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.
The zones of discrimination for M-Score is as such:
An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.
An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.
Good Sign:
Beneish M-Score -3.56 no higher than -1.78, which implies that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.
The historical rank and industry rank for Aquestive Therapeutics's Beneish M-Score or its related term are showing as below:
AQST'
s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -6.73 Med: -3.17 Max: 4.93
Current: -3.56
During the past 10 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of Aquestive Therapeutics was 4.93. The lowest was -6.73. And the median was -3.17.
Aquestive Therapeutics Beneish M-Score Related Terms
Aquestive Therapeutics Beneish M-Score Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Aquestive Therapeutics's Beneish M-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.
AQST vs TLRY, EOLS, IRWD: Beneish M-Score Comparison
For the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic subindustry, Aquestive Therapeutics's Beneish M-Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Beneish M-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.
Aquestive Therapeutics Beneish M-Score vs Drug Manufacturers Industry
For the Drug Manufacturers industry and Healthcare sector, Aquestive Therapeutics's Beneish M-Score distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Aquestive Therapeutics's Beneish M-Score falls into.
The M-score was created by Professor Messod Beneish. Instead of measuring the bankruptcy risk (Altman Z-Score) or business trend (Piotroski F-Score), M-score can be used to detect the risk of earnings manipulation. This is the original research paper on M-score.
The M-Score Variables:
The M-score of Aquestive Therapeutics for today is based on a combination of the following eight different indices:
M
=
-4.84
+
0.92 * DSRI
+
0.528 * GMI
+
0.404 * AQI
+
0.892 * SGI
+
0.115 * DEPI
=
-4.84
+
0.92 * 0.6414
+
0.528 * 0.9113
+
0.404 * 0.3761
+
0.892 * 1.2256
+
0.115 * 1.5004
-
0.172 * SGAI
+
4.679 * TATA
-
0.327 * LVGI
-
0.172 * 0.9957
+
4.679 * -0.160321
-
0.327 * 0.8875
=
-3.56
* 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.
Sales growth is not itself a measure of manipulation. However, growth companies are likely to find themselves under pressure to manipulate in order to keep up appearances.
DEPI greater than 1 indicates that assets are being depreciated at a slower rate. This suggests that the firm might be revising useful asset life assumptions upwards, or adopting a new method that is income friendly.
DEPI
=
(Depreciation_t-1 / (Depreciaton_t-1 + PPE_t-1))
/
(Depreciation_t / (Depreciaton_t + PPE_t))
=
(0.585 / (0.585 + 8.769))
/
(0.518 / (0.518 + 11.909))
=
0.06254
/
0.041683
=
1.5004
Note: If the Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization data is not available, we assume that the depreciation rate is constant and set the Depreciation Index to 1.
6. SGAI = Sales, General and Administrative expenses Index
Total accruals calculated as the change in working capital accounts other than cash less depreciation.
TATA
=
(IncomefromContinuingOperations_t
-
CashFlowsfromOperations_t)
/
TotalAssets_t
=
(NetIncome_t - NonOperatingIncome_t
-
CashFlowsfromOperations_t)
/
TotalAssets_t
=
(-78.227 - -11.683
-
-45.365)
/
132.104
=
-0.160321
An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator. An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.
Aquestive Therapeutics has a M-score of -3.56 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.
Aquestive Therapeutics (AQST) has a Beneish M-Score of -3.56 as of Sep. 09, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Aquestive Therapeutics and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Aquestive Therapeutics ranks #63 out of 920 companies in the Drug Manufacturers industry, placing it in the top 6.8%.
Is Aquestive Therapeutics' Beneish M-Score too high?
Aquestive Therapeutics' current Beneish M-Score is -3.56. Based on the distribution chart, Aquestive Therapeutics ranks #63 out of 920 companies in the Drug Manufacturers industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Aquestive Therapeutics has a GF Score™ of 49/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Aquestive Therapeutics' Beneish M-Score compare to TLRY and EOLS?
According to the Drug Manufacturers industry distribution chart, Aquestive Therapeutics ranks #63 out of 920 companies for Beneish M-Score. This places Aquestive Therapeutics in the top 7% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Beneish M-Score for a Drug Manufacturers company?
A good Beneish M-Score depends on the Drug Manufacturers industry context. However, Beneish M-Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Beneish M-Score mean?
A high Beneish M-Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Aquestive Therapeutics and its competitors. Aquestive Therapeutics's current Beneish M-Score is -3.56. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Aquestive Therapeutics stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Aquestive Therapeutics (AQST) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $2.37, compared to a current price of $5.16 — trading 117.7% above its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -3.56. Aquestive Therapeutics' overall GF Score™ is 49/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Beneish M-Score calculated?
Beneish M-Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Aquestive Therapeutics (AQST), the current Beneish M-Score is -3.56 as of Sep. 09, 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 Aquestive Therapeutics (AQST) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Aquestive Therapeutics stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $5.16 is trading 117.7% above its estimated GF Value™ of $2.37.
GuruFocus considers Aquestive Therapeutics to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for AQST:
Beneish M-Score: -3.56
GF Value™: $2.37 vs. price of $5.16 (117.7% above fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the AQST stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Aquestive Therapeutics Inc is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in developing and commercializing differentiated products to meet medical needs. Its later-stage product pipeline focuses on the treatment of diseases of the Central Nervous System (CNS), and an earlier-stage pipeline for the treatment of severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Its commercial product portfolio includes Suboxone, Emylif, Ondif, and Sympazan. The product pipeline includes Libervant Buccal Film, AQST-108. The majority of its revenue comes from the United States.
49GF Score
Get the complete analysis for AQST
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
AQST has been successfully added to your 
