VRCA (Verrica Pharmaceuticals) Moat Score: 3/10 (As of Aug. 07, 2026)

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VRCA Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc VRCA
45 GF Score
Price $5.10
GF Value $13.24
Valuation Possible Value Trap
! 2 Warning Signs
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What is Verrica Pharmaceuticals Moat Score?

Verrica Pharmaceuticals VRCA -5.20% 45 Moat Score is 3 as of Aug. 07, 2026. GuruFocus rates VRCA with a GF Score™ of 45/100 and a GF Value™ of $13.24 (Possible Value Trap). The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,393 Biotechnology companies, Verrica Pharmaceuticals ranks better than 75.59% on this metric.

Verrica Pharmaceuticals has the Moat Score of 3, which implies that the company might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.

Verrica Pharmaceuticals has No Moat: Verrica Pharmaceuticals has limited market leadership and lacks significant customer switching costs or strong brand loyalty. The company does not possess a robust portfolio of valuable patents or significant regulatory barriers. Its cost advantages and distribution network are not strong enough to provide a durable competitive edge.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Verrica Pharmaceuticals might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.


Verrica Pharmaceuticals  (NAS:VRCA) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Verrica Pharmaceuticals Moat Score Related Terms


VRCA vs HRTX, RLYB, CSBR: Moat Score Comparison

For the Biotechnology subindustry, Verrica Pharmaceuticals's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat 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.


Verrica Pharmaceuticals Moat Score vs Biotechnology Industry

For the Biotechnology industry and Healthcare sector, Verrica Pharmaceuticals's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Verrica Pharmaceuticals's Moat Score falls into.


VRCA
45GF Score
Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc VRCA
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 3 mean?
Verrica Pharmaceuticals (VRCA) has a Moat Score of 3 as of Aug. 07, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Verrica Pharmaceuticals ranks #340 out of 1393 companies in the Biotechnology industry, placing it in the top 24.4%.
Is Verrica Pharmaceuticals' Moat Score too high?
Verrica Pharmaceuticals' current Moat Score is 3. The Biotechnology industry median Moat Score is 2.00. Verrica Pharmaceuticals' value of 3 is 50% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Verrica Pharmaceuticals ranks #340 out of 1393 companies in the Biotechnology industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Verrica Pharmaceuticals has a GF Score™ of 45/100 and is considered Possible Value Trap, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Verrica Pharmaceuticals' Moat Score compare to HRTX and RLYB?
According to the Biotechnology industry distribution chart, Verrica Pharmaceuticals ranks #340 out of 1393 companies for Moat Score. This places Verrica Pharmaceuticals in the top 24% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Moat Score is 2.00. Verrica Pharmaceuticals' value of 3 is 50% above this benchmark. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Biotechnology company?
The median Moat Score among Biotechnology companies is 2.00, based on 1,393 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Moat Score significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Verrica Pharmaceuticals's current Moat Score of 3 is 50% 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 Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. For the Biotechnology industry, the median Moat Score is 2.00 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Verrica Pharmaceuticals's current Moat Score is 3. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Verrica Pharmaceuticals stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Verrica Pharmaceuticals (VRCA) is currently considered Possible Value Trap. The stock's GF Value™ is $13.24, compared to a current price of $5.10 — trading 61.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 3 and 50% above the Biotechnology industry median of 2.00. Verrica Pharmaceuticals' overall GF Score™ is 45/100 with 2 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Verrica Pharmaceuticals (VRCA), the current Moat Score is 3 as of Aug. 07, 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 Verrica Pharmaceuticals (VRCA) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Verrica Pharmaceuticals stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of $5.10 is trading 61.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of $13.24. GuruFocus considers Verrica Pharmaceuticals to be Possible Value Trap.

Key valuation signals for VRCA:

  • Moat Score: 3
  • GF Value™: $13.24 vs. price of $5.10 (61.5% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 45/100 with 2 warning signs
  • Industry Position: 50% above the Biotechnology median (#340 of 1393)

No single metric tells the full story. See the VRCA stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Verrica Pharmaceuticals Business Description

Other Exchanges 1NE0:Germany
Address 44 West Gay Street, Suite 400, West Chester, PA, USA, 19380
Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc is a therapeutics company developing and commercializing medications for the treatment of dermatologic diseases, including skin cancers. Its commercial product and portfolio of product candidates are clinician administered therapies in areas of high unmet need. This product portfolio consists of one product with an approved indication for molluscum contagiosum, or molluscum, with the potential for several follow-on indications, as well as additional pipeline product candidates. Its commercial product, YCANTH (VP-102), for the treatment of molluscum in adult and pediatric patients two years of age and older. YCANTH (VP-102) is a proprietary drug-device combination that contains a GMP-controlled formulation of cantharidin.
45GF Score

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

$5.10
Price
$13.24
GF Value