Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.
Barnes & Noble EducationBNED +0.59%51 EV-to-OCF is 12.63 as of Aug. 20, 2026, which is 309% above its 10-year median of 3.09. GuruFocus rates BNED with a GF Score™ of 51/100 and a GF Value™ of $2.40 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,134 Retail - Cyclical companies, Barnes & Noble Education ranks worse than 67.9% on this metric.
The historical rank and industry rank for Barnes & Noble Education's EV-to-OCF or its related term are showing as below:
BNED'
s EV-to-OCF Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -2036.96 Med: 3.09 Max: 604.43
Current: 12.63
During the past 13 years, the highest EV-to-OCF of Barnes & Noble Education was 604.43. The lowest was -2036.96. And the median was 3.09.
BNED's EV-to-OCF is ranked worse than 67.9% of 1134
companies
in the Retail - Cyclical industry
Industry Median: 7.31
vs BNED: 12.63
EV-to-OCF is a valuation multiple that allows analysts and investors to compare stocks, preferably in the same sector or industry. This important multiple is often used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, the PE Ratio (TTM) to determine the fair market value of a company.
EV-to-OCF is a valuation multiple that allows analysts and investors to compare stocks, preferably in the same sector or industry. This important multiple is often used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, the PE Ratio (TTM) to determine the fair market value of a company.
Barnes & Noble Education's PE Ratio (TTM) for today is calculated as:
Barnes & Noble Education's share price for today is $12.03.
Barnes & Noble Education's Earnings per Share (Diluted) for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Apr. 2026 adds up the quarterly data reported by the company within the most recent 12 months, which was $0.470.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Enterprise Value is used because it is a more complete measure in reflecting how much an investor pays when buying a company. Cash Flow from Operations is an important financial metric because it represents the cash generated from operating activities at a company's disposal. Companies with a low EV-to-OCF ratio, combined with a strong balance sheet are generally considered as undervalued.
Barnes & Noble Education EV-to-OCF Related Terms
Barnes & Noble Education EV-to-OCF Historical Data
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
For the Specialty Retail subindustry, Barnes & Noble Education's EV-to-OCF, along with its competitors' market caps and EV-to-OCF data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Barnes & Noble Education EV-to-OCF vs Retail - Cyclical Industry
For the Retail - Cyclical industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, Barnes & Noble Education's EV-to-OCF distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Barnes & Noble Education's EV-to-OCF falls into.
Barnes & Noble Education's current Enterprise Value is $632 Mil.
Barnes & Noble Education's Cash Flow from Operations for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Apr. 2026 adds up the quarterly data reported by the company within the most recent 12 months, which was $50 Mil.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) has a EV-to-OCF of 12.63 as of Aug. 20, 2026. This is 309% above median its historical median of 3.09. According to the industry distribution chart, Barnes & Noble Education ranks #770 out of 1134 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, placing it in the top 67.9%.
Is Barnes & Noble Education's EV-to-OCF too high?
Barnes & Noble Education's current EV-to-OCF of 12.63 is 309% above median its 10-year median of 3.09. The Retail - Cyclical industry median EV-to-OCF is 7.31. Barnes & Noble Education's value of 12.63 is 72.8% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Barnes & Noble Education ranks #770 out of 1134 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Barnes & Noble Education has a GF Score™ of 51/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Barnes & Noble Education's EV-to-OCF compare to BBW and FLWS?
According to the Retail - Cyclical industry distribution chart, Barnes & Noble Education ranks #770 out of 1134 companies for EV-to-OCF. This places Barnes & Noble Education in the lower half of its industry. The industry median EV-to-OCF is 7.31. Barnes & Noble Education's value of 12.63 is 72.8% above this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 3.09 vs. the industry median of 7.31, Barnes & Noble Education has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good EV-to-OCF for a Retail - Cyclical company?
The median EV-to-OCF among Retail - Cyclical companies is 7.31, based on 1,134 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a EV-to-OCF significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, EV-to-OCF should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Barnes & Noble Education's current EV-to-OCF of 12.63 is 72.8% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high EV-to-OCF mean?
A high EV-to-OCF can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. For the Retail - Cyclical industry, the median EV-to-OCF is 7.31 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Barnes & Noble Education's current EV-to-OCF is 12.63, which is 309% above median its own 10-year median of 3.09. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Barnes & Noble Education stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $2.40, compared to a current price of $12.03 — trading 401.3% above its estimated fair value. The current EV-to-OCF is 12.63, which is 309% above median its 10-year median of 3.09 and 72.8% above the Retail - Cyclical industry median of 7.31. Barnes & Noble Education's overall GF Score™ is 51/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is EV-to-OCF calculated?
EV-to-OCF is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Barnes & Noble Education (BNED), the current EV-to-OCF is 12.63 as of Aug. 20, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Barnes & Noble Education stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $12.03 is trading 401.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of $2.40.
GuruFocus considers Barnes & Noble Education to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for BNED:
EV-to-OCF: 12.63 (309% above median its 10-year median of 3.09)
GF Value™: $2.40 vs. price of $12.03 (401.3% above fair value)
Industry Position: 72.8% above the Retail - Cyclical median (#770 of 1134)
No single metric tells the full story. See the BNED stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Barnes & Noble Education Inc is a contract operator of physical and virtual bookstores for college and university campuses and K-12 institutions across the United States. The company is also a textbook wholesaler and inventory management hardware and software provider. It offers course materials through physical and online bookstores, including new and used print textbooks, rental options, digital textbooks, and publisher-hosted digital courseware. Products are also offered directly to students through Textbooks.com. The majority of the company's revenue is derived from the sale of products through its bookstore locations, including virtual bookstores, and the bookstore affiliated e-commerce websites.
51GF Score
Get the complete analysis for BNED
EV-to-OCF is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
BNED has been successfully added to your 
