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LGNDLigand Pharmaceuticals IncorporHold6.0·$255.00-0.21%
LGND · Why this verdict

Why Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorpor (LGND) 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 score6.0/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

4.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
P/E3.9
P/S0.0
EV/EBITDA0.0
Fwd P/E5.7
PEG10.0
Analyst target4.0
  • Forward P/E: 22.6x
  • PEG: 0.48

Quality

7.7/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE5.7
ROA3.5
Gross margin10.0
Op margin10.0
Net margin10.0
Current ratio5.0
FCF quality6.6
Moat7.6
Rule of 409.5
Piotroski F8.9
  • Strong margins: 56%
  • Wide economic moat
  • Compounder quality: strong returns + growth
  • Rule of 40: 66 (elite)

Growth

8.0/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth6.0
EPS growth10.0

Momentum

6.6/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI4.0
MACD10.0
OBV10.0
MA position9.0
Volume0.0
  • Overbought (RSI 80)
  • Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
  • Above 200-day MA

Sentiment

5.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
Analyst rating5.0
Price target6.3
erm sentiment5.0

Insider

5.0/10data confidence 50%
ComponentSub-score
materiality5.0
holder change5.1
  • No net insider activity — $0 (0.000% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

4.2/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank3.5
quality rank9.0
growth rank4.5
  • Superior ROE vs peers
  • Best-in-class margins

Technical

3.9/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger1.2
support resistance0.7
52w position9.7

Risk (lower is worse)

5.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest5.1
days to cover2.8
volatility5.6
put call10.0
implied vol2.0
max pain risk3.0
beta6.8
debt equity8.2
  • High IV: 68%
  • Above max pain $175
  • Concentration risks: 2 HIGH (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)

Catalyst

6.7/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history6.7
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg10.0
  • Strong earnings: 3B/1M

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Downgraded from BUY WAIT — price $255.00 has reached target $253.85. No upside to wait for.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L4:PATH_C2_GARP_WAIT|SANITY:WAIT+price>=TP
Passed (6)
  • MOMENTUM:6.6>=5.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:52d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
  • ASYMMETRY:-0.3=NEGATIVE
Warning (1)
  • 8K_FLAG:1.02
Reward-to-Risk
-0.35
Upside
-5.3%
Downside
15.0%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupUNKNOWN No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed

EdgeNO_EDGE No clear edge identified

SuitabilityMODERATE Balanced profile

Investment implication

The C-path quality+growth combination triggered the HOLD_IF_HOLDING verdict: quality 7.7 and growth 8.0 both clear their thresholds, with asymmetric R:R of -0.35 supporting the read.

The strongest dimensions are Growth at 8.0, Quality at 7.7, and Catalyst at 6.7; the weakest are Technical at 3.9, Peer rank at 4.2, and Value at 4.5. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of -0.35 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

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

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