Tearsheet

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 -18%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -14%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -13%
Not profitable at operating income level
Op Inc LTMOperating Income, Last Twelve Months is -144 Mil, Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is -153%
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 -39%
  Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -15%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -56%
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Biotechnology & Genomics, and Precision Medicine. Themes include Gene Editing & Therapy, Targeted Therapies, Show more.
  Not cash flow generative
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -212%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -213%
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 -16%
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 -18%
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 -39%
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Biotechnology & Genomics, and Precision Medicine. Themes include Gene Editing & Therapy, Targeted Therapies, Show more.
3 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -14%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -13%
4 Not profitable at operating income level
Op Inc LTMOperating Income, Last Twelve Months is -144 Mil, Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is -153%
5 Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -15%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -56%
6 Not cash flow generative
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -212%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -213%
7 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 -16%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

WVE Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Between approximately August 31, 2025, and December 4, 2025, WAVE Life Sciences (WVE) experienced a stock price decrease of 25.6% due to several key factors.

1. Q3 2025 Earnings Miss: On November 10, 2025, Wave Life Sciences reported its third-quarter 2025 financial results, which significantly missed analyst expectations for both revenue and earnings per share, contributing to immediate negative investor sentiment.

2. Revenue Shortfall: For the third quarter of 2025, the company reported revenue of $7.6 million, falling below analysts' consensus estimates that ranged from $9.85 million to $11.2 million.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
WVE Return-2%-60%123%-28%145%-43%-13%
Peers Return1%8%-9%4%-11%9%-0%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
WVE Win Rate50%33%50%25%58%40% 
Peers Win Rate42%48%50%55%43%48% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
WVE Max Drawdown-13%-60%-61%-50%-30%-56% 
Peers Max Drawdown-30%-10%-23%-19%-26%-19% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: ACT, ALKS, LIVN, PRGO, PCRX. See WVE Returns vs. Peers.
[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 KeyEventWVES&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-89.8%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven876.4%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven887 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-64.2%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven179.5%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-85.5%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven590.9%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days120 days

Compare to ACT, ALKS, LIVN, PRGO, PCRX


In The Past

WAVE Life Sciences's stock fell -89.8% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 2/4/2021. A -89.8% loss requires a 876.4% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About WAVE Life Sciences (WVE)

Better Bets than WAVE Life Sciences (WVE)

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to WVE. 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
10.0%10.0%-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
-7.7%-7.7%-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
6.9%6.9%-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
11.5%11.5%-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
8.9%8.9%-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
10.0%10.0%-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
-7.7%-7.7%-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
6.9%6.9%-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
11.5%11.5%-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
8.9%8.9%-5.1%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for WAVE Life Sciences

Peers to compare with:

Financials

WVEACTALKSLIVNPRGOPCRXMedian
NameWAVE Lif.Enact Alkermes LivaNova Perrigo Pacira B. 
Mkt Price7.1438.6129.5363.2913.9624.1926.86
Mkt Cap1.25.74.93.51.91.12.7
Rev LTM941,2251,5211,3494,2827171,287
Op Inc LTM-144-35919439360194
FCF LTM-200704491191271124231
FCF 3Y Avg-114672353103235149192
CFO LTM-199704541251376141313
CFO 3Y Avg-113672397150339165252

Growth & Margins

WVEACTALKSLIVNPRGOPCRXMedian
NameWAVE Lif.Enact Alkermes LivaNova Perrigo Pacira B. 
Rev Chg LTM-15.0%2.4%1.1%8.6%-2.5%3.1%1.7%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg59.3%3.9%12.1%9.9%-0.8%3.1%6.9%
Rev Chg Q-55.8%0.6%4.2%12.5%-4.1%6.5%2.4%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM-10.5%0.2%1.1%3.0%-1.0%1.6%0.6%
Op Mgn LTM-152.8%-23.6%14.4%9.2%8.4%9.2%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg-200.4%-24.7%8.3%6.5%11.1%8.3%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-32.9%--1.3%1.0%-0.4%-1.4%-1.3%
CFO/Rev LTM-212.0%57.5%35.6%18.6%8.8%19.7%19.2%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg-119.3%56.6%25.9%11.6%7.6%23.8%17.7%
FCF/Rev LTM-213.0%57.5%32.3%14.2%6.3%17.3%15.8%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg-121.1%56.6%23.1%7.9%5.3%21.6%14.7%

Valuation

WVEACTALKSLIVNPRGOPCRXMedian
NameWAVE Lif.Enact Alkermes LivaNova Perrigo Pacira B. 
Mkt Cap1.25.74.93.51.91.12.7
P/S11.34.63.32.10.71.62.7
P/EBIT-7.46.312.2-20.811.619.99.0
P/E-8.28.614.6-13.2-59.552.90.2
P/CFO-5.48.09.211.48.28.08.1
Total Yield-12.2%13.8%6.8%-7.6%-0.4%1.9%0.8%
Dividend Yield0.0%2.1%0.0%0.0%1.3%0.0%0.0%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg-14.0%12.9%7.4%3.6%6.5%16.0%7.0%
D/E0.00.10.00.21.20.40.2
Net D/E-0.2-0.3-0.2-0.11.00.2-0.1

Returns

WVEACTALKSLIVNPRGOPCRXMedian
NameWAVE Lif.Enact Alkermes LivaNova Perrigo Pacira B. 
1M Rtn-14.1%8.1%-2.1%20.4%-30.5%9.0%3.0%
3M Rtn-10.8%2.8%-1.6%11.8%-38.8%-11.0%-6.2%
6M Rtn6.9%12.7%-6.4%42.3%-45.0%-10.3%0.3%
12M Rtn-49.1%11.7%0.2%22.6%-48.1%45.0%5.9%
3Y Rtn70.0%71.4%21.8%13.6%-50.4%-48.8%17.7%
1M Excs Rtn-14.0%8.2%-2.1%20.4%-30.5%9.0%3.0%
3M Excs Rtn-18.1%-4.2%-3.2%3.5%-44.1%-14.8%-9.5%
6M Excs Rtn-7.8%-2.0%-21.1%27.6%-59.7%-25.1%-14.5%
12M Excs Rtn-66.3%-1.4%-11.8%7.0%-61.9%29.5%-6.6%
3Y Excs Rtn-13.1%1.3%-40.3%-52.0%-122.8%-123.4%-46.1%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Developing its proprietary Ribonucleic acid (RNA) medicines platform, PRISM, to develop and1134412016
Total1134412016


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity15,407,887
Short Interest: % Change Since 1031202515.3%
Average Daily Volume2,795,090
Days-to-Cover Short Interest5.51
Basic Shares Quantity163,987,640
Short % of Basic Shares9.4%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
6302025730202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025508202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024304202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241112202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024808202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024510202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023306202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231109202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023803202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023503202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022323202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221110202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022811202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022512202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021303202210-K 12/31/2021
93020211110202110-Q 9/30/2021