Stock fact sheet · data as of
LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. (LENZ): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Healthcare · Biotechnology · United States · Speculative / Distressed
Is LENZ undervalued?
At 3.57 (close of 16 Oct 2026), LENZ trades 51% over the GLS average fair value of 2.36, with 0 of 1 models above the price. The stock earns none of the Wheel Score's Value points at this price. That is a statement about price against trailing fundamentals, not about the company's prospects - the Wall Street View and the Growth tab on the Quote page carry the forward numbers.
The average is built from just 1 models (DCF) - the rest returned nothing because an input they need (dividends, free cash flow, book value) is zero or negative - so treat it with more caution than usual.
The nightly engine files LENZ 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 LENZ
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 | 2.36 | -34% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| 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) | 8.91 | +150% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 7.00 | +96% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. scores only 2 of 9 on the Piotroski F-score, which fails the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule. A reading this low means several of the basic tests - positive earnings, positive operating cash flow, falling debt, no new share issuance - are not met. A GLS Moat score of 1.8/10 is a weak reading: the ten-year history the score grades (revenue, EPS, book value, margins, cash flow, share count, ROIC) has not been steady, so the Moat part of the Wheel Score contributes little.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC -28.8%, ROE -28.9%, ROA -26.8% - with debt at 0.00 times equity and negative free cash flow.
LENZ Therapeutics, 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 License 68%, Product 32% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 8/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 2 / 9 | ROIC | -28.8% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 1.8 / 10 | ROE | -28.9% |
| Debt / equity | 0.00 | ROA | -26.8% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | -102.0% | Payout ratio | 0% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 8 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 22: Weak
With a Wheel Score of 22 LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. sits in the Weak band. The parts - Value 0/25, Health 4/20, Moat 3/15, Premium 5/20, Stability 10/20 - show where: Value (0/25) scores lowest.
Implied volatility is 213%, far above the range the wheel strategy is built for. The premium looks generous; the Wheel Score gives it only 5 of 20 Premium points because moves of that size can blow through any strike. Chain open interest is 17,700 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 794k shares a day on a market cap of $112M, with a beta of 1.63 - 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 10 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 0 / 25 | -51% margin of safety | |
| Health | 4 / 20 | Piotroski 2/9 | |
| Moat | 3 / 15 | moat 1.8/10 | |
| Premium | 5 / 20 | implied volatility 213% | |
| Stability | 10 / 20 | 794k shares/day, $112M cap, beta 1.63 |
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 4 Nov 2026, 19 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 LENZ Therapeutics, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GNLX Genelux Corporation | 2.48 | - | - | 35Weak | $112M |
| FHTX Foghorn Therapeutics Inc. | 1.89 | - | - | 30Weak | $112M |
| SPRB Spruce Biosciences, Inc. | 38.98 | 61.81 | +37% | 31No options | $112M |
| VXRT Vaxart, Inc. | 0.4600 | 4.86 | +91% | 39No options | $112M |
| CLLS Cellectis S.A. | 1.11 | - | - | 25Weak | $111M |
| PYXS Pyxis Oncology, Inc. | 1.79 | 1.63 | -10% | 33Weak | $113M |
| ENGN enGene Holdings Inc. | 1.71 | 0.2775 | -516% | 24Weak | $115M |
| TNXP Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. | 6.40 | 24.35 | +74% | 45Weak | $110M |
| ARMP Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 3.09 | - | - | 29Weak | $115M |
| SEER Seer, Inc. | 2.08 | - | - | 33Weak | $115M |
| NERV Minerva Neurosciences, Inc. | 2.42 | 1.98 | -22% | 18Weak | $116M |
| VTVT vTv Therapeutics Inc. | 27.52 | 10.43 | -164% | 13No options | $109M |
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about LENZ
Is LENZ undervalued right now?
No: at 3.57 the stock trades 51% above the GLS average fair value of 2.36 (data as of 16 Oct 2026), well beyond what trailing earnings, cash flow and book value support.
What is the Wheel Score of LENZ and what does it mean?
LENZ scores 22 out of 100 (Weak). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for LENZ?
2.36 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 1 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 4 Nov 2026, 19 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does LENZ have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 108 listed contracts with 17,700 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 213% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.