Positioning no disclosures inside 60 days, left as found
Options put/call open interest 0.01, read 2026-10-28
Ethical does not pass the values gate
Price13.25 USD
Fair value13.18
Ethical score70.0/100
Our investment reviews on this name
2026-10-11Read Markup10.62+24.8% to today ✓Markdown gives way to Markup first Markup read since August
2026-10-02Read Markdown10.62+24.8% to today Distribution gives way to Markdown after a 23% slide in 3 weeks
2026-09-10Read Distribution13.75-3.6% to today ✓Markup gives way to Distribution
2026-07-02Read Markup14.13-6.2% to today First review on file: Markup
Our analytic regime reads on this name, dated and marked against the screened price. Small sample per name, and separate from the daily-framework accuracy on the Track Record page.
QuidelOrtho Corporation holds its Markup at $13.25. The statistical read favours the sellers, held for 38 days.
As held on the ledger · 2026-10-30
Phase
Markup
Quantitative state
The statistical read favours the sellers, held for 38 days
Price at the screen
$13.25
Valuation
N/A trailing · 7.36 forward price to earnings
Values screen
FAIL· score 70.0
Beta
0.69
The Workings
Five Screens, Shown in Full
Does not pass. Debt ratio
Test
Figure
Limit
What it means
Status
Business activity
Permissible
Core business clean
Its core business isn't built on prohibited lines: no gambling, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, or interest-based lending.
Pass
Debt load
49.12%
Below 33%
Interest-bearing debt is 49.1% of its assets, above the one-third ceiling the screen allows.
Fail
Interest-bearing cash
0.00%
Below 33%
Cash held in interest-bearing accounts and securities is 0.0% of assets, under the one-third limit.
Pass
Receivables
10.17%
Below 49%
Money owed to the company is 10.2% of assets, under the 49% limit.
Pass
Revenue purity
0.08%
Below 5%
Only 0.1% of revenue comes from non-compliant sources, under the 5% line.
Pass
Five checks adapted from AAOIFI screening standards: business activity plus four balance-sheet ratios. All five must pass for ethical clearance. Every figure is arithmetic on public accounts, not judgement.
The Ethical Read
Why It Falls Short, in Plain English
QuidelOrtho's business is in a permissible area, but its interest-bearing debt is about 49% of the company, well over the ~33% line, so it does not pass on the financial screens.
Read as at 2026-10-31. It updates when the underlying figures move, and past reads are kept below.
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Today QDEL does not pass the screen. If new figures move it to a pass, we send you one short email with the before and after. Verdicts change rarely, so you may not hear from us for a long time.
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Fair value range in USD, drawn from the 2026-10-30 screen. The gold marker is the market price at the same screen. The price runs 0.5% above the base estimate.
Third-party analyst targets: 3 covering, consensus Hold. The average target sits −9% from the screen price.
Reading the gap · Both our model and the Street see limited upside at this price.
Price History & Projections
Where it has been, where the models see it going. History from market close data; projection points are our fair-value estimates and third-party analyst targets, dated to the 2026-10-30 screen.
Fair value and rating are our own model estimates; the Street's range reflects third-party analyst estimates. Analysis, not advice.
The Business, in Plain Words
Lab Tests Deliver Losses Instead Of Steady Profits
Every time a hospital runs routine chemistry panels the results should underpin reliable cash flow, yet QuidelOrtho shows revenue sliding 10 percent while margins sit at minus 46 percent. The forward multiple of 7.1 times looks cheap on the surface, but negative returns on equity of 50 percent and an unknown moat signal that low earnings multiples often flag peak problems rather than bargains in this sector.
We pass because the ethical screen clears yet the operating reality does not. Analyst consensus sits at hold with a median target of 16 dollars, below the current 17.38 dollar price, and our own fair value of 19.06 dollars offers only a slim 10 percent margin that fails to offset the clear deterioration.
Currency moves or reimbursement cuts could worsen the picture quickly, and the absence of any growth runway leaves little room for recovery. Analysis, not advice.
Another profit measure, before interest, tax and non-cash costs: EBITDA.
The risks · The things to watch: it's a small-cap, so the share price can swing harder than the market; it carries a real debt load, which raises the stakes if revenue slips.
Plain-English interpretation of our own screen data. Analysis, not advice.
Where & How to Trade
QDEL trades on Nasdaq. As a listed security it is accessible through almost any international broker offering its home market. New to this, or investing from abroad? Our guide to accessing global markets covers brokers, currencies and the practical steps.
The Dated Journal · Newest First, Never Edited
Every Entry, As Written
2026-11-01Markup$13.25-3.5%Entry 15
The analysis reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved down 3.5% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows negative risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are down 56%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 21%. The street (4 analysts) rates it hold, with a mean price target of $19. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-10-31Markup$13.73+0.0%Entry 14
The analysis reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows negative risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are down 56%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 21%. The street (4 analysts) rates it hold, with a mean price target of $19. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-10-30Markup$13.73+0.0%Entry 13
The analysis reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows negative risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are down 56%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 21%. The street (4 analysts) rates it hold, with a mean price target of $19. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-10-29Markup$13.73-1.0%Entry 12
The analysis reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved down 1.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows negative risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are down 56%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 21%. The street (4 analysts) rates it hold, with a mean price target of $19. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-10-28Markup$13.87+0.0%Entry 11
The analysis reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows negative risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are down 56%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 21%. The street (4 analysts) rates it hold, with a mean price target of $19. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-10-27Markup$13.87+0.0%Entry 10
The analysis reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows negative risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are down 56%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 21%. The street (4 analysts) rates it hold, with a mean price target of $19. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
2026-10-25Markup$13.87+0.0%Entry 9
The analysis reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows negative risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading overbought. Over the past year the shares are down 56%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 21%. The street (4 analysts) rates it hold, with a mean price target of $19.
2026-10-18Markup$13.87+30.6%Entry 8
The analysis reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved up 30.6% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows negative risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are down 56%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 21%. The street (4 analysts) rates it hold, with a mean price target of $19.
2026-10-11Markup · changed$10.62+0.0%Entry 7
The framework has shifted from markdown to markup since the last review. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows negative risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are down 56%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 21%. The street (4 analysts) rates it hold, with a mean price target of $19.
2026-10-02Markdown · changed$10.62-22.8%Entry 6
The framework has shifted from distribution to markdown since the last review. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 22.8% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows negative risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C. Technically it is sitting below its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are down 56%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 21%. The street (4 analysts) rates it hold, with a mean price target of $19. Since the last review it its composite score rose.
Each entry above was written on its date, before the outcome. A journal you can prune is not a journal.