An 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.
In plain words · VSE Corporation engages in providing aviation aftermarket parts distribution and maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for air transportation assets for commercial and government markets.
VERDICT
The label
Markup
read at $199.61
VSE Corporation holds its Markup at $199.61.
PHPhase · the trend structure carries the Markup 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 · does not pass 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.
INVESTOR
The investor read · the season, not the day
As held on the ledger · 2026-07-19
Phase
Markup
Quantitative state
Elevated stress, defensive posture warranted, held for 15 days
Price
$199.61
Valuation
69.07 trailing · 35.13 forward price to earnings
Values screen
FAIL· score 30.0
Beta
1.21
OPPORTUNITY
The opportunity · what the numbers say it is worth
Read at
$199.61
69.07 P/E · 35.13 fwd
Our fair value
$186.82
6% premium
Analyst target (avg)
$260.00
+30% to current
Target low $230.00Analyst target rangeTarget high $280.00
▲ current $199.61 · | average target
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
Current
$199.61
you are here
Conservative
$186.82
-6%
Analyst avg
$260.00
+30%
Our fair value
$186.82
-6%
Analyst high
$280.00
+40%
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 · Our more conservative model reads it as fully-to-richly valued here, while the Street is more bullish — a quality-at-a-fair-price name rather than a deep-value one.
Revenue growth
26.80%
Profit margin
4.21%
Debt to equity
15.11
Analyst consensus
Strong Buy · 9 covering
Fair value and rating are our own model estimates; target range reflects third-party analyst estimates. Analysis, not advice.
SCREEN
The values screen, explained · five checks, plain English
This company is excluded by both standards. There are two widely recognised ways to check whether a company is suitable for a Muslim investor. It fails on both:
The common standard· AAOIFI Used by most halal investing apps✗ DOES NOT PASS
Our stricter standard· asset-based The one Titan applies✗ DOES NOT PASS
Why it fails. The problem is its prohibited business activity: aerospace & defense. Because both standards agree on this, it is a clear exclusion, not a borderline case.
Business activityProhibited business activity: Aerospace & DefenseFail
Debt loadInterest-bearing debt is of its assets, above the one-third ceiling the screen allows.Fail
Interest-bearing cashInterest-bearing cash and securities are of assets, above the one-third limit.Fail
ReceivablesMoney owed to the company is of assets, above the 49% limit.Fail
Revenue purity of revenue comes from non-compliant sources, over the 5% line.Fail
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.
PLAIN
The business, in plain words · what the numbers mean
Aerospace Repair Firm Trips Over Ethics Screen
VSE fixes planes for airlines and governments, keeping fleets in the air across commercial and military routes. Revenue is rising fast at 27 percent, yet the shares sit above our fair value with a negative margin of safety and a forward multiple of 35 times. The business earns thin margins and low returns on equity, leaving little room for error even before valuation is considered.
We pass because the company fails our ethical screen on prohibited aerospace and defence activity. That single breach rules it out regardless of growth numbers or analyst targets. High multiples on modest profitability already look stretched, and defence exposure adds a further layer we will not accept.
The main risks sit in thin profitability, unknown competitive protection, and the usual swings that hit government and airline customers. Currency moves and contract timing can swing results quickly. Analysis, not advice.
Screened names in the same industry · explore each on its own page.
TRADE
Where & how to trade · wherever in the world you are
VSEC 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.
TRADER
The trader read · the latest dated commentary
The framework 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 excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it D, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 3% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 30%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 36%. The street (8 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $253. Entered 2026-07-18 · Markup
JOURNAL
The dated journal · newest first, never edited
2026-07-18Markup$196.13+0.0%Entry 3
The framework 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 excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it D, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 3% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 30%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 36%. The street (8 analysts) rates it strong buy, with a mean price target of $253.
2026-07-03Markup$196.13+0.0%Entry 2
The framework 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 excellent risk-adjusted returns.
2026-07-02Markup$196.13Entry 1
The framework reads markup. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns.
Each entry above was written on its date, before the outcome. A journal you can prune is not a journal.
RETURNS
What holding actually paid · price plus dividends
If $1,000 had been placed · historical, not a promise
Period
Price then
Price return
Divs per share
$1,000 became
Total return
1 month
$191.21
-9.4%
·
$906
-9.4%
2 months
$217.69
-20.5%
$0.10
$796
-20.4%
3 months
$199.79
-13.3%
$0.10
$867
-13.3%
6 months
$173.88
-0.4%
$0.20
$997
-0.3%
1 year
$133.10
+30.1%
$0.40
$1,304
+30.4%
2 years
$83.41
+107.6%
$0.80
$2,086
+108.6%
3 years
$52.37
+230.7%
$1.20
$3,330
+233.0%
5 years
$49.27
+251.5%
$1.98
$3,555
+255.5%
Historical returns from market close data. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
SEALED
This entry now belongs to the ledger. Whatever VSEC does next, these words stay.
VSE Corporation · VSEC · Markup · $199.61
Recorded 2026-07-19 · before the outcome · scored mechanically
