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Azenta, Inc. (AZTA)
NASDAQ:AZTA

Azenta (AZTA) AI Stock Analysis

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AZTA

Azenta

(NASDAQ:AZTA)

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Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:56Neutral
Price Target:
$22.00
▼(-21.93% Downside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/04/26
AZTA scores as a mid-range setup driven by strong financial flexibility (low leverage, substantial cash, and positive recent cash flow) and reaffirmed improvement targets, but weighed down by very weak technical momentum and ongoing profitability/margin pressures. Valuation is also less supportive due to losses (negative P/E) and no dividend yield provided.
Positive Factors
Balance sheet strength
Azenta's extremely low leverage and large equity base provide durable financial flexibility. With substantial liquidity and no meaningful debt, the company can fund capex, strategic M&A, share repurchases, and weather cyclical softness without near-term solvency pressure, supporting multi‑quarter execution.
Recurring, diversified revenue streams
The business mixes capital equipment, recurring consumables, and outsourced Multiomics services, producing resilient revenue drivers. Strong gross margins (~46%) and recent top-line rebound suggest product economics that can support sustainable cash generation if utilization and service volumes normalize.
Strategic portfolio actions and M&A
Targeted M&A (UK Biocentre) expands European biorepository scale and automation capabilities, while the B Medical divestiture simplifies the portfolio and frees capital. These structural moves sharpen focus on core sample management and Multiomics, improving size, margins and long‑term market positioning.
Negative Factors
Sustained unprofitable operations
Although revenue has rebounded, the company remains unprofitable with negative EBIT and roughly -10% net margins. Persistent operating losses and volatile results mean Azenta must convert gross margin and revenue gains into consistent operating leverage to achieve durable profitability and justify growth investments.
Margin headwinds and remediation costs
Material gross margin compression and remediation charges from automated storage quality issues impose recurring execution risk. The $3–$5M remediation and ~360bp gross‑margin decline highlight product reliability and delivery weaknesses that can delay planned adjusted EBITDA expansion and impair cash conversion over multiple quarters.
End‑market and regional demand volatility
North American softness, lab underutilization and structural declines in Sanger sequencing show end‑market sensitivity. Regional and product demand shifts can depress utilization and consumable repeatability, making revenue and margin recovery dependent on variable academic/biopharma budgets and technology transitions.

Azenta (AZTA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Azenta Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAzenta, Inc. provides life science sample exploration and management solutions for the life sciences market in North America, Europe, China, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates through two reportable segments, Life Sciences Products and Life Sciences Services. The Life Sciences Products segment offers automated cold sample management systems for compound and biological sample storage; equipment for sample preparation and handling; consumables; and instruments that help customers in managing samples throughout their research discovery and development workflows. The Life Sciences Services segment provides comprehensive sample management programs, integrated cold chain solutions, informatics, and sample-based laboratory services to advance scientific research and support drug development. This segment's services include sample storage, genomic sequencing, gene synthesis, laboratory processing, laboratory analysis, biospecimen procurement, and other support services. It serves a range of life science customers, including pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, biorepositories, and research institutes. The company was formerly known as Brooks Automation, Inc. and changed its name to Azenta, Inc. in December 2021. Azenta, Inc. was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
How the Company Makes MoneyAzenta makes money primarily by selling life-sciences products and services used to store, manage, process, and analyze biological samples. A key revenue stream comes from its Sample Management Solutions activities, which include (1) selling automated cold-storage and sample handling systems (capital equipment revenue), (2) recurring revenue from consumables used with those systems (e.g., sample tubes, plates, and related labware), and (3) service revenue tied to installation, maintenance, and support of deployed systems. Another major revenue stream comes from its Multiomics and other life-sciences services, where customers pay for outsourced lab services (such as genomic sequencing and related sample/data services). These services typically generate revenue on a per-project or per-sample basis, with repeat business driven by ongoing research programs and long-term customer relationships. If specific material partnerships or contract terms are required for a more granular breakdown, null.

Azenta Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Geography
Revenue by Geography
Chart Insights
Data provided by:The Fly

Azenta Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 04, 2026
(Q1-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 11, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call presents a balanced picture: management reaffirmed full-year guidance, highlighted strong cash, active capital allocation (including a $250M buyback authorization), and clear operational initiatives (ABS, Kaizen, regionalization) that support a planned margin and revenue ramp in the back half. However, near-term results show meaningful margin compression (gross margin down ~360 bps, adjusted EBITDA margin down ~230 bps), automated store quality remediation costs ($3M–$5M), North American softness and a meaningful decline in Sanger sequencing. Given the mix of strategic positives and notable near-term headwinds, the tone is cautiously optimistic but tempered by execution and macro risks.
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Total Revenue and Organic Trend
Total revenue of $149 million for Q1 FY2026, up 1% reported and down ~1% organically with a ~2% foreign exchange headwind.
Strong Cash Position and Capital Authorization
Ended the quarter with $571 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities (up $25 million QoQ), no debt outstanding, and a $250 million share repurchase authorization approved by the Board.
Segment Strengths — Multiomics and Biorepositories
Multiomics revenue $67 million (flat organic), driven by growth in next-generation sequencing and gene synthesis; Sample Management Solutions biorepositories showed solid growth. China delivered strong 26% organic growth in Multiomics.
Profitability and Cash Generation (Non-GAAP)
Non-GAAP EPS of $0.09 and adjusted EBITDA of approximately $13 million (8.5% margin). Free cash flow (including B Medical) was $15 million for the quarter.
Reaffirmed Full-Year Guidance
Management reaffirmed FY2026 targets: 3%–5% organic revenue growth, ~300 basis points of adjusted EBITDA margin expansion, and >30% year-over-year improvement in free cash flow generation.
Operational Improvement Initiatives
Continued deployment of the Azenta Business System (ABS), Kaizen routines, decentralized operating model, and targeted investments in biorepositories, regionalized gene synthesis, automation, and commercialization to drive productivity and margin expansion.
Strategic Portfolio Actions
Definitive agreement to sell B Medical (treated as discontinued operations) expected to close on or before March 31, 2026; recorded a $10 million non-cash loss related to assets held for sale. Management signals active M&A funnel and disciplined capital allocation.
Negative Updates
Gross Margin Compression
Reported gross margin of 44.1% for the quarter, down ~360 basis points year-over-year, driven by underutilized lab capacity (lower North America volumes), regional mix, and rework costs.
Adjusted EBITDA Margin Decline
Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted to 8.5%, down approximately 230 basis points YoY (adjusted EBITDA roughly $13 million), reflecting gross margin pressures and other nonrecurring costs.
Automated Stores Quality Issues and Remediation Cost
Quality issues on automated storage projects (18 stores identified historically, now largely remediated) resulted in higher rework costs; remediation expected to be completed by end of Q2 with a full-year incremental impact estimated at $3 million–$5 million.
Regional and End-Market Softness in North America
North America experienced softness driven by macro-driven budget constraints, underutilized lab capacity and a temporary disruption from the U.S. government shutdown, contributing to lower margins and timing-sensitive bookings.
Sanger Sequencing Decline
Sanger sequencing revenue declined meaningfully year-over-year while next-generation sequencing showed growth, indicating structural pressure in Sanger demand.
Foreign Exchange Headwind and Nonrecurring Charges
Foreign exchange created a ~2% headwind to organic results and the company recorded about $700,000 in nonrecurring inventory adjustment charges during the quarter, plus a $10 million non-cash loss related to assets held for sale.
First Half Lumpy Performance and Uncertainty
Management characterized 2026 as a transitional year with a first-half slowdown and a planned back-half ramp; bookings were impacted by timing shifts, creating uncertainty in near-term cadence (company does not provide quarterly guidance).
Company Guidance
Azenta reaffirmed fiscal 2026 guidance of 3%–5% organic revenue growth and ~300 basis points of adjusted EBITDA margin expansion, forecasting Multiomics to deliver low‑single‑digit growth and Sample Management Solutions mid‑single‑digit growth with acceleration in the second half; the company noted Q1 results of $149M total revenue (up 1% reported, down 1% organic, -2% FX), non‑GAAP EPS $0.09, adjusted EBITDA $13M (8.5% margin, down ~230 bps), gross margin 44.1% (down 360 bps), free cash flow of $15M (including B Medical), cash and marketable securities of $571M (no debt), Q1 capex ~$6M, a $10M non‑cash loss on assets held for sale, and a $3–5M full‑year estimated impact from automated‑stores remediation expected to largely lapse after Q2; management expects the 300 bps of margin expansion to be driven roughly by ~200 bps of gross profit improvement (volume, ABS productivity, pricing) and ~100 bps from OpEx, expects >30% YoY free cash flow improvement, and has a $250M share repurchase authorization.

Azenta Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financials are mixed: a very strong, low-leverage balance sheet (debt-to-equity ~0.03) and currently positive operating/free cash flow support resilience, but profitability remains pressured with negative EBIT and net income and a history of uneven results. Improving TTM revenue growth (+19.1%) and solid gross margin (~46%) help, but the business is still in a prove-it phase on sustainable earnings.
Income Statement
44
Neutral
AZTA shows improving top-line momentum in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), with revenue up 19.1% and a solid gross margin (~46%), indicating good underlying product/service economics. However, profitability remains pressured: EBIT and net income are still negative (net margin about -10%), and results have been volatile over the last few years (including a much deeper loss in 2024). Overall, the revenue rebound and healthy gross margin are positives, but the continued operating losses and inconsistency keep the score below average.
Balance Sheet
86
Very Positive
The balance sheet is a clear strength. Leverage is very low (debt-to-equity around 0.03 in both the latest annual period and TTM), supported by a large equity base relative to assets. The main weakness is that returns remain negative due to ongoing net losses (negative return on equity), but from a solvency and financial flexibility standpoint, AZTA appears well-positioned.
Cash Flow
58
Neutral
Cash generation is generally positive in the most recent periods, with positive operating cash flow and positive free cash flow in both the latest annual period and TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). That said, free cash flow declined meaningfully in TTM (free cash flow growth -19.3%), and cash flow performance has been uneven historically (including very large negative operating and free cash flow in 2022). Overall, current cash flow is supportive, but the recent step-down and historical volatility temper confidence.
BreakdownTTMSep 2025Sep 2024Sep 2023Sep 2022Sep 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue595.19M593.82M573.45M665.07M555.50M513.70M
Gross Profit269.63M270.28M254.62M233.26M230.62M214.51M
EBITDA53.93M54.07M71.62M55.15M48.35M9.94M
Net Income-57.82M-55.76M-164.90M-14.26M-428.96M110.75M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.07B2.06B2.10B2.89B3.72B1.82B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments412.05M340.92M462.09M1.02B1.57B227.51M
Total Debt108.92M111.17M70.68M60.44M49.23M94.77M
Total Liabilities359.60M330.70M331.07M351.22M352.74M494.18M
Stockholders Equity1.71B1.73B1.77B2.53B3.36B1.33B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow30.93M38.32M12.35M-33.60M-543.48M97.05M
Operating Cash Flow63.23M72.18M49.74M5.83M-466.05M149.86M
Investing Cash Flow-130.78M-90.46M224.74M431.38M1.47B-146.35M
Financing Cash Flow-7.10M-9.59M-659.21M-840.46M-62.76M-25.91M

Azenta Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price28.18
Price Trends
50DMA
31.32
Negative
100DMA
32.24
Negative
200DMA
31.52
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-2.72
Positive
RSI
26.31
Positive
STOCH
21.90
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For AZTA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 28.18 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 24.90, below the 50-day MA of 31.32, and below the 200-day MA of 31.52, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -2.72 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 26.31 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 21.90 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for AZTA.

Azenta Risk Analysis

Azenta disclosed 35 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Azenta reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Azenta Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
64
Neutral
$943.30M-95.19-3.40%-18.82%92.56%
60
Neutral
$1.45B-165.01-2.43%15.80%26.94%
56
Neutral
$950.25M-24.75-3.39%-9.49%58.97%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
46
Neutral
$864.99M-14.54-23.24%-32.42%-540.37%
45
Neutral
$1.13B-1.76-46.45%-3.43%38.98%
42
Neutral
$167.28M-2.26-127.51%30.55%-340.19%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
AZTA
Azenta
20.63
-17.16
-45.41%
ATRC
Atricure
29.03
-5.79
-16.63%
QDEL
QuidelOrtho
16.57
-18.59
-52.87%
STAA
Staar Surgical
17.47
-0.45
-2.51%
BLFS
BioLife Solutions
19.53
-5.53
-22.07%
SMTI
Sanara MedTech
18.72
-15.22
-44.84%

Azenta Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
Azenta Acquires UK Biocentre to Expand European Biorepository
Positive
Mar 4, 2026

On March 4, 2026, Azenta announced that its subsidiary Azenta UK Ltd had completed the acquisition of UK Biocentre Limited, a UK-based provider of sample management, storage and high-throughput processing services, for total consideration of GBP 20.5 million, including up to GBP 1.8 million in contingent payments. Founded in 2014, UK Biocentre generated about GBP 15.3 million in revenue in the 12 months to September 30, 2025 and will continue operating under its existing name.

The deal is designed to expand Azenta’s biorepository and sample management footprint in Europe by using UK Biocentre as a regional operational hub complementing its Griesheim, Germany facility and serving pharmaceutical, biotech, academic and public health clients. Azenta expects the transaction to be modestly dilutive to its 2026 adjusted EBITDA margin by about 35 basis points but accretive to organic revenue growth and margin expansion in 2027 and 2028, while enhancing its ability to deliver large-scale, automated biorepository capabilities such as the 16-million-sample BioArc Ultra platform and reinforcing its positioning at the center of key life sciences workflows.

The most recent analyst rating on (AZTA) stock is a Buy with a $32.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Azenta stock, see the AZTA Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Azenta Shareholders Reaffirm Board, Pay Plans and Auditor
Positive
Jan 29, 2026

At its annual meeting on January 28, 2026, Azenta, Inc. stockholders voted to re-elect all nominated directors, signaling continued support for the company’s current board composition and governance. Investors also backed, on an advisory basis, the compensation packages for named executive officers, approved an amendment to the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan to add 2,750,000 shares for future equity grants, and ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Azenta’s independent auditor for the 2026 fiscal year, collectively reinforcing management’s strategic flexibility in incentivizing employees and maintaining auditor continuity for stakeholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (AZTA) stock is a Hold with a $41.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Azenta stock, see the AZTA Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
Azenta divests B Medical Systems to streamline portfolio
Positive
Dec 29, 2025

On December 29, 2025, Azenta announced that its affiliate Azenta Germany GmbH has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the company’s Luxembourg-based B Medical Systems business, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical refrigeration devices, to THELEMA S.À R.L. for US$63 million, with the transaction expected to close on or before March 31, 2026. Management described the divestiture as a major step in simplifying Azenta’s portfolio to concentrate on its highest-impact core capabilities, with proceeds earmarked to strengthen the business and support long-term profitable value creation for shareholders, while William Blair and Taylor Wessing advised Azenta on the deal.

The most recent analyst rating on (AZTA) stock is a Buy with a $44.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Azenta stock, see the AZTA Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Mar 04, 2026