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MBUUMalibu Boats, Inc.Sell4.7·$27.39-3.56%
MBUU · Why this verdict

Why Malibu Boats (MBUU) is rated SELL

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

VerdictSELL
Overall score4.7/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL
TrendMatrix Research · core thesis

Engine thesis — one sentence

Malibu Boats screens cheap on a growth-adjusted basis with meaningful analyst-implied upside, but a confirmed technical downtrend, an extreme put/call ratio, and an inconsistent earnings record keep the engine's quality-floor exit signal active.

Falsifiable statement — pillar-level invalidators below. Engine-derived; not personalized advice.

Thesis pillars

Malibu Boats trades at a forward P/E of 10.0x with a PEG ratio of 0.20, screening as attractively valued relative to expected growth.

Stable
Valuation breakdown
Expectation
Forward P/E should stay contained while the stock re-rates toward its analyst-implied upside.

CounterQuality score sits well below the engine's 4.0 floor, and the cheap multiple may reflect a genuine deterioration in the business rather than mispricing.

The stock is trading below its 200-day moving average in a confirmed downtrend, and has also triggered the engine's death-cross hard block.

Deteriorating
Momentum breakdown
Expectation
Price should reclaim its 200-day moving average and the moving-average slope should turn positive.

CounterRecreational-vehicle stocks are cyclical and can bottom sharply once consumer discretionary spending data troughs, making current technical weakness a lagging signal.

The put/call ratio has spiked to an extreme 13.84, indicating heavy hedging or bearish positioning in the options market.

Improving
Options
Expectation
The put/call ratio should normalize toward more typical levels.

CounterExtreme put/call readings at small-cap names with thin options volume can be driven by a handful of large trades rather than reflecting broad market sentiment.

Malibu Boats has missed EPS estimates in 2 of its last 4 quarters, with an average surprise of about -20.7%, reflecting inconsistent execution.

Stable
Earnings
Expectation
EPS surprise should turn positive for 2 consecutive quarters.

CounterLight analyst coverage means individual estimate misses may carry outsized noise relative to more heavily covered peers.

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

7.9/10data confidence 83%
ComponentSub-score
P/S9.9
EV/EBITDA4.6
Fwd P/E9.1
PEG10.0
Analyst target6.0
  • Forward P/E: 11.2x
  • PEG: 0.22
  • Attractively valued

Quality

2.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE0.0
ROA0.7
Gross margin0.0
Op margin1.8
Net margin0.0
Current ratio4.9
Moat3.9
Piotroski F6.7
  • No competitive moat
  • Quality concerns

Growth

3.3/10data confidence 33%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth3.3

Momentum

5.7/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI3.5
MACD9.2
OBV10.0
MA position6.0
Volume0.0
  • Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
  • Below 200-MA, MA slope -3.3%/30d — confirmed downtrend

Sentiment

6.1/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
Analyst rating5.0
Price target8.5
erm sentiment5.0
  • Analyst upside: 29%

Insider

3.9/10data confidence 75%
ComponentSub-score
materiality5.0
holder change3.7
notable moves3.0
  • No net insider activity — $0 (0.000% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

4.4/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank3.0
quality rank2.0
growth rank5.0

Technical

4.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger4.7
support resistance4.2
52w position3.8

Risk (lower is worse)

5.1/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest6.5
days to cover6.3
volatility2.3
put call0.0
implied vol3.4
max pain risk7.0
beta6.4
debt equity8.6
  • Elevated put/call: 5.41
  • Concentration risks: 1 HIGH, 2 MED (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)

Catalyst

3.3/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history3.3
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg0.0
  • Earnings concerns: 2B/2M

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Quality below minimum threshold.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L1:HARD_BLOCK:QUALITY_FLOOR
Passed (7)
  • MOMENTUM:5.7>=5.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • 8K:CLEAN
  • NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:35d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
  • ASYMMETRY:1.1<1.5@spot
Warning (1)
  • DEATH_CROSS:momentum=5.7>=5.0 recovering
Reward-to-Risk
1.09
Upside
+12.4%
Downside
11.3%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupRecovery Death cross but MACD improving, RSI 65

EdgeInst Constrain Small cap ($0.6B) below institutional reach

SuitabilityAggressive MCap $0.6B<$5B

Investment implication

The SELL_IF_HOLDING verdict reflects the ASYMMETRY gate's 1.1<1.5@spot outcome against Value at 7.9 and asymmetric R:R of 1.09.

The strongest dimensions are Value at 7.9, Sentiment at 6.1, and Momentum at 5.7; the weakest are Quality at 2.2, Catalyst at 3.3, and Growth at 3.3. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of 1.09 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

What would invalidate the thesis

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

  • P1Cheap Growth Adjusted Valuation

    Trip ifForward P/E falls below 7x from the current 10.0x.

  • P2Confirmed Technical Downtrend

    Trip ifPrice rises back above its 200-day moving average, reversing the current confirmed downtrend.

  • P3Extreme Put Call Positioning

    Trip ifPut/call ratio falls below 3.0 from the current 13.84.

  • P4Earnings Inconsistency

    Trip ifEPS surprise rises above 0% for 2 consecutive quarters, reversing the recent miss pattern.

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

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