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LPXLouisiana-Pacific CorporationSell5.4·$76.97
LPX · Why this verdict

Why Louisiana-Pacific (LPX) is rated SELL

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results. How we score · Editorial policy

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Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictSELL
Overall score5.4/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL

Thesis pillars

Revenue is shrinking: the data shows a 12% decline, which leaves growth ranked at the bottom of its industry peers.

↑Improving
Growth breakdown
Expectation
Revenue should return to flat or positive year-over-year growth for the thesis of decline to fail within 12 months.

CounterBuilding-product demand is cyclical, and a trough in housing activity could produce a sharp rebound in volumes and pricing.

Earnings quality is a red flag: free cash flow is -178% of net income, and the business has no competitive moat, putting overall quality at 3.1 out of 10.

↑Improving
Quality breakdown
Expectation
Free cash flow conversion should stay weak unless capital spending or working capital normalizes.

CounterA strong Piotroski F-Score of 7/9 and conservative debt levels suggest the balance sheet can absorb the cash drag.

The price of $73.76 is only 3.5% below the $76.37 analyst target, against 15.0% downside to the stop, a reward-to-risk of 0.24.

↓Deteriorating
Upside pct
Expectation
Without higher analyst targets or an earnings rebound, upside to the target should remain in low single digits.

CounterAn earnings recovery from a depressed base could drive upward target revisions quickly.

Earnings results are inconsistent: 2 beats and 2 misses over the last four quarters, with the latest EPS of 0.40 missing the 0.57 estimate.

↑Improving
Earnings
Expectation
EPS should reach or exceed estimates in the November 3 report for confidence to improve.

CounterThe average surprise was strongly positive (about 98%) because estimates were very low, which suggests expectations have already been reset.

The recent price rise looks like an overbought rally within a downtrend: RSI is 77 and the price is below a 200-day average sloping down 2.9% over 30 days.

Tripped↑Improving
Momentum breakdown
Expectation
The price should pull back unless it reclaims the 200-day average on rising volume.

CounterRising on-balance volume and an improving MACD indicate real accumulation that could turn the recovery into a durable trend.

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

5.0/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
P/E0.9
P/S8.8
EV/EBITDA0.0
Fwd P/E4.6
PEG10.0
Analyst target4.0
  • ▸Forward P/E: 26.8x
  • ▸PEG: 0.18

Quality

3.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE1.3
ROA1.7
Gross margin0.0
Op margin1.7
Net margin1.4
Current ratio9.2
FCF quality0.8
Moat5.2
Piotroski F8.9
  • ▸Earnings quality RED FLAG: 10% FCF/NI
  • ▸No competitive moat
  • ▸Strong Piotroski F-Score: 8/9

Growth

6.8/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth3.6
EPS growth10.0

Momentum

7.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI5.0
MACD10.0
OBV10.0
MA position8.0
Volume4.7
  • ▸Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
  • ▸Above 200-MA but MA slope flat

Sentiment

6.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
LLM sentiment5.3
Analyst rating7.2
Price target7.0

Insider

6.3/10data confidence 75%
ComponentSub-score
materiality5.0
holder change6.8
notable moves7.0
  • ▸No net insider activity — $0 (0.000% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

4.0/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank2.7
quality rank2.0
growth rank2.3
  • ▸Conservative debt levels

Technical

3.0/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger1.4
support resistance2.0
52w position5.5

Risk (lower is worse)

5.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest3.5
days to cover2.6
volatility2.0
put call10.0
implied vol3.7
beta4.4
debt equity9.2
news risk6.0
  • ▸Concentration risks: 2 MED (10-K Item 1A)

Catalyst

6.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history6.7
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg10.0
dividend safety4.0
news activity8.0
  • ▸Strong earnings: 3B/1M
  • ▸Yield trap warning: high yield but unsafe

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Quality below minimum threshold.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L1:HARD_BLOCK:QUALITY_FLOOR
Passed (5)
  • MOMENTUM:7.5>=5.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:102d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
  • ASYMMETRY:-0.0=NEGATIVE
Warning (2)
  • DEATH_CROSS:momentum=7.5>=5.0 recovering
  • 8K_CSUITE_CHANGE:5.02 (officer departure/appointment)
Reward-to-Risk
-0.03
Upside
-0.5%
Downside
15.0%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupMomentum Cont — Trend continuation, RSI 64, MACD bullish

EdgeNo clear edge — No clear edge identified

SuitabilityAggressive — Beta 1.69>1.3

Investment implication

The SELL_IF_HOLDING verdict reflects the ASYMMETRY gate's -0.0=NEGATIVE outcome against Momentum at 7.5 and asymmetric R:R of -0.03.

The strongest dimensions are Momentum at 7.5, Growth at 6.8, and Sentiment at 6.5; the weakest are Technical at 3.0, Quality at 3.4, and Peer rank at 4.0. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate with 2 warnings, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of -0.03 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

What would invalidate the thesis

Falsifying conditions — when triggered, the corresponding pillar's thesis is invalidated.

  • P1Declining Revenue

    Trip ifYear-over-year revenue growth rises above 0% for 2 consecutive quarters.

  • P2Poor Cash Conversion

    Trip ifFree cash flow to net income rises above 50% from the current -178%.

  • P3Thin Upside To Target

    Trip ifUpside to the analyst target rises above 15% from the current 3.5%.

  • P4Mixed Earnings Record

    Trip ifEPS surprise exceeds 0% for 2 consecutive quarters.

  • P5Overbought Bear RallyTripped

    Trip ifPrice crosses above its 200-day average with RSI staying below 70.

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

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