Mesa Laboratories, Inc (NASDAQ:MLAB) Signals Near-Term Downward Pressure Despite WMDST Valuation

Mesa Laboratories exhibits mixed signals: a valuation labeled undervalued by WMDST contrasts with weakening momentum indicators that point to near-term downward pressure. Leadership changes and scheduled reporting add event risk over the coming weeks.

Recent News

On March 9th the company announced a CEO transition, naming Siddhartha Kadia as President and CEO with the prior CEO stepping down in April. On May 5th the company stated it will release fourth-quarter and full fiscal-year results on May 27th, 2026; the announcement schedules the public release of performance and guidance data for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

Technical Analysis

ADX / DI+ / DI-: ADX at 16.64 indicates no established trend; DI+ decreasing signals weakening directional bullishness while DI- dip & reversal indicates increasing downside pressure. Together, the directional indicators imply momentum favors sellers despite the lack of a strong trend.

MACD: MACD sits at 3.20 with the MACD signal at 3.17, so the line currently rests marginally above its signal; the MACD trend shows a peak & reversal, which signals bearish momentum despite the small cross above the signal line.

MRO (Momentum/Regression Oscillator): MRO at 3.3 (positive) indicates price sits slightly above the modeled target and therefore carries mild downside potential back toward that target over the near term.

RSI: RSI 58.29 with a peak & reversal indicates fading upside momentum; the oscillator remains below overbought extremes but the recent reversal favors short-term weakness.

Price vs Moving Averages and Cloud: Price closed at $102.89, above the 20-day average ($101.38), 50-day average ($92.24), and 200-day average ($80.37); the 12-day EMA shows an increasing trajectory. Ichimoku Tenkan above Kijun and the price above both lines provide structural support, but momentum indicators point to potential pullback from the current level rather than continuation of an aggressive uptrend.

Bollinger Bands & Volatility: Price trades inside the 1x Bollinger band range (lower $97.61 / upper $105.15) and nearer the upper band, implying reduced immediate upside room and a higher probability of mean reversion back toward the band center if momentum deteriorates.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Profitability & Margins: Operating margin stands at 12.245% and EBIT margin at 11.719%. EBIT margin sits below the industry peer mean of 20.729%, indicating lower relative operating profitability versus typical peers. Gross margin equals 64.176%, which sits above the industry peer mean (61.854%) and closely tracks the industry peer median (64.538%), supporting solid product-level margins.

Earnings & Surprise: Reported EPS equaled $1.76 versus an estimate of $1.47, a positive surprise of $0.29 or approximately 19.73%, which improves near-term earnings credibility and supports forward multiple considerations.

Cash Flow & Balance Sheet: Operating cash flow reached $18,754,000 with free cash flow of $18,022,000 and a free cash flow yield of 4.07%, above the industry peer mean free cash flow yield of 0.969%. Cash and short-term investments total $28,975,000 while net debt equals $137,152,000, producing a debt-to-EBITDA of 13.56—elevated leverage relative to operating cash generation and a notable constraint on financial flexibility.

Liquidity & Working Capital: Current ratio of 1.94 and quick ratio of 1.45 provide coverage for near-term obligations. Cash conversion cycle at ~142 days remains long but improved slightly QoQ and YoY, indicating inventory and receivables management still consume working capital.

Growth and Returns: Total revenue equals $65,126,000 with reported revenue growth of 7.23% year-over-year. Return on equity of 1.94% and return on assets of 0.84% remain modest, reflecting substantial intangible assets and retained losses on the balance sheet. WMDST places the current valuation as under-valued, supported by above-mean free cash flow yield and the company’s positive EPS surprise, but leverage metrics and below-peer EBIT margin temper the fundamental case.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2025-12-31
REPORT DATE: 2026-02-03
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2026-05-05
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow 20.4 M
 Operating Cash Flow 18.8 M
 Capital Expenditures -732.00 K
 Change In Working Capital 4.5 M
 Dividends Paid -884.00 K
 Cash Flow Delta 8.6 M
 End Period Cash Flow 29.0 M
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue 65.1 M
 Forward Revenue 33.4 M
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue 23.3 M
 Depreciation 1.3 M
 Depreciation and Amortization 5.7 M
 Research and Development 5.0 M
 Total Operating Expenses 57.2 M
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit 41.8 M
 EBITDA 13.3 M
 EBIT 7.6 M
 Operating Income 8.0 M
 Interest Income
 Interest Expense 3.0 M
 Net Interest Income -3.04 M
 Income Before Tax 4.6 M
 Tax Provision 966.0 K
 Tax Rate 21.0 %
 Net Income 3.6 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations 3.6 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate 1.47
 EPS Actual 1.76
 EPS Difference 0.29
 EPS Surprise 19.728 %
 Forward EPS 1.35
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets 434.8 M
 Intangible Assets 278.9 M
 Net Tangible Assets -92.26 M
 Total Current Assets 105.6 M
 Cash and Short-Term Investments 29.0 M
 Cash 29.0 M
 Net Receivables 40.2 M
 Inventory 26.6 M
 Long-Term Investments 17.2 M
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable 5.3 M
 Short-Term Debt 5.2 M
 Total Current Liabilities 54.4 M
 Net Debt 137.2 M
 Total Debt 181.0 M
 Total Liabilities 248.2 M
EQUITY
 Total Equity 186.7 M
 Retained Earnings -180.73 M
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share 33.79
 Shares Outstanding 5.525 M
 Revenue Per-Share 11.79
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization 442.5 M
 Enterprise Value 594.5 M
 Enterprise Multiple 44.543
Enterprise Multiple QoQ -17.325 %
Enterprise Multiple YoY -65.041 %
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA high: 158.913
mean: 79.818
median: 68.596
MLAB: 44.543
low: -144.328
 EV/R 9.129
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 2.329
 Asset To Liability 1.752
 Debt To Capital 0.492
 Debt To Assets 0.416
Debt To Assets QoQ -5.946 %
Debt To Assets YoY 80.294 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 0.828
MLAB: 0.416
mean: 0.28
median: 0.262
low: 0.002
 Debt To Equity 0.969
Debt To Equity QoQ -9.15 %
Debt To Equity YoY 49.104 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA high: 3.261
MLAB: 0.969
mean: 0.563
median: 0.481
low: -1.334
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 2.37
Price To Book QoQ 3.932 %
Price To Book YoY -48.189 %
Price To Book IPRWA high: 15.074
mean: 5.977
median: 5.854
MLAB: 2.37
low: -0.373
 Price To Earnings (P/E) 45.508
Price To Earnings QoQ 29.79 %
Price To Earnings YoY -109.054 %
Price To Earnings IPRWA high: 269.298
mean: 117.414
median: 101.834
MLAB: 45.508
low: -228.062
 PE/G Ratio 0.156
 Price To Sales (P/S) 6.795
Price To Sales QoQ 1.394 %
Price To Sales YoY -39.869 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 52.884
median: 21.078
mean: 19.482
MLAB: 6.795
low: -13.339
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 57.092
Forward PE/G 0.196
Forward P/S 13.252
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage 7.889
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.151
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ 7.344 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY 6.758 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.512
MLAB: 0.151
median: 0.144
mean: 0.129
low: -0.209
 Receivables Turnover 1.622
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ 5.671 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY 1.774 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 2.907
mean: 1.845
median: 1.837
MLAB: 1.622
low: 0.47
 Inventory Turnover 0.859
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ 2.52 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY 7.69 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 2.05
MLAB: 0.859
mean: 0.706
median: 0.548
low: 0.16
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 56.273
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC) 141.954
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ -4.892 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY -8.238 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA high: 453.393
median: 165.533
mean: 164.819
MLAB: 141.954
low: -118.454
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio 1.271
 CapEx To Revenue -0.011
 CapEx To Depreciation -0.576
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital 347.7 M
 Net Invested Capital 352.8 M
 Invested Capital 352.8 M
 Net Tangible Assets -92.26 M
 Net Working Capital 51.2 M
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio 0.533
 Current Ratio 1.942
Current Ratio QoQ -3.743 %
Current Ratio YoY 173.09 %
Current Ratio IPRWA high: 20.133
mean: 2.632
MLAB: 1.942
median: 1.893
low: 0.042
 Quick Ratio 1.454
Quick Ratio QoQ 0.734 %
Quick Ratio YoY 173.923 %
Quick Ratio IPRWA high: 12.347
mean: 1.986
MLAB: 1.454
median: 1.434
low: 0.366
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA 13.56
 Cost Of Debt 1.291 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio 2.514
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ 48.006 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY 1043.066 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA high: 82.119
median: 25.964
mean: 22.333
MLAB: 2.514
low: -107.569
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio 0.194
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) 20.161
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio 4.106
 Dividend Payout Ratio 0.244
 Dividend Rate 0.16
 Dividend Yield 0.002
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate 1.045 %
 Revenue Growth 7.226 %
Revenue Growth QoQ 260.399 %
Revenue Growth YoY -16.54 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: 54.001 %
median: 12.969 %
mean: 10.016 %
MLAB: 7.226 %
low: -28.254 %
 Earnings Growth 291.111 %
Earnings Growth QoQ 2279.524 %
Earnings Growth YoY -319.706 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA MLAB: 291.111 %
high: 188.889 %
mean: 9.571 %
median: 6.667 %
low: -142.105 %
MARGINS
 Gross Margin 64.176 %
Gross Margin QoQ 4.414 %
Gross Margin YoY 1.445 %
Gross Margin IPRWA high: 96.557 %
median: 64.538 %
MLAB: 64.176 %
mean: 61.854 %
low: -16.207 %
 EBIT Margin 11.719 %
EBIT Margin QoQ 46.433 %
EBIT Margin YoY 1077.789 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 33.51 %
median: 20.883 %
mean: 20.729 %
MLAB: 11.719 %
low: -144.871 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) 12.245 %
Return On Sales QoQ 57.431 %
Return On Sales YoY 1130.653 %
Return On Sales IPRWA high: 35.479 %
median: 21.965 %
mean: 21.778 %
MLAB: 12.245 %
low: -169.778 %
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) 18.0 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield 4.073 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ 132.477 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY 64.102 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA high: 7.186 %
MLAB: 4.073 %
mean: 0.969 %
median: 0.969 %
low: -18.365 %
 Free Cash Growth 152.763 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ -78.379 %
Free Cash Growth YoY -62.379 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 265.331 %
MLAB: 152.763 %
mean: 5.673 %
median: -0.761 %
low: -358.281 %
 Free Cash To Net Income 4.965
 Cash Flow Margin 16.195 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings 2.906
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added 0.03
 Return On Assets (ROA) 0.839 %
Return On Assets QoQ 46.678 %
Return On Assets YoY -323.138 %
Return On Assets IPRWA high: 15.87 %
mean: 2.058 %
median: 1.613 %
MLAB: 0.839 %
low: -29.663 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) 2.006 %
 Return On Equity (ROE) 0.019
Return On Equity QoQ 40.159 %
Return On Equity YoY -280.0 %
Return On Equity IPRWA high: 0.357
median: 0.034
mean: 0.033
MLAB: 0.019
low: -0.518
 DuPont ROE 1.988 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) 1.708 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ 57.13 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY 153.037 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA high: 6.787 %
mean: 2.839 %
median: 2.587 %
MLAB: 1.708 %
low: -14.233 %

Six-Week Outlook

Momentum indicators point to a near-term bias to the downside despite structural support from moving averages and an undervalued WMDST appraisal. Expect price behavior to favor choppy trading with downside tests more likely than fresh breakouts while the market digests the leadership change and the upcoming May 27th results release. Key technical references to monitor include the super trend lower near $97.18 and the 20-day band center; persistent weakness in MACD and RSI would increase the likelihood of a deeper reversion toward the consensus price target mean of $88.66. Conversely, renewed momentum above the 20-day average and a re-acceleration in DI+ would reduce downside risk and realign technicals with the valuation backdrop.

About Mesa Laboratories, Inc.

Mesa Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ:MLAB) develops and manufactures a diverse range of life sciences tools and quality control products. Serving markets across North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and globally, Mesa Laboratories addresses critical needs in various industries. The Sterilization and Disinfection Control segment provides biological, chemical, and cleaning indicators, essential for evaluating sterilization and decontamination processes in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and healthcare sectors. This segment also extends testing and laboratory services to dental and pharmaceutical industries. In the Clinical Genomics segment, Mesa Laboratories offers the MassARRAY system, a genetic analysis tool, along with consumables like chips, panels, and chemical reagents. These tools support clinical labs in DNA sample analysis for genetic disease testing, pharmacogenetics, oncology, and more. The Biopharmaceutical Development segment delivers automated systems for protein analysis and peptide synthesis, including Gyrolab and PurePep product lines. The Calibration Solutions segment provides quality control products for measuring critical parameters in environmental and process monitoring, as well as medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Products include continuous monitoring systems, dialysate meters, data loggers, and gas flow calibration equipment, marketed under brands such as DialyGuard, ViewPoint, and DataTrace. Established in 1982, Mesa Laboratories is headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado.



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