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Liquidity Services (LQDT)
NASDAQ:LQDT

Liquidity Services (LQDT) AI Stock Analysis

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LQDT

Liquidity Services

(NASDAQ:LQDT)

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Outperform 70 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:70Outperform
Price Target:
$31.00
▲(9.00% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/27/26
The score is primarily supported by strong financial quality (low leverage and solid free cash flow) and a constructive earnings outlook with profit-led guidance and operational leverage. Offsetting factors are the sharp TTM revenue decline, a mixed near-term technical picture, and a relatively high P/E with no dividend support.
Positive Factors
Conservative balance sheet and liquidity
A strong cash position and zero financial debt give the company durable financial flexibility: supports investment in technology, working-capital needs for marketplace operations, opportunistic buybacks, and resilience through demand cycles without relying on new borrowing.
Consistent free cash flow generation
Sustained positive operating and free cash flow indicates the business converts earnings into liquidity reliably. This supports reinvesting in platform improvements, funding modest CapEx, and executing capital return programs while reducing reliance on external financing.
Marketplace scale and buyer engagement
A large and growing buyer base enhances liquidity and price discovery, strengthening network effects. Higher buyer depth increases recovery rates on assets, supports repeat transactions, and makes the marketplace harder for competitors to replicate over a multi-quarter horizon.
Negative Factors
Sharp TTM revenue decline
A severe trailing‑twelve‑month revenue decline is a material structural headwind: it can reduce operating leverage, pressure margins, and require sustained execution to rebuild growth. Recovery may take multiple quarters and could constrain strategic reinvestment.
Compression in returns and profitability vs. peak
Declining ROE and compressed profitability versus prior peaks suggest the company is generating lower efficiency from capital. Persistently lower returns could limit internal funding for growth and reduce the margin for error on strategic initiatives over the medium term.
Revenue mix shift toward lower-touch consignment
A structural shift to higher consignment share can reduce revenue per GMV and compress segment margins versus purchase-model programs. If sustained, mix changes may cap top-line growth and make earnings more dependent on volume gains or margin improvements.

Liquidity Services (LQDT) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Liquidity Services Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionLiquidity Services, Inc. provides e-commerce marketplaces, self-directed auction listing tools, and value-added services. It operates through four segments: Retail Supply Chain Group, Capital Assets Group, GovDeals, and Machinio. The company's marketplaces include liquidation.com that enable corporations to sell surplus and salvage consumer goods and retail capital assets; GovDeals marketplace, which provides self-directed service solutions in which sellers list their own assets that enables local and state government entities, and commercial businesses located in the United States and Canada to sell surplus and salvage assets; and AllSurplus, a centralized marketplace that connects global buyer base with assets from across the network of marketplaces in a single destination. It also provides marketplace for corporations located in the North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa to sell manufacturing surplus, salvage capital assets, and scrap material, as well as offers a suite of services, including surplus management, asset valuation, asset sales, marketing, returns management, asset recovery, and ecommerce services. In addition, the company operates a global search engine platform for listing used equipment for sale in the construction, machine tool, transportation, printing, and agriculture sectors. It offers products from industry verticals, such as consumer electronics, general merchandise, apparel, scientific equipment, aerospace parts and equipment, technology hardware, real estate, energy equipment, industrial capital assets, heavy equipment, fleet and transportation equipment, and specialty equipment. Liquidity Services, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.
How the Company Makes MoneyLiquidity Services primarily makes money by earning fees and related service revenue from facilitating the sale and disposition of surplus/returned assets through its online marketplaces and managed service programs. Key revenue streams generally include: (1) marketplace and transaction fees or commissions earned when assets are sold via the company’s auction/marketplace platforms (the company monetizes buyer demand and seller supply by taking a fee tied to completed sales); (2) service revenues from asset disposition programs for enterprise and government sellers, which can include services such as program management, marketing of assets to buyers, listing/auction management, and administrative processing; and (3) fees for value-added services tied to executing sales and moving goods through the disposition process, which may include coordination of logistics, handling, storage, refurbishment/inspection support, or recycling/disposal services where offered as part of a program. A significant factor supporting earnings is the company’s network of seller relationships (including commercial enterprises and government entities) and its established buyer base, which can drive higher recovery values and transaction volumes on its platforms; specific partnership terms, contract structures, or segment-level revenue breakdowns are null.

Liquidity Services Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

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

Liquidity Services Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 05, 2026
(Q1-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 07, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call emphasized meaningful profitability expansion, strong cash position, category-level wins (GovDeals, heavy equipment), material operational improvements from AI/automation, and solid marketplace engagement (6.2M buyers). Offsetting items include a modest decline in consolidated revenue (‑1%) from a consignment mix shift, localized GMV declines in CAG and retail revenue pressure, and modest near-term one-time costs. On balance, the positive profitability, cash/debt-free balance sheet, client wins, and outlook outweigh the operational mix headwinds.
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Consolidated GMV and Direct Profit Growth
Consolidated gross merchandise volume (GMV) of $398.0 million (up ~3% year-over-year) and consolidated direct profit of $57 million, indicating scale and improved monetization of marketplace flows.
Strong Profitability Expansion (GAAP and Non-GAAP)
GAAP net income increased 29% year-over-year; GAAP diluted EPS was $0.23 (up ~28% YoY). Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA grew 38% YoY to $18.1 million and non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS rose 39% YoY to $0.39 per share.
Robust Balance Sheet and Capital Return
Ended the quarter with $181.4 million in cash and no financial debt, $26 million of available borrowing capacity under the credit facility, and executed $1.5 million of share repurchases (with $15 million remaining authorization).
GovDeals Momentum and Client Wins
GovDeals GMV grew 7% YoY, revenue up 9%, direct profit up 13%; signed an all-time record of over 500 new agency clients (examples include Pennsylvania DOT, State of New York, HUD, New York Port Authority, City of Malibu).
Retail / SCG Improvement and Consumer Demand
Retail/SCG segment GMV increased 3% YoY; direct-to-consumer GMV grew 40% YoY; segment direct profit increased 16% driven by more lower-touch flows and multichannel buyer participation; direct profit per labor hour surged over 48% YoY.
Capital Assets Group (CAG) Revenue Strength and Heavy Equipment Growth
CAG GAAP revenue increased 17% YoY, heavy equipment category showed 27% organic GMV growth and an 88% increase in number of transactions, reflecting strong buyer participation and category expansion.
Machinio and Software Solutions Expansion
Machinio and software solutions revenue grew 27% YoY with direct profit up 23%, benefitting from subscription expansion, pricing, and contribution from the recently acquired auction software business.
Marketplace Scale and Buyer Engagement
Platform served 6.2 million registered buyers (up 9% YoY), with 983,000 auction participants and 264,000 completed transactions in the quarter, demonstrating improved liquidity and buyer activity.
Forward Guidance Reflects Continued Profitability
Management expects double-digit adjusted EBITDA growth in Q2 YoY and provided FY2026 guidance: GMV $375M–$415M; GAAP net income $6.5M–$9.5M; GAAP EPS $0.20–$0.29; non-GAAP EPS $0.29–$0.38; adjusted EBITDA $14M–$17M, with CapEx ~ $2M/quarter.
Operational Leverage from Technology and AI
Management highlighted AI, data analytics, and automation initiatives improving buyer conversion, asset listing accuracy, predictive lead scoring, and labor productivity—cited examples include automated asset scanning, improved taxonomy, and Retail Rush rollout driving higher recovery rates.
Negative Updates
Revenue Slightly Declined Due to Mix Shift
Consolidated GAAP revenue was $121.2 million, down ~1% YoY, attributed to an increasing share of lower-touch consignment sales and reduced purchase-model activity in retail.
CAG GMV Decline (Year-Over-Year)
CAG reported a 10% YoY decline in GMV (Jorge), driven partly by the absence of unusually large energy projects that benefited the prior year, despite revenue and direct profit increases in the segment.
Retail Revenue Pressure and Purchase Model Softness
Retail segment showed a 3% GMV increase but revenue declined ~6% YoY and management noted a year-over-year decline in purchase model programs and a product mix in purchases expected to be at slightly lower margin sequentially.
Near-Term One-Time Costs and Seasonal Headwinds
Second quarter guidance includes $300k–$400k of one-time costs to streamline a retail operating location and anticipates a modest seasonal increase in logistics costs entering the post-holiday season.
GAAP vs Non-GAAP Discrepancy
GAAP EPS growth trailed non-GAAP metrics due to performance-based stock compensation expense, implying some volatility between reported GAAP results and adjusted performance measures.
Company Guidance
Management guided fiscal 2026 GMV of $375M–$415M, GAAP net income of $6.5M–$9.5M (GAAP diluted EPS $0.20–$0.29), non‑GAAP adjusted diluted EPS $0.29–$0.38, and non‑GAAP adjusted EBITDA of $14M–$17M (with Q2 expected to deliver double‑digit adjusted EBITDA growth year‑over‑year); they assume a Q2 tax rate in the mid‑to‑high 20s, ~32.5–33.0M fully‑weighted shares, quarterly CapEx of ~ $2M, and free cash‑flow conversion in line with historical/seasonal patterns, and disclosed one‑time Q2 costs of ~$300k–$400k for a retail site streamlining; on mix metrics they expect consignment GMV to remain in the low‑80s percent of total GMV, consolidated revenue as a percent of GMV to be slightly below 30%, and total segment direct profit as a percent of consolidated revenue to be in the mid‑to‑high 40% range (company also entered the year with $181.4M cash, zero debt, $26M available on its credit facility, $1.5M of Q1 share repurchases and $15M remaining repurchase authorization).

Liquidity Services Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong overall financial quality driven by a conservative balance sheet (very low leverage, rising equity) and consistently positive operating/free cash flow with solid cash conversion. The main offset is near-term pressure: TTM revenue is down sharply (-23.3%) and profitability/margins are below prior peak levels.
Income Statement
62
Positive
Revenue growth has been strong over the last several annual periods (2021–2025 annual), but TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) shows a sharp revenue decline (-23.3%), which is a clear near-term headwind. Profitability remains positive with solid gross margin (~44% in the latest periods), but margins have generally compressed versus earlier years (notably lower net margin than 2021–2022). Overall: profitable and historically growing, but the latest TTM slowdown and lower margin profile temper the score.
Balance Sheet
88
Very Positive
The balance sheet looks conservatively financed with very low leverage (debt-to-equity roughly ~0.07 across recent periods) and rising equity over time. Returns on equity are healthy (roughly low-to-mid teens recently, higher in earlier years), suggesting the company is generating solid profits without heavy debt. Main watch-out: returns have come down meaningfully from peak levels in 2021–2022, indicating efficiency/profitability is not as strong as it was.
Cash Flow
83
Very Positive
Cash generation is a major strength: operating cash flow and free cash flow are consistently positive, with strong TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) free cash flow (~$70M) and a very large free-cash-flow growth figure in the latest TTM data. Cash conversion is solid, with free cash flow running close to net income (generally ~0.82–0.92x across periods). The key weakness is variability in year-to-year free cash flow growth (including a decline in 2025 annual), which suggests some lumpiness in cash generation.
BreakdownTTMSep 2025Sep 2024Sep 2023Sep 2022Sep 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue475.56M476.67M363.32M314.46M280.05M257.53M
Gross Profit213.10M208.81M185.17M172.14M160.64M149.85M
EBITDA48.97M45.48M35.52M37.36M33.23M34.14M
Net Income29.77M28.09M19.99M20.98M40.32M50.95M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets369.14M375.10M346.89M306.02M306.81M255.58M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments181.42M185.82M155.54M118.17M97.94M106.33M
Total Debt22.12M14.12M14.44M10.91M14.55M14.60M
Total Liabilities153.88M171.86M164.33M144.49M152.27M120.56M
Stockholders Equity215.26M203.24M182.56M161.53M154.54M135.01M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow70.12M58.96M61.31M41.63M36.71M59.97M
Operating Cash Flow78.37M66.76M70.22M47.02M44.83M65.42M
Investing Cash Flow-15.03M-22.98M-16.11M-11.43M-21.08M-1.00M
Financing Cash Flow-22.87M-21.81M-11.17M-22.07M-31.94M-34.66M

Liquidity Services Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price28.44
Price Trends
50DMA
31.53
Negative
100DMA
29.41
Negative
200DMA
27.29
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.32
Positive
RSI
31.11
Neutral
STOCH
9.27
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LQDT, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 28.44 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 31.39, below the 50-day MA of 31.53, and above the 200-day MA of 27.29, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.32 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 31.11 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 9.27 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for LQDT.

Liquidity Services Risk Analysis

Liquidity Services disclosed 38 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Liquidity Services reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Liquidity Services Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
71
Outperform
$1.24B21.827.50%27.84%
70
Outperform
$882.03M31.0014.46%31.20%38.38%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
53
Neutral
$434.47M-38.47-34.47%-4.90%50.77%
49
Neutral
$583.29M22.624.94%2.59%-12.61%-27.22%
48
Neutral
$776.05M-37.87
44
Neutral
$928.80M-5.45-244.37%30.95%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LQDT
Liquidity Services
28.44
-1.49
-4.98%
NEGG
Newegg Commerce
40.01
34.21
589.83%
ARKO
ARKO Corp
5.26
1.38
35.39%
TDUP
thredUP
3.42
1.05
44.30%
RERE
ATRenew Inc. Sponsored ADR
5.65
2.17
62.36%
HEPS
D-Market
2.89
-0.37
-11.35%

Liquidity Services Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Liquidity Services Shareholders Approve 2026 Governance and Compensation Matters
Positive
Feb 26, 2026

On February 26, 2026, Liquidity Services, Inc. held its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, where investors voted on four corporate governance and compensation proposals. Shareholders elected directors Paul J. Hennessy and Jaime Mateus-Tique to terms ending at the 2029 annual meeting, reinforcing continuity on the board and existing strategic oversight.

Investors also ratified Deloitte & Touche LLP as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2026, signaling confidence in Liquidity Services’ financial reporting framework. In addition, stockholders approved the advisory vote on named executive officer compensation and backed an amendment to the 2006 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan, supporting the company’s current pay practices and long-term equity incentives for executives.

The most recent analyst rating on (LQDT) stock is a Hold with a $36.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Liquidity Services stock, see the LQDT Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Liquidity Services Announces Director Retirement and Board Reduction
Neutral
Feb 9, 2026

Liquidity Services, Inc. announced that long-serving director George H. Ellis, who joined the board in May 2010, notified the company on Feb. 3, 2026, of his decision to retire from the board effective Feb. 4, 2026, as part of a long-term succession plan and not due to any disagreement over operations, policies, or practices. Following his departure, which ends a tenure that included service as Audit Committee chair from 2010 through February 2024, the company will reduce the size of its board from eight to seven directors and shrink both its Audit and Corporate Governance and Nominating committees from four to three independent directors, signaling a streamlined governance structure for stakeholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (LQDT) stock is a Hold with a $36.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Liquidity Services stock, see the LQDT 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: Feb 27, 2026