ALOT AstroNova, Inc.

Nasdaq Computer Peripheral Equipment, NEC RI CIK: 0000008146
AI RATING
SELL
72% Confidence

Investment Thesis

Despite extraordinary revenue growth of 13,583% YoY (likely acquisition-driven), AstroNova exhibits concerning fundamentals with net margins of only 1.7%, negligible returns on capital (0.8% ROE, 0.5% ROA), and a quick ratio of 0.73x indicating potential liquidity stress. The company struggles to convert massive top-line growth into meaningful profitability, suggesting integration or structural margin challenges.

Strengths

  • + Positive free cash flow generation of $3.0M with 7.6% FCF margin demonstrates operational cash generation
  • + Reasonable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21x and 3.9x interest coverage provide financial flexibility
  • + Current ratio of 1.76x supports near-term obligation coverage

Risks

  • ! Extremely thin margins (1.7% net, 4.0% operating) fail to scale profitably with 39.4M revenue base
  • ! Quick ratio of 0.73x indicates working capital stress and potential liquidity challenges if operations deteriorate
  • ! Negligible returns on capital (0.8% ROE, 0.5% ROA) suggest value destruction in recently acquired assets

Key Metrics to Watch

Financial Metrics

Revenue
39.4M
Net Income
653.0K
EPS (Diluted)
$0.08
Free Cash Flow
3.0M
Total Assets
139.9M
Cash
4.7M

Profitability Ratios

Gross Margin 36.6%
Operating Margin 4.0%
Net Margin 1.7%
ROE 0.8%
ROA 0.5%
FCF Margin 7.6%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Current Ratio
1.76x
Quick Ratio
0.73x
Debt/Equity
0.21x
Debt/Assets
44.6%
Interest Coverage
3.91x
Long-term Debt
16.2M
Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: 2026-06-09T07:28:25.163871 | Data as of: 2026-04-30 | Powered by Claude AI