Vertex, Inc.

Where It Passes

Where It Falls Short

• 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 Ratio

  ✗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-0.6%

  ✗Greenblatt> 10%

  Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=-0.6%, ROC=N/A (invested capital <= 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)

  ✗Dreman< 8x

  Price / Book Value per Share

  ✗Dreman< 1.2x✗Templeton< 1.5x✗SchlossP/B <= 0.80x (app cutoff)

  Valuation Reasonableness

  ✗MungerP/E < 25 or Owner Earnings Yield > 5%

  P/E or FCF Yield

  ✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%

  P/B or P/E vs. Historical Average

  ✗MarksP/E < 15 or P/B < 2.0

  Discount to Intrinsic Value

  ✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic value

  Price / FCF per Share

  ✗Ackman<= 25

  Price vs. Trailing Low166% of trailing low ($10.80)

  ✗Templeton<= 120% of trailing low (certified split-adjusted live window)

  Net income / market capitalization-1.62%; #3496/6340 (top 55.1%)

  ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section

  Positive book equity / market capitalization+0.0618; #4940/6449 (top 76.6%)

  ✗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 Share

  ✗SchlossP/TBV <= 1.00x (app cutoff)

  Book Value per Share Change

  ✗SchlossLatest BVPS >= earliest BVPS over >= 3 years (app rule)

  Revenue / market capitalization+0.2773; #3430/5247 (top 65.4%)

  ✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section

  (Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization

  ✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section

  Trailing six-month price return through the evaluation date+66.39%; #512/6202 (top 8.3%)

  ✓OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
• Growth0% pass✓ 3✗ 10▾

  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 GrowthN/A (no inventory)

  ✓LynchInventory growth < Revenue growth

  EPS Growth Direction

  ✗DremanPositive over recent years

  EPS CAGR

  ✗Dreman> 5% annualized

  Positive Net Income Frequency2/8 years positive

  ✗MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 years

  3yr Median Revenue Growth16.4%

  ✓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 trendgross margin 60.9% -> 64.3%, operating margin -3.1% -> 0.3%

  ✗SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holding

  5-year Revenue CAGR14.8%

  ✓SleepCAGR > 7%

  3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR

  ✗Neff7%-20% annualized
• Efficiency0% pass✓ 1✗ 10▾

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

  Current Ratio0.75

  ✗Graham>= 2.0

  ROIC (3-5 yr avg)-2.2%

  ✗Buffett> 10%

  ROIC - WACC-12.2%

  ✗BuffettPositive (WACC = 10%)

  EBIT / (NWC + Net Fixed Assets)N/A (invested capital <= 0)

  ✗Greenblatt> 25%

  Current Ratio Change YoY1.00 -> 0.98

  ✗PiotroskiIncreased YoY

  Revenue / Total Assets Change YoY0.57x -> 0.59x

  ✓PiotroskiImproved YoY

  Current Assets / Current Liabilities0.75

  ✗Dreman> 1.5

  Return on Invested Capital-2.6%

  ✗Munger> 15%

  ROIC (high and growing)FY2023: ROIC=-4.6%; FY2024: ROIC=-0.3%; FY2025: ROIC=0.3%

  ✗AkreLatest 3 consecutive FYs: ROIC > 15% in each

  Reinvestment Rate x ROIC0.3% (RR=100% x ROIC=0.3%)

  ✗AkreReinvestment Rate * ROIC > 10%

  ROIC (5-year)0/5 years above 12% (latest 0.3%)

  ✗SleepROIC > 12% in a majority of years
• Verdicts0% pass✗ 14▾

  Split decision: 14 FAIL · 2 NEUTRAL

  Overall verdict

  ✗GrahamFAIL (1/9)✗BuffettFAIL (1/9)✗LynchFAIL (2/7)•GreenblattNot ranked•PiotroskiNEUTRAL (F-Score 7)✗DremanFAIL (1/11)✗MungerFAIL (1/4)✗PabraiFAIL (0/3)✗AkreFAIL (0/6)✗MarksFAIL (1/5)✗AckmanFAIL (2/9)✗TempletonFAIL (2/8)✗SleepFAIL (2/6)✗AsnessFAIL (Rank #1914/2370 (Top 80.8%))✗NeffFAIL (1/6)✗SchlossFAIL (0/7)•OshaughnessyNEUTRAL (Not ranked)
• Profitability6% pass✓ 8✗ 27▾

  15 of 16 flag VERX's profitability — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +12 more

  Positive EPS (10 years)0/9 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)2/9 years positive

  ✗BuffettPositive every year for 10+ years

  ROE (up to 5-year arithmetic mean)-7.6%

  ✗Buffett> 15% arithmetic mean (app rule)

  Operating Margin (10-yr trend)0.3% (latest)

  ✓BuffettStable or rising over 10 years

  Free Cash Flow Proxy$-41.8M

  ✗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-26.1%

  ✗Lynch> 15%

  EBIT / Enterprise Value-0.6%

  ✗Greenblatt> 10%

  Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=-0.6%, ROC=N/A (invested capital <= 0)

  ✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%

  Net Income / Total Assets0.57%

  ✓PiotroskiROA > 0

  ROA Change YoY-4.52% -> 0.57% (delta: +5.09%)

  ✓PiotroskiCurrent ROA > Prior ROA

  (CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=13.03%, ROA=0.57%

  ✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROA

  Gross Margin Change YoY63.9% -> 64.3%

  ✓PiotroskiImproved YoY

  Pre-Tax Income / Revenue-1.8%

  ✗Dreman>= 8%

  Net Income / Shareholders' Equity-26.1%

  ✗Dreman> 12%

  Margin of Safety

  ✗PabraiP/B < 1.5 or P/E < 15

  Return on Equity-10.6% (3-yr avg)

  ✗AkreROE > 20% (3-year avg)

  Discount to Intrinsic Value

  ✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic value

  Positive Net Income Frequency2/8 years positive

  ✗MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 years

  Operating Income / Revenue-2.1%

  ✗Ackman>= 15%

  Net Income / Shareholders Equity-26.1%

  ✗Ackman>= 15%

  5-Year EPS CAGR

  ✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)

  Operating Margin Trend-3.1% (2023) -> 0.3% (2025)

  ✓TempletonNon-negative operating-margin trend over 3 years

  Revenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendgross margin 60.9% -> 64.3%, operating margin -3.1% -> 0.3%

  ✗SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holding

  Net income / market capitalization-1.62%; #3496/6340 (top 55.1%)

  ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section

  Gross profit / total assets+44.73%; #808/3702 (top 21.8%)

  ✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section

  Net income / positive book equity-26.14%; #3832/5226 (top 73.3%)

  ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section

  Negative 5-year standard deviation of ROA-0.0174; #1298/5884 (top 22.1%)

  ✓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)
• Debt & Leverage8% pass✓ 1✗ 14▾

  11 of 12 flag VERX's debt & leverage — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +8 more

  LT Debt vs Net Current AssetsLT Debt $339.2M vs NCA $-150.7M

  ✗GrahamLT Debt <= Net Current Assets

  Debt/Equity & Interest CoverageD/E: 1.30, IC: 0.7x

  ✗BuffettD/E < 0.5 AND Interest Coverage > 5x

  Total Debt / Equity1.88

  ✗Lynch< 0.33

  Cash - Long-term Debt$-121.4M

  ✗LynchPositive preferred

  LT Debt / Total Assets Change28.73% -> 26.56%

  ✓PiotroskiDecreased YoY

  Current Assets / Current Liabilities0.75

  ✗Dreman> 1.5✗SchlossCurrent ratio >= 1.50x (app cutoff)

  Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity1.88

  ✗Dreman< 0.8✗Templeton< 1.0 (fixed cap; proxy for below-sector-median leverage)✗SchlossD/E < 1.00x

  Debt Levels1.88

  ✗MungerDebt/Equity < 0.5✗AkreDebt/Equity < 0.3

  Interest Coverage & Debt/EBITDAIC=0.7x, D/EBITDA=3.4x

  ✗MarksInterest Coverage > 3x; Debt/EBITDA < 4x

  Total Debt / Shareholders Equity1.88

  ✗Ackman<= 1.0

  Negative debt-to-equity (higher means less debt)-1.8828; #3745/4210 (top 89.0%)

  ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section
• Cash Flow40% pass✓ 5✗ 7▾

  6 of 10 flag VERX's cash flow — Buffett, Dreman, Pabrai +3 more

  Free Cash Flow Proxy$-41.8M

  ✗BuffettPositive and growing

  FCF Positive and Growing$93.1M

  ✓LynchPositive and growing

  Operating Cash Flow$165.5M

  ✓PiotroskiCFO > 0

  (CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=13.03%, ROA=0.57%

  ✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROA

  Price / (CFO / Shares)

  ✗Dreman< 8x

  P/E or FCF Yield

  ✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%

  FCF Positive7/7 years FCF positive

  ✓MarksPositive FCF in majority of recent years

  (OCF - CapEx) / Market Cap

  ✗Ackman>= 4%

  Price / FCF per Share

  ✗Ackman<= 25

  Positive Operating Cash Flow frequency8/8 years positive

  ✓SleepPositive OCF in >= 70% of available years

  Operating Cash Flow - Capital Expenditures

  ✗Neff> $0 (app proxy for a strong fundamental case)

  (Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization

  ✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section