Root, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROOT) Shows Volatile Technical Rebound While Fundamentals Signal Overvaluation

Root demonstrates mixed near-term price momentum amid a marked divergence between improving cash generation and stretched valuation metrics; technicals suggest short-term upside potential, fundamentals justify a cautious stance.

Recent News

Feb 12, 2026 — Root, Inc. announced participation in the 2026 Association of Insurance and Financial Analysts (AIFA) Conference (March 1–3, 2026) to engage with investors and discuss business strategy. Mar 11, 2026 — UBS published a note lowering expectations for Root and trimming its price target, maintaining a neutral rating while reducing upside assumptions.

Technical Analysis

ADX / DI+ / DI-: ADX at 35.52 indicates a strong trend in play. DI+ shows an increasing trend, signalling bullish pressure. DI- shows a dip-and-reversal pattern, signalling renewed bearish pressure; the combination implies a forceful directional tug-of-war that raises near-term directional risk relative to valuation.

MACD: MACD sits at -3.19 but trends higher and has crossed above its signal line (-3.74), which constitutes a bullish momentum signal despite the negative MACD level.

MRO (Momentum/Regression Oscillator): MRO at -33.84 indicates the price sits materially below the model target and therefore carries upside potential toward that target.

RSI: RSI at 37.07 with a peak-and-reversal trend signals bearish momentum and short-term selling pressure, placing the stock near oversold territory but under downward momentum.

Price vs. Moving Averages and Bands: The last close of $43.29 sits below the 20-day average ($45.32) and well below the 200-day average ($84.74), with the 12-day EMA showing a peak-and-reversal. Price trades near the lower Bollinger band (~$43.75 at 1x std), emphasising short-term reversion potential but confirming a longer-term downtrend.

Volatility & Beta: 42‑day and 52‑week volatility read 0.04 and betas of ~1.9–2.0 indicate above-market sensitivity; expect larger intramarket moves compared with broad indices.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Profitability & Earnings: EBIT equals $10.5M with an EBIT margin of 2.65%, compared with an industry peer mean EBIT margin of 20.89% (industry peer median 16.497%). QoQ the EBIT margin improved by 33.35%, while YoY it declined by 70.71%, reflecting large year-over-year compression but recent sequential recovery. Reported EPS came in at $0.31 versus an estimate of -$0.44, an absolute beat of $0.75 and an EPS surprise of roughly 170%.

Revenue & Growth: Total revenue stands at $397.0M. Revenue growth shows a modest current rate of 2.37% on an annualized basis, with a strong sequential gain QoQ of 85.31% but a YoY decline of 65.47%, indicating volatile top-line comparisons driven by recent monthly/seasonal swings and base effects.

Cash Generation & Coverage: Operating cash flow equals $70.1M and free cash flow $65.9M, producing a free cash flow yield of 6.09%, above the industry peer mean free cash flow yield of 3.49%. Interest coverage sits at 2.06x, materially below the industry peer mean 38.73x, indicating limited buffer against interest costs relative to peers.

Leverage & Balance Sheet: Total debt equals $200.3M; debt-to-assets at 11.96% exceeds the industry peer mean 5.40%, and debt-to-equity at 70.45% sits above the industry peer mean 22.71%. Cash and short-term investments total $1,056.3M, which underpins liquidity despite elevated leverage ratios.

Valuation Multiples: Trailing PE sits at 225.17 and forward PE at 103.62; price-to-book equals 3.81, above the industry peer mean price-to-book of 2.578. Price/Book and elevated P/E multiples reflect an expensive valuation base versus typical peer metric levels. The current valuation as determined by WMDST: over-valued.

Returns: Return on assets equals 0.32% and return on equity 1.86%, both below typical industry medians; duPont ROE remains low at 1.93%, consistent with limited current profitability despite positive operating cash flow.

Valuation Summary: Positive free cash flow yield and a recent EPS beat contrast with very high multiples and above‑peer leverage indicators. The combination produces upward short-term technical potential while leaving a valuation gap that supports WMDST’s over-valued determination.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2025-12-31
REPORT DATE: 2026-02-25
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2026-05-27
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow $ 654.4 M
 Operating Cash Flow $ 70.1 M
 Capital Expenditures $ -4.20 M
 Change In Working Capital $ 36.4 M
 Dividends Paid —
 Cash Flow Delta $ 35.5 M
 End Period Cash Flow $ 689.9 M
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue $ 397.0 M
 Forward Revenue $ 250.5 M
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue —
 Depreciation $ 3.1 M
 Depreciation and Amortization $ 3.1 M
 Research and Development —
 Total Operating Expenses $ 391.6 M
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit —
 EBITDA —
 EBIT $ 10.5 M
 Operating Income —
 Interest Income $ 10.3 M
 Interest Expense $ 5.1 M
 Net Interest Income $ -5.10 M
 Income Before Tax $ 5.4 M
 Tax Provision $ -900.00 K
 Tax Rate 21.0 %
 Net Income $ 5.3 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations $ 5.3 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate $ -0.44
 EPS Actual $ 0.31
 EPS Difference $ 0.75
 EPS Surprise 170.455 %
 Forward EPS $ 0.86
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets $ 1.7 B
 Intangible Assets $ 27.6 M
 Net Tangible Assets $ 256.7 M
 Total Current Assets —
 Cash and Short-Term Investments $ 1.1 B
 Cash $ 669.3 M
 Net Receivables $ 462.6 M
 Inventory —
 Long-Term Investments —
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable $ 76.6 M
 Short-Term Debt —
 Total Current Liabilities —
 Net Debt —
 Total Debt $ 200.3 M
 Total Liabilities $ 1.4 B
EQUITY
 Total Equity $ 284.3 M
 Retained Earnings $ -1.64 B
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share $ 18.33
 Shares Outstanding 15.509 M
 Revenue Per-Share $ 25.60
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization $ 1.1 B
 Enterprise Value $ 226.5 M
 Enterprise Multiple —
Enterprise Multiple QoQ —
Enterprise Multiple YoY —
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA —
 EV/R 0.571
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 5.89
 Asset To Liability 1.204
 Debt To Capital 0.413
 Debt To Assets 0.12
Debt To Assets QoQ -1.967 %
Debt To Assets YoY -10.585 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 0.14
ROOT: 0.12
median: 0.056
mean: 0.054
low: 0.005
 Debt To Equity 0.705
Debt To Equity QoQ -6.835 %
Debt To Equity YoY -28.279 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA ROOT: 0.705
high: 0.697
median: 0.227
mean: 0.227
low: 0.012
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 3.808
Price To Book QoQ -28.566 %
Price To Book YoY -44.115 %
Price To Book IPRWA high: 6.563
ROOT: 3.808
mean: 2.578
median: 1.861
low: 0.322
 Price To Earnings (P/E) 225.166
Price To Earnings QoQ -184.159 %
Price To Earnings YoY 218.463 %
Price To Earnings IPRWA ROOT: 225.166
high: 103.837
mean: 40.89
median: 39.904
low: 12.348
 PE/G Ratio -1.194
 Price To Sales (P/S) 2.727
Price To Sales QoQ -25.139 %
Price To Sales YoY -35.814 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 19.182
mean: 5.879
median: 5.676
ROOT: 2.727
low: 1.58
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 103.622
Forward PE/G -0.55
Forward P/S 4.708
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage 1433.174
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.239
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ -0.308 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY 12.017 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.259
ROOT: 0.239
mean: 0.112
median: 0.087
low: 0.008
 Receivables Turnover 0.829
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ 4.96 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY 17.431 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 1.703
ROOT: 0.829
mean: 0.718
median: 0.604
low: 0.073
 Inventory Turnover —
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ —
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY —
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA —
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 110.029
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC) 110.029
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ -4.726 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY —
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA high: 438.402
mean: 120.324
ROOT: 110.029
median: 80.405
low: 33.334
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio —
 CapEx To Revenue -0.011
 CapEx To Depreciation -1.355
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital $ 484.6 M
 Net Invested Capital $ 484.6 M
 Invested Capital $ 484.6 M
 Net Tangible Assets $ 256.7 M
 Net Working Capital —
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio —
 Current Ratio —
Current Ratio QoQ —
Current Ratio YoY —
Current Ratio IPRWA —
 Quick Ratio —
Quick Ratio QoQ —
Quick Ratio YoY —
Quick Ratio IPRWA —
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA —
 Cost Of Debt 2.011 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio 2.059
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ 3537.491 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY -48.355 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA high: 143.716
mean: 38.733
median: 37.5
ROOT: 2.059
low: -0.995
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio —
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) —
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio —
 Dividend Payout Ratio —
 Dividend Rate —
 Dividend Yield —
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate 1.954 %
 Revenue Growth 2.372 %
Revenue Growth QoQ 85.313 %
Revenue Growth YoY -65.468 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: 21.706 %
mean: 3.731 %
ROOT: 2.372 %
median: 2.216 %
low: -20.344 %
 Earnings Growth -188.571 %
Earnings Growth QoQ 47.734 %
Earnings Growth YoY 4991.01 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA high: 59.559 %
median: 5.18 %
mean: 4.784 %
low: -43.137 %
ROOT: -188.571 %
MARGINS
 Gross Margin —
Gross Margin QoQ —
Gross Margin YoY —
Gross Margin IPRWA —
 EBIT Margin 2.645 %
EBIT Margin QoQ 3335.065 %
EBIT Margin YoY -70.709 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 58.862 %
mean: 20.891 %
median: 16.497 %
ROOT: 2.645 %
low: -17.243 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) —
Return On Sales QoQ —
Return On Sales YoY —
Return On Sales IPRWA —
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) $ 65.9 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield 6.087 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ 60.1 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY 30.371 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA high: 13.218 %
ROOT: 6.087 %
mean: 3.49 %
median: 3.288 %
low: -1.478 %
 Free Cash Growth 22.719 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ 91.318 %
Free Cash Growth YoY -40.011 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 101.01 %
ROOT: 22.719 %
mean: -31.972 %
median: -36.48 %
low: -205.847 %
 Free Cash To Net Income 12.434
 Cash Flow Margin 11.738 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings 8.792
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added $ 0.04
 Return On Assets (ROA) 0.32 %
Return On Assets QoQ -195.808 %
Return On Assets YoY -77.87 %
Return On Assets IPRWA high: 4.006 %
mean: 1.758 %
median: 1.737 %
ROOT: 0.32 %
low: -1.129 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) —
 Return On Equity (ROE) 0.019
Return On Equity QoQ -191.462 %
Return On Equity YoY -82.819 %
Return On Equity IPRWA high: 0.134
median: 0.076
mean: 0.069
ROOT: 0.019
low: -0.041
 DuPont ROE 1.93 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) 1.712 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ 3256.863 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY -140.977 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA high: 11.649 %
median: 6.141 %
mean: 5.981 %
ROOT: 1.712 %
low: -2.346 %

Six-Week Outlook

Technicals point to a contested near-term rebound: MACD crossing and a negative MRO suggest upside toward short-term targets, while RSI weakness, a peaked 12‑day EMA, and price below key moving averages curb scope for sustained rallies. Expect elevated volatility and a trading range that tests the lower Bollinger region near $43–$44 on pullbacks and resistance in the $50 area (superTrend upper ~ $50.36 and recent short-term moving averages) on rebounds. Liquidity metrics show reliable cash buffers, but leverage and stretched multiples argue against extended multiple expansion without demonstrable margin improvement. For swing timeframes, anticipate choppy, range-bound price action with outsized intraday moves until consistent fundamental improvement narrows the valuation gap.

About Root, Inc.

Root, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROOT) delivers insurance products and services across the United States. The company provides automobile, homeowners, and renters insurance, leveraging a direct-to-consumer model. Root, Inc. primarily serves its customers through mobile applications and its website, ensuring a streamlined and accessible user experience. The company enhances its reach through various direct distribution channels, including digital platforms, media, and referral networks. Additionally, Root collaborates with distribution partners and agencies to broaden its market presence. Established in 2015, Root, Inc. maintains its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, and continues to innovate in the insurance sector by integrating technology to offer tailored insurance solutions to its clientele.



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