BKN (Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,) Piotroski F-Score: 2 (As of Aug. 25, 2026) — 60% Below Median

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BKN Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc. BKN
18 GF Score
Price $12.39
! 4 Warning Signs
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What is Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Piotroski F-Score?

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, BKN 18 Piotroski F-Score is 2 as of Aug. 25, 2026, which is 60% below its 10-year median of 5.00. GuruFocus rates BKN with a GF Score™ of 18/100. The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review.

Warning Sign:

Piotroski F-Score of 2 is low, which usually implies poor business operation.

The zones of discrimination were as such:

Good or high score = 7, 8, 9
Bad or low score = 0, 1, 2, 3

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, has an F-score of 2. It is a bad or low score, which usually implies poor business operation.

The historical rank and industry rank for Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s Piotroski F-Score or its related term are showing as below:

BKN' s Piotroski F-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 2   Med: 5   Max: 8
Current: 2

During the past 8 years, the highest Piotroski F-Score of Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, was 8. The lowest was 2. And the median was 5.

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,  (NYSE:BKN) Piotroski F-Score Explanation

The developer of the system is Joseph D. Piotroski is relatively unknown accounting professor who shuns publicity and rarely gives interviews.

He graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in accounting in 1989, received an M.B.A. from Indiana University in 1994. Five years later, in 1999, after earning a Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Michigan, he became an associate professor of accounting at the University of Chicago.

In 2000, he wrote a research paper called "Value Investing: The Use of Historical Financial Statement Information to Separate Winners from Losers" (pdf).

He wanted to see if he can develop a system (using a simple nine-point scoring system) that can increase the returns of a strategy of investing in low price to book (referred to in the paper as high book to market) value companies.

What he found was something that exceeded his most optimistic expectations.

Buying only those companies that scored highest (8 or 9) on his nine-point scale, or F-Score as he called it, over the 20 year period from 1976 to 1996 led to an average out-performance over the market of 13.4%.

Even more impressive were the results of a strategy of investing in the highest F-Score companies (8 or 9) and shorting companies with the lowest F-Score (0 or 1).

Over the same period from 1976 to 1996 (20 years) this strategy led to an average yearly return of 23%, substantially outperforming the average S&P 500 index return of 15.83% over the same period.


Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Piotroski F-Score Related Terms


Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Piotroski F-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s Piotroski F-Score can be seen below:

* 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.

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Piotroski F-Score Chart

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Annual Data
Trend Apr18 Apr19 Apr20 Apr21 Apr22 Jul23 Jul24 Jul25
Piotroski F-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial 7.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 2.00

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Semi-Annual Data
Oct17 Apr18 Oct18 Apr19 Oct19 Apr20 Oct20 Apr21 Oct21 Apr22 Jan23 Jul23 Jan24 Jul24 Jan25 Jul25
Piotroski F-Score Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 6.00 0.00 8.00 0.00 2.00

BKN vs SRV, NPV, MFM: Piotroski F-Score Comparison

For the Asset Management subindustry, Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s Piotroski F-Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Piotroski F-Score 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.


Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Piotroski F-Score vs Asset Management Industry

For the Asset Management industry and Financial Services sector, Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s Piotroski F-Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s Piotroski F-Score falls into.


BKN
18GF Score
Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc. BKN
Piotroski F-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

How is the Piotroski F-Score calculated?

* 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.

This Year (Jul25) TTM:Last Year (Jul24) TTM:
Net Income was $-13.08 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was $-23.39 Mil.
Revenue was $-12.05 Mil.
Average Total Assets from the begining of this year (Jul24)
to the end of this year (Jul25) was (332.704 + 340.946) / 2 = $336.825 Mil.
Total Assets at the begining of this year (Jul24) was $332.70 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was $0.00 Mil.
Total Assets was $340.95 Mil.
Total Liabilities was $140.98 Mil.
Net Income was $7.49 Mil.

Revenue was $8.19 Mil.
Average Total Assets from the begining of last year (Jul23)
to the end of last year (Jul24) was (365.895 + 332.704) / 2 = $349.2995 Mil.
Total Assets at the begining of last year (Jul23) was $365.90 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was $0.01 Mil.
Total Assets was $332.70 Mil.
Total Liabilities was $107.89 Mil.

*Note: If the latest quarterly/semi-annual/annual total assets data is 0, then we will use previous quarterly/semi-annual/annual data for all the items in the balance sheet.

Profitability

Question 1. Return on Assets (ROA)

Net income before extraordinary items for the year divided by Total Assets at the beginning of the year.

Score 1 if positive, 0 if negative.

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s current Net Income (TTM) was -13.08. ==> Negative ==> Score 0.

Question 2. Cash Flow Return on Assets (CFROA)

Net cash flow from operating activities (operating cash flow) divided by Total Assets at the beginning of the year.

Score 1 if positive, 0 if negative.

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s current Cash Flow from Operations (TTM) was -23.39. ==> Negative ==> Score 0.

Question 3. Change in Return on Assets

Compare this year's return on assets (1) to last year's return on assets.

Score 1 if it's higher, 0 if it's lower.

ROA (This Year)=Net Income/Total Assets (Jul24)
=-13.082/332.704
=-0.03932024

ROA (Last Year)=Net Income/Total Assets (Jul23)
=7.491/365.895
=0.02047309

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s return on assets of this year was -0.03932024. Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s return on assets of last year was 0.02047309. ==> Last year is higher ==> Score 0.

Question 4. Quality of Earnings (Accrual)

Compare Cash flow return on assets (2) to return on assets (1)

Score 1 if CFROA > ROA, 0 if CFROA <= ROA.

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s current Net Income (TTM) was -13.08. Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s current Cash Flow from Operations (TTM) was -23.39. ==> -23.39 <= -13.08 ==> CFROA <= ROA ==> Score 0.

Funding

Question 5. Change in Gearing or Leverage

Compare this year's gearing (long-term debt divided by average total assets) to last year's gearing.

Score 0 if this year's gearing is higher, 1 otherwise.

Gearing (This Year: Jul25)=Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation/Average Total Assets from Jul24 to Jul25
=0.002/336.825
=5.94E-6

Gearing (Last Year: Jul24)=Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation/Average Total Assets from Jul23 to Jul24
=0.006/349.2995
=1.718E-5

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s gearing of this year was 5.94E-6. Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s gearing of last year was 1.718E-5. ==> This year is lower or equal to last year. ==> Score 1.

Question 6. Change in Working Capital (Liquidity)

Compare this year's current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) to last year's current ratio.

Score 1 if this year's current ratio is higher, 0 if it's lower

* Note that for banks and insurance companies, there's no Total Current Assets and Total Current Liabilities reported. Thus, we use Total Assets and Total Liabilities to calculate current ratio for banks and insurance companies.

Current Ratio (This Year: Jul25)=Total Assets/Total Liabilities
=340.946/140.981
=2.41838262

Current Ratio (Last Year: Jul24)=Total Assets/Total Liabilities
=332.704/107.888
=3.0837906

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s current ratio of this year was 2.41838262. Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s current ratio of last year was 3.0837906. ==> Last year's current ratio is higher ==> Score 0.

Question 7. Change in Shares in Issue

Compare the number of shares in issue this year, to the number in issue last year.

Score 0 if there is larger number of shares in issue this year, 1 otherwise.

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s number of shares in issue this year was 16.99. Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s number of shares in issue last year was 15.938. ==> There is larger number of shares in issue this year. ==> Score 0.

Efficiency

Question 8. Change in Gross Margin

Compare this year's gross margin (Gross Profit divided by sales) to last year's.

Score 1 if this year's gross margin is higher, 0 if it's lower.

* Note that for banks and insurance companies, there's no Gross Profit reported. Thus, we use net income instead of gross profit and calculate Net Margin for this score.

Net Margin (This Year: TTM)=Net Income/Revenue
=-13.082/-12.048
=1.08582337

Net Margin (Last Year: TTM)=Net Income/Revenue
=7.491/8.186
=0.91509895

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s net margin of this year was 1.08582337. Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s net margin of last year was 0.91509895. ==> This year's net margin is higher. ==> Score 1.

Question 9. Change in asset turnover

Compare this year's asset turnover (total sales for the year divided by total assets at the beginning of the year) to last year's asset turnover ratio.

Score 1 if this year's asset turnover ratio is higher, 0 if it's lower

Asset Turnover (This Year)=Revenue/Total Assets at the Beginning of This Year (Jul24)
=-12.048/332.704
=-0.03621237

Asset Turnover (Last Year)=Revenue/Total Assets at the Beginning of Last Year (Jul23)
=8.186/365.895
=0.02237254

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s asset turnover of this year was -0.03621237. Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s asset turnover of last year was 0.02237254. ==> Last year's asset turnover is higher ==> Score 0.

Evaluation

Piotroski F-Score= Que. 1+ Que. 2+ Que. 3+Que. 4+Que. 5+Que. 6+Que. 7+Que. 8+Que. 9
=0+0+0+0+1+0+0+1+0
=2

Good or high score = 7, 8, 9
Bad or low score = 0, 1, 2, 3

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, has an F-score of 2. It is a bad or low score, which usually implies poor business operation.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Piotroski F-Score →
What does a Piotroski F-Score of 2 mean?
Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, (BKN) has a Piotroski F-Score of 2 as of Aug. 25, 2026. The Piotroski F-score grades a company's business operating strength from 0-9. View historical data on Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, and its competitors. This is 60% below median its historical median of 5.00. Over the past decade, Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s Piotroski F-Score has ranged from 2.00 to 8.00.
Is Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s Piotroski F-Score too high?
Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s current Piotroski F-Score of 2 is 60% below median its 10-year median of 5.00. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 2.00 to a high of 8.00. The Asset Management industry median Piotroski F-Score is 5.00. Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s value of 2 is 60% below this industry median. Overall, Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, has a GF Score™ of 18/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s Piotroski F-Score compare to SRV and NPV?
Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s Piotroski F-Score of 2 can be compared against companies in the Asset Management industry. The industry median Piotroski F-Score is 5.00. Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s value of 2 is 60% below this benchmark. Historically, Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s own Piotroski F-Score has ranged from 2.00 to 8.00 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 5.00 vs. the industry median of 5.00, Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, has consistently been below 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 Piotroski F-Score for an Asset Management company?
The median Piotroski F-Score among Asset Management companies is 5.00, based on 1,593 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Piotroski F-Score significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Piotroski F-Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s current Piotroski F-Score of 2 is 60% below 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 Piotroski F-Score mean?
A high Piotroski F-Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The Piotroski F-score grades a company's business operating strength from 0-9. View historical data on Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, and its competitors. For the Asset Management industry, the median Piotroski F-Score is 5.00 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s current Piotroski F-Score is 2, which is 60% below median its own 10-year median of 5.00. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, stock overvalued right now?
Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, (BKN) has a current Piotroski F-Score of 2. The current Piotroski F-Score is 2, which is 60% below median its 10-year median of 5.00 and 60% below the Asset Management industry median of 5.00. Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust,'s overall GF Score™ is 18/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Piotroski F-Score calculated?
Piotroski F-Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, (BKN), the current Piotroski F-Score is 2 as of Aug. 25, 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.

Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Business Description

Address 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE, USA, 19809
Blackrock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc. is a closed-end management investment fund with the investment objective to provide high current income exempt from regular U.S. federal income tax consistent with the preservation of capital.
18GF Score

Get the complete analysis for BKN

Piotroski F-Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

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