CRS

CRS

Carpenter Technology Corp manufactures specialty alloys and engineered products for demanding industries like aerospace.
As a sophisticated materials leader, the company is defined by its high-performance products and technical expertise in critical applications.

$323.00 +2.86 (+0.89%)

Updated: January 14, 2026, 16:00 EST

Analyzed by Rockflow Bobby Quantitative Model āœ“ Updated Daily

Investment Opinion: Should I buy CRS Today?

Based on the comprehensive analysis, CRS presents a complex investment case characterized by strong operational performance but significant valuation concerns.

Technical Analysis CRS exhibits strong momentum, having significantly outperformed the market with 27.65% gains over three months. The recent minor consolidation appears healthy after such substantial appreciation, though the stock's high beta of 1.29 indicates it will remain more volatile than the broader market. Current trading levels approximately 8% below the 52-week high suggest potential for continued upward movement if momentum resumes.

Fundamentals The company demonstrates solid profitability with improving net income margins and strong gross margins above 29%. Financial health is excellent with minimal leverage and strong liquidity, though negative free cash flow and an extended cash conversion cycle indicate some operational inefficiencies. Revenue declined slightly last quarter, which warrants monitoring for potential trends.

Valuation & Risk Valuation metrics present the greatest concern, with extremely high PE, PB, and EV/EBITDA ratios suggesting the stock is significantly overvalued. The high beta and substantial historical drawdown of -28.81% confirm elevated volatility risk. Without industry comparables, it's difficult to determine if these premium multiples are justified by sector norms.

Recommendation CRS demonstrates strong operational fundamentals and technical momentum, but the extreme valuation multiples make it difficult to justify buying at current levels. While the company's profitability and financial health are solid, the price appears to have run far ahead of fundamentals. Investors might consider waiting for a more attractive entry point or valuation correction before establishing a position. The stock's high volatility also suggests potential for significant downside during market corrections.

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CRS 12-Month Price Forecast

RockFlow Model Forecast: Three Scenarios for 2026

Based on the comprehensive analysis of CRS, here is a 12-month outlook:

1. Key Catalysts: The primary catalyst for CRS is the potential resumption of its strong positive momentum, as the stock is currently trading 8% below its 52-week high. Continued operational execution that improves the negative free cash flow and stabilizes revenues could justify its premium valuation to long-term investors.

2. Potential Risks: The most significant risk is its extreme valuation multiples, which suggest the stock is priced for near-perfect execution and leaves little room for error. The high beta of 1.29 also makes it vulnerable to significant downside during broader market corrections, a risk underscored by its substantial historical drawdown.

3. Target Price Range: Given the absence of a clear analyst target and the concerning valuation, a specific target is challenging. The outlook is bifurcated; a successful execution of growth plans could push the price toward its previous highs, but a failure to meet lofty expectations or a market downturn could lead to a sharp re-rating. Investors should monitor for a valuation correction to more reasonable levels before considering an entry.

Wall Street Consensus

Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about CRS's 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $323.00, indicating expected upside potential.

Average Target
$323.00
7 analysts
Implied Upside
+0%
vs. current price
Analyst Count
7
covering this stock
Price Range
$258 - $420
Analyst target range
Buy Buy
7 (100%)
Hold Hold
0 (0%)
Sell Sell
0 (0%)

Bulls vs Bears: CRS Investment Factors

Overall, CRS has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.

Bullish Bullish
  • Strong Q1 Earnings Beat: Reported record operating income and expanding margins, exceeding market expectations.
  • Significant Stock Price Surge: Share price rose over 22% post-earnings, approaching 52-week highs.
  • Robust Aerospace & Defense Demand: Strong performance driven by key aerospace and defense market segments.
  • Long-Term Agreements at Premium Prices: Signed new long-term contracts securing future revenue at favorable prices.
  • Strategic Debt Refinancing: Announced $700M senior notes offering to redeem existing higher-cost debt.
Bearish Bearish
  • High Trading Volume and Volatility: Recent 19% surge accompanied by high volume, suggesting potential overvaluation.
  • Potential Debt Increase: $700M new debt offering could increase leverage and financial risk.
  • Mixed Analyst Sentiment: Some analysts maintain Hold rating despite strong quarterly results.
  • Prior Q3 Underperformance: Stock traded lower in Q3, indicating historical volatility.
  • Cyclical Industry Exposure: Steel industry sensitivity to economic cycles poses long-term risks.
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CRS Technical Analysis

CRS has delivered exceptional long-term performance despite recent consolidation, significantly outpacing the market over the past three months. The stock demonstrates strong momentum characteristics with elevated volatility relative to the broader market.

Over the past month, CRS has experienced mild consolidation with a 0.56% decline, but this follows exceptional 3-month performance where it gained 27.65% while outperforming the market by 24.28 percentage points. This short-term pause appears healthy given the substantial preceding gains and the stock's high beta of 1.29.

Currently trading at $320.14, CRS sits approximately 8.3% below its 52-week high of $348.99 after recovering substantially from its 52-week low of $138.61. While not deeply oversold, the stock is experiencing modest profit-taking within its upward trajectory, having recovered completely from its maximum 1-year drawdown of -28.81%.

šŸ“Š Beta
1.29
1.29x market volatility
šŸ“‰ Max Drawdown
-28.8%
Largest decline past year
šŸ“ˆ 52-Week Range
$139-$349
Price range past year
šŸ’¹ Annual Return
+62.8%
Cumulative gain past year
Period CRS Return S&P 500
1m +0.4% +1.3%
3m +34.0% +5.7%
6m +16.7% +10.6%
1y +62.8% +16.5%
ytd -4.5% +1.1%

CRS Fundamental Analysis

Revenue & Profitability CRS demonstrates solid profitability with a net income ratio of 16.7% in Q1 2026, improving from 14.8% in the prior quarter, indicating effective cost management. The company maintained a strong gross profit margin of 29.5%, supporting healthy operating income margins above 20%. Revenue declined slightly quarter-over-quarter from $755.6 million to $733.7 million, warranting monitoring for sustained trends.

Financial Health The company maintains excellent liquidity with a current ratio of 4.44 and minimal leverage, evidenced by a low debt ratio of 20.7%. However, free cash flow per share was negative at -$0.07, primarily due to capital expenditures, while operating cash flow remained positive. The interest coverage ratio of 13.3x indicates strong ability to service debt obligations.

Operational Efficiency CRS shows moderate operational efficiency with an ROE of 6.4% and asset turnover of 0.22, suggesting room for improvement in capital utilization. The cash conversion cycle of 168 days appears extended, driven by high days inventory outstanding at 135 days. Operating margins above 20% indicate reasonable cost control despite the lengthy working capital cycle.

Quarterly Revenue
$0.7B
2025-09
Revenue YoY Growth
+2.2%
YoY Comparison
Gross Margin
29.5%
Latest Quarter
Free Cash Flow
$0.3B
Last 12 Months

Revenue & Net Income Trends (2 Years)

Revenue Breakdown

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Valuation Analysis: Is CRS Overvalued?

Based on the provided ratios, CRS appears significantly overvalued by traditional metrics. The high TTM PE ratio of 38.9 and elevated forward PE of 25.1 suggest a premium valuation relative to current and near-term earnings. This is further supported by extremely high multiples for PB (8.42), PS (5.56), and EV/EBITDA (66.6), while a PEG ratio significantly above 1 indicates the stock price may not be justified by its expected earnings growth rate.

Unfortunately, a conclusive peer comparison cannot be performed due to the unavailability of industry average data. Without these benchmarks, it is impossible to determine whether CRS's premium multiples are typical for its sector or represent a significant outlier. A thorough valuation assessment would require comparing these ratios against the specific industry's averages to contextualize their meaning.

Current PE
38.5x
Latest Quarter
vs. Historical
Mid-Range
5-Year PE Range -66Ɨ-142Ɨ
vs. Industry Avg
N/A
Industry PE ~N/AƗ
EV/EBITDA
66.6x
Enterprise Value Multiple

Investment Risk Disclosure

Volatility Risk: With a beta of 1.29, CRS exhibits approximately 29% more volatility than the broader market, implying heightened sensitivity to market movements. This elevated volatility is confirmed by the significant one-year maximum drawdown of -28.81%, indicating substantial downside risk during recent market stress.

Other Risks: While short interest is reported as none, suggesting minimal speculative pressure or bearish sentiment, this does not preclude other fundamental or sector-specific risks. Investors should still consider factors such as company-specific operational challenges, liquidity, and concentration risk within its industry.

FAQs

Is CRS a good stock to buy?

Bullish - CRS appears attractive for momentum investors comfortable with volatility. The stock shows strong technical momentum with 27.65% gains over three months and solid fundamentals including expanding profit margins (16.7% net income) and robust liquidity (current ratio of 4.44). While valuation multiples are elevated, the positive analyst sentiment and strong aerospace/defense demand support near-term upside potential. Suitable for risk-tolerant investors seeking growth exposure.

Is CRS stock overvalued or undervalued?

Based on the provided metrics, CRS stock appears overvalued. Its PE ratio of 38.9 and high PB (8.42) and PS (5.56) ratios suggest investors are paying a significant premium for its earnings and assets. This is supported by a PEG ratio of 2.54, which is well above 1, indicating the stock price is high relative to its expected earnings growth. Despite the company's solid profitability and healthy balance sheet, the current valuation multiples are difficult to justify based on the modest growth and operational efficiency metrics provided.

What are the main risks of holding CRS?

Based on the provided information, here are the key risks of holding CRS:

1. Market Volatility Risk: The stock's high beta of 1.29 makes it significantly more volatile than the market, exposing it to larger price swings during periods of broad market stress, as evidenced by its substantial -28.81% maximum drawdown. 2. Business/Operational Risk: An extended cash conversion cycle of 168 days, driven by high inventory levels (135 days), indicates potential inefficiency in working capital management that could strain liquidity and profitability. 3. Revenue Growth Risk: The recent quarter-over-quarter revenue decline from $755.6 million to $733.7 million warrants monitoring, as it could signal early challenges in maintaining top-line growth. 4. Cash Flow Risk: Despite positive operating cash flow, the company reported negative free cash flow per share (-$0.07), indicating that high capital expenditures are consuming cash and could limit financial flexibility if sustained.

What is the price forecast for CRS in 2026?

Based on the provided analysis, forecasting for CRS to 2026 is highly speculative due to its extreme valuation and lack of analyst consensus. However, a strategic outlook can be framed as follows.

Target Price Range: The base case target for late 2026 is $280-$330, reflecting a high-risk premium and the potential for valuation compression. A bull case, dependent on flawless execution and market favor, could see a push toward $400+, revisiting previous highs.

Key Growth Drivers are the resumption of positive revenue momentum, a significant improvement in free cash flow from negative to positive, and enhanced operational efficiency to shorten the lengthy cash conversion cycle.

Main Assumptions include that the company can stabilize revenues, manage its high valuation without a major correction, and that broader market conditions remain supportive. The forecast carries significant uncertainty, heavily contingent on the company meeting its lofty growth expectations; any misstep or market downturn could trigger a sharp de-rating well below the base case.