrik, Inc.RBRK | $22.6B | $109.88 | $1.3B | $348.8M | 67.1% | — | -26.2% | 1.69 | 1/9 | 0/9 | 2/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 6 | 2/11 |
| AECOMACM | $9.1B | $70.50 | $16.1B | $561.8M | 22.5% | 1.09 | 6.4% | 1.14 | 1/9 | 3/9 | 3/7 | 1/3 | F-Score 8 | 2/11 |
| COMMVAULT SYSTEMS INCCVLT | $6.2B | $152.07 | $1.2B | $70.7M | 942.8% | — | 6.3% | 1.95 | 1/9 | 2/9 | 4/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 6 | 6/11 |
| WPP plcWPP | $6.0B | $27.79 | $18.2B | $289.5M | -8.5% | 1.94 | 2.8% | 0.89 | 1/9 | 2/9 | 1/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 3 | 2/11 |
| VARONIS SYSTEMS INCVRNS | $5.6B | $48.94 | $623.5M | $129.3M | -21.6% | 0.76 | -23.5% | 1.97 | 1/9 | 0/9 | 1/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 5 | 1/11 |
| ROBERT HALF INC.RHI | $4.3B | $42.00 | $5.4B | $133.0M | 10.4% | — | 1.4% | 1.53 | 2/9 | 5/9 | 1/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 5 | 2/11 |