Skip to main content
MNROMonro, Inc.Sell4.1·$17.26+0.23%
MNRO · Why this verdict

Why Monro (MNRO) is rated SELL

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Show full disclosure ▾

About TrendMatrix. TrendMatrix is a publisher of general securities research and market commentary. We publish on a regular schedule. All content is the same for every subscriber in a tier — we do not provide personalized investment advice and we do not take into account any individual subscriber's financial situation, investment objectives, risk tolerance, tax situation, or holdings.

Not investment advice. TrendMatrix is not a registered investment adviser. Our content is for informational and educational purposes only. Consult your own licensed investment adviser, broker, or tax professional before making any investment decision.

Conflicts and positions. The TrendMatrix editorial team frequently holds personal long-term positions in securities discussed. We disclose positions held at the time of publication on each piece. We maintain a trading-window policy: we do not initiate or close positions in the same direction as a TrendMatrix publication within 24 hours before or 72 hours after publication.

No paid promotion. TrendMatrix does not accept payment from any issuer, broker, or third party in exchange for coverage of any security. Our sole compensation is subscription revenue.

No fiduciary duty. No fiduciary, advisory, or agency relationship is created between you and TrendMatrix by reading our content or subscribing to our service.

Performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Performance figures reflect the published model only and do not reflect any individual subscriber's actual results.

Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictSELL
Overall score4.1/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL

Thesis pillars

Quality is scored 3.1, below the engine's 4.0 floor, despite excellent cash conversion of 1000% FCF-to-net-income.

Stable
Quality breakdown
Expectation
The overall quality score should cross above 4.0 as moat and margin components strengthen alongside the strong cash conversion.

CounterA cash-conversion ratio this extreme, at 1000%, can reflect one-time working-capital effects rather than a durable, repeatable pattern.

The V9 asymmetry gate failed narrowly at a 1.03 ratio versus the 1.5 threshold, with modeled upside of 15.4% close to the modeled 15% downside.

Stable
Engine gate (failed)
Expectation
The asymmetry ratio should rise above 1.5 as the upcoming earnings catalyst resolves favorably.

CounterA ratio this close to the threshold, at 1.03 versus 1.5, suggests the setup is nearly balanced rather than genuinely unfavorable.

The engine flags an upcoming earnings catalyst in 25 days, building on a 3-of-4 beat streak, as the primary identified trading edge.

Stable
Edge rationale
Expectation
The company should extend its beat streak to at least 3 of the next 4 quarters at the upcoming earnings report.

CounterThe single miss in the streak, at -196.3% surprise, was also the most recent quarter, which could signal the beat pattern is breaking down heading into the catalyst.

Revenue is declining at -7% as flagged in the growth dimension, pressuring the overall growth score to just 0.7.

Stable
Growth breakdown
Expectation
Revenue growth should turn positive as store traffic or same-store sales trends recover.

CounterStrong recent earnings beats suggest cost control and margin management are offsetting the top-line revenue decline.

Short interest is elevated at 28% of float, contributing to the risk profile alongside high implied volatility of 95%.

Stable
Risk breakdown
Expectation
Short interest should decline from 28% as the quality and growth concerns are resolved or priced in.

CounterHigh short interest combined with rising OBV volume accumulation and an approaching earnings catalyst could set up a short-covering rally.

TrendMatrix Research · core thesis

Engine thesis — one sentence

MNRO screens with excellent cash conversion and an earnings catalyst backed by a 3-of-4 beat streak, but quality sits below the engine's floor, the asymmetry gate narrowly failed, revenue is declining, and short interest is elevated.

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

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

6.2/10data confidence 83%
ComponentSub-score
P/S10.0
EV/EBITDA5.8
Fwd P/E4.4
PEG3.1
Analyst target7.5
  • Forward P/E: 27.8x
  • PEG: 3.96

Quality

3.1/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE0.1
ROA0.9
Gross margin3.0
Op margin2.2
Net margin0.1
Current ratio1.8
FCF quality10.0
Moat3.9
Piotroski F5.6
  • Excellent cash conversion: 1000% FCF/NI
  • No competitive moat

Growth

0.7/10data confidence 33%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth0.7
  • Declining revenue: -7%

Momentum

6.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI3.8
MACD10.0
OBV10.0
MA position7.2
Volume0.0
  • Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
  • Below 200-MA but MA still rising (+0.2%/30d) — pullback in uptrend, not confirmed weakness

Sentiment

6.3/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
Analyst rating5.0
Price target8.9
erm sentiment5.0
  • Analyst upside: 35%

Insider

5.0/10data confidence 50%
ComponentSub-score
materiality5.0
holder change5.0
  • No net insider activity — $0 (0.000% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

2.5/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank6.8
quality rank1.9
growth rank1.1

Technical

2.6/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger1.9
support resistance1.1
52w position4.9

Risk (lower is worse)

4.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest0.0
days to cover5.3
volatility2.1
put call8.8
implied vol0.0
max pain risk7.0
beta6.9
debt equity6.1
  • High short interest: 28%
  • High IV: 89%
  • Concentration risks: 1 HIGH, 1 MED (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)

Catalyst

4.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history6.7
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg0.0
dividend safety5.2
  • Strong earnings: 3B/1M
  • Dividend: 650.0%

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Quality below minimum threshold.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L1:HARD_BLOCK
Passed (7)
  • MOMENTUM:6.2>=5.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • 8K:CLEAN
  • NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:24d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
  • ASYMMETRY:1.0<1.5@spot
Warning (0)

none

Reward-to-Risk
1.01
Upside
+15.1%
Downside
15.0%
Sizing output
AVOID

Setup No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed

EdgeCatalyst-Driven Earnings in 24d with 3/4 beat streak

SuitabilityAggressive MCap $0.5B<$5B

Investment implication

The L1 gate blocked the positive-verdict path: a hard-floor threshold was breached, so dimensional pillars — including Sentiment at 6.3 could not lift the engine output above the verdict floor. Failed gate signal: ASYMMETRY:1.0<1.5@spot.

The strongest dimensions are Sentiment at 6.3, Value at 6.2, and Momentum at 6.2; the weakest are Growth at 0.7, Peer rank at 2.5, and Technical at 2.6. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of 1.01 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

What would invalidate the thesis

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

  • P1Quality Below Floor Despite Cash Conversion

    Trip ifQuality score rises above 4.0, clearing the engine's quality floor.

  • P2Asymmetry Gate Near Miss

    Trip ifAsymmetry ratio exceeds 1.5, clearing the V9 gate that currently fails at 1.03.

  • P3Earnings Catalyst With Beat Streak

    Trip ifEarnings beat rate falls below 2 of the next 4 reported quarters, including the upcoming report.

  • P4Declining Revenue Growth

    Trip ifRevenue growth turns positive and exceeds 0% YoY for 2 consecutive quarters.

  • P5Elevated Short Interest

    Trip ifShort interest falls below 15% of float, well off the current 28% reading.

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

Home Stocks MNRO Why this verdict