Buffett Brain · Research note
Score updated 28 Oct 2026 · analysis from 22 Sept 2026
SYM· Industrials
Symbotic
Symbotic Inc.'s negative ROIC and high valuation multiples indicate a lack of economic moat and financial health.
Buffett fit
Weak fit
Owner
5
Durability
38
Management
20
Price
36
Score updated 28 Oct 2026 · analysis from 22 Sept 2026
Buffett's checklist
Each number against Buffett's bar, and where it ranks among Industrials stocks in our database.
How much profit the business makes on each dollar invested in it. Higher is better.
What is left of each sale after the cost of making the product. A high number often means pricing power.
The cash the business earns for its owners, compared with the price of the whole company.
How fast sales grew each year over the last five years.
How many years of today's profit you pay for at today's price. Lower means cheaper.
How much the company owes compared with what it owns outright. Lower is safer.
The four pillars
How the business measures up on each of Buffett's four tests.
If we owned 100% of Symbotic Inc., our focus over the next decade would be on achieving sustainable profitability and improving returns on capital.
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The 10-year durability of Symbotic Inc. is questionable given its current financial metrics.
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Symbotic Inc.'s does not currently create shareholder value.
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The valuation of Symbotic Inc. is concerning, with a of -1257.4 and an EV/ of 35.4, both indicating that the market is pricing in substantial future growth despite current losses.
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- The full reasoning behind all four pillars
- The 5-year price target and the return it implies
- What would change the call
- Graham, Lynch and Greenblatt on the same stock
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For and against
The strongest points on each side, with the numbers behind them.
In its favor
5- 1Revenue CAGR of 72.82% indicates strong top-line growth potential.
- 2 (TTM) of $787.91M provides some financial flexibility.
- 3Debt/Equity ratio of 0.00 suggests no reliance on debt financing.
- 4Net debt/EBITDA of -62.92 indicates a net cash position.
Concerns
8- 1 of -1.52% is well below the sector top-quintile cutoff of 13.6%.
- 2 of -0.89% highlights ongoing profitability challenges.
- 3 ratio of -1257.4 reflects unrealistic growth expectations.
- 4Share count CAGR of 21.02% indicates significant dilution.
Price history
$38.97+290.1%· 5-year return
Weekly closing prices. Touch or hover the line for a date.
The business
How the business works
Symbotic Inc. provides robotics and technology solutions to automate warehouses, aiming to enhance efficiency and reduce costs for retailers and wholesalers. The company's primary offering, The Symbotic System, integrates robotics and software to optimize inventory management. Despite a strong revenue CAGR of 72.82%, the company struggles with profitability, evidenced by a net margin of -0.2% and a negative of -0.89%. The unit economics are challenged by high capital requirements and negative returns on invested capital.
How this analysis has moved
The call has held across 6 reviews.
Sep 27, 2026 → Oct 28, 2026
What other investors would say
The same company, judged by three other documented playbooks.
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