Tearsheet

LENZ Therapeutics (LENZ)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $28.3 | Market Cap: $807.7 Mil
Sector: Health Care | Industry: Biotechnology

LENZ Therapeutics (LENZ)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $28.3
Market Cap: $807.7 Mil
Sector: Health Care
Industry: Biotechnology

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Cash is significant % of market cap
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is -15%
Not profitable at operating income level
Op Inc LTMOperating Income, Last Twelve Months is -68 Mil, Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is -388%
1 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Aging Population & Chronic Disease, and Precision Medicine. Themes include Presbyopia Treatments, and Targeted Ophthalmic Therapies.
Expensive valuation multiples
P/SPrice/Sales ratio is 76x
2  Not cash flow generative
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -258%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -264%
3  Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -8.6%
4  Significant short interest
Short Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 30%
0 Cash is significant % of market cap
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is -15%
1 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Aging Population & Chronic Disease, and Precision Medicine. Themes include Presbyopia Treatments, and Targeted Ophthalmic Therapies.
2 Not profitable at operating income level
Op Inc LTMOperating Income, Last Twelve Months is -68 Mil, Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is -388%
3 Expensive valuation multiples
P/SPrice/Sales ratio is 76x
4 Not cash flow generative
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -258%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -264%
5 Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -8.6%
6 Significant short interest
Short Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 30%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

LENZ Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Here are the key points explaining the stock movement for LENZ Therapeutics from approximately August 31, 2025, to December 4, 2025: 1. Increased Operating Expenses and Net Loss in Q3 2025: LENZ Therapeutics reported a significant increase in operating expenses during the third quarter of 2025, particularly in selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) costs, which surged by 116% quarter-over-quarter and 324% year-over-year. This led to a net loss of $16.7 million (or $0.59 per share) for Q3 2025, compared to a net loss of $10.2 million ($0.38 per share) in Q3 2024, as the company scaled up its commercialization efforts for VIZZ.

2. Negative Market Reaction to Q3 Earnings Despite Revenue Beat: Despite the company reporting a significant revenue beat in Q3 2025, with actual revenues of $12.5 million against an estimated $7.0 million, and a narrower loss per share than anticipated, the stock still faced downward pressure. Following the Q3 2025 earnings report on November 5, 2025, LENZ shares experienced a decline of approximately 0.25% in pre-market trading and fell 9.38% to $25.42. This indicated that investors were more focused on the substantial costs associated with the product launch and the company's continued operational losses rather than the revenue outperformance.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
LENZ Return---73%-21%1002%-5%120%
Peers Return2%-1%6%8%-0%2%17%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
LENZ Win Rate-17%42%42%67%70% 
Peers Win Rate13%8%13%12%10%90% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
LENZ Max Drawdown---83%-44%-0%-37% 
Peers Max Drawdown-2%-5%0%-0%-1%-2% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: VRTX, AIXC, ALPS, BBOT, EVMN.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventLENZS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-94.0%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven1561.1%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven670 days464 days

Compare to VRTX, AIXC, ALPS, BBOT, EVMN


In The Past

LENZ Therapeutics's stock fell -94.0% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 6/30/2021. A -94.0% loss requires a 1561.1% gain to breakeven.

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About LENZ Therapeutics (LENZ)

Better Bets than LENZ Therapeutics (LENZ)

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to LENZ. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CRL_11142025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11142025CRLCharles River Laboratories InternationalDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
4.1%4.1%-3.7%
GDRX_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11142025GDRXGoodRxDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
-9.8%-9.8%-11.8%
ASTH_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11142025ASTHAstrana HealthDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
6.0%6.0%-5.5%
SGRY_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11142025SGRYSurgery PartnersDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
9.7%9.7%-1.4%
TFX_11072025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11072025TFXTeleflexDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
6.2%6.2%-5.1%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CRL_11142025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11142025CRLCharles River Laboratories InternationalDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
4.1%4.1%-3.7%
GDRX_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11142025GDRXGoodRxDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
-9.8%-9.8%-11.8%
ASTH_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11142025ASTHAstrana HealthDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
6.0%6.0%-5.5%
SGRY_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11142025SGRYSurgery PartnersDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
9.7%9.7%-1.4%
TFX_11072025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11072025TFXTeleflexDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
6.2%6.2%-5.1%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for LENZ Therapeutics

Peers to compare with:

Financials

LENZVRTXAIXCALPSBBOTEVMNMedian
NameLENZ The.Vertex P.AIxCryptoALPS BridgeBi.Evommune  
Mkt Price28.00463.132.541.0711.0721.2216.14
Mkt Cap0.8118.4----59.6
Rev LTM1811,7230-01010
Op Inc LTM-68-92-5--93-70-70
FCF LTM-463,337-6--60-64-46
FCF 3Y Avg-552,064-10----10
CFO LTM-453,718-6--60-64-45
CFO 3Y Avg-542,419-10----10

Growth & Margins

LENZVRTXAIXCALPSBBOTEVMNMedian
NameLENZ The.Vertex P.AIxCryptoALPS BridgeBi.Evommune  
Rev Chg LTM-10.3%----10.3%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg-10.5%----10.5%
Rev Chg Q-11.0%----11.0%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM250.0%2.7%----126.3%
Op Mgn LTM-388.0%-0.8%----700.7%-388.0%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg-26.2%----26.2%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM851.2%1.0%----426.1%
CFO/Rev LTM-258.4%31.7%----635.6%-258.4%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg-23.1%----23.1%
FCF/Rev LTM-263.8%28.5%----636.5%-263.8%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg-19.8%----19.8%

Valuation

LENZVRTXAIXCALPSBBOTEVMNMedian
NameLENZ The.Vertex P.AIxCryptoALPS BridgeBi.Evommune  
Mkt Cap0.8118.4----59.6
P/S76.08.5----42.3
P/EBIT-19.622.4----1.4
P/E-22.627.2----2.3
P/CFO-29.426.9-----1.2
Total Yield-4.4%3.7%-----0.4%
Dividend Yield0.0%0.0%----0.0%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg-29.5%2.3%-----13.6%
D/E0.00.0----0.0
Net D/E-0.2-0.0-----0.1

Returns

LENZVRTXAIXCALPSBBOTEVMNMedian
NameLENZ The.Vertex P.AIxCryptoALPS BridgeBi.Evommune  
1M Rtn0.3%8.7%---9.9%-0.3%
3M Rtn-28.7%16.8%--12.5%-12.5%
6M Rtn-4.1%3.9%-----0.1%
12M Rtn-21.6%1.3%-----10.1%
3Y Rtn700.0%44.1%----372.1%
1M Excs Rtn0.3%8.7%---9.9%-0.3%
3M Excs Rtn-35.2%11.3%--4.5%-4.5%
6M Excs Rtn-18.8%-10.8%-----14.8%
12M Excs Rtn-34.9%-14.6%-----24.8%
3Y Excs Rtn650.7%-25.9%----312.4%

Financials

Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity8,564,895
Short Interest: % Change Since 1031202518.5%
Average Daily Volume1,662,252
Days-to-Cover Short Interest5.15
Basic Shares Quantity28,540,519
Short % of Basic Shares30.0%

SEC Filings

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Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251105202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025730202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025507202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024319202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241106202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024814202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024508202410-Q 3/31/2024
123120222132024424B3 12/31/2022

Insider Activity

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 OwnerTitleFiling DateActionPriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
0MCCOLLUM JAMES W 11102025Buy22.7910,500239,278239,278Form