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ARQTArcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.Sell6.2·$21.08-0.71%
ARQT · Why this verdict

Why Arcutis Biotherapeutics (ARQT) is rated SELL

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictSELL
Overall score6.2/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

7.5/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
P/S5.9
Fwd P/E6.9
PEG10.0
Analyst target9.0
  • Forward P/E: 18.4x
  • PEG: 0.00
  • Attractively valued

Quality

4.9/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE0.0
ROA0.3
Gross margin10.0
Op margin0.0
Net margin0.0
Current ratio9.1
FCF quality3.2
Moat6.5
Rule of 409.5
Piotroski F10.0
  • FCF-positive despite GAAP loss (FCF margin 1%, FCF yield 0.1%)
  • Rule of 40: 61 (elite)
  • Strong Piotroski F-Score: 9/9

Growth

10.0/10data confidence 33%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth10.0
  • Strong growth: 60% YoY

Momentum

5.1/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI4.5
MACD8.6
OBV10.0
MA position2.2
Volume0.0
  • Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
  • Below 200-MA but MA still rising (+4.3%/30d) — pullback in uptrend, not confirmed weakness

Sentiment

8.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
LLM sentiment7.0
Analyst rating7.9
Price target9.8
  • LLM news sentiment: +0.40 (n=2)
  • Light analyst coverage (8.0) — signal dampened
  • Analyst upside: 64%

Insider

3.8/10data confidence 75%
ComponentSub-score
materiality4.5
insider conviction2.0
holder change5.0
  • Modest insider selling — $731,970 (0.028% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

4.9/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank6.7
quality rank6.0
growth rank7.0

Technical

4.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger5.1
support resistance4.4
52w position3.3
gap5.0

Risk (lower is worse)

2.7/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest2.5
days to cover0.0
volatility2.6
put call0.0
implied vol1.5
max pain risk3.0
beta4.9
debt equity7.4
  • Elevated put/call: 2.17
  • High IV: 71%
  • Above max pain $12
  • Concentration risks: 1 HIGH (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)

Catalyst

6.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history6.7
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg10.0
news activity6.0
  • Strong earnings: 3B/1M

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Extreme risk factors.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L1:HARD_BLOCK
Passed (7)
  • MOMENTUM:5.1>=4.5
  • ASYMMETRY:5.2>=1.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • 8K:CLEAN
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:58d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (0)

none

Warning (1)
  • MOMENTUM:5.1<5.5 (soft — BUY_NOW allowed but watch)
Reward-to-Risk
5.19
Upside
+43.1%
Downside
8.3%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupRECOVERY Death cross but MACD improving, RSI 59

EdgeNO_EDGE No clear edge identified

SuitabilityAGGRESSIVE Beta 1.52>1.3, MCap $2.7B<$5B

Investment implication

The L1 gate blocked the positive-verdict path: a hard-floor threshold was breached, so dimensional pillars — including Growth at 10.0 could not lift the engine output above the verdict floor.

The strongest dimensions are Growth at 10.0, Sentiment at 8.2, and Value at 7.5; the weakest are Risk (lower is worse) at 2.7, Insider at 3.8, and Technical at 4.5. The V9 engine cleared all gates with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of 5.19 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

Engine reasoning is mechanically derived from pipeline gate outputs. See decision view.

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