Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Where It Passes

Where It Falls Short

• Valuation0% pass✓ 2✗ 26▾

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

  Price / 3-yr avg EPS

  ✗Graham<= 15x

  Price-to-Book Ratio2.5x

  ✗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-38.5%

  ✗Greenblatt> 10%

  Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=-38.5%, 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)N/A (negative CFPS)

  ✗Dreman< 8x

  Price / Book Value per Share2.5x

  ✗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 YieldFCF Yield=-28.8%

  ✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%

  P/B or P/E vs. Historical AverageP/B=2.5x

  ✗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 Low104% of trailing low ($3.42)

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

  Net income / market capitalization-50.99%; #5063/6340 (top 79.9%)

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

  Positive book equity / market capitalization+0.0704; #4899/6449 (top 76.0%)

  ✗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 Share2.47x

  ✗SchlossP/TBV <= 1.00x (app cutoff)

  Book Value per Share Change+10.9%

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

  Revenue / market capitalization+0.4958; #2641/5247 (top 50.3%)

  ✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section

  (Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization-28.82%; #3644/4519 (top 80.6%)

  ✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section

  Trailing six-month price return through the evaluation date-30.33%; #4433/6202 (top 71.5%)

  ✗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

  ✗BuffettPositive and growing

  FCF Positive and Growing$-17.6M

  ✗LynchPositive and growing

  Operating Cash Flow$-17.6M

  ✗PiotroskiCFO > 0

  (CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=-37.40%, ROA=-37.95%

  ✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROA

  Price / (CFO / Shares)N/A (negative CFPS)

  ✗Dreman< 8x

  P/E or FCF YieldFCF Yield=-28.8%

  ✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%

  FCF Positive0/8 years FCF positive

  ✗MarksPositive FCF in majority of recent years

  (OCF - CapEx) / Market Cap-28.8%

  ✗Ackman>= 4%

  Price / FCF per ShareN/A (negative FCF)

  ✗Ackman<= 25

  Positive Operating Cash Flow frequency0/9 years positive

  ✗SleepPositive OCF in >= 70% of available years

  Operating Cash Flow - Capital Expenditures$-17.6M

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

  (Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization-28.82%; #3644/4519 (top 80.6%)

  ✗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 GrowthInv: 7.5% vs Rev: 106.2%

  ✓LynchInventory growth < Revenue growth

  EPS Growth Direction

  ✗DremanPositive over recent years

  EPS CAGR

  ✗Dreman> 5% annualized

  Positive Net Income Frequency0/9 years positive

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

  3yr Median Revenue Growth47.7%

  ✓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 trendrevenue up, operating margin -1283.4% -> -34.2%

  ✓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
• Profitability6% pass✓ 4✗ 31▾

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

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

  ✗BuffettPositive every year for 10+ years

  ROE (up to 5-year arithmetic mean)-141.9%

  ✗Buffett> 15% arithmetic mean (app rule)

  Operating Margin (10-yr trend)-34.2% (latest)

  ✗BuffettStable or rising over 10 years

  Free Cash Flow Proxy

  ✗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-724.0%

  ✗Lynch> 15%

  EBIT / Enterprise Value-38.5%

  ✗Greenblatt> 10%

  Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=-38.5%, ROC=N/A (invested capital <= 0)

  ✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%

  Net Income / Total Assets-37.95%

  ✗PiotroskiROA > 0

  ROA Change YoY-141.46% -> -37.95% (delta: +103.51%)

  ✓PiotroskiCurrent ROA > Prior ROA

  (CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=-37.40%, ROA=-37.95%

  ✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROA

  Gross Margin Change YoY

  ✗PiotroskiImproved YoY

  Pre-Tax Income / Revenue

  ✗Dreman>= 8%

  Net Income / Shareholders' Equity-724.0%

  ✗Dreman> 12%

  Margin of SafetyP/B=2.5x

  ✗PabraiP/B < 1.5 or P/E < 15

  Return on Equity-157.5% (3-yr avg)

  ✗AkreROE > 20% (3-year avg)

  Discount to Intrinsic Value

  ✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic value

  Positive Net Income Frequency0/9 years positive

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

  Operating Income / Revenue-93.6%

  ✗Ackman>= 15%

  Net Income / Shareholders Equity-724.0%

  ✗Ackman>= 15%

  5-Year EPS CAGR

  ✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)

  Operating Margin Trend-1283.4% (2023) -> -34.2% (2025)

  ✓TempletonNon-negative operating-margin trend over 3 years

  Revenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendrevenue up, operating margin -1283.4% -> -34.2%

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

  Net income / market capitalization-50.99%; #5063/6340 (top 79.9%)

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

  Gross profit / total assets

  ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section

  Net income / positive book equity-724.01%; #5123/5226 (top 98.0%)

  ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section

  Negative 5-year standard deviation of ROA-0.3790; #4770/5884 (top 81.1%)

  ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section

  3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR

  ✗Neff7%-20% annualized

  Positive Diluted-EPS Years0/9 years positive

  ✗Schloss>= 70% positive over 5-10 observed years (app rule)
• Efficiency13% pass✓ 2✗ 9▾

  7 of 8 flag VRCA's efficiency — Graham, Buffett, Greenblatt +4 more

  Current Ratio1.45

  ✗Graham>= 2.0

  ROIC (3-5 yr avg)-129.6%

  ✗Buffett> 10%

  ROIC - WACC-139.6%

  ✗BuffettPositive (WACC = 10%)

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

  ✗Greenblatt> 25%

  Current Ratio Change YoY1.76 -> 2.59

  ✓PiotroskiIncreased YoY

  Revenue / Total Assets Change YoY0.14x -> 0.75x

  ✓PiotroskiImproved YoY

  Current Assets / Current Liabilities1.45

  ✗Dreman> 1.5

  Return on Invested Capital-393.2%

  ✗Munger> 15%

  ROIC (high and growing)FY2023: ROIC=-249.9%; FY2024: ROIC=-1354.0%; FY2025: ROIC=-37.9%

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

  Reinvestment Rate x ROICN/A (non-positive net income)

  ✗AkreReinvestment Rate * ROIC > 10%

  ROIC (5-year)0/5 years above 12% (latest -37.9%)

  ✗SleepROIC > 12% in a majority of years
• Verdicts15% pass✓ 2✗ 11▾

  Split decision: 11 FAIL · 3 NEUTRAL · 2 PASS

  Overall verdict

  ✗GrahamFAIL (1/9)✗BuffettFAIL (0/9)✗LynchFAIL (3/7)•GreenblattNot ranked•PiotroskiNEUTRAL (F-Score 6)✗DremanFAIL (1/11)✓MungerPASS (2/4)✗PabraiFAIL (0/3)✗AkreFAIL (1/6)✗MarksFAIL (0/5)✗AckmanFAIL (3/9)✓TempletonPASS (4/8)✗SleepFAIL (2/6)•AsnessNEUTRAL (Not ranked)✗NeffFAIL (1/6)✗SchlossFAIL (2/7)•OshaughnessyNEUTRAL (Not ranked)
• Debt & Leverage50% pass✓ 9✗ 6▾

  6 of 12 pass — Buffett, Dreman, Akre +3 more object

  Debt Levels0.32

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

  LT Debt vs Net Current AssetsLT Debt $0.0M vs NCA $26.1M

  ✓GrahamLT Debt <= Net Current Assets

  Debt/Equity & Interest CoverageD/E: 0.32, IC: -7.6x

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

  Total Debt / Equity0.32

  ✓Lynch< 0.33

  Cash - Long-term Debt$30.1M

  ✓LynchPositive preferred

  LT Debt / Total Assets Change57.23% -> 0.00%

  ✓PiotroskiDecreased YoY

  Current Assets / Current Liabilities1.45

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

  Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity0.32

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

  Interest Coverage & Debt/EBITDAIC=-2.4x, D/EBITDA=N/A (D&A unavailable)

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

  Total Debt / Shareholders Equity0.32

  ✓Ackman<= 1.0

  Negative debt-to-equity (higher means less debt)-0.3237; #2062/4210 (top 49.0%)

  ✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section