Stock fact sheet · data as of
HCW Biologics Inc. (HCWB): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Healthcare · Biotechnology · United States · Speculative / Distressed
Is HCWB undervalued?
HCW Biologics Inc. (HCWB) closed at 1.23 on 16 Oct 2026. None of the nine GLS valuation models produced a positive value for the stock - the company lost money over the last twelve months, EPS -14.08, it pays no dividend and its debts exceed what its assets would fetch - so there is no GLS average fair value and no margin of safety to report. The quality, option and event numbers below still apply; the Quote page's Wall Street View shows what analysts expect instead.
The nightly engine files HCWB under Speculative / Distressed - negative earnings or a Piotroski score of 3 or less - which caps its Wheel Score at 45 and keeps it out of the Sunday Scan.
Nine valuation models for HCWB
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | - | - | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital; no value tonight |
| Graham Number | - | - | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share; no value tonight |
| Graham Growth | - | - | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields; no value tonight |
| Lynch | - | - | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25%; no value tonight |
| GLS Growth | - | - | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year; no value tonight |
| 10 Cap | - | - | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10%; no value tonight |
| Payback Time | - | - | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself; no value tonight |
| DDM | - | - | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend; no value tonight |
| EPV | - | - | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth; no value tonight |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -56.01 | -4654% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 0.0000 | -100% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
Financial health is weak: HCWB passes 2 of the nine Piotroski tests. Our screens drop the stock at the health rule; a low score is often the reason a stock looks cheap on the valuation models. The GLS Moat score is low at 1.8 out of 10, which says the ten-year record of revenue, earnings, margins and returns on capital has been inconsistent - growth and shocks rather than steady compounding.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC -83.1%, ROE -287.9%, ROA -32.5% - with debt at 2.46 times equity and negative free cash flow. Debt of 2.46 times equity is on the high side for the sector and is worth checking against the cash flow before treating the stock as a long-term hold.
HCW Biologics Inc. pays no dividend, so the DDM model does not apply and a covered-call holder earns only the premium and any price gain. Revenue comes mainly from Service 100% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 3/10, insider activity 10/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 2 / 9 | ROIC | -83.1% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 1.8 / 10 | ROE | -287.9% |
| Debt / equity | 2.46 | ROA | -32.5% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | -2838.4% | Payout ratio | 0% |
| Institutions | 3 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 10 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 22: No options
HCWB has no listed options in the nightly snapshot, so there is nothing to sell and the stock cannot be wheeled however good the business; the Wheel Score is capped at 39 and shown as "No options" (22 here). The valuation and quality numbers still apply to owning the shares outright.
Volume runs at 49k shares a day on a market cap of $428K, with a beta of 2.42 - a high beta, so the stock tends to move more than the market and a strike can be gapped through; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 2 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 13 / 25 | 0% margin of safety | |
| Health | 4 / 20 | Piotroski 2/9 | |
| Moat | 3 / 15 | moat 1.8/10 | |
| Premium | 0 / 20 | no option data | |
| Stability | 2 / 20 | 49k shares/day, $0M cap, beta 2.42 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
The next earnings report is due on 12 Nov 2026, 27 days away; a 30-45-day put sold today would expire after it, which is worth weighing against the premium.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Biotechnology
The 12 companies below are the closest to HCW Biologics Inc. by market cap within the Biotechnology industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCNI Scinai Immunotherapeutics Ltd. | 0.8800 | 98.61 | +99% | 39No options | $455K |
| LYRA Lyra Therapeutics, Inc. | 0.1900 | - | - | 28No options | $337K |
| BDRX Biodexa Pharmaceuticals Plc | 0.4314 | 515.53 | +100% | 39No options | $322K |
| BCTXZ BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. Warrant | 0.1565 | 19.13 | +99% | 37No options | $295K |
| DCOY Decoy Therapeutics Inc. | 1.23 | 20.43 | +94% | 37No options | $654K |
| HXBM Helix BioMedix, Inc. | 3.29 | - | - | 22No options | $739K |
| CDT CDT Equity Inc. | 0.2090 | 5,315.64 | +100% | 39No options | $235K |
| PPCB Propanc Biopharma, Inc. | 0.3657 | 0.2233 | -64% | 13No options | $833K |
| AMPE Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 0.1831 | 4.89 | +96% | 33No options | $208K |
| CRIS Curis, Inc. | 0.5080 | - | - | 20No options | $991K |
| NIKI Niki BioSolutions, Inc. | 2.22 | 0.1355 | -1538% | 10No options | $181K |
| MTNB Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. | 2.42 | 6.45 | +62% | 33No options | $1M |
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about HCWB
Is HCWB undervalued right now?
The GLS models could not value HCWB (the company lost money over the last twelve months, EPS -14.08, it pays no dividend and its debts exceed what its assets would fetch), so there is no fair value or margin of safety to compare the price of 1.23 against.
What is the Wheel Score of HCWB and what does it mean?
HCWB has no listed options in our nightly snapshot, so it cannot be wheeled; its Wheel Score is capped at 39 and shown as "No options".
What is the GLS fair value for HCWB?
None of the nine GLS models produced a positive value for HCWB (the company lost money over the last twelve months, EPS -14.08, it pays no dividend and its debts exceed what its assets would fetch), so there is no GLS fair value tonight.
When does HCW Biologics Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 12 Nov 2026, 27 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does HCWB have listed options, and how liquid are they?
No. The nightly options snapshot found no listed contracts on HCWB, so the wheel strategy cannot be run on it and the Wheel Score is capped at 39.