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Upturn AI Summary - About
Clearfield Inc(CLFD)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CLFD
10/09/2026: CLFD (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
Clearfield Inc is a specialized manufacturer of fiber-optic management and connectivity products designed to streamline broadband network deployments. Its primary strength lies in its modular, labor-saving design, which is highly favored by community broadband providers. The company's main investment story revolves around its role as a key supplier for federally funded rural broadband expansion programs. However, the stock faces significant risks from customer concentration, cyclical industry spending, and pricing pressure from much larger infrastructure incumbents. Investors may view this as a potential growth play tied to infrastructure policy, though it is currently characterized by cyclical volatility and the lack of a dividend.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Mixed fit | Growth is currently constrained by industry-wide inventory digestion, making future performance highly dependent on project timing. |
| Momentum investor | Weak fit | Current market signals suggest a stabilization phase rather than a strong upward price trend. |
| Value investor | Mixed fit | Valuation has compressed significantly, but the stock remains sensitive to the cyclical nature of telecom capex. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | The company does not pay a dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios. |
| Low-risk investor | Weak fit | High sensitivity to government policy and sector spending makes this a volatile equity. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | High | The stock's history reflects significant swings linked to sector-specific demand spikes and lulls. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | While valuations have corrected, they are still contingent on future earnings recovery forecasts. |
| Competition risk (Large-cap incumbents) | High | Clearfield faces aggressive pricing pressure from much larger competitors with greater economies of scale. |
| Business quality | Medium | The company possesses strong technical expertise and clean balance sheet, but remains vulnerable to cyclical revenue shifts. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | Investors receive zero income from dividends, relying entirely on capital appreciation. |
| Execution risk | Medium | Success depends on the company's ability to capture share as federal funding programs finally ramp up. |
Price Behavior
Flat / Range-Bound
The stock price has been trading within a narrow range with minimal directional movement.
Highly Choppy
The stock has experienced frequent, large price swings that make its near-term movement less predictable.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -30.25% | Avg. Invested days 28 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 10/09/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 461.99M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 62.98 | 1Y Target Price 40.25 |
Price to earnings Ratio 62.98 | 1Y Target Price 40.25 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 139.1K shares | Beta 2.14 | 52 Weeks Range 23.76 - 52.73 | Updated Date 10/11/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 23.76 - 52.73 | Updated Date 10/11/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 0.54 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber Connectivity & Management | Includes the Clearview and FieldShield lines sold to ISPs and broadband providers. | The company makes money by selling the 'plumbing' that allows fiber-optic internet to be deployed efficiently. |
Valuation
Trailing PE 62.98 | Forward PE 26.81 | Enterprise Value 331.11M | Price to Sales(TTM) 3.01 |
Enterprise Value 331.11M | Price to Sales(TTM) 3.01 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 2.15 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 26.96 | Shares Outstanding 13.58M | Shares Floating 9.32M |
Shares Outstanding 13.58M | Shares Floating 9.32M | ||
Percent Insiders 18.17 | Percent Institutions 66.25 |
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
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