Should I buy, hold, or sell NOVT stock right now?

Novanta Inc. (NOVT) currently earns a Roarable Rating of C- (Hold — HOLD) with 59/100 RQD Confidence. Solid 44% profit margin (7% return on capital), mixed timing at 106x P/E—hold if owned, no rush to chase.

What is NOVT's 12-month price target and RQD AI Jury consensus?

NOVT's 12-month base price target is $146.9 (range $114.58 to $185.2), backed by transparent SEC XBRL cash-flow, Form 4 insider, and CBOE options flow analysis.

Stock Ratings / Industrials / NOVT

AAON (36) MIDD (65) JBTM (26) ENS (64) ⌘ Pro Terminal →

Novanta Inc. (NOVT) — RQD Stock Rating Cockpit

$146.24 +0.33% NASDAQ • Live Quote vs Prior Daily Close (Synced Snapshot) EXT / AFTER-HRS: $146.05

Novanta Inc. (NOVT) carries a Roarable Rating of C- (Hold) with 59/100 RQD Confidence. The composite score sits in the neutral Hold band (59–69), meaning current holders don’t need to panic-sell while prospective buyers can wait for a move into the 70+ Buy zone.

ROARABLE C- • HOLD / WATCH Cap $5.51B

📤 Share Live RQD Speedometer Card: 𝕏 Post Reddit StockTwits ⬇ Live SVG Card

⚡ INSTANT AI QUANT PREVIEW • $0 FREE TIER Click Any Pre-Computed AI Quant Specialist Briefing on NOVT Below — or Connect Your Own ChatGPT / Claude

🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief) Is NOVT stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?

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As of 2026-11-03, Novanta Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVT) is rated C- (Hold / HOLD) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 59/100 at a spot price of $146.24 (+0.33% 1D, market cap $5.51B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 12/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 12/20, Executive Insider Alignment 15/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 12/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 8/20. Across 485 tracked Industrials issuers, NOVT ranks #130 in composite RQD confidence.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief) How does NOVT compare to AAON and MIDD in the Industrials sector?

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Within the Industrials sector (Industrial Machinery/Components), NOVT carries a Roarable C- (59/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 106.2x, gross margin of 44.4%, and ROIC of 6.5%. By comparison, AAON (AAON Inc.) holds a D- grade (36/100 RQD, P/E 57.7x, ROIC 9.5%, cap $5.56B) and MIDD (Middleby Corporation) posts a C grade (65/100 RQD, P/E 14.5x, ROIC 9.7%, cap $5.38B). Among the 5-stock peer group, MIDD leads on earnings multiple (14.5x) while ENS leads on capital efficiency (13.0% ROIC).

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief) What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for NOVT?

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Per NOVT's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001076930), Novanta Inc. generated $980.6M in revenue (+3.3% YoY), $53.8M in net income, and $48.4M in free cash flow against $1.81B in total assets and $212.5M in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Clean SEC annual filing review with no major hidden accounting time-bombs.. Primary risk factors monitored: Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 AI Quant Disclosure: Roarable Analysts are proprietary AI Quant Specialists — not human financial advisors. Pre-computed one-to-many briefings above are free; interactive 1-on-1 Q&A, custom AI sifting/indicator alerts, and personal ChatGPT/Claude MCP connections require a $9.95/mo Pro account (currently waitlist-only).

INTERACTIVE SCENARIO DECK:

🛡️ Portfolio Crash X-Ray

EXT / AFTER-HRS: $146.05 (-0.13%)🧬 Disciplined Float (+1.08% YoY Shares)⚙️ Cash Engine: 12/20 (C-) • 4.9% FCF Margin

Verify 90D Bucket Audit →

📊 Historical Track Record: Scores of 59/100 (C-) historically posted market-perform odds over rolling 90-day windows (+0.2% avg 90D alpha vs SPY • 53.1% hit rate — wait for RQD ≥ 70 breakout).

Audit Bucket Track Record →

RQD QUANT TACHOMETERHOLD / WATCH • C-

JEV AI Jury Split (Battleground)

Cash

SEC

Whale

Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer

5-PILLAR SNOWFLAKE RADARRw D+ · Rk C+

Each axis scored 0–20

12M PRICE TARGET CONE+0.5% Base Target

WHALE OPTIONS SNAPSHOT: — (No Active Options Snapshot on file for NOVT)Realized 20D OHLCV Swing Band: ±9%

Deterministic 5-Pillar Attribution (59/100 Composite)

🔍 WHY NOVT SCORES 59/100 (C-) — TOP 3 DRIVERS2 Bullish Pillars + #1 Risk Drag

▲ #1 Bullish Driver: SEC 10-K Forensic Risk+15/20 pts (25% of score)

Altman Z-Score 8.30 (FORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)) • Piotroski F-Score 7/9

▲ #2 Bullish Driver: Cash Engine Quality+12/20 pts (20% of score)

SEC XBRL FY 2025 (10-K): 4.9% FCF Margin ($48.4M FCF) & 44.4% Gross Margin

▼ #1 Drag / Risk Factor: Insider Conviction & Share Dilution8/20 pts (-12 pt drag)

Disciplined Float (+1.08% YoY Shares) & executive Form 4 sales trim 12 pts from alignment

📈 PAST 4 QUARTERS RQD vs SUBSEQUENT RETURNQ1 → Q2 → Q3 → Current

Q1 (-3Q)

Grade C-$140.07-0.1% Next Q

Q2 (-2Q)

Grade C-$139.94+7.7% Next Q

Q3 (-1Q)

Grade C$150.66-2.9% Next Q

Current

Grade C-$146.24+0.2% Hist 90D α

Trajectory: C- (51) → C- (59)Full Audit →

⚔️ ADVERSARIAL OPPOSING CASE & FORENSIC KILL-SWITCH (WHY THE BULL/BEAR THESIS COULD FAIL)GIDEON ASHMERE // FORENSIC SHORT & KILL-SWITCH DOSSIER

⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: Why the NOVT Bull Thesis Could Fail

Gideon Ashmere Forensic Desk →

Even with a 59/100 (C-) score, NOVT faces multiple-compression risk if 106.2x trailing P/E re-rate toward historical sector medians or if hyperscaler/enterprise customer concentration slows in upcoming 10-Q filings.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #1

Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #2

Priced at 106x earnings—high expectations leave less room for a lukewarm quarter.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #3

Technical & Forensic Kill-Switch: A daily close below the 50D SMA ($142.79) or 200D SMA ($142.55) invalidates the momentum regime and cuts Target Base ($146.90) toward Bear Floor ($114.58).

🎲 LIVE PREDICTION MARKET ODDS TIED TO $NOVT• $2.4M Crowd Pool • Kalshi / Polymarket Composite

Contract: “NOVT Beats Next Quarter EPS Consensus (Dec 30, 2026) & Holds Above 200D SMA”

YES 59%NO 41%Trade / Inspect Odds →

RSI-14 MOMENTUMNEUTRAL RANGE

51.730 Oversold · 70 Hot

ALTMAN-Z SHIELDFORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)

8.30>3.0 Fortress Safe

PIOTROSKI F-SCOREHIGH QUALITY (7–9)

7 / 99-Pt Accounting

52-WEEK LASER RANGE61% OF RANGE

L: $98$146.24H: $176

1. Money & Cash Health● MIXED

Are profits real cash in the bank?

Decent core business (44% profit margin), though cash flow growth is moderate rather than explosive right now.

Factor Grade: C-RQD 12 / 20

2. Big Money & Insiders● TRIMMING

Are whales & executives buying or selling?

Insiders and big institutional desks have been trimming shares rather than stepping up to buy.

Factor Grade: DRQD 20 / 40

3. Hidden Risks & Market Weather● WATCH

SEC fine-print scan & interest-rate fit

No major SEC filing blowups, though current interest rates and Fed liquidity call for normal position sizing.

Factor Grade: C+RQD 27 / 40

MULTI-MODEL JEV QUANT JURY DELIBERATION

JEV AI Jury Split (Battleground) on NOVT

Cash & Moat Bull AI

ROIC & Free Cash Flow Model

NEUTRAL (60)

6.5% ROIC with 44.4% gross margin and 0.85% FCF yield.

SEC Forensic Auditor AI

10-K Accruals & Altman-Z Guard

BULLISH (75)

Altman-Z 8.30 and Piotroski 7/9 pass balance-sheet audit.

Whale & Macro Hawk AI

Options Skew, 13F & Fed NetLiq

NEUTRAL (53)

20/40 institutional & smart-money positioning score with 12/20 macro alignment.

Bull Case: Why Buyers Like NOVT

✓Clean SEC annual filing review with no major hidden accounting time-bombs.

Bear Case: What Could Go Wrong

!Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately.
!Priced at 106x earnings—high expectations leave less room for a lukewarm quarter.

ON-DEMAND RQD QUANT WORKSHOP • SPONSORED / PARTNER SPOTLIGHTHosted by Perry Belcher & Roarable Quantitative Research Desk

Scheduled RQD Strong Buys & Whale Accumulation Briefing (NOVT Tape Review)

✓Breakdown of the highest-scoring RQD Green-Light breakouts across our 5,200+ rated universe
✓Forensic Red-Light accounting & dilution traps to review on your watchlist
✓Includes downloadable .ics calendar invite & nightly RQD rating-change email alerts

RQD INSIDER CLUB WAITLIST$49/YR PLANNED

Want Custom AI PineScript / Python Indicators & Priority Rating-Change Alerts?

Join Founding VIP Waitlist (No Card Required) →$100K Arena

NOVT // CANDLESTICK & AUTO-TRENDLINE WORKSTATION6M: +15.99%📐 HORIZONTAL RANGE

2026-11-03O $151.2H $151.2L $145.8C $146.2VOL 421.3K

RES: $154.3SUP: $126.9SMA50: $142.8SMA200: $142.6

PRIMARY-SOURCE FORENSICS, SECOND-ORDER LINKS & AI ANALYST DESK

NOVT Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure

🦋 NOVT Butterfly Map → + Track NOVT →

Share Count & Dilution Monitor

Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).

Reverse-DCF Expectations Hurdle

48.0%/yr Implied 5Y Growth

vs. +3.3% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).

Ellis Vennor Setup Ledger

No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on NOVT today. View full Setup Ledger →

🦋 Documented & Second-Order Butterfly Connections Open Graph →

No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for NOVT. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.

AI Analyst Theses, Washington Policy & Company Video

🎬 No recent verified company-specific video clip queued for NOVT today (we never pad ticker pages with unrelated generic clips). Browse Macro Video Desk →

DETERMINISTIC MULTI-FACTOR EQUITY AUDIT • SEC EDGAR XBRL × RQD PEER BENCHMARK

📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (NOVT)

Industrials Rank #130 of 485 ⚔️ AAON vs NOVT Full Matrix →

1. Head-to-Head Industrials Peer Comparison (NOVT vs. AAON, MIDD, JBTM, ENS)

Industry: Industrial Machinery/Components (208 Tracked Issuers)

Across 485 tracked Industrials securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Novanta Inc. (NOVT) ranks #130 by composite RQD confidence (59/100, grade C-) and #136 by equity capitalization ($5.51B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, MIDD leads on earnings valuation at 14.5x trailing P/E, while ENS leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 13.0% ROIC and 63.4% gross margin. MIDD currently holds the highest overall quantitative score in the immediate peer group at 65/100 (C) compared with NOVT at 59/100 (C-).

Ticker / Company	Roarable Grade	RQD Score	Trailing P/E	Gross Margin	ROIC	1D Change	Market Cap	Head-to-Head
NOVT ACTIVE Novanta Inc.	C-	59/100	106.2x	44.4%	6.5%	+0.33%	$5.51B	Benchmark Subject
AAON AAON Inc.	D-	36/100	57.7x	26.7%	9.5%	+0.88%	$5.56B	/aaon-vs-novt →
MIDD Middleby Corporation	C	65/100	14.5x	39.1%	9.7%	+3.80%	$5.38B	/midd-vs-novt →
JBTM JBT Marel Corporation	E	26/100	—	35.1%	2.6%	+5.14%	$5.66B	/jbtm-vs-novt →
ENS EnerSys	C	64/100	21.0x	63.4%	13.0%	+0.02%	$5.77B	/ens-vs-novt →

2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)

SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2025-12-31 • CIK 0001076930

In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), Novanta Inc. (NOVT) reported GAAP revenue of $980.6M (+3.3% vs. FY2024 revenue of $949.2M , and +11.2% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $53.8M, operating cash flow of $64.1M, and free cash flow of $48.4M (-65.7% YoY). On the balance sheet, NOVT closed FY2025 with $1.81B in total assets against $212.5M in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 8.30, Piotroski F-Score: 7/9).

Fiscal Period	Filing Date	Revenue	Net Income	Operating Cash Flow	Free Cash Flow	Total Assets	Total Debt
FY2025 (FY)	2025-12-31	$980.6M	$53.8M	$64.1M	$48.4M	$1.81B	$212.5M
FY2024 (FY)	2024-12-31	$949.2M	$64.1M	$158.5M	$141.3M	$1.39B	$411.9M
FY2023 (FY)	2023-12-31	$881.7M	$72.9M	$120.1M	$80.4M	$3.14B	$735.8M

3. NOVT Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)

✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLED

Is NOVT stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?

How does NOVT compare to AAON and MIDD in the Industrials sector?

What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for NOVT?

Where is NOVT trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?

NOVT last traded at $146.24 (+0.33% on volume of 395,268 shares), positioning the stock +2.42% above its 50-day simple moving average ($142.79) and +2.59% above its 200-day simple moving average ($142.55). Across its 52-week range of $98.27 to $176.38, NOVT sits at the 61.4% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 51.7 (NEUTRAL RANGE) and an implied next-earnings move of ±9.0% ($133.08 to $159.40).

Direct Sub-Reports: NOVT RQD Cockpit NOVT 12M Forecast NOVT Earnings & Move NOVT Dividends & DRIP NOVT Insiders & 13F NOVT Whale Options NOVT Profit Sankey NOVT News & Why

ROARABLE RATING BRIEF • RQD 59/100 (C-) ✓ SEC XBRL & RQD VERIFIED

NOVT — Novanta Inc.: What the Facts Mean to a Prospective Investor

Methodology: RQD v6.2 Deterministic 5-Pillar & SEC XBRL Audit

Updated: 2025-12-31

1. Roarable Rating Brief: What This Means to a Prospective Investor

Novanta Inc. (NOVT) earns a live Roarable RQD composite score of 59/100, corresponding to a C- letter grade (Roarable Hold) at a spot price of $146.24 (+0.33% 1D, market capitalization $5.51B).

Fundamental Cash Engine (12/20): Anchored by return on invested capital (ROIC) of 6.5%, gross margin of 44.4%, operating margin of 9.6%, and free cash flow yield of 0.85%.
Whale 13F & Options Flow (12/20) + Insider Conviction (15/20): Tracks institutional 13F accumulation, CBOE options call/put positioning, and SEC Form 4 / Congressional PTR filings.
Macro Regime Fit (12/20) + Forensic Balance Sheet (8/20): Incorporates a 1.01x equity beta, Altman Z-Score of 8.30, Piotroski F-Score of 7/9, and Debt/Equity of 0.16x.

2. Business Model, Unit Margins & SEC Financial Trajectory

Novanta Inc. Is a NASDAQ-listed issuer in the Industrials sector, specifically Industrial Machinery/Components. Per the market data, the company reports a gross margin of 44.4%, an operating margin of 9.6%, and a net margin of 5.5%.

In its latest audited SEC EDGAR 10-K filing for FY2025 (filed 2025-12-31), Novanta Inc. (NOVT) reported $980.6M in annual revenue (up from $949.2M in FY2024, +3.3% YoY) and $53.8M in GAAP net income. Over the multi-year SEC filing window from FY2023 ($881.7M revenue, $72.9M net income) through FY2025, NOVT scaled operating cash flow to $64.1M and free cash flow to $48.4M, backed by $1.81B in total assets against $212.5M in total debt.

3. Institutional Bull vs. Bear Thesis & Valuation Tradeoff

🐂 Primary Bull Case (C- • RQD 59/100): Clean SEC annual filing review with no major hidden accounting time-bombs. Free cash flow yield of 0.85% and institutional whale pillar of 12/20. With Fundamental Cash Engine at 12/20 and Institutional Whale Flow at 12/20, sustained execution supports upside toward the upper end of the $98.27 – $176.38 52-week range.
🐻 Primary Bear Case & Valuation Risk: Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately. Investors must weigh 106.2x trailing P/E and 51.7x EV/EBITDA against 9.6% operating margins and a 1.01x macro beta.

4. 2nd-Order Butterfly Ripples & Key Questions to Watch

Operating in Industrial Machinery/Components (Industrials), NOVT carries a macro regime beta of 1.01 and gross margin of 44.4%.

Key Question #1: Can NOVT sustain or expand its 9.6% operating margin and 6.5% ROIC against Industrial Machinery/Components peers over the next 4 quarters?
Key Question #2: Following FY2025 revenue of $980.6M and free cash flow of $48.4M, how will capital allocation balance growth reinvestment against $212.5M in total debt?
Key Question #3: How sensitive is NOVT's 98.8x forward P/E multiple to Industrials capital spending cycles and macro interest-rate shifts (Beta 1.01x)?

NOVT Live News Feed, Press Releases & Catalyst Wire

Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Novanta Inc. (NOVT) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below

💬 Jump to NOVT Debate Forum (3) ↓

🟡 MARKET WIRE Yahoo Finance Singapore • 21h ago

Novanta Inc. (NOVT) stock price, news, quote and history

Yahoo Finance Singapore report covering Novanta Inc. (NOVT) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE GuruFocus • 1d ago

Novanta Inc (NOVT) Stock Up 3.2% and Still Undervalued -- GF Sco

GuruFocus report covering Novanta Inc. (NOVT) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE Yahoo Finance • 1d ago

What Did It Take To Hold Novanta Stock?

Yahoo Finance report covering Novanta Inc. (NOVT) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

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🟡 MARKET WIRE TradingView • 1d ago

Novanta Inc. Estimates – NASDAQ:NOVT

TradingView report covering Novanta Inc. (NOVT) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

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🟡 MARKET WIRE Simply Wall St • 1d ago

Novanta (NOVT) Stock Looks Priced For Perfection After A 41% Run

Simply Wall St report covering Novanta Inc. (NOVT) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE Benzinga • 1d ago

Here's How Much $100 Invested In Novanta 15 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

Benzinga report covering Novanta Inc. (NOVT) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE The Globe and Mail • 1d ago

Novanta (NOVT): buy, sell, or hold post Q2 earnings?

The Globe and Mail report covering Novanta Inc. (NOVT) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE MarketBeat • 1d ago

Novanta (NASDAQ:NOVT) Stock Rating Lowered by Zacks Research

MarketBeat report covering Novanta Inc. (NOVT) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🔥 THE ROAR PIT • LIVE COMMUNITY DEBATE 3 Active Posts & Replies

NOVT Bull vs. Bear Conversation Board — What's Your Call at $146.24?

🐂 67% BULLISH CONVICTION COMMUNITY TUG-OF-WAR ON NOVT 🐻 33% BEARISH CONVICTION

MA MacroHawk_NYC RQD DEBATE OPENER • Cross-Asset Macro Desk 🐂 BULLISH 🎯 Target: $173.45 (+19.0%)

📌 Pinned Debate

Debt fell from $735.8M to $212.5M while the Altman Z of 8.3 and Piotroski F of 7/9 point to a strong balance sheet.

Don't sleep on NOVT's setup in Industrials. Debt fell from $735.8M to $212.5M while the Altman Z of 8.3 and Piotroski F of 7/9 point to a strong balance sheet.. Beta of 1.01 means it moves fast when momentum turns, and the 5-pillar RQD gauge (59/100) backs up the fundamental quality.

ArenaChamp_24 🐂 BULL

@MacroHawk_NYC Agree on the RQD 59/100 quality, though with 1.01 beta I'm scaling in with half-size at $145.76 and keeping dry powder in case we test $135.56.

RE RedlineAuditor RQD DEBATE OPENER • Accounting Quality Watch 🐻 BEARISH 🎯 Target: $120.98 (-17.0%)

Spot @ $145.76

A P/E (TTM) of 106.2 and EV/EBITDA of 51.7 sit against ROIC of 6.5% and an FCF yield of 0.85%, leaving little valuation cushion.

I respect the product at Novanta Inc., but the stock at $145.76 is a different story. A P/E (TTM) of 106.2 and EV/EBITDA of 51.7 sit against ROIC of 6.5% and an FCF yield of 0.85%, leaving little valuation cushion.. FCF yield is 0.85% and RQD sits at 59/100 (C-) — why pay up here when you can wait for next quarter's numbers?