International Stem CellISCO -10.50%24 Gross Margin % is 58.79% as of Mar. 2026, which is 1% below its 10-year median of 59.60. GuruFocus rates ISCO with a GF Score™ of 24/100 and a GF Value™ of $0.13 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 730 Biotechnology companies, International Stem Cell ranks worse than 53.97% on this metric.
ISCO's Gross Margin % is ranked worse than 53.97% of 730
companies
in the Biotechnology industry
Industry Median: 60.91
vs ISCO: 56.98
International Stem Cell had a gross margin of 58.79% for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 => Durable competitive advantage
The 5-Year average Growth Rate of Gross Margin for International Stem Cell was -1.40% per year.
International Stem Cell (OTCPK:ISCO) Gross Margin % Explanation
Warren Buffett believes that firms with excellent long term economics tend to have consistently higher margins.
Durable competitive advantage creates a high Gross Margin % because of the freedom to price in excess of cost. Companies can be categorized by their Gross Margin %
1. Greater than 40% = Durable competitive advantage
2. Less than 40% = Competition eroding margins
3. Less than 20% = no sustainable competitive advantage
Consistency of Gross Margin is key
International Stem Cell had a gross margin of 58.79% for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 => Durable competitive advantage
Be Aware
If a company loses its competitive advantages, usually its gross margin declines well before its sales declines. Watching Gross Margin % and Operating Margin % closely helps avoid value trap situations.
International Stem Cell Gross Margin % Related Terms
International Stem Cell Gross Margin % 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.
ISCO vs ZVSA, AXIM, HEPA: Gross Margin % Comparison
For the Biotechnology subindustry, International Stem Cell's Gross Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Gross Margin % 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.
International Stem Cell Gross Margin % vs Biotechnology Industry
For the Biotechnology industry and Healthcare sector, International Stem Cell's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where International Stem Cell's Gross Margin % falls into.
* 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.
A positive Gross Profit is only the first step for a company to make a net profit. The gross profit needs to be big enough to also cover related labor, equipment, rental, marketing/advertising, research and development and a lot of other costs in selling the products.
International Stem Cell (ISCO) has a Gross Margin % of 58.79% as of Mar. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on International Stem Cell and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 59.60. Over the past decade, International Stem Cell's Gross Margin % has ranged from 55.68 to 72.87. According to the industry distribution chart, International Stem Cell ranks #394 out of 730 companies in the Biotechnology industry, placing it in the top 54%.
Is International Stem Cell's Gross Margin % too high?
International Stem Cell's current Gross Margin % of 58.79% is near median its 10-year median of 59.60. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 55.68 to a high of 72.87. The Biotechnology industry median Gross Margin % is 60.91. International Stem Cell's value of 58.79% is 3.5% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, International Stem Cell ranks #394 out of 730 companies in the Biotechnology industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, International Stem Cell has a GF Score™ of 24/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does International Stem Cell's Gross Margin % compare to ZVSA and AXIM?
According to the Biotechnology industry distribution chart, International Stem Cell ranks #394 out of 730 companies for Gross Margin %. This places International Stem Cell in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Gross Margin % is 60.91. International Stem Cell's value of 58.79% is 3.5% below this benchmark. Historically, International Stem Cell's own Gross Margin % has ranged from 55.68 to 72.87 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 59.60 vs. the industry median of 60.91, International Stem Cell 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 Gross Margin % for a Biotechnology company?
The median Gross Margin % among Biotechnology companies is 60.91, based on 730 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Gross Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Gross Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. International Stem Cell's current Gross Margin % of 58.79% is 3.5% 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 Gross Margin % mean?
A high Gross Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on International Stem Cell and its competitors. For the Biotechnology industry, the median Gross Margin % is 60.91 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. International Stem Cell's current Gross Margin % is 58.79%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 59.60. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is International Stem Cell stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, International Stem Cell (ISCO) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $0.13, compared to a current price of $0.18 — trading 37.7% above its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 58.79%, which is near median its 10-year median of 59.60 and 3.5% below the Biotechnology industry median of 60.91. International Stem Cell's overall GF Score™ is 24/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Gross Margin % calculated?
Gross Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For International Stem Cell (ISCO), the current Gross Margin % is 58.79% as of Mar. 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 International Stem Cell (ISCO) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, International Stem Cell stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $0.18 is trading 37.7% above its estimated GF Value™ of $0.13.
GuruFocus considers International Stem Cell to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for ISCO:
Gross Margin %: 58.79% (near median its 10-year median of 59.60)
GF Value™: $0.13 vs. price of $0.18 (37.7% above fair value)
Industry Position: 3.5% below the Biotechnology median (#394 of 730)
No single metric tells the full story. See the ISCO stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
International Stem Cell Corp is a clinical-stage biotechnology company. It is focused on therapeutic and biomedical product development with multiple long-term therapeutic opportunities. The company develops different cell types from its stem cells that may result in therapeutic products. The clinical applications of the company include neural stem cells for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and other central nervous system disorders; Liver cells, which are used to treat a variety of congenital and acquired liver diseases; and retinal cells and three-dimensional eye structures. The company operates in three segments, the therapeutic market, the biomedical market, and the anti-aging market. The Biomedical products business segment accounts for the majority of revenue.
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