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Fortrea Holdings Inc. (FTRE)
NASDAQ:FTRE
US Market

Fortrea Holdings Inc. (FTRE) AI Stock Analysis

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FTRE

Fortrea Holdings Inc.

(NASDAQ:FTRE)

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Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:56Neutral
Price Target:
$16.50
▲(0.00% Upside)
Fortrea Holdings Inc. faces significant financial challenges, which heavily impact its overall score. However, strong technical indicators and positive corporate events provide some optimism. The earnings call also highlighted some strategic improvements, but valuation concerns remain due to negative earnings.
Positive Factors
Backlog and book-to-bill strength
A >$7.6B backlog and a book-to-bill above 1 indicate durable demand visibility and multi-quarter revenue conversion for a CRO. This backlog supports steady utilization, planning, and revenue recognition over the medium term, reducing near-term revenue volatility risk.
Operational productivity improvements
Deploying AI-driven tooling plus a 33% reduction in time to site selection and faster enrollment are structural efficiency gains. They lower unit costs, shorten trial timelines, and improve capacity utilization, supporting sustainable margin expansion and competitive service differentiation.
Stronger liquidity and debt management
Having sizable available liquidity and executing a targeted tender for secured notes materially reduces refinancing risk and interest burden. This enhances financial flexibility to fund operations, invest in tools, or withstand biotech funding cycles over the medium term.
Negative Factors
Weak profitability metrics
Persistently negative net margins and shrinking gross margins signal structural margin pressure from cost structure or pricing. Unless reversed, this undermines sustainable earnings generation, limits reinvestment capacity, and raises sensitivity to contract mix and pricing negotiation outcomes.
Cash conversion inefficiency
Negative FCF growth and very poor conversion of earnings into cash reflect working capital strain and high pass-through or capex needs. Over months, weak cash conversion constrains reinvestment, debt servicing, and ability to fund strategic initiatives without external financing.
FSP pricing pressure and EBITDA decline
Declining adjusted EBITDA and intense pricing competition in Functional Service Provider engagements signal margin compression in a core revenue stream. Walking away from low-margin deals preserves discipline but may slow revenue growth and limit scale advantages in key service lines.

Fortrea Holdings Inc. (FTRE) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Fortrea Holdings Inc. Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionFortrea Holdings Inc., a contract research organization, primarily engages in the provision of biopharmaceutical product and medical device development services worldwide. It operates through two segments: Clinical Services and Enabling Services. The Clinical Services segment provides across the clinical pharmacology and clinical development spectrum. The Enabling Services segment provides patient access and clinical trial technology solutions to customers that streamline complex randomization and optimize the trial drug supply process. The company offers delivery models that include full service, functional service provider, and hybrid service structures. It also offers phase I-IV clinical trial management, differentiated technology enabled trial solutions, and post approval services. The company serves pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device organizations. Fortrea Holdings Inc. was incorporated in 2023 and is based in Durham, North Carolina.
How the Company Makes MoneyFortrea Holdings generates revenue through multiple streams, including the sale of pharmaceutical products, licensing agreements, and partnerships with other healthcare organizations. The company monetizes its proprietary therapeutics by distributing them through established healthcare channels. Additionally, Fortrea engages in strategic collaborations with research institutions and other biotech firms, allowing it to share development costs and access broader markets. The company may also receive milestone payments and royalties from partners as its products progress through clinical trials and achieve regulatory approvals, further enhancing its revenue potential.

Fortrea Holdings Inc. Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 05, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 16, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects a mix of positive developments such as revenue growth, improved book-to-bill ratio, and strong cash position, alongside challenges like decreased adjusted EBITDA and a competitive FSP pricing environment. The positive aspects, including strategic innovations and high client satisfaction, generally outweighed the negatives.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Solid Third Quarter Revenue
Revenue for Q3 was $701.3 million, representing a 3.9% increase year-over-year, driven by increases in both clinical pharmacology and clinical development businesses.
Improved Book-to-Bill Ratio
The book-to-bill ratio improved to 1.13x, significantly better than the second quarter, with a trailing 12-month ratio of 1.07x.
Strong Cash Position
Fortrea's cash position is robust with over $0.5 billion in available liquidity, aided by strategic actions like the tender offer to repurchase outstanding senior secured notes.
Operational and Strategic Innovations
Introduction of AI-powered tools like Accelerate Risk Radar and Start My Day to improve efficiency and risk management in clinical trials.
Improved Client Satisfaction
Sequential improvement in Net Promoter Scores, reflecting operational excellence and client satisfaction.
Employee Engagement and Client Relations
High employee morale and strong client relationships were emphasized, with strategic travel and engagement from the CEO.
Negative Updates
Decreased Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $50.7 million, down from $64.2 million in the prior year period, due to increased pass-through costs and other factors.
Slight Increase in Cancellation Rate
There was a slight increase in the cancellation rate, although it remains within historical ranges.
Challenges in FSP Pricing Environment
The FSP business faces aggressive pricing strategies from competitors, leading Fortrea to walk away from certain deals.
Company Guidance
During the Fortrea Q3 2025 earnings call, CEO Anshul Thakral reported solid financial performance, with revenue reaching $701.3 million and adjusted EBITDA at $50.7 million. The company showcased a robust backlog exceeding $7.6 billion, with an improved book-to-bill ratio of 1.13x, a noteworthy increase from the previous quarter, and a trailing 12-month ratio of 1.07x. Fortrea's operational metrics highlighted significant improvements, including a 33% reduction in time to site selection and a 5-month early completion of enrollment in a Phase II Alzheimer's study. The Net Promoter Score also showed a sequential increase, reflecting enhanced client satisfaction. Additionally, the company reported a successful cash position, with an operating cash flow of $87 million in Q3, and a 13-day improvement in days sales outstanding (DSO) from the previous quarter. As part of their strategic focus, Fortrea emphasized commercial, operational, and financial excellence, targeting further margin improvements and a stronger competitive positioning in the clinical research market.

Fortrea Holdings Inc. Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Fortrea Holdings Inc. faces substantial financial challenges, with negative profitability and cash flow inefficiencies. Despite some improvement in leverage, the negative return on equity and declining gross profit margins indicate ongoing operational difficulties.
Income Statement
35
Negative
Fortrea Holdings Inc. has experienced significant revenue volatility, with a recent TTM revenue growth of 96.6%, but this follows a period of declining revenues. The company is struggling with profitability, as evidenced by negative net profit margins and EBIT margins in the TTM period. The gross profit margin has also decreased over time, indicating challenges in maintaining cost efficiency.
Balance Sheet
45
Neutral
The company's balance sheet shows a moderate debt-to-equity ratio in the TTM period, which has improved from previous years. However, the return on equity is negative, reflecting ongoing losses. The equity ratio remains stable, suggesting a reasonable level of financial stability despite profitability challenges.
Cash Flow
30
Negative
Fortrea Holdings Inc. faces significant cash flow challenges, with a negative free cash flow growth rate in the TTM period. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is extremely low, indicating difficulties in converting income into cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio is also negative, highlighting cash flow inefficiencies.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue2.76B2.70B2.84B2.84B3.06B
Gross Profit474.40M534.20M590.60M724.40M604.40M
EBITDA-852.80M-64.30M137.20M280.80M302.90M
Net Income-1.01B-328.50M-25.20M186.20M98.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.74B3.58B4.33B4.29B4.37B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments131.30M118.50M108.60M112.00M94.60M
Total Debt1.19B1.20B1.67B63.40M77.20M
Total Liabilities2.16B2.22B2.62B945.30M1.11B
Stockholders Equity580.80M1.36B1.71B3.34B3.26B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-13.00M237.30M128.10M28.30M143.30M
Operating Cash Flow1.50M262.80M168.40M82.70M169.80M
Investing Cash Flow25.40M251.60M-31.80M-54.00M-26.20M
Financing Cash Flow-1.70M-497.80M-140.80M-6.30M-128.50M

Fortrea Holdings Inc. Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price16.50
Price Trends
50DMA
14.56
Positive
100DMA
12.24
Positive
200DMA
8.98
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.57
Positive
RSI
51.35
Neutral
STOCH
21.95
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FTRE, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 16.5 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 17.26, above the 50-day MA of 14.56, and above the 200-day MA of 8.98, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.57 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 51.35 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 21.95 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for FTRE.

Fortrea Holdings Inc. Risk Analysis

Fortrea Holdings Inc. disclosed 59 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Fortrea Holdings Inc. 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

Fortrea Holdings Inc. Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
58
Neutral
$1.03B-12.46-37.82%-100.00%-28.79%
56
Neutral
$1.47B-1.46-98.13%-0.54%-259.57%
53
Neutral
$684.77M-8.60-31.21%-100.00%-305.92%
52
Neutral
$2.71B-21.34-32.00%45.66%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
47
Neutral
$719.28M-4.75-180.24%-32.79%36.87%
42
Neutral
$324.50M-2.60-64.26%-11.41%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
FTRE
Fortrea Holdings Inc.
16.50
-2.20
-11.76%
NKTR
Nektar Therapeutics
37.68
24.12
177.88%
FULC
Fulcrum Therapeutics
10.14
6.14
153.50%
CMPX
Compass Therapeutics
5.70
3.09
118.39%
ERAS
Erasca
9.62
7.72
406.32%
AURA
Aura Biosciences Inc
5.02
-2.91
-36.70%

Fortrea Holdings Inc. Corporate Events

Private Placements and Financing
Fortrea Holdings Completes Oversubscribed Debt Tender Offer
Positive
Nov 20, 2025

Fortrea Holdings, Inc. announced the expiration of its debt tender offer on November 18, 2025, to purchase up to $75,744,000 of its outstanding 7.500% Senior Secured Notes due 2030. The offer was oversubscribed, and the company accepted $75,743,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Notes based on a Final Proration Factor, indicating strong investor interest.

The most recent analyst rating on (FTRE) stock is a Hold with a $9.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Fortrea Holdings Inc. stock, see the FTRE 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: Dec 09, 2025