📊 CLB Key Takeaways
Is Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ (CLB) a Good Investment?
Core Laboratories is fundamentally distressed with negative net profitability, inability to cover interest expenses (0.7x coverage), and stagnant revenue growth of 0.5% YoY. The company generates minimal operating cash flow ($4M on $121.8M revenue) and essentially zero free cash flow, creating acute debt service risk despite moderate leverage ratios. Without significant operational turnaround, the company faces solvency challenges.
Core Laboratories shows a fundamentally stable profile with solid liquidity, manageable leverage, and positive free cash flow generation. However, growth quality is mixed because modest revenue expansion has not translated into stronger earnings, with net income and diluted EPS both declining year over year. The company appears financially sound, but margin expansion and cash conversion need to improve before the fundamentals support a more bullish view.
Why Buy Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ Stock? CLB Key Strengths
- Reasonable short-term liquidity with 2.05x current ratio
- Moderate leverage with 0.44x debt-to-equity ratio
- Positive operating cash flow of $4M provides minimal cushion
- Strong liquidity with a 2.37x current ratio and 1.76x quick ratio
- Moderate leverage with 0.43x debt-to-equity and acceptable 5.1x interest coverage
- Positive free cash flow generation with $20.82M of FCF and limited capital intensity
CLB Stock Risks: Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ Investment Risks
- Critical interest coverage of 0.7x - cannot cover debt service from operations
- Negative net income and negative ROE/ROA indicate shareholder value destruction
- Stagnant revenue growth of 0.5% with declining profitability suggests structural headwinds
- Extremely low free cash flow of $517K with $117M long-term debt creates refinancing risk
- Operating margin collapse to 1.5% shows pricing pressure in oil & gas services sector
- Earnings quality is under pressure as revenue rose 2.8% but net income fell 2.3% and diluted EPS declined 14.3%
- Profitability remains only moderate with a 10.5% operating margin and 6.4% net margin
- Low cash balance of $25.63M reduces flexibility if operating conditions weaken or working capital needs rise
Key Metrics to Watch
- Interest coverage ratio - must exceed 1.5x to ensure debt sustainability
- Operating cash flow trend - currently insufficient to support debt service
- Revenue growth acceleration - stagnation at 0.5% indicates no recovery trajectory
- Operating margin expansion - must return to positive territory on net basis
- Operating margin and net margin trend
- Free cash flow conversion relative to net income
Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ (CLB) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
The relatively thin 0.4% FCF margin may limit capital allocation flexibility. Strong liquidity with a 2.05x current ratio provides a solid financial cushion.
CLB Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
CLB vs Energy Sector: How Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ Compares
How Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ compares to Energy sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ Stock Overvalued? CLB Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ shows some fundamental concerns relative to the Energy sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ Balance Sheet: CLB Debt, Cash & Liquidity
CLB Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/'s revenue has shown modest growth of 3% over the 5-year period. The most recent EPS of $0.77 reflects profitable operations.
CLB Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
CLB Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | $121.8M | -$154.0K | $0.00 |
| Q3 2025 | $134.4M | $11.7M | $0.25 |
| Q2 2025 | $130.2M | $9.0M | $0.19 |
| Q1 2025 | $123.6M | -$154.0K | $0.00 |
| Q3 2024 | $125.3M | $9.3M | $0.19 |
| Q2 2024 | $127.9M | $9.0M | $0.19 |
| Q1 2024 | $128.4M | $2.4M | $0.05 |
| Q3 2023 | $125.3M | $7.5M | $0.16 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
CLB SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ (CIK: 0001958086)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about CLB
What is the AI rating for CLB?
Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ (CLB) has a Combined AI Rating of SELL from Claude (STRONG SELL) and ChatGPT (HOLD) with 84% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are CLB's key strengths?
Claude: Reasonable short-term liquidity with 2.05x current ratio. Moderate leverage with 0.44x debt-to-equity ratio. ChatGPT: Strong liquidity with a 2.37x current ratio and 1.76x quick ratio. Moderate leverage with 0.43x debt-to-equity and acceptable 5.1x interest coverage.
What are the risks of investing in CLB?
Claude: Critical interest coverage of 0.7x - cannot cover debt service from operations. Negative net income and negative ROE/ROA indicate shareholder value destruction. ChatGPT: Earnings quality is under pressure as revenue rose 2.8% but net income fell 2.3% and diluted EPS declined 14.3%. Profitability remains only moderate with a 10.5% operating margin and 6.4% net margin.
What is CLB's revenue and growth?
Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ reported revenue of $121.8M.
Does CLB pay dividends?
Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ pays dividends, with $0.5M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find CLB SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ (CIK: 0001958086) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is CLB's EPS?
Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ has a diluted EPS of $-0.02.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
Is CLB a good stock to buy right now?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in May 2026, Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ has a SELL rating with 84% confidence. Review the strengths and risks sections above before making a decision. This is not investment advice.
Is CLB stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for CLB: ROE of -0.3% (sector avg: 14%), net margin of -0.6% (sector avg: 12%). Compare these metrics with sector averages to assess valuation.
Should I buy CLB stock in 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/ a combined SELL rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability at or below sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is CLB's free cash flow?
Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/'s operating cash flow is $4.0M, with capital expenditures of $3.4M. FCF margin is 0.4%.
How does CLB compare to other Energy stocks?
Vs Energy sector averages: Net margin -0.6% (avg: 12%), ROE -0.3% (avg: 14%), current ratio 2.05 (avg: 1.3).