Stock fact sheet · data as of
Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (PLRX): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Healthcare · Biotechnology · United States · Speculative / Distressed
Is PLRX undervalued?
At 0.8839 (close of 16 Oct 2026), PLRX trades 226% over the GLS average fair value of 0.2713, 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.
Only 1 of the nine models produced a value (DCF); the others need a dividend, positive free cash flow or positive book value the company does not have yet, so the average rests on a narrow base.
The nightly engine files PLRX 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 PLRX
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 | 0.2713 | -69% | 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) | 2.46 | +178% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 25.86 | +2826% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
Financial health is weak: PLRX 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 1.2 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 -71.0%, ROE -82.4%, ROA -66.3% - with debt at 0.16 times equity and negative free cash flow.
Pliant 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.
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 1/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 2 / 9 | ROIC | -71.0% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 1.2 / 10 | ROE | -82.4% |
| Debt / equity | 0.16 | ROA | -66.3% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | -129.5% | Payout ratio | 0% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 1 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 23: Weak
PLRX scores 23 out of 100 on the Wheel Score, in the Weak band (under 50). Value 0/25, Health 4/20, Moat 2/15, Premium 5/20, Stability 12/20. The score is not a judgement on the company; it says the price, quality and premium do not line up for selling puts on it today.
Implied volatility is 217%, 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 3,477 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 989k shares a day on a market cap of $55M, with a beta of 1.28 - 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 12 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 0 / 25 | -226% margin of safety | |
| Health | 4 / 20 | Piotroski 2/9 | |
| Moat | 2 / 15 | moat 1.2/10 | |
| Premium | 5 / 20 | implied volatility 217% | |
| Stability | 12 / 20 | 989k shares/day, $55M cap, beta 1.28 |
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 5 Nov 2026, 20 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 Pliant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONCY Oncolytics Biotech Inc. | 0.5476 | 0.0200 | -2639% | 17No options | $55M |
| GOSS Gossamer Bio, Inc. | 8.89 | 119.65 | +93% | 43Weak | $54M |
| GUTS Fractyl Health, Inc. | 4.16 | 1.44 | -188% | 7No options | $55M |
| BOLD Boundless Bio, Inc. | 2.35 | - | - | 26No options | $53M |
| ALPS Alps Group Inc | 0.3390 | 0.0967 | -251% | 15No options | $56M |
| GANX Gain Therapeutics, Inc. | 1.33 | 0.6092 | -118% | 37Weak | $57M |
| CNTB Connect Biopharma Holdings Limited | 0.9062 | 0.6535 | -39% | 19Weak | $57M |
| NDTP NDT Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 0.3210 | 0.0000 | -2863694% | 15No options | $51M |
| XLO Xilio Therapeutics, Inc. | 8.90 | 298.80 | +97% | 39No options | $59M |
| INKT MiNK Therapeutics, Inc. | 9.94 | 1.17 | -753% | 12No options | $51M |
| NMAD NOMAD Power Solutions, Inc. | 4.09 | 0.8270 | -395% | 14Weak | $51M |
| RNXT RenovoRx, Inc. | 1.12 | 0.8497 | -32% | 19No options | $51M |
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about PLRX
Is PLRX undervalued right now?
No: at 0.8839 the stock trades 226% above the GLS average fair value of 0.2713 (data as of 16 Oct 2026), well beyond what trailing earnings, cash flow and book value support.
What is the Wheel Score of PLRX and what does it mean?
PLRX scores 23 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 PLRX?
0.2713 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 Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 5 Nov 2026, 20 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does PLRX have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 38 listed contracts with 3,477 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 217% 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.