Tekla Life Sciences Investors(HQL)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
3-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$18.09
11/06/2026
(24-hour delay)

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)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for HQL

11/06/2026: HQL (3-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Tekla Life Sciences Investors (HQL) is a closed-end fund that offers investors targeted exposure to the dynamic biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. The fund is known for its ability to invest in both publicly traded equities and private placements, providing access to early-stage innovations often unavailable to typical retail investors. Its primary investment story revolves around capitalizing on medical breakthroughs and long-term sector growth. However, investors should be aware that the fund carries high volatility and regulatory risks inherent to the biotech industry. HQL may be a suitable fit for growth-oriented investors looking for specialized management, provided they understand the cyclical nature of the underlying assets.

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 styleFitWhy
Growth investorStrong fitThe focus on biotechnology and life sciences provides exposure to high-growth innovation.
Momentum investorMixed fitStrong fit while signal remains positive, as the fund is highly sensitive to biotech sector momentum.
Value investorWeak fitThe biotech sector often trades at high multiples, making it less suitable for traditional value investors.
Dividend investorMixed fitWhile it pays distributions, these are often driven by capital gains rather than stable, high-yield underlying dividends.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe inherent volatility of the life sciences industry creates a high-risk profile.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighBiotech stocks are prone to sharp moves based on clinical trial outcomes.
Valuation riskMedium / highGrowth expectations in biotech can lead to overvaluation relative to fundamentals.
Competition riskMediumCompetition from larger, diversified healthcare funds limits pricing power for the fund's management.
Business qualityMediumThe quality of the portfolio depends heavily on the success of external biotech companies.
Dividend incomeMediumDistributions are subject to market volatility and are not guaranteed.
Execution riskMediumThe fund manager's ability to pick successful winners is paramount to performance.

Price Behavior

Rolling Over
PRICE PATH

Rolling Over

The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 78.47%
Avg. Invested days 68
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 4.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 4.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/06/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
HQL receives a 3-star rating based on the available scored pillars. The rating is constrained by soft analyst coverage, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
HQL has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and soft ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, moderate earnings growth (+0.3%) and strong profitability (net margin 99.1%) are partially offset by weak cash generation (FCF margin -2.7%), slightly negative revenue growth (-0.3%), very low insider ownership of 0.00%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
HQL's financial health is supported by strong profitability, including gross margin of 100.0% and operating margin of 99.1%. Liquidity is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is HQL's strongest growth driver at +0.3% FY2025 versus FY2024 (moderate, 3 stars). By comparison, while revenue growth (-0.3%, slightly negative) and free-cash-flow growth (+0.0%, slightly negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 38.5% (moderate) and 0.0% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable (soft). Insider ownership is only 0.00%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
HQL generates approximately $1,000 of gross profit, $991 of operating income, and $-27 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Weak margins and weak cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is solid.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 0.00%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
HQL has a relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedLow VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap Risk

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 538.22M USD
Price to earnings Ratio 2.72
1Y Target Price -
Price to earnings Ratio 2.72
1Y Target Price -
Volume (30-day avg) 120.8K shares
Beta 0.73
52 Weeks Range 14.15 - 22.04
Updated Date 11/08/2026
52 Weeks Range 14.15 - 22.04
Updated Date 11/08/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 11.00%
Basic EPS (TTM) 6.64

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Life Sciences Equity InvestmentsPublicly traded biotech and pharma stocks.The fund grows money by picking stocks that gain value as their drug pipelines succeed.
Private PlacementsInvestment in unlisted biotech ventures.The fund invests in private companies to capture early-stage growth before they go public.

Valuation

Trailing PE 2.72
Forward PE -
Enterprise Value 549.23M
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.91
Enterprise Value 549.23M
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.91
Enterprise Value to Revenue 2.77
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 30.41M
Shares Floating -
Shares Outstanding 30.41M
Shares Floating -
Percent Insiders -
Percent Institutions 38.46

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.