3 Reasons STAA is Risky and 1 Stock to Buy Instead Adam Hejl Mon, October 12, 2026 at 1:51 PM EDT 3 min read STAA -0.32% ^GSPC -0.15% Trade STAA on Coinbase Trading disclosure Trading disclosure The above button links to Coinbase. Yahoo Finance is not a broker-dealer or investment adviser and does not offer securities or cryptocurrencies for sale or facilitate trading. Coinbase pays us for certain activity generated through this link. Prices displayed are informational.
Over the past six months, STAAR Surgical's shares (currently trading at $21.50) have posted a disappointing 19.9% loss, well below the S&P 500's 12.8% gain. This might have investors contemplating their next move.
Is there a buying opportunity in STAAR Surgical, or does it present a risk to your portfolio? Check out our in-depth research report to see what our analysts have to say, it's free.
Despite the more favorable entry price, we're passing on STAAR Surgical for now. Here are three reasons why STAA doesn't excite us, plus one stock we'd rather own.
Long-term growth is the most important, but within healthcare, a stretched historical view may miss new innovations or demand cycles. STAAR Surgical's recent performance shows its demand has slowed as its revenue was flat over the last two years.
Larger companies benefit from economies of scale, where fixed costs like infrastructure, technology, and administration are spread over a higher volume of goods or services, reducing the cost per unit. Scale can also lead to bargaining power with suppliers, greater brand recognition, and more investment firepower. A virtuous cycle can ensue if a scaled company plays its cards right.
With just $339.6 million in revenue over the past 12 months, STAAR Surgical is a small company in an industry where scale matters. This makes it difficult to build trust with customers because healthcare is heavily regulated, complex, and resource-intensive.
ROIC, or return on invested capital, is a metric showing how much operating profit a company generates relative to the money it has raised (debt and equity).
Unfortunately, STAAR Surgical's ROIC has decreased significantly over the last few years. Paired with its already low returns, these declines suggest its profitable growth opportunities are few and far between.
STAAR Surgical falls short of our quality standards. Following the recent decline, the stock trades at 22.7× forward P/E (or $21.50 per share). This multiple tells us a lot of good news is priced in - you can find more timely opportunities elsewhere. Let us point you toward a top digital advertising platform riding the creator economy.
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