Why is QuidelOrtho Corporation (QDEL) trading below its key moving averages in August 2026?

QDEL is trading below its 50-day SMA ($15.64), 200-day SMA ($20.57), and 20-day EMA ($16.39) due to persistent negative earnings and bearish technical momentum. This suggests a prevailing downtrend in the stock's price action.

What does QuidelOrtho Corporation's (QDEL) negative EPS of -15.43 signify for investors?

A negative EPS of -15.43 means QuidelOrtho Corporation is currently losing money for every share outstanding. This lack of profitability makes traditional valuation metrics like P/E ratio meaningless and signals underlying financial weakness.

Is the oversold RSI of 25.54 for QDEL a buy signal?

While an RSI of 25.54 indicates oversold conditions for QDEL, suggesting a potential for a short-term bounce, it is not a definitive buy signal on its own. The stock's overall bearish technicals and negative earnings mean the oversold state could persist or lead to further declines.

How should investors interpret the insider net buying activity for QDEL?

Insiders at QDEL are net buyers, with $1.2 million in purchases versus $112,000 in sales, indicating a moderate insider buying. This suggests some internal confidence, but it is currently outweighed by the company's negative profitability and weak technicals.

What are the main concerns regarding QuidelOrtho Corporation's (QDEL) current valuation?

The primary concern is QDEL's negative EPS of -15.43, which renders P/E ratio analysis impossible and highlights unprofitability. The modest 2.8% revenue growth does not justify the current market capitalization of $837.7 million given the losses.

Can QuidelOrtho Corporation (QDEL) recover given its current technical and fundamental state?

A recovery for QDEL would require a significant turnaround in its fundamental performance, specifically achieving profitability, alongside a sustained shift in its technical indicators from oversold and bearish to bullish. Currently, the data points towards continued challenges.

What is the outlook for the Healthcare sector's medical device industry in August 2026?

The Healthcare sector, particularly Medical Devices, generally benefits from consistent demand. However, individual company performance like QDEL's is heavily influenced by specific product cycles, regulatory approvals, and financial management, where QDEL currently shows weakness.

QDEL Stock Forecast & Price Target (2026)

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As of August 9, 2026, QuidelOrtho Corporation (QDEL) trades at $12.29. CleaRank Financial AI rates it Sell with a fair value of $10.50, 14.6% below the current price. RSI at 26 is in oversold territory, and the price is below its 50-day average of $15.64.

Last updated: August 9, 2026 (4h 54m ago) • Price at analysis: $12.29

CleaRank Financial AI • AI-powered analysis using real-time market data from TwelveData

Analysis reviewed by CleaRank editorial team. Data refreshed daily. Not financial advice.

QuidelOrtho Corporation (QDEL) is currently trading at $12.29, well below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, signaling a bearish trend. The company's earnings per share (EPS) is negative at -15.43, rendering the P/E ratio mathematically negative and indicating a lack of profitability. Despite a modest revenue growth of 2.8%, the overall financial health appears strained.

Insiders have demonstrated a moderate insider buying with net buying activity totaling $1.2 million against $112,000 in sales, suggesting some internal confidence. However, this is overshadowed by the significantly oversold technical indicators and the company's current loss-making status. The market capitalization stands at approximately $837.7 million.

QDEL Price Analysis

Market Metrics

Open

$12.67

Day Range

$11.41 to $13.22

Prev Close

$16.32

Volume

4.89M

52-Week Range

$9.92 to $35.58

Market Cap

$837.73M

Peer Benchmarking

Valuation vs Sector (Healthcare)

Performance vs XLV

Sector Position Analysis

The stock's valuation metrics position it within the sector's competitive landscape, reflecting its market standing and growth trajectory relative to industry peers.

QDEL Analysis

Company's Health 2/5

AI Analyst Target -15.00% Downside

Target Price

$10.45

AI Technical Analysis Sell

QuidelOrtho Corporation (QDEL) is exhibiting pronounced technical weakness. The current price of $12.29 is trading significantly below its 50-day SMA of $15.64 and its 200-day SMA of $20.57, indicating a strong downtrend. The 20-day EMA at $16.39 also acts as resistance, further confirming the bearish momentum.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 25.54, firmly in oversold territory, suggesting a potential for a short-term bounce. However, the MACD at -0.079 and CCI at -440.13 reinforce the prevailing bearish sentiment. The stochastic oscillator at 13.27 also points to oversold conditions, but without a clear upward turn, the risk of further decline remains elevated.

ProTips

Monitor QDEL's ability to achieve profitability and positive EPS in upcoming earnings reports, as this is critical for any sustainable recovery.
Given the oversold RSI (25.54), traders may look for short-term bounce opportunities, but the overall bearish trend suggests caution against long-term bullish positions without fundamental confirmation.
The significant insider buying is a positive signal, but its impact is currently muted by the company's negative earnings. Investors should watch if this insider conviction translates into improved operational performance.

Key Catalysts

Bearish Continued Negative EPS Trend

QuidelOrtho Corporation's EPS remains significantly negative at -15.43, indicating ongoing unprofitability which weighs heavily on investor sentiment and valuation.

Source: Internal Analysis

Bearish Price Below Key Moving Averages

The stock is trading significantly below its 50-day SMA ($15.64) and 200-day SMA ($20.57), reinforcing a bearish technical outlook and suggesting potential for further downside.

Source: Technical Analysis

Bullish Insider Net Buying Activity

Insiders are net buyers with $1.2 million in purchases versus $112,000 in sales, signaling a moderate insider buying and some internal confidence in the company's future prospects.

Source: Insider Transactions

Neutral Oversold RSI Conditions

The RSI is at 25.54, indicating oversold territory. This could precede a short-term technical bounce, but does not guarantee a reversal of the overall bearish trend.

Source: Technical Analysis

Market Outlook

The outlook for QuidelOrtho Corporation (QDEL) remains bearish in the near to medium term, given its current financial and technical standing. The stock's position below key moving averages and significantly oversold RSI suggest that downward pressure is likely to persist unless there is a significant fundamental catalyst or a broad market shift.

A potential upside would require a clear path to profitability, evidenced by improving EPS and positive net income, alongside a sustained break above resistance levels like the 20-day EMA and 50-day SMA. Conversely, continued losses and failure to break key technical levels could lead to further price depreciation, potentially testing lower support levels.

Key Statistics

Market Cap	837.73M
P/E Ratio	N/A (Negative EPS)
EPS (TTM)	-15.43
Dividend Yield	0.00%
52 Week High	35.58
52 Week Low	9.92

QuidelOrtho Corporation (QDEL) presents a challenging fundamental picture, characterized by negative earnings per share (EPS) of -15.43. This makes traditional valuation metrics like the P/E ratio uninformative, highlighting the company's current unprofitability. The reported revenue growth of 2.8% is modest and does not offset the substantial losses.

With a market capitalization of $837.7 million, the company's valuation appears stretched given its negative EPS. Sector averages for healthcare companies typically show positive P/E ratios and healthy ROE, which QDEL is currently failing to meet. The lack of positive earnings and the significant market cap suggest that the current price may not be supported by fundamental performance.

Earnings & Growth Analysis

QuidelOrtho Corporation (QDEL) is currently operating at a loss, as evidenced by its negative EPS of -15.43. This indicates that the company is not generating profits on a per-share basis. While revenue growth is reported at 2.8%, this is insufficient to cover operating expenses and generate positive net income.

The absence of positive earnings is a significant concern for investors and suggests that the company's financial performance needs substantial improvement. Without a clear path to profitability, the current market valuation remains under pressure.

Key Risks

The primary risk for QuidelOrtho Corporation (QDEL) is its persistent unprofitability, reflected in a negative EPS of -15.43, which makes standard valuation metrics unreliable. Additionally, the stock is trading significantly below key moving averages (50-day SMA, 200-day SMA, 20-day EMA), indicating strong bearish technical momentum and potential for further price declines.

Technical Indicators i

RSI (14)	25.54
MACD	-0.08
SMA 50	15.64
SMA 200	20.57

Technical Rating Bearish

RSI

Oversold

SMA Cross

Bearish

Price vs SMA

Bearish

MACD

Bearish

Moving averages show a lagging Death Cross (50-day: $15.64, 200-day: $20.57), price is trading below the 50-day SMA, RSI at 25.5 suggests oversold conditions; potential bounce setup.

Market Correlations

How this stock moves relative to other assets

Based on 1 year of daily price data. Correlations may vary over different time periods.

S&P 500 (SPY) +0.35

Weak correlation

Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) +0.30

Weak correlation

Bitcoin (BTC) -0.07

Weak correlation

Gold (XAU) +0.04

Weak correlation

Check Custom Correlation

QDEL Trade Plans

Specific entry, exit, and risk management levels

Select Your Trade Bias

Risk Tolerance

Conservative 2% Aggressive

Portfolio Value

Position Size: Enter portfolio size →

🔴 SHORT ENTRY (click to switch)

CONSERVATIVE

$12.54

2% above current price

Lower risk, wait for rally

AGGRESSIVE

$12.29

Short at current price

Higher risk, chasing the move

Risk Management

STOP LOSS

$15.82

MAX LOSS

-26.2%

Volatility-Adjusted Stop Loss

Calculated based on RSI (25.5) and current market volatility

Profit Targets (Based on Conservative Entry)

TARGET 1

$11.91

-5% (Conservative)

-3.1% (Aggressive)

TARGET 2

$11.28

-10% (Conservative)

-8.2% (Aggressive)

TARGET 3

$10.66

-15% (Conservative)

-13.3% (Aggressive)

Consider scaling out: Take 50% profit at Target 1, 30% at Target 2, let 20% run to Target 3

Calculate Your Trade

Position Size Stop Loss Risk/Reward P&L Calculator Trailing Stop Fibonacci Pivot Points Win Rate Expectancy

⚠️ High-Volatility Risk Disclaimer

QDEL is classified as a high-volatility asset (Daily Vol: 8.12%). Aggressive price swings can lead to rapid capital loss. Liquidity risks may prevent exiting trades at desired prices. This AI-generated analysis is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Generated on August 9, 2026.