Does Pulse Biosciences, Inc. have an economic moat?

Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores Pulse Biosciences, Inc. (PLSE) 15.8 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 0, returns on capital 0, balance-sheet safety 55, capital discipline 24.

How has PLSE's Moat Score changed over time?

The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 15.8 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

The Moat Index

Pulse Biosciences, Inc.

PLSE · Healthcare · $1.9B mkt cap · FY2025 filings · No moat ·

Doesn't clear the bar

No moat

The four filters

Pricing power0

Median gross margin -54.0% over 3y, variable.

Returns on capital0

Median ROIC -176.8%, above the 9% hurdle in 0% of years.

Balance-sheet safety55

Net cash position — no leverage risk.

Capital discipline24

Owner earnings trend unclear, share count growing (dilution).

Margin of safety

Above valueOn sale

No price data

Owner earnings (normalized): —
Est. intrinsic value / share: —
Recent price: $28.68
Discount to value: No price data

Conservative model: 9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth (capped at 4%), maintenance capex ≈ min(capex, D&A).

12 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

Pulse Biosciences, Inc. booked $350000 of revenue in FY2025 in the Healthcare sector and kept −54.0% of it as gross profit — a thin-margin business by that measure. After every other cost, −20794.6% of each revenue dollar reached the bottom line.

It earned −703.5% on invested capital in FY2021, with a median of −158.9% across 7 filed years. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 0/100.

PLSE's filings don't disclose total debt in a form the methodology can use, so leverage is treated as unmeasured — never assumed to be zero.

The share count rose 796.8% between FY2015 and FY2025 — existing owners have been diluted over the record. Capital Discipline scores it 24/100.

Put together: Balance-Sheet Safety is the strongest of the four filters (55/100) and Pricing Power the weakest (0/100), which is how PLSE lands at 16/100 — a None moat.

This breakdown is generated from the filed numbers and sub-scores above — no outside narrative, no estimates. Where a filing doesn’t disclose an input, the sentence that would need it is omitted instead of guessed.

RevenueSales, as filed$350000 FY2025

Gross marginRevenue kept after cost of goods−54.0% FY2025

Return on invested capitalOperating profit on the capital employed−703.5% FY2021

Owner earningsCash an owner could take out−$73.1M FY2025

Gaps in a line mean that item isn’t in PLSE’s filings for that year — the series is never interpolated or estimated. The Table view lists every filed value, including operating and net margins, total debt, and share count.

Moat Score history

Moat Score over timeLast scored reading of each day, on the 0–100 scale15.8 / 100

Score history begins Jul 17, 2026 — the record builds from here and can’t be backfilled.

Tier changesSame-methodology crossings of the Wide / Narrow / Shallow bars

None yet — PLSE has read No moat for every logged capture since Jul 17, 2026.

Scores are logged append-only and never overwritten — this record can’t be backfilled, which is exactly why it’s worth keeping.

Healthcare context

#427 of 440 scored Healthcare companies, ranked by Moat Score.

Nearest peers by Moat Score

#425RXRX RECURSION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.15.8 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#426SENS SENSEONICS HOLDINGS, INC.15.8 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#428LFCR LIFECORE BIOMEDICAL, INC.15.4 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#429PSNL Personalis, Inc.15.2 out of 100, No moatNo moat

Compare PLSE with its nearest peers →All Healthcare companies on the Index →

Common questions about PLSE

Does Pulse Biosciences, Inc. have an economic moat?: Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores Pulse Biosciences, Inc. (PLSE) 15.8 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 0, returns on capital 0, balance-sheet safety 55, capital discipline 24.
How has PLSE's Moat Score changed over time?: The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 15.8 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

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Scored from primary SEC filings via the public methodology. Educational only — not a recommendation to buy or sell PLSE. See the disclaimer.