CARLSMED, INC.

CARL
About the company

Carlsmed, Inc., a commercial-stage medical technology company, designs, manufactures, and markets AI-enabled personalized spine surgery solutions. The company develops aprevo, a comprehensive technology platform for spine fusion surgery procedures. Its aprevo platform includes proprietary surgical planning software, using outcomes-based algorithms that are aided with artificial intelligence, and resulting custom-built, anatomically designed vertebral interbody implants. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is based in Carlsbad, California.

Country: United StatesPrice: $17.12Market Cap: $469.2M

Investment snapshot

12%positive consensus
Scored 1d ago

Positive

2

BUY / PASS

Neutral / negative

2 / 12

NEUTRAL / FAIL

Median fair value

—

No comparable estimates

Models with upside

0 / 17

Positive margin of safety

Strongest signal

9 of 12 pass — Buffett, Marks and Asness object

Key risk

No clean pass — all 16 investors flag at least one profitability criterion

Framework analysis

VerdictMeaning
BUYPositive purchase signal: the framework's buy requirements are met.
PASSThe 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.
NEUTRALNeither a positive nor negative conclusion. It does not mean to hold an existing position.
FAILThe company does not clear the framework's requirements.
RankedRanked 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.

MetricGraham

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

VerdictFAILFAILFAILFAIL · Rank #2426 (Top 78.3%)PASSFAILPASSFAILFAILFAILFAILFAILFAILNEUTRALFAILFAILNEUTRAL
Score
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Intrinsic Value (annual)N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Margin of SafetyN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Financial Basis

TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Annual history · FY 2025

Latest source filing: 2026-11-10

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30

Latest source filing: 2026-11-10

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2025 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · TTM ended 2026-09-30

Latest source filing: 2026-11-10

Score computed: 2026-11-14

TTM ended 2026-09-30

Latest source filing: 2026-11-10

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2025

Latest source filing: 2026-02-25

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: 2026-11-10

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30

Latest source filing: 2026-11-10

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2025

Latest source filing: 2026-02-25

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30

Latest source filing: 2026-11-10

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Qualitative assessment

Latest source filing: 2026-11-10

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: 2026-11-10

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2025 · Price history 2025-07-01–2026-11-01 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30

Latest source filing: 2026-11-10

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment

Latest source filing: 2026-02-25

Score computed: 2026-11-14

TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Price history 2025-07-01–2026-11-01 · Annual history · FY 2025

Latest source filing: 2026-11-10

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30

Latest source filing: 2026-11-10

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Annual history · FY 2025 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30

Latest source filing: 2026-11-10

Score computed: 2026-11-14

TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Annual history · FY 2025 · Price history 2025-07-01–2026-11-01

Latest source filing: 2026-11-10

Score computed: 2026-11-14

Where It Passes

  • Debt & Leverage75% pass✓ 12✗ 3▾

    9 of 12 pass — Buffett, Marks and Asness object

    LT Debt vs Net Current AssetsLT Debt $15.4M vs NCA $87.3M
    ✓GrahamLT Debt <= Net Current Assets
    Debt/Equity & Interest CoverageD/E: 0.20, IC: -33.3x
    ✗BuffettD/E < 0.5 AND Interest Coverage > 5x
    Total Debt / Equity0.20
    ✓Lynch< 0.33
    Cash - Long-term Debt$20.5M
    ✓LynchPositive preferred
    LT Debt / Total Assets Change29.74% -> 11.79%
    ✓PiotroskiDecreased YoY
    Current Assets / Current Liabilities5.79
    ✓Dreman> 1.5✓SchlossCurrent ratio >= 1.50x (app cutoff)
    Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity0.20
    ✓Dreman< 0.8✓Templeton< 1.0 (fixed cap; proxy for below-sector-median leverage)✓SchlossD/E < 1.00x
    Debt Levels0.20
    ✓MungerDebt/Equity < 0.5✓AkreDebt/Equity < 0.3
    Interest Coverage & Debt/EBITDAIC=-33.3x, D/EBITDA=N/A
    ✗MarksInterest Coverage > 3x; Debt/EBITDA < 4x
    Total Debt / Shareholders Equity0.20
    ✓Ackman<= 1.0
    Negative debt-to-equity (higher means less debt)-0.2035; #1694/4210 (top 40.2%)
    ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section

Where It Falls Short

  • Profitability0% pass✓ 4✗ 31▾

    No clean pass — all 16 investors flag at least one profitability criterion

    Positive EPS (10 years)0/3 years positive
    ✗GrahamPositive EPS every year for 10 years
    EPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)
    ✗Graham>= 33% growth
    Net Income Positive (10+ years)0/3 years positive
    ✗BuffettPositive every year for 10+ years
    ROE (up to 5-year arithmetic mean)-30.0%
    ✗Buffett> 15% arithmetic mean (app rule)
    Operating Margin (10-yr trend)
    ✗BuffettStable or rising over 10 years
    Free Cash Flow Proxy$-29.6M
    ✗BuffettPositive and growing
    Earnings Variance (10-yr CoV)
    ✗BuffettCoV < 0.3
    Retained Earnings Effectiveness
    ✗Buffett$1 retained -> > $1 market value created
    Basic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)
    ✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)
    3-5 Year EPS CAGR
    ✗Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to pass
    ROE-52.9%
    ✗Lynch> 15%
    EBIT / Enterprise Value-9.4%
    ✗Greenblatt> 10%
    Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=-9.4%, ROC=-77.0%
    ✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%
    Net Income / Total Assets-22.77%
    ✗PiotroskiROA > 0
    ROA Change YoY-46.81% -> -22.77% (delta: +24.03%)
    ✓PiotroskiCurrent ROA > Prior ROA
    (CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=-22.27%, ROA=-22.77%
    ✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROA
    Gross Margin Change YoY73.8% -> 75.3%
    ✓PiotroskiImproved YoY
    Pre-Tax Income / Revenue
    ✗Dreman>= 8%
    Net Income / Shareholders' Equity-52.9%
    ✗Dreman> 12%
    Margin of SafetyP/B=4.6x
    ✗PabraiP/B < 1.5 or P/E < 15
    Return on Equity-30.0% (3-yr avg)
    ✗AkreROE > 20% (3-year avg)
    Discount to Intrinsic Value
    ✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic value
    Positive Net Income Frequency0/2 years positive
    ✗MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 years
    Operating Income / Revenue-59.0%
    ✗Ackman>= 15%
    Net Income / Shareholders Equity-52.9%
    ✗Ackman>= 15%
    5-Year EPS CAGR
    ✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)
    Operating Margin Trend
    ✗TempletonNon-negative operating-margin trend over 3 years
    Revenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trend
    ✗SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holding
    Net income / market capitalization-8.54%; #4103/6340 (top 64.7%)
    ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
    Gross profit / total assets+47.92%; #717/3702 (top 19.4%)
    ✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section
    Net income / positive book equity-52.94%; #4241/5226 (top 81.2%)
    ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section
    Negative 5-year standard deviation of ROA
    ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section
    3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR
    ✗Neff7%-20% annualized
    Positive Diluted-EPS Years
    ✗Schloss>= 70% positive over 5-10 observed years (app rule)
  • Valuation0% pass✓ 1✗ 27▾

    No clean pass — all 13 investors flag at least one valuation criterion

    Price / 3-yr avg EPS
    ✗Graham<= 15x
    Price-to-Book Ratio4.6x
    ✗Graham<= 1.5x
    P/E x P/B
    ✗Graham<= 22.5
    Basic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)
    ✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)
    EBIT / Enterprise Value-9.4%
    ✗Greenblatt> 10%
    Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=-9.4%, ROC=-77.0%
    ✗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< 8x
    Price / Book Value per Share4.6x
    ✗Dreman< 1.2x✗Templeton< 1.5x✗SchlossP/B <= 0.80x (app cutoff)
    Valuation ReasonablenessOE Yield=-6.6%
    ✗MungerP/E < 25 or Owner Earnings Yield > 5%
    P/E or FCF YieldFCF Yield=-6.3%
    ✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%
    P/B or P/E vs. Historical AverageP/B=4.6x
    ✗MarksP/E < 15 or P/B < 2.0
    Discount to Intrinsic Value
    ✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic value
    Price / FCF per ShareN/A (negative FCF)
    ✗Ackman<= 25
    Price vs. Trailing Low193% of trailing low ($8.89)
    ✗Templeton<= 120% of trailing low (certified split-adjusted live window)
    Net income / market capitalization-8.54%; #4103/6340 (top 64.7%)
    ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
    Positive book equity / market capitalization+0.1613; #4402/6449 (top 68.3%)
    ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section
    Price / 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 Share4.63x
    ✗SchlossP/TBV <= 1.00x (app cutoff)
    Book Value per Share Change
    ✗SchlossLatest BVPS >= earliest BVPS over >= 3 years (app rule)
    Revenue / market capitalization+0.1530; #4030/5247 (top 76.8%)
    ✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
    (Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization-7.44%; #3119/4519 (top 69.0%)
    ✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
    Trailing six-month price return through the evaluation date+91.50%; #372/6202 (top 6.0%)
    ✓OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
  • Cash Flow0% pass✓ 1✗ 11▾

    No clean pass — all 10 investors flag at least one cash flow criterion

    Free Cash Flow Proxy$-29.6M
    ✗BuffettPositive and growing
    FCF Positive and Growing$-29.6M
    ✗LynchPositive and growing
    Operating Cash Flow$-29.0M
    ✗PiotroskiCFO > 0
    (CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=-22.27%, ROA=-22.77%
    ✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROA
    Price / (CFO / Shares)N/A (negative CFPS)
    ✗Dreman< 8x
    P/E or FCF YieldFCF Yield=-6.3%
    ✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%
    FCF Positive0/2 years FCF positive
    ✗MarksPositive FCF in majority of recent years
    (OCF - CapEx) / Market Cap-7.6%
    ✗Ackman>= 4%
    Price / FCF per ShareN/A (negative FCF)
    ✗Ackman<= 25
    Positive Operating Cash Flow frequency0/2 years positive
    ✗SleepPositive OCF in >= 70% of available years
    Operating Cash Flow - Capital Expenditures$-34.9M
    ✗Neff> $0 (app proxy for a strong fundamental case)
    (Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization-7.44%; #3119/4519 (top 69.0%)
    ✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
  • Growth0% pass✓ 2✗ 11▾

    No clean pass — all 8 investors flag at least one growth criterion

    EPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)
    ✗Graham>= 33% growth
    Basic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)
    ✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)
    3-5 Year EPS CAGR
    ✗Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to pass
    Inventory Growth vs Revenue GrowthInv: 85.4% vs Rev: 85.9%
    ✓LynchInventory growth < Revenue growth
    EPS Growth Direction
    ✗DremanPositive over recent years
    EPS CAGR
    ✗Dreman> 5% annualized
    Positive Net Income Frequency0/2 years positive
    ✗MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 years
    3yr Median Revenue Growth85.9%
    ✓Ackman>= 5%
    Positive EPS Growth Frequency
    ✗AckmanPositive EPS growth in >= 3 of last 5 years
    5-Year EPS CAGR
    ✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)
    Revenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trend
    ✗SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holding
    5-year Revenue CAGR
    ✗SleepCAGR > 7%
    3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR
    ✗Neff7%-20% annualized
  • Verdicts13% pass✓ 2✗ 13▾

    Split decision: 12 FAIL · 2 PASS · 2 NEUTRAL

    Overall verdict
    ✗GrahamFAIL (2/9)✗BuffettFAIL (0/9)✗LynchFAIL (3/7)✗GreenblattRank #2426✓PiotroskiPASS (F-Score 5)✗DremanFAIL (2/11)✓MungerPASS (2/4)✗PabraiFAIL (0/3)✗AkreFAIL (2/6)✗MarksFAIL (0/5)✗AckmanFAIL (2/9)✗TempletonFAIL (2/8)✗SleepFAIL (1/6)•AsnessNEUTRAL (Not ranked)✗NeffFAIL (0/6)✗SchlossFAIL (2/7)•OshaughnessyNEUTRAL (Not ranked)
  • Efficiency25% pass✓ 3✗ 8▾

    6 of 8 flag CARL's efficiency — Buffett, Greenblatt, Piotroski +3 more

    Current Ratio5.79
    ✓Graham>= 2.0
    ROIC (3-5 yr avg)-85.0%
    ✗Buffett> 10%
    ROIC - WACC-95.0%
    ✗BuffettPositive (WACC = 10%)
    EBIT / (NWC + Net Fixed Assets)-77.0%
    ✗Greenblatt> 25%
    Current Ratio Change YoY5.60 -> 8.87
    ✓PiotroskiIncreased YoY
    Revenue / Total Assets Change YoY0.52x -> 0.39x
    ✗PiotroskiImproved YoY
    Current Assets / Current Liabilities5.79
    ✓Dreman> 1.5
    Return on Invested Capital-36.7%
    ✗Munger> 15%
    ROIC (high and growing)FY2023: ROIC=unavailable; FY2024: ROIC=unavailable; FY2025: ROIC=-21.1%
    ✗AkreLatest 3 consecutive FYs: ROIC > 15% in each
    Reinvestment Rate x ROICN/A (non-positive net income)
    ✗AkreReinvestment Rate * ROIC > 10%
    ROIC (5-year)0/1 years above 12% (latest -21.1%)
    ✗SleepROIC > 12% in a majority of years

Business & financials

Financial snapshot: annual FY 2025. Current investor scores may use newer quarterly data.

Company Profile

Industry: Medical Equipment
SIC Sector: Measuring & Medical Instruments
Size: Small Cap($469.2M)
Revenue: $50.5M+85.9% YoY
Net Income: $29.6M-22.2% YoY

Financial Snapshot

Operating Margin-60.5%
Return on Equity-30.0%
Debt / Equity0.16
Current Ratio8.87
EPS (Diluted)$-2.12

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.

MetricTTM · 2026-09-30

2025-10-01 – 2026-09-30

Sources · derived quarter values

Derived from cumulative filings: revenue, net income, operating income, gross profit, ebit, interest expense, operating cash flow, depreciation amortization, capex.

Q3 FY 2026

2026-07-01 – 2026-09-30

Sources · derived quarter values

Derived from cumulative filings: operating cash flow, depreciation amortization, capex.

Q2 FY 2026

2026-04-01 – 2026-06-30

Sources · derived quarter values

Derived from cumulative filings: operating cash flow, depreciation amortization, capex.

Q1 FY 2026

2026-01-01 – 2026-03-31

Sources
FY 2025
Sources
  • 10-K · 2026-02-25
FY 2024
Sources
  • 10-K · 2026-02-25
FY 2023
Sources
  • 10-K · 2026-02-25
Market Cap$469.2Mcurrent------$332.0Mest.$58.2Mest.--
Revenue$71.8M$21.6M↑65%$18.9M↑57%$16.1M$50.5M↑86%$27.2M--
Operating Income-$42.3M-$12.7M↓41%-$11.0M↓70%-$9.3M-$30.6M↓27%-$24.1M--
Net Income-$40.1M-$12.2M↓44%-$10.5M↓55%-$8.7M-$29.6M↓22%-$24.3M--
EPS (Diluted)--$-0.45↓12%$-0.39↑73%$-0.32$-2.12↑65%$-6.11--
Gross Margin77.0%77.3%↑2%76.8%↑5%77.1%75.3%↑2%73.8%—
Operating Margin-59.0%-58.9%↑15%-58.3%↓8%-57.6%-60.5%↑32%-88.8%—
ROE-52.9%———-30.0%↓187%34.3%—
Total Debt$15.4M$15.4M$15.4M$15.4M$15.3M$15.4M--
Shareholders' Equity$75.7M$75.7M↓29%$84.2M↑201%$92.2M$98.9M↑240%-$70.6M↓53%-$46.1M
Current Ratio5.795.79↓52%8.84↑82%11.888.87↑59%5.60—
Debt / Equity0.200.20↑41%0.18↑198%0.170.16↑171%-0.22—
Operating Cash Flow-$34.4M-$8.7M↓3%-$7.4M-$13.0M-$29.0M↓14%-$25.5M--
Free Cash Flow-$34.9M-$9.0M↓4%-$7.5M-$13.1M-$29.6M↓15%-$25.6M--

Score history

Historical Score Timeline

Industry peers

Industry Peers

Similar companies in Medical Equipment

CARL vs Peers — Financial Grading

Revenue$50.5MBottom 25%
Net Income$29.6MBottom 25%
ROE-30.0%Bottom 25%
D/E0.16Top 25%
Op. Margin-60.5%Bottom 25%
Curr. Ratio8.87Top 25%
CompanyMarket CapPriceRevenueNet IncomeROED/EOp. MarginCurr. RatioGrahamBuffettLynchGreenblattPiotroskiDreman
ALCON INCALC$35.6B$74.12$10.4B$980.0M4.4%0.2113.1%2.122/91/93/70/3F-Score 64/11
KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NVPHG$29.7B$30.34$21.0B$1.1B8.2%0.648.0%1.321/91/91/70/3F-Score 53/11
WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES INCWST$29.0B$416.42$3.1B$493.7M15.5%0.0619.0%3.024/96/96/71/3F-Score 75/11
SMITH & NEPHEW PLCSNN$13.1B$31.28$6.2B$625.0M11.8%0.5912.9%2.572/90/91/70/3F-Score 64/11
MSA Safety IncMSA$6.7B$174.17$1.9B$278.9M20.4%0.4219.8%3.015/95/94/71/3F-Score 57/11
STAAR SURGICAL COSTAA$1.3B$26.39$239.4M$80.4M-23.4%—-38.3%4.552/92/92/70/3F-Score 33/11
ARTIVION, INC.AORT$931.9M$19.10$441.3M$9.8M2.2%0.487.6%3.532/90/90/70/3F-Score 71/11
InMode Ltd.INMD$763.6M$13.27$370.5M$93.8M13.7%—23.0%9.885/93/90/73/3F-Score 44/11