The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with ethical screening pending. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C. Technically it is holding around 30% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are up 5%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 28%. The street (2 analysts) rates it none, with a mean price target of $104.
Mesa Laboratories, Inc. MLAB
Clears the common standardAn entry written while the outcome is still unknown. It will be scored by what the market does next, and it will never be edited to look cleverer than it was.
read at $97.94
Mesa Laboratories, Inc. holds its Distribution at $97.94.
- PHPhase · the trend structure carries the Distribution label
- INInsiders · no filings inside 60 days, left as found
- POPositioning · no disclosures inside 60 days, left as found
- OPOptions · no verdict drawn today, left as found
- SCScreen · passes the values gate
- edge confirmed
- edge broken
- edge forming
Each arm is one independent read. Conviction is not a single call, it is how many edges converge.
The investor read · the season, not the day
| Phase | Distribution · caution |
| Quantitative state | The statistical read favours the sellers, held for 33 days |
| Price | $97.94 |
| Valuation | 80.94 trailing · 7.98 forward price to earnings |
| Values screen | PASS |
| Beta | 0.93 |
The opportunity · what the numbers say it is worth
Price history & projections · where it has been, where the models see it going
The valuation journey · where the price sits against fair value and the Street
Green marks levels above today's price, red below; the shaded band is the gap between the price and our fair value.
Reading the gap · Both our model and the analysts see meaningful upside from here.
| Revenue growth | 2.60% |
| Profit margin | 2.69% |
| Debt to equity | 90.65 |
| Analyst consensus | None · 2 covering |
Fair value and rating are our own model estimates; target range reflects third-party analyst estimates. Analysis, not advice.
The values screen, explained · five checks, plain English
It depends which standard you follow. There are two widely recognised ways to check whether a company is suitable for a Muslim investor, and on this company they disagree. Here is how it did on each:
Used by most halal investing apps ✗ DOES NOT PASS
The one Titan applies ✓ PASSES
Why the two disagree. They fall out over one thing only: the company’s debt. Our stricter standard measures that debt against what the company owns, and it works out too high to pass. The common standard measures the same debt against what the company is worth on the stock market, where it works out low enough to pass. Every other check, the two agree on. So in practice, most halal apps would treat this as fine to hold, while our stricter view would not — and which line you follow is between you and your scholar.
What these two standards are, and how they differ →
- Business activity Its core business isn't built on prohibited lines — no gambling, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, or interest-based lending. Pass
- Debt load Interest-bearing debt is just 28.4% of its assets, well under the one-third ceiling — it does not run on borrowed money. Against market value it is 31.4%, under the 30% line the market-value standard uses — so that standard clears it. Divergent
- Interest-bearing cash Cash held in interest-bearing accounts and securities is 5.1% of assets, under the one-third limit. Pass
- Receivables Money owed to the company is 0.0% of assets, under the 49% limit. Pass
- Revenue purity Only 0.0% of revenue comes from non-compliant sources — under the 5% line. Pass
Every security is read against two recognised standards: our stricter asset-based screen (ratios measured against total assets) and the more widely used market-value standard (measured against market capitalisation). Where they agree we say so plainly; where they part ways — almost always on the debt check — we show both readings and mark it, because that disagreement is the finding, not a fault. We report the score; you and your scholar make the call.
The business, in plain words · what the numbers mean
| Forward P/E | 8.0x expensive even after accounting for its growth |
| Trailing P/E | 80.9x expensive — the price assumes strong growth ahead |
| Revenue growth | 2.6% slow but positive growth |
| Profit margin | 2.7% barely profitable |
| Return on equity | 3.9% a modest return on shareholder capital |
| Debt to equity | 0.91 moderate, manageable leverage |
| Current ratio | 1.72 healthy short-term liquidity |
| Beta | 0.93 steadier than the market |
| Market cap | $541M |
The risks · The things to watch: it's a small-cap, so the share price can swing harder than the market.
Plain-English interpretation of our own screen data. Analysis, not advice.
Related securities · others in MLAB's space worth a look
Screened names in the same industry · explore each on its own page.
Where & how to trade · wherever in the world you are
MLAB trades on Nasdaq. As a US-listed security it is accessible through almost any international broker offering US markets. New to this, or investing from outside the US? Our guide to accessing global markets covers brokers, currencies and the practical steps.
The trader read · the latest dated commentary
The dated journal · newest first, never edited
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with ethical screening pending. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns.
The framework reads accumulation. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Ethical screening: PASS with ethical screening pending. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns.
Each entry above was written on its date, before the outcome. A journal you can prune is not a journal.
The insider ledger · Form 4 filings, as filed
| Date | Insider | Title | Type | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-10 | TRIPENY R TONY | Director | 1,315 | $99,940 | |
| 2026-03-10 | CAPONE MARK CHRISTOPHER | Director | 1,301 | $99,331 | |
| 2026-03-10 | LADIWALA SHIRAZ SHABANALI | Director | 3,500 | $252,805 | |
| 2025-12-02 | SULLIVAN JOHN JAMES | Director | 2,000 | · | |
| 2025-10-27 | OWENS GARY M | Chief Executive Officer | 11,558 | · | |
| 2025-08-15 | HALL SHANNON | Director | 1,404 | · | |
| 2025-08-15 | LADIWALA SHIRAZ SHABANALI | Director | 1,949 | · | |
| 2025-08-15 | ALLTOFT JENNIFER SADIE | Director | 1,404 | · | |
| 2025-08-15 | SULLIVAN JOHN JAMES | Director | 1,404 | · | |
| 2025-08-15 | TRIPENY R TONY | Director | 1,404 | · |
Public filings, recorded as found. The full tape lives at Insider Intelligence.
What holding actually paid · price plus dividends
| Period | Price then | Price return | Divs per share | $1,000 became | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | $102.73 | +5.5% | $0.16 | $1,057 | +5.7% |
| 2 months | $95.69 | +13.3% | $0.16 | $1,135 | +13.5% |
| 3 months | $77.69 | +39.6% | $0.16 | $1,398 | +39.8% |
| 6 months | $78.35 | +38.4% | $0.32 | $1,388 | +38.8% |
| 1 year | $103.56 | +4.7% | $0.64 | $1,053 | +5.3% |
| 2 years | $98.67 | +9.9% | $1.28 | $1,112 | +11.2% |
| 3 years | $128.61 | -15.7% | $1.92 | $858 | -14.2% |
| 5 years | $257.67 | -57.9% | $3.20 | $433 | -56.7% |
Historical returns from market close data. Past performance does not guarantee future results.