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ELFe.l.f. Beauty, Inc.Hold5.6·$53.66+8.24%
ELF · Why this verdict

Why e.l.f. Beauty (ELF) is rated HOLD

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

VerdictHOLD
Overall score5.6/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroRISK_OFF

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

5.6/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
P/E0.0
P/S2.8
EV/EBITDA0.0
Fwd P/E8.5
PEG10.0
Analyst target7.5
  • Forward P/E: 13.6x
  • PEG: 0.02

Quality

5.0/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE0.0
ROA2.7
Gross margin8.2
Op margin0.7
Net margin0.0
Current ratio9.9
FCF quality9.1
Moat5.8
Piotroski F8.9
  • FCF-positive despite GAAP loss (FCF margin 31%, FCF yield 2.9%)
  • Strong Piotroski F-Score: 8/9

Growth

10.0/10data confidence 33%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth10.0
  • Strong growth: 35% YoY

Momentum

3.0/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI4.5
MACD8.6
OBV1.0
MA position1.0
Volume0.0
  • Volume distribution (falling OBV)
  • Below 200-MA, MA slope -9.0%/30d — confirmed downtrend

Sentiment

7.1/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
Analyst rating7.3
Price target9.0
erm sentiment4.5
  • Analyst upside: 36%

Insider

3.1/10data confidence 75%
ComponentSub-score
materiality2.0
insider conviction2.0
holder change5.3
  • Heavy insider selling — $15,965,408 (0.542% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

4.2/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank0.0
quality rank2.5
growth rank9.2
  • Industry growth leader

Technical

3.9/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger5.7
support resistance6.1
52w position0.0

Risk (lower is worse)

3.8/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest1.7
days to cover7.4
volatility0.0
put call10.0
implied vol0.5
max pain risk3.0
beta2.0
debt equity6.1
  • High short interest justified: 18%
  • High IV: 77%
  • Above max pain $40
  • Concentration risks: 2 HIGH, 2 MED (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)

Catalyst

7.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history10.0
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg10.0
  • Perfect beat streak: 4Q

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Maintain position. Not compelling to add more.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L4:PATH_F_HOLD
Passed (6)
  • ASYMMETRY:1.8>=1.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:58d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (2)
  • MOMENTUM:3.0<4.5
  • DEATH_CROSS:HARD_BLOCK
Warning (1)
  • 8K_CSUITE_CHANGE:5.02 (officer departure/appointment)
Reward-to-Risk
1.79
Upside
+22.3%
Downside
12.4%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupRECOVERY Death cross but MACD improving, RSI 47

EdgeNO_EDGE No clear edge identified

SuitabilityAGGRESSIVE Beta 2.39>1.3, MCap $2.9B<$5B

Investment implication

None of the engine's positive-conviction paths (C-quality, D-momentum) triggered — the F-path HOLD reflects balanced signals. Strongest-cleared gate: ASYMMETRY:1.8>=1.5. Top dim: Growth at 10.0; weakest: Momentum at 3.0. No conviction either direction.

The strongest dimensions are Growth at 10.0, Catalyst at 7.5, and Sentiment at 7.1; the weakest are Momentum at 3.0, Insider at 3.1, and Risk (lower is worse) at 3.8. The V9 engine flagged 2 failed gates with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of 1.79 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

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

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