Tearsheet

Mesa Laboratories (MLAB)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $77.46 | Market Cap: $427.0 Mil
Sector: Information Technology | Industry: Electronic Equipment & Instruments

Mesa Laboratories (MLAB)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $77.46
Market Cap: $427.0 Mil
Sector: Information Technology
Industry: Electronic Equipment & Instruments

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 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 17%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 15%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -62%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -127%
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 -3.6%
1 Valuation becoming less expensive
P/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -44%
  
2 Attractive yield
FCF Yield is 10%
  
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Biotechnology & Genomics, and Water Infrastructure. Themes include Advanced Diagnostics, Biopharmaceutical R&D, Show more.
  
0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 17%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 15%
1 Valuation becoming less expensive
P/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -44%
2 Attractive yield
FCF Yield is 10%
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Biotechnology & Genomics, and Water Infrastructure. Themes include Advanced Diagnostics, Biopharmaceutical R&D, Show more.
4 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -62%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -127%
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 -3.6%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

MLAB Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Here are five key points explaining Mesa Laboratories' (MLAB) stock movement for the approximate time period from August 31, 2025, to December 4, 2025:

1. Weak Q1 Fiscal Year 2026 Earnings: The announcement in early August 2025, just prior to the specified period, that Mesa Laboratories missed its Q1 FY26 earnings and revenue estimates, likely created a negative sentiment that extended into the beginning of the requested timeframe.

2. Execution of Strategic Financing Plan: On August 18, 2025, Mesa Laboratories successfully repaid $97.5 million of its convertible senior notes, utilizing funds from its existing credit agreement. This strategic financial maneuver was intended to optimize the company's capital structure and reduce potential shareholder dilution, a move generally perceived as positive by investors.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
MLAB Return15%15%-49%-37%27%-42%-69%
Peers Return142%15%-18%9%-10%-4%116%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
MLAB Win Rate75%58%17%33%50%30% 
Peers Win Rate43%48%37%47%40%50% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
MLAB Max Drawdown-23%-18%-64%-49%-19%-56% 
Peers Max Drawdown-34%-6%-29%-13%-24%-14% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: MVIS, USBC, ROP, KEYS, TDY.
[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 KeyEventMLABS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-74.6%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven293.2%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-29.4%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven41.7%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven198 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-28.7%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven40.2%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven225 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-45.1%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven82.1%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven287 days1480 days

Compare to MVIS, USBC, ROP, KEYS, TDY


In The Past

Mesa Laboratories's stock fell -74.6% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 12/27/2021. A -74.6% loss requires a 293.2% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

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Asset Allocation

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About Mesa Laboratories (MLAB)

Better Bets than Mesa Laboratories (MLAB)

Trade Ideas

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

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
ENPH_11302025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11302025ENPHEnphase EnergyDip 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
0.9%0.9%-0.9%
PD_11262025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11262025PDPagerDutyDip 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
0.8%0.8%0.0%
CRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CRMSalesforceDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
3.3%3.3%-0.1%
HUBS_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11212025HUBSHubSpotDip 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
5.1%5.1%0.0%
FIVN_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025FIVNFive9Dip 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
4.0%4.0%0.0%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
ENPH_11302025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11302025ENPHEnphase EnergyDip 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
0.9%0.9%-0.9%
PD_11262025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11262025PDPagerDutyDip 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
0.8%0.8%0.0%
CRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CRMSalesforceDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
3.3%3.3%-0.1%
HUBS_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11212025HUBSHubSpotDip 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
5.1%5.1%0.0%
FIVN_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025FIVNFive9Dip 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
4.0%4.0%0.0%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Mesa Laboratories

Peers to compare with:

Financials

MLABMVISUSBCROPKEYSTDYMedian
NameMesa Lab.Microvis.USBC Roper Te.Keysight.Teledyne. 
Mkt Price76.380.880.82445.89206.61503.96141.50
Mkt Cap0.40.2-48.035.523.623.6
Rev LTM245307,7215,2436,0052,744
Op Inc LTM15-62-92,1728891,110452
FCF LTM37-56-82,4061,4151,038538
FCF 3Y Avg36-62-101,9951,181923480
CFO LTM41-56-82,5241,5431,145593
CFO 3Y Avg40-60-102,1011,3471,026533

Growth & Margins

MLABMVISUSBCROPKEYSTDYMedian
NameMesa Lab.Microvis.USBC Roper Te.Keysight.Teledyne. 
Rev Chg LTM7.4%-71.3%-14.0%4.8%7.4%7.4%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg3.4%198.8%-14.1%0.1%3.6%3.6%
Rev Chg Q5.0%-91.8%-14.3%11.1%6.7%6.7%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM1.2%-40.3%-3.4%2.6%1.6%1.6%
Op Mgn LTM6.1%-2,383.0%-28.1%17.0%18.5%17.0%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg4.3%-3,301.7%-28.3%20.2%18.4%18.4%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM0.4%-800.1%-0.1%0.1%-0.1%0.1%
CFO/Rev LTM16.7%-2,166.2%-32.7%29.4%19.1%19.1%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg17.7%-2,431.1%-30.4%25.5%17.8%17.8%
FCF/Rev LTM15.1%-2,182.0%-31.2%27.0%17.3%17.3%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg16.0%-2,580.7%-28.9%22.3%16.0%16.0%

Valuation

MLABMVISUSBCROPKEYSTDYMedian
NameMesa Lab.Microvis.USBC Roper Te.Keysight.Teledyne. 
Mkt Cap0.40.2-48.035.523.623.6
P/S1.5112.3-6.95.44.65.4
P/EBIT20.9-4.1-23.425.625.823.4
P/E-235.0-3.2-34.251.833.633.6
P/CFO9.0-5.2-21.318.324.018.3
Total Yield0.5%-30.9%-3.6%1.9%3.0%1.9%
Dividend Yield0.9%0.0%-0.6%0.0%0.0%0.0%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg7.2%-20.2%-3.6%4.3%4.2%4.2%
D/E0.50.2-0.20.10.10.2
Net D/E0.5-0.1-0.20.00.10.1

Returns

MLABMVISUSBCROPKEYSTDYMedian
NameMesa Lab.Microvis.USBC Roper Te.Keysight.Teledyne. 
1M Rtn4.1%-23.3%-12.8%-0.6%11.0%-2.8%-1.7%
3M Rtn24.7%-20.5%-5.4%-14.8%25.0%-7.5%-6.5%
6M Rtn-24.0%-24.6%--21.3%28.3%1.2%-21.3%
12M Rtn-37.5%0.2%--20.9%20.8%5.3%0.2%
3Y Rtn-56.3%-71.3%-2.2%14.4%18.0%2.2%
1M Excs Rtn4.1%-23.3%-12.7%-0.6%11.0%-2.7%-1.6%
3M Excs Rtn13.6%-25.2%4.9%-20.6%18.4%-13.2%-4.1%
6M Excs Rtn-38.7%-39.3%--36.0%13.6%-13.5%-36.0%
12M Excs Rtn-47.9%-15.5%--34.3%7.4%-9.7%-15.5%
3Y Excs Rtn-126.9%-141.6%--65.8%-53.8%-50.9%-65.8%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20252024202320222021
Sterilization and Disinfection Control7565595350
Clinical Genomics536233  
Calibration Solutions48454747 
Biopharmaceutical Development4147463414
Corporate and Other0 0 2
Continuous Monitoring    14
Instruments    38
Total216219184134118


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity326,568
Short Interest: % Change Since 10312025-10.4%
Average Daily Volume121,060
Days-to-Cover Short Interest2.70
Basic Shares Quantity5,512,000
Short % of Basic Shares5.9%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251106202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025805202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025528202510-K 3/31/2025
12312024204202510-Q 12/31/2024
93020241107202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024805202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024628202410-K 3/31/2024
12312023205202410-Q 12/31/2023
93020231106202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023803202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023530202310-K 3/31/2023
12312022206202310-Q 12/31/2022
93020221103202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022804202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022531202210-K 3/31/2022
12312021203202210-Q 12/31/2021