Mesa Laboratories, Inc (NASDAQ:MLAB) Shows Undervalued Metrics, Poised For Near-Term Reassessment

Robust free cash flow and a quarterly dividend contrast with compressed operating margins and heavy leverage, creating a mixed but actionable near-term setup for price reassessment.

Recent News

On April 2, 2026 the Board declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share.

Technical Analysis

ADX sits at 19.26, indicating no established trend; directional strength remains low, so any directional moves likely start from a range-bound base.

DI+ shows a dip & reversal, signaling emerging bullish directional pressure, while DI- shows a peak & reversal, which also signals easing bearish pressure; together these shifts point to nascent upside momentum despite the weak ADX reading.

MACD registered a dip & reversal, which denotes returning bullish momentum; the MACD value remains marginally below the signal line (MACD -0.58 vs signal -0.56), so momentum still needs confirmation before a durable trend develops.

MRO sits at -21.77 and shows a dip & reversal; the negative MRO implies price below WMDST’s target and therefore potential room to move higher toward that target as momentum readjusts.

RSI at 52.02 with a dip & reversal indicates the market moved off short-term weakness and now trades in a neutral-to-favorable band, leaving room to run without overbought pressure.

Price trades above the 200-day average ($86.16) and near the upper Bollinger band (1x upper at $104.81), with the 12-day EMA showing a dip & reversal; short-term averages cluster below the current price, supporting a near-term positive bias while volatility compresses.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Revenue totaled $63,724,000 with YoY revenue growth of +91.89%, showing substantial year-over-year top-line expansion even as shorter-period dynamics show contraction; QoQ revenue movement indicates a recent pullback that contrasts with the strong annual comparables.

EPS came in at $1.83 versus an estimate of $1.39, an EPS surprise of +31.66%, reflecting earnings strength in the reported period despite a negative net income of -$4,136,000 for the period reported.

Gross margin measures 66.23%, slightly above the industry peer mean of 63.52%, supporting higher incremental profitability on sales; by contrast operating margin at 4.31% sits materially below the industry peer mean of 20.47%, reflecting elevated operating costs relative to peers and compressing operating earnings.

EBIT equals $1,003,000 and EBIT margin equals 1.57%, well below the industry peer mean of 20.35%; the EBIT margin fell sharply QoQ (down ~86.57%) and declined YoY (down ~67.18%), underscoring volatile near-term operating performance despite positive EBITDA of $6,753,000.

Balance sheet and cash flow: cash and short-term investments total $26,928,000 and operating cash flow equals $13,962,000; free cash flow reached $13,545,000, producing a free cash flow yield of 2.55%, above the industry peer mean of 0.52% as determined by the comparison dataset, which supports valuation resilience.

Leverage and coverage show stress points: total debt $155,169,000 with net debt $124,554,000 and debt/EBITDA at 22.98x; interest coverage stands at 0.39x, indicating limited near-term buffer to service interest costs and elevating sensitivity to earnings swings.

Liquidity ratios place the company below peer averages: current ratio 1.72 (industry peer mean 2.73) and quick ratio 1.29 (industry peer mean 2.02), though working capital remains positive at $44,370,000 and cash conversion cycle days near the industry peer mean range.

Returns remain pressured: ROE -2.22% and ROA -0.96%, with earnings growth metrics showing sharp QoQ and YoY contractions in recent periods; these metrics constrain multiple expansion despite strong gross margins and cash generation.

Valuation context: price multiples show a trailing P/E of 52.48 and forward P/E of 27.46, while P/B equals 2.85 versus an industry peer mean of 5.62, placing book-value metrics below peer averages. Enterprise value stands at $658,859,738 versus market cap $530,618,738, and WMDST values the stock as under-valued based on the current combination of cash generation, margins, and balance-sheet position.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2026-03-31
REPORT DATE: 2026-05-27
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2026-08-26
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow 29.0 M
 Operating Cash Flow 14.0 M
 Capital Expenditures -417.00 K
 Change In Working Capital 3.9 M
 Dividends Paid -884.00 K
 Cash Flow Delta -2.05 M
 End Period Cash Flow 26.9 M
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue 63.7 M
 Forward Revenue -65.28 M
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue 21.5 M
 Depreciation 1.3 M
 Depreciation and Amortization 5.8 M
 Research and Development 5.2 M
 Total Operating Expenses 61.0 M
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit 42.2 M
 EBITDA 6.8 M
 EBIT 1.0 M
 Operating Income 2.7 M
 Interest Income
 Interest Expense 2.6 M
 Net Interest Income -2.60 M
 Income Before Tax -1.59 M
 Tax Provision 2.5 M
 Tax Rate 40.0 %
 Net Income -4.14 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations -4.14 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate 1.39
 EPS Actual 1.83
 EPS Difference 0.44
 EPS Surprise 31.655 %
 Forward EPS 3.07
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets 427.7 M
 Intangible Assets 270.2 M
 Net Tangible Assets -83.97 M
 Total Current Assets 106.3 M
 Cash and Short-Term Investments 26.9 M
 Cash 26.9 M
 Net Receivables 44.1 M
 Inventory 26.4 M
 Long-Term Investments 19.2 M
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable 4.9 M
 Short-Term Debt 5.6 M
 Total Current Liabilities 61.9 M
 Net Debt 124.6 M
 Total Debt 155.2 M
 Total Liabilities 241.5 M
EQUITY
 Total Equity 186.2 M
 Retained Earnings -185.75 M
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share 33.71
 Shares Outstanding 5.525 M
 Revenue Per-Share 11.53
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization 530.6 M
 Enterprise Value 658.9 M
 Enterprise Multiple 97.565
Enterprise Multiple QoQ 119.037 %
Enterprise Multiple YoY 25.754 %
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA high: 167.868
MLAB: 97.565
mean: 82.373
median: 80.811
low: -193.913
 EV/R 10.339
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 2.297
 Asset To Liability 1.771
 Debt To Capital 0.454
 Debt To Assets 0.363
Debt To Assets QoQ -12.838 %
Debt To Assets YoY -13.375 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 0.725
MLAB: 0.363
mean: 0.269
median: 0.249
low: 0.002
 Debt To Equity 0.833
Debt To Equity QoQ -14.056 %
Debt To Equity YoY -26.622 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA high: 4.524
MLAB: 0.833
mean: 0.544
median: 0.426
low: -0.465
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 2.849
Price To Book QoQ 20.198 %
Price To Book YoY -30.87 %
Price To Book IPRWA high: 20.943
mean: 5.623
median: 4.172
MLAB: 2.849
low: -12.173
 Price To Earnings (P/E) 52.481
Price To Earnings QoQ 15.322 %
Price To Earnings YoY -156.852 %
Price To Earnings IPRWA high: 194.313
mean: 120.348
median: 98.047
MLAB: 52.481
low: -198.766
 PE/G Ratio 13.196
 Price To Sales (P/S) 8.327
Price To Sales QoQ 22.549 %
Price To Sales YoY -21.454 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 62.134
mean: 29.52
median: 21.968
MLAB: 8.327
low: 0.285
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 27.46
Forward PE/G 6.905
Forward P/S -8.128
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage 40.347
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.148
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ -1.86 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY 3.495 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.411
MLAB: 0.148
median: 0.128
mean: 0.122
low: 0.002
 Receivables Turnover 1.511
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ -6.801 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY -1.96 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 3.141
mean: 1.938
median: 1.582
MLAB: 1.511
low: 0.361
 Inventory Turnover 0.813
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ -5.387 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY -8.34 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 2.164
MLAB: 0.813
mean: 0.607
median: 0.509
low: 0.137
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 60.38
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC) 143.982
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ 1.429 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY -1.022 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA high: 587.726
median: 180.7
mean: 160.416
MLAB: 143.982
low: -133.614
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio 1.436
 CapEx To Revenue -0.007
 CapEx To Depreciation -0.33
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital 332.1 M
 Net Invested Capital 337.7 M
 Invested Capital 337.7 M
 Net Tangible Assets -83.97 M
 Net Working Capital 44.4 M
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio 0.435
 Current Ratio 1.717
Current Ratio QoQ -11.593 %
Current Ratio YoY 174.134 %
Current Ratio IPRWA high: 14.36
mean: 2.73
median: 2.112
MLAB: 1.717
low: 0.038
 Quick Ratio 1.291
Quick Ratio QoQ -11.208 %
Quick Ratio YoY 173.713 %
Quick Ratio IPRWA high: 12.588
mean: 2.016
median: 1.518
MLAB: 1.291
low: 0.37
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA 22.978
 Cost Of Debt 0.927 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio 0.386
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ -84.631 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY -67.341 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA high: 87.935
mean: 17.93
median: 13.911
MLAB: 0.386
low: -102.892
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio -0.039
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) 19.909
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio -4.679
 Dividend Payout Ratio -0.214
 Dividend Rate 0.16
 Dividend Yield 0.002
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate -1.633 %
 Revenue Growth -2.153 %
Revenue Growth QoQ -129.795 %
Revenue Growth YoY 91.889 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: 16.503 %
MLAB: -2.153 %
median: -5.375 %
mean: -7.834 %
low: -65.483 %
 Earnings Growth 3.977 %
Earnings Growth QoQ -98.634 %
Earnings Growth YoY -99.015 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA high: 200.0 %
MLAB: 3.977 %
median: -7.623 %
mean: -14.297 %
low: -145.833 %
MARGINS
 Gross Margin 66.231 %
Gross Margin QoQ 3.202 %
Gross Margin YoY 7.135 %
Gross Margin IPRWA high: 95.029 %
MLAB: 66.231 %
mean: 63.517 %
median: 63.289 %
low: 4.929 %
 EBIT Margin 1.574 %
EBIT Margin QoQ -86.569 %
EBIT Margin YoY -67.181 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 63.148 %
median: 21.811 %
mean: 20.348 %
MLAB: 1.574 %
low: -233.035 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) 4.312 %
Return On Sales QoQ -64.786 %
Return On Sales YoY -10.092 %
Return On Sales IPRWA high: 63.148 %
median: 20.603 %
mean: 20.468 %
MLAB: 4.312 %
low: -219.267 %
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) 13.5 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield 2.553 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ -37.319 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY 44.237 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA high: 7.748 %
MLAB: 2.553 %
mean: 0.515 %
median: 0.47 %
low: -15.26 %
 Free Cash Growth -24.842 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ -116.262 %
Free Cash Growth YoY -26.631 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 324.237 %
MLAB: -24.842 %
mean: -32.299 %
median: -37.858 %
low: -397.308 %
 Free Cash To Net Income -3.275
 Cash Flow Margin -3.752 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings 0.578
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added 0.03
 Return On Assets (ROA) -0.959 %
Return On Assets QoQ -214.303 %
Return On Assets YoY -41.31 %
Return On Assets IPRWA high: 5.251 %
mean: 2.047 %
median: 1.583 %
MLAB: -0.959 %
low: -34.616 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) 0.274 %
 Return On Equity (ROE) -0.022
Return On Equity QoQ -214.249 %
Return On Equity YoY -50.101 %
Return On Equity IPRWA high: 0.413
median: 0.032
mean: 0.03
MLAB: -0.022
low: -0.942
 DuPont ROE -2.218 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) 0.178 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ -89.578 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY -74.462 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA high: 8.753 %
mean: 2.447 %
median: 2.32 %
MLAB: 0.178 %
low: -14.938 %

Six-Week Outlook

Near-term bias appears mildly bullish: technical indicators (DI+ dip & reversal, DI- peak & reversal, MACD dip & reversal, MRO negative with dip & reversal) align toward upside revaluation, but ADX below 20 signals that any move may remain range-bound unless momentum confirms above the signal line and volume picks up.

  • Price sits above key moving averages and near the 1x upper Bollinger band, so expect price exploration of higher intraday bands if momentum confirms.
  • Leverage and tight interest coverage increase sensitivity to negative surprises; a re-acceleration in operating margin or cash conversion would materially improve the technical backdrop.
  • Watch confirmation from MACD crossing above its signal line and a rising ADX above 20 to indicate a transition from range to trend.

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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