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LGNDLigand Pharmaceuticals IncorporBuy Wait6.1·$237.00+0.46%
LGND · Why this verdict

Why Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorpor (LGND) is rated BUY WAIT

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

VerdictBUY WAIT
Overall score6.1/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroRISK_OFF

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

4.8/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
P/E4.2
P/S0.0
EV/EBITDA0.0
Fwd P/E6.2
PEG10.0
Analyst target5.0
  • Forward P/E: 20.9x
  • PEG: 0.44

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

7.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI4.2
MACD10.0
OBV10.0
MA position9.0
Volume2.7
  • Overbought (RSI 75)
  • Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
  • Above 200-day MA

Sentiment

7.1/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
Analyst rating8.2
Price target7.4
erm sentiment5.0
  • Light analyst coverage (10.0) — signal dampened

Insider

3.4/10data confidence 75%
ComponentSub-score
materiality3.0
insider conviction2.0
holder change5.1
  • Notable insider selling — $4,851,313 (0.102% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

4.2/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank3.6
quality rank9.0
growth rank4.5
  • Superior ROE vs peers
  • Best-in-class margins

Technical

4.1/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger2.0
support resistance1.1
52w position9.2

Risk (lower is worse)

6.0/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest5.5
days to cover3.2
volatility4.9
put call10.0
implied vol3.4
beta6.8
debt equity8.2
  • 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

Growth is cheap relative to earnings, but the technical setup has not yet produced a breakout above resistance (PEG 0.44, quality 7.7/10, growth 8.0/10).

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L4:PATH_C2_GARP_WAIT|ENTRY_STICKY:PRIOR_STILL_VIABLE
Passed (6)
  • MOMENTUM:7.2>=5.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:60d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
  • ASYMMETRY:0.1<1.5@spot
Warning (1)
  • 8K_FLAG:1.02
Reward-to-Risk
0.14
Upside
+1.9%
Downside
13.4%
Sizing output
STARTER

SetupUNKNOWN No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed

EdgeNO_EDGE No clear edge identified

SuitabilityAGGRESSIVE MCap $4.7B<$5B

Investment implication

The C-path quality+growth combination triggered the STRONG_BUY_WAIT verdict: quality 7.7 and growth 8.0 both clear their thresholds, with asymmetric R:R of 0.14 supporting the read.

The strongest dimensions are Growth at 8.0, Quality at 7.7, and Momentum at 7.2; the weakest are Insider at 3.4, Technical at 4.1, and Peer rank at 4.2. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of 0.14 and an engine sizing output of STARTER.

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

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