Does STAAR SURGICAL CO have an economic moat?

Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores STAAR SURGICAL CO (STAA) 49.5 out of 100 — a Shallow moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 70, returns on capital 42, balance-sheet safety 55, capital discipline 24.

Is STAA stock trading below its intrinsic value?

Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $0.71 per share versus a recent price of $26.44 — 3621% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.

How has STAA's Moat Score changed over time?

The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 49.5 out of 100 (shallow moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

The Moat Index

STAAR SURGICAL CO

STAA · Healthcare · $1.3B mkt cap · FY2025 filings · Shallow moat ·

Doesn't clear the bar

Shallow moat

The four filters

Pricing power70

Median gross margin 171.8% over 10y, variable.

Returns on capital42

Median ROIC 9.9%, above the 9% hurdle in 60% 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

3621% above value

Owner earnings (normalized): $3.2M
Est. intrinsic value / share: $0.71
Recent price: $26.44
Discount to value: 3621% above value

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

18 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

STAAR SURGICAL CO booked $239.4M of revenue in FY2025 in the Healthcare sector and kept 76.2% of it as gross profit — a high-margin business by that measure. After every other cost, −33.6% of each revenue dollar reached the bottom line.

Across the filed record, revenue grew from $51.1M (FY2009) to $239.4M (FY2025) — about 10.1% a year compounded over 16 years.

It earned −37.9% on invested capital in FY2025, with a median of −3.9% across 17 filed years. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 42/100.

STAA'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 40.8% between FY2010 and FY2025 — existing owners have been diluted over the record. Capital Discipline scores it 24/100.

Put together: Pricing Power is the strongest of the four filters (70/100) and Capital Discipline the weakest (24/100), which is how STAA lands at 50/100 — a Shallow 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$239.4M FY2025

Gross marginRevenue kept after cost of goods76.2% FY2025

Return on invested capitalOperating profit on the capital employed−37.9% FY2025

Owner earningsCash an owner could take out−$86.3M FY2025

Gaps in a line mean that item isn’t in STAA’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 scale49.5 / 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 — STAA has read Shallow 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

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

Nearest peers by Moat Score

#115OBIO Orchestra BioMed Holdings, Inc.49.7 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#116COO The Cooper Companies, Inc.49.5 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#118BRTX BIORESTORATIVE THERAPIES, INC.49.5 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#119IDXG INTERPACE BIOSCIENCES, INC.49.3 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat

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

Common questions about STAA

Does STAAR SURGICAL CO have an economic moat?: Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores STAAR SURGICAL CO (STAA) 49.5 out of 100 — a Shallow moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 70, returns on capital 42, balance-sheet safety 55, capital discipline 24.
Is STAA stock trading below its intrinsic value?: Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $0.71 per share versus a recent price of $26.44 — 3621% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.
How has STAA's Moat Score changed over time?: The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 49.5 out of 100 (shallow 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 STAA. See the disclaimer.