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Waldencast (WALD)
NASDAQ:WALD
US Market

Waldencast (WALD) AI Stock Analysis

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WALD

Waldencast

(NASDAQ:WALD)

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Neutral 45 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 45 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 45 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:45Neutral
Price Target:
$1.50
▼(-5.06% Downside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/15/26
The score is held down primarily by ongoing losses and persistent negative operating/free cash flow, which raise sustainability and funding-risk concerns despite a reasonably manageable balance sheet. Technicals add pressure as the stock trades below all major moving averages with negative MACD. Valuation remains challenged because earnings are negative and no dividend yield is provided.
Positive Factors
Brand Portfolio
Waldencast owns prestige brands with distinct channel footprints (professional/medical, prestige retail, DTC). This diversification supports durable revenue streams, reduces single-channel dependence, and allows margin capture via DTC while leveraging professional relationships for higher‑value sales.
Obagi Medical Expansion
FDA approval and launch of an injectables platform position Obagi in medical aesthetics, a structurally higher‑margin, clinic‑driven category. This creates a sustainable new revenue vector tied to professional partners, strengthens brand differentiation, and raises barriers to entry versus commodity skincare.
Deleveraging Actions
Asset sale and refinancing materially reduced leverage and repaid debt, improving balance‑sheet flexibility. Lower indebtedness cuts interest burden and funding risk, providing runway to execute product investments and strategic review without immediate pressure from creditors.
Negative Factors
Negative Cash Flow
Sustained negative operating and free cash flow over multiple years means the business does not self‑fund operations or growth, creating ongoing reliance on external financing or asset sales. This constrains strategic flexibility and raises execution risk if funding access tightens.
Persistent Losses
Ongoing negative EBIT and a materially wider net loss in 2025 erode retained earnings and hinder reinvestment. Even with pockets of margin improvement, persistent operating losses indicate underlying cost structure or revenue mix issues that must be fixed to reach sustainable profitability.
Revenue Stagnation & Intl Weakness
After multi‑year growth, 2025 revenue flattened and Milk Makeup faced softer international demand. Stalled top‑line and regional softness signal execution or channel challenges and increase dependence on a few growth drivers, making durable revenue expansion less certain.

Waldencast (WALD) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Waldencast Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionWaldencast Acquisition Corp. a skin care company, provides advanced skin care treatments. Its products are designed to help minimize the appearance of premature skin aging, skin damage, hyperpigmentation, acne, and sun damage primarily available through dermatologists, plastic surgeons, medical spas, and other skin care professionals. Its portfolio includes Obagi Medical that provides transformational skin care products formulated to minimize signs of skin aging, address dark spots, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles and to protect and enhance skin tone and texture; and Obagi Clinical that offers skin care products designed to prevent the early signs of skin aging. The company was founded in 1988 and is based in White Plains, New York.
How the Company Makes MoneyWaldencast makes money primarily by selling beauty products through its brand portfolio. Revenue is generated from (1) wholesale sales to retailers and distributors (e.g., beauty specialty retailers, department stores, and international distribution partners) where Waldencast ships finished goods and recognizes product revenue, and (2) direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales through brand e-commerce sites, where the company captures the full retail margin but also incurs customer acquisition, fulfillment, and platform costs. For Obagi, an important portion of sales is tied to professional/medical-channel distribution (e.g., dermatologists, plastic surgeons, med-spas, and related clinics) alongside broader retail and online availability; for Milk Makeup, sales are primarily driven through prestige beauty retail partners and online channels. The company’s earnings are influenced by brand marketing and product innovation, retailer performance and shelf space, international expansion via distributors, pricing and promotional strategy, and supply-chain execution (manufacturing/packaging and logistics). Specific details on any single “significant partnership” contribution are null.

Waldencast Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 13, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 26, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call indicated both progress and challenges. While Waldencast achieved strong adjusted gross profit margins and successful product launches, revenue declined overall, and supply chain disruptions impacted performance. The company remains optimistic about future growth amid macroeconomic pressures.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Adjusted Gross Profit Margin
Achieved an adjusted gross profit margin of 76.4%, representing an increase of 10 basis points year-over-year.
Obagi Medical Revenue Growth
Obagi Medical's net revenue increased by 7.1% from the first quarter of 2024, driven by strategic supply chain transformations.
Successful Milk Makeup Launches
Milk Makeup's Hydro Grip Gel Skin Tint launch was highly successful, selling out quickly and generating significant media value.
Ulta Beauty Partnership
Milk Makeup's launch into Ulta Beauty's top 600 doors was successful, showing high consumer demand and strong initial sell-out.
Operational Efficiency Improvements
Advancements in supply chain transformation, including consolidation of third-party logistics providers and optimization of distribution centers.
Negative Updates
Overall Revenue Decline
Reported a net revenue of $65.4 million, representing a decline of 4.1% from the first quarter of last year.
Milk Makeup Revenue Decline
Milk Makeup saw a revenue decline of 15.1% due to international sales contraction and inventory adjustments by retail partners.
Supply Chain Disruptions for Obagi Medical
Out-of-stock issues in key SKUs due to ongoing supply chain restructuring, impacting fulfillment rates.
Increased Costs and Debt
Net debt increased to $172.1 million, with cash consumption reflecting low adjusted EBITDA and inventory increases.
Macroeconomic Pressures
Expectations of pressure from softer consumer sentiment and spending, potentially impacting broader macroeconomic performance.
Company Guidance
In the Waldencast First Quarter 2025 Earnings Call, guidance was provided with an optimistic outlook for the fiscal year, despite some challenges. The company reported a net revenue of $65.4 million, a decline of 4.1% year-over-year, with an adjusted gross profit margin of 76.4% and adjusted EBITDA of $4.4 million, reflecting a margin of 6.7%. Guidance for fiscal 2025 includes targeting mid-teens net revenue growth and an adjusted EBITDA margin in the mid to high-teens. The company anticipates accelerated growth driven by innovations in Milk Makeup and Obagi Medical brands, expansion in digital channels, and improved product availability. Additionally, potential tariff impacts are expected to be manageable, with a low single-digit percent increase in cost of goods sold factored into the guidance.

Waldencast Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financials are mixed: the balance sheet is relatively stable with manageable leverage and declining debt, but profitability remains weak with consistently negative EBIT and a sharply wider net loss in 2025. Cash flow is a major risk, with negative operating and free cash flow from 2022–2025, indicating ongoing funding dependence despite some improvement versus earlier periods.
Income Statement
34
Negative
Revenue expanded strongly from 2022 to 2024 (roughly $166M to $274M), but growth stalled in 2025 (slight decline). Gross profit margin has been volatile—improving meaningfully in 2023 and remaining strong in 2025—yet profitability remains weak: EBIT is consistently negative and net losses widened sharply in 2025 (net loss far larger than prior years). EBITDA was positive in 2024 but slipped back near breakeven/negative in 2025, highlighting an uneven path toward sustainable earnings.
Balance Sheet
62
Positive
Leverage appears manageable in recent years, with debt-to-equity around the high-20% range and total debt declining in 2025 versus 2024. The company maintains a sizable equity base relative to assets in the 2022–2025 period, which provides balance-sheet flexibility. The key weakness is persistent negative returns on equity driven by ongoing net losses, which erodes book value over time if profitability does not improve.
Cash Flow
28
Negative
Cash generation remains a core concern: operating cash flow is negative from 2022 through 2025, and free cash flow is also negative over that span, indicating the business is not yet self-funding. Losses are not being converted into cash, and while free cash flow improved versus 2024, it is still meaningfully below zero. The one bright spot is that cash burn is far lower than the 2022 trough, suggesting some operational progress, but not enough to reduce funding risk materially.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Mar 2024Dec 2023Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue272.07M273.87M218.14M166.13M142.47M
Gross Profit123.83M131.73M141.58M39.44M87.44M
EBITDA-2.49M28.63M-33.54M-99.25M15.05M
Net Income-229.75M-42.44M-89.98M-116.62M-19.58M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets816.20M975.86M1.04B1.09B184.59M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments31.89M14.80M22.58M8.69M12.79M
Total Debt149.01M182.11M177.72M199.25M118.86M
Total Liabilities316.10M245.92M273.44M290.18M145.35M
Stockholders Equity461.88M662.32M624.63M639.24M39.24M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-16.25M-11.83M-31.82M-87.51M2.24M
Operating Cash Flow-12.82M-8.82M-29.77M-85.01M3.53M
Investing Cash Flow76.23M-2.92M-1.99M-545.28M-3.79M
Financing Cash Flow-47.22M5.58M44.33M633.35M5.16M

Waldencast Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price1.58
Price Trends
50DMA
1.69
Negative
100DMA
1.87
Negative
200DMA
1.98
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.07
Positive
RSI
44.11
Neutral
STOCH
32.86
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For WALD, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 1.58 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1.66, below the 50-day MA of 1.69, and below the 200-day MA of 1.98, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.07 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 44.11 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 32.86 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for WALD.

Waldencast Risk Analysis

Waldencast disclosed 100 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Waldencast 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 3 New Risks
1.
Risks Related to Internal Controls and Financial Reporting Q4, 2023
2.
Risks Relating to our Business Operations and Financial Condition Q4, 2023
3.
Risks Related to the Ownership of our Securities Q4, 2023

Waldencast Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
66
Neutral
$345.08M-11.71-20.20%-6.23%28.57%
64
Neutral
$141.57M36.203.06%14.47%11.29%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
62
Neutral
$230.82M6.24-38.92%14.78%-19.17%308.81%
46
Neutral
$171.15M-3.15-145.86%-9.86%0.87%
45
Neutral
$201.57M-0.93-34.75%14.22%-141.64%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
WALD
Waldencast
1.57
-1.62
-50.78%
MKTW
MarketWise
14.40
3.67
34.20%
NRDY
Nerdy
0.91
-0.68
-42.96%
ONTF
ON24
8.05
2.47
44.27%
PERF
Perfect Corp
1.39
-0.52
-27.23%

Waldencast Corporate Events

Waldencast Posts Flat 2025 Results as Obagi Surges, Launches Strategic Review and Deleveraging Drive
Mar 13, 2026

On March 13, 2026, Waldencast reported flat full-year 2025 net revenue of $272.1 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $16.1 million, with Q4 2025 revenue steady at $72.0 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $6.6 million. The quarter saw a net loss of $33.5 million, mainly from refinancing costs, while margin pressure stemmed from inventory adjustments at Obagi Medical and higher promotional activity at Milk Makeup.

Obagi Medical delivered strong underlying growth in 2025, driven by international demand, U.S. e‑commerce strength and preparation for its entry into medical aesthetics, including FDA approval of Obagi saypha MagIQ filler and the March 2026 launch of its injectables platform. Milk Makeup expanded U.S. distribution via Ulta Beauty and Amazon Premium Beauty and grew U.S. consumption ahead of the prestige makeup market, but softer international sales led to lower annual net revenue and prompted leadership changes and a renewed focus on innovation.

To strengthen its balance sheet and sharpen its strategy, Waldencast sold the Obagi Japan trademark rights in November 2025 for $82.5 million, using most of the proceeds to repay debt, and refinanced its credit facilities, materially reducing leverage. The board is also conducting a broad strategic review with Lazard as advisor, and, amid this process and ongoing transformation, the company declined to issue a fiscal 2026 outlook, leaving investors awaiting clarity on potential transactions or further portfolio moves.

The most recent analyst rating on (WALD) stock is a Sell with a $2.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Waldencast stock, see the WALD Stock Forecast page.

Waldencast Shareholders Back Board Slate and Auditor at January 2026 AGM
Jan 15, 2026

On January 14, 2026, Waldencast plc, a foreign private issuer listed in the United States and headquartered in London, held its annual general meeting of shareholders, with 72.05% of outstanding ordinary shares represented in person or by proxy. At the meeting, shareholders approved the re-appointment of three Class III directors—Michel Brousset, Felipe Dutra and Simon Dai—to serve until the 2028 general meeting, and ratified Deloitte & Touche LLP as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the next financial year, with the audit committee to determine the auditor’s remuneration, signaling continued support for the existing board composition and audit oversight structure.

The most recent analyst rating on (WALD) stock is a Sell with a $1.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Waldencast stock, see the WALD Stock Forecast page.

Waldencast Sets January 2026 AGM and Reshapes Board Following Director Resignations
Dec 19, 2025

On December 19, 2025, Waldencast plc announced that it will hold its 2025 annual general meeting of shareholders on January 14, 2026, at Michelin House in London, with voting rights reserved for shareholders of record as of December 9, 2025, when the company had just over 128 million ordinary shares outstanding across its Class A and Class B stock. The company also disclosed that directors Lindsay Pattison and Zack Werner have notified the board of their intention to resign ahead of the meeting, prompting a board reclassification approved on December 2, 2025, that organizes directors into three classes and, assuming the reappointment of all Class III directors, will result in a nine-member board with concentrated experience in beauty, finance and consumer products, signaling a continued emphasis on sector-specific governance and continuity for shareholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (WALD) stock is a Hold with a $2.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Waldencast stock, see the WALD 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 15, 2026