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Research Frontiers (REFR) AI Stock Analysis

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REFR

Research Frontiers

(NASDAQ:REFR)

Select Model
Rating:43Neutral
Price Target:$0.36â–²(0.85% Upside)
Action:reiterated
Date:11/06/26

REFR scores low primarily due to weak financial performance (sharp TTM revenue decline, large losses, and ongoing cash burn with rising leverage). Technicals reinforce the risk with a clear downtrend (price below key moving averages and negative MACD). The latest earnings call adds some medium-term upside potential via supply restart and market program momentum, but near-term liquidity, delayed royalty recovery, and NASDAQ compliance challenges keep the overall score constrained.

Positive Factors
Capital-efficient licensing modelThe IP-based model can scale royalty income as licensees commercialize SPD products, without Research Frontiers carrying comparable factory investment. This supports operating leverage and preserves capital efficiency if automotive, aerospace, and architectural adoption expands.
Negative Factors
Severe revenue and profitability weaknessThe sharp TTM revenue contraction and exceptionally negative net margin show that the current royalty base is insufficient to cover the company’s cost structure. Persistent losses reduce financial resilience and make future growth dependent on a substantial recovery in commercialization and product sales.

Research Frontiers (REFR) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

-100%-80%-60%-40%-20%0%20%REFR-80.55%SPY+14.28%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
Market Cap
$12.29M
Dividend Yield
―
Average Volume (3M)
1.67M
Price to Earnings (P/E)
-5.3
Beta (1Y)
0.64
Revenue Growth
-69.70%
EPS Growth
-27.58%
Country
US
Employees
5
Sector
Technology
Sector Strength
61
Industry
Hardware, Equipment & Parts

Research Frontiers Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Research Frontiers Incorporated (REFR) stands as a global innovator, focusing on the development and commercialization of advanced light-regulating technologies and associated devices. The company's core business revolves around its proprietary Suspe...

How the Company Makes Money

Research Frontiers primarily makes money by licensing its patented SPD technology and collecting royalties tied to the sale of SPD-enabled products made by its licensees and their supply-chain partners. Its revenue model is predominantly IP-based rat...

Research Frontiers Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 05, 2026(Q3-2026)|% Change Since:-4.35%|Next Earnings Date:Mar 11, 2027
Earnings Call SentimentPositive

The call was cautiously optimistic to positive. Research Frontiers reported severe near-term financial and supply-chain damage, including lower fee income, a wider loss, limited liquidity, delayed royalty recovery, Gauzy-related uncertainty, and NASDAQ compliance issues. However, management emphasized concrete settlement and financing milestones, the planned restart of SPD production, intact automotive programs, expanding aerospace activity, strong architectural retrofit potential, new application interest, and opportunities to restore royalties once dependable film supply returns.

Positive Updates

Gauzy Settlement and Financing Enable Supply Restart
Gauzy's court-approved Israeli settlement became effective in September, additional financings closed in October, and payments began supporting the restart of SPD emulsion manufacturing in Israel and SPD film manufacturing in Germany. The Israeli settlement addresses approximately $61 million of pre-petition liabilities, while Gauzy's October financing totaled $7 million and was led by CEO Eyal Peso and other investors.

Negative Updates

Sharp Decline in Third-Quarter Fee Income
Third-quarter fee income was approximately $77,000, compared with approximately $359,000 in the third quarter of 2025, a decline of approximately 79%. Management attributed the comparison to nonrecurring government contract royalty revenue in the year-earlier quarter and the significant effect of constrained SPD material supply in the current period.

Company Guidance

Management said it does not expect a material royalty recovery until after the fourth quarter of 2026, believes receivables should all be collected this month or next month, and expects substantial amounts owed to be paid in November and December, which would alleviate or almost completely eliminate the need to raise additional funds, although any financing may be small; it also said architectural retrofit project decisions can occur in a matter of weeks rather than months or years, that architectural retrofit could surpass our other markets combined, and highlighted four automotive OEMs, two production business jets, a new light jet, and a new program with a North American aircraft manufacturer.

Research Frontiers Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Financials screen weak: TTM revenue declined sharply (~55%), losses remain deeply negative (very weak net margin), and operating/free cash flow are negative (TTM operating cash flow ~-$1.86M). Balance-sheet risk has increased with higher leverage (debt-to-equity rising to ~1.73 in TTM) and declining equity, despite high TTM gross margin (~70%) and modest recent free-cash-flow improvement.

Income Statement

18Very Negative

Balance Sheet

34Negative

Cash Flow

22Negative
Financial statement breakdown
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue371.83K1.12M1.34M909.60K539.69K1.26M
Gross Profit283.83K934.57K1.07M-1.45M539.69K1.26M
EBITDA-2.30M-1.86M-1.05M-1.74M-2.49M-1.67M
Net Income-2.46M-2.05M-1.31M-1.91M-2.67M-1.85M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.96M2.25M4.04M3.85M5.37M4.55M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments644.63K664.30K1.99M2.48M4.23M3.03M
Total Debt1.06M1.17M1.30M267.72K464.13K646.22K
Total Liabilities1.35M1.32M1.44M332.79K569.59K762.06K
Stockholders Equity612.79K933.63K2.60M3.52M4.80M3.78M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-1.86M-1.33M-790.44K-2.30M-2.18M-1.81M
Operating Cash Flow-1.86M-1.33M-788.82K-2.30M-2.18M-1.80M
Investing Cash Flow-257-726-1,62355.59K2.69M-2.78M
Financing Cash Flow1.38M0308.67K484.50K3.45M86.26K

Research Frontiers Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNegative
Last Price0.35

Price Trends

50DMA0.52Negative
100DMA0.51Negative
200DMA0.71Negative

Market Momentum

MACD-0.06Positive
RSI35.55Neutral
STOCH39.06Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For REFR, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 0.35 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 0.43, below the 50-day MA of 0.52, and below the 200-day MA of 0.71, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.06 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 35.55 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 39.06 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for REFR.

Research Frontiers Risk Analysis

Research Frontiers disclosed 14 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Research Frontiers reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.

Higher RiskSector Avg.Lower RiskFinance & CorporateTech & InnovationLegal & RegulatoryProductionAbility to SellMacro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

Latest Risks Added

0 New Risks

Research Frontiers Peers Comparison

Overall Rating

UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)

Financial Indicators

REFR against its peers
NameOverall RatingMarket CapP/E RatioROEDividend YieldRevenue GrowthEPS Growth
Sector *61Neutral$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
CPSHCPSH49Neutral$84.53M520.730.60%―7.01%―
ODYSODYS44Neutral$34.42M-1.54-78.20%―-78.30%-4.48%
REFRREFR43Neutral$12.85M-5.25-221.11%―-69.70%-27.58%
MINDMIND42Neutral$27.63M-12.01-5.77%―-28.46%-147.43%
NEONNEON30Underperform$11.63M1.4334.15%―-21.65%―

* Technology Sector Average

Performance Comparison

0%100%200%REFRMINDNEONCPSHODYSHOLODec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
REFR and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
REFRResearch Frontiers0.35-1.52-81.18%
MINDMind Technology Inc3.15-9.06-74.20%
NEONNeonode0.70-1.57-69.12%
CPSHCPS Technologies Corp.4.270.8725.59%
ODYSOdysight.Ai Inc.1.71-1.59-48.18%
HOLOMicrocloud Hologram Inc.1.21-2.22-64.72%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.

Date of analysis: Nov 06, 2026