Cerus Corporation (CERS) fair value: what the stock is really worth
As of Oct 28, 2026: fair value (intrinsic value) of Cerus Corporation stock $0.83, price $2.42, upside -65.7%, quality 45 out of 100. Rating: strongly overvalued. Calculated from audited financials with 26 valuation models and 37 quality factors, updated daily.
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Price vs Fair Value
White line = price, green steps = our fair value per fiscal year. As of Oct 28, 2026.
How to read this chart
60‑month range $1.16 – $7.93 · fair‑value band $0.5900 – $1.34 · the $2.42 price screens above the $0.8300 fair value. Green steps = our fair value per fiscal year (point-in-time, no hindsight). As of Oct 28, 2026.
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Cerus Corporation operates as a biomedical products company. The company focuses on developing and commercializing the INTERCEPT Blood System to enhance blood safety.
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The company offers INTERCEPT Blood System, a proprietary technology for controlling biological replication that is designed to reduce blood-borne pathogens in donated blood components intended for transfusion.
The company also offers INTERCEPT Blood Systems for platelets plasma, and cryoprecipitation, which is designed to inactivate blood-borne pathogens in platelets and plasma donated for transfusion; INTERCEPT Blood System for red blood cells to inactivate blood-borne pathogens in red blood cells intended for transfusion; INTERCEPT Blood System for Cryoprecipitation that uses its plasma system to produce pathogen reduced cryoprecipitated fibrinogen complex for the treatment and control of bleeding, including massive hemorrhage associated with fibrinogen deficiency, as well as pathogen reduced plasma and cryoprecipitate reduced; and INTERCEPT Illuminator, an LED-based device for blood component treatment.
It sells platelet and plasma systems through its direct sales force and distributors in the United States, Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East, Latin America, and internationally.
The company was formerly known as CERUS TECHNOLOGIES INC and changed its name to Cerus Corporation in July 1996. The company was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in Concord, California.
Stock analysis
Cerus Corporation (CERS) currently trades at $2.42, while our model-based Fair Value estimate is $0.8300, 65.7% below the price, so the stock looks overvalued today.
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Valuation
Bull case: the DCF Models group reads highest at a median of $0.8300 per share, and 0 of the 7 models we run sit above the $2.42 price.
Bear case: the Multiples group reads lowest at $0.1700, and 7 of the 7 models stay below the price. Data coverage for this calculation is low.
Scenario range: $0.5900 (bear) to $1.34 (bull), the price of $2.42 sits above it. Bear and bull are the same models on cautious and optimistic assumptions, a range, not a price target.
Quality & growth
The Quality Score stands at 45/100 (below-average quality), in the Healthcare sector.
Mixed Growth: Revenue is growing, but margins or cash flow do not fully confirm the trend.
Cerus Corporation reported revenue of $206M in FY2025 versus $131M in FY2021, a compound +12.0%/yr. Reported net income was −$15.6M in FY2025.
Key figures
Market cap $485M Small · P/S ratio 2.18 · EPS (TTM) $−0.0300 · Net margin −3.1% · Return on equity −10.8% · Return on assets (EBIT) −15.0% · Operating margin −3.2% · Revenue (TTM) $222M.
Competitive moat
Our AI-assisted moat analysis scores the competitive advantage at 13 out of 100 (low confidence).
What moves the price
The share trades about 26% below its 52-week high and 73% above its 52-week low, currently below its 200-day average.
For context, the median of 10 Healthcare peers we cover trades at −3% fair-value upside, at −66%, CERS screens richer than that median.
Fair Value models
Bear$0.5900Fair Value $0.8300Bull$1.34
Price $2.42 · Upside -65.7%
Model ⓘEach model values the company its own way (discounted cash flow, earnings, assets, dividends). The fair value above starts from their evidence-weighted blend, not from a single model. In cyclical trough or peak years, after dilution or a stock split it is adjusted afterwards, so it can sit above or below the models.Bear ⓘBear = the cautious scenario: the same model computed with conservative anchors (lower growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bull it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target.BaseBull ⓘBull = the optimistic scenario: the same model computed with favourable anchors (higher growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bear it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target. If a model's bull case is above four times its base value, the table shows that limit with a > sign (like the overall Bull above): beyond it no assumption holds.Coverage ⓘCoverage = how well-backed THIS model's estimate is for this stock (0–100): how complete and reliable its input data are, and how well the model fits the company. The final Fair Value is an evidence-weighted blend, so better-evidenced models count more. Green ≥70, amber 50–69, grey below 50.
Growth Quality ⓘGrowth is valuable only when reinvestment earns attractive returns (Aswath Damodaran): sustainable growth depends on return on capital, reinvestment and efficiency. Basis: total company revenue over the periods shown on the cards (3Y/5Y/all years), not per share, so a merger can show up as a growth jump; per-share earnings growth is in the value-creation card.62/100
Revenue is growing, but margins or cash flow do not fully confirm the trend.
Revenue growth 1 year
+14.3%
Revenue growth 3 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+8.4%
Revenue growth 5 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+17.5%
Start year 2020 (pandemic). Over 10 years: +19.7% a year
Revenue growth 28 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+12.9%
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Profit margin (trend) ⓘOperating margin then vs now, from reported annual statements. A falling margin after a boom year is the classic peak-earnings signal: the growth rate then leans on an inflated base.
−63.5% (2020) → −17.6% (2025)
What shareholders gained per year ⓘWe only publish this rate when it is defensible. Reason: fiscal 2025 is a loss year, no rate is defined from a loss
not computed
Growth Forecast
A lot of optimism in the price
The price assumes more growth than the company has delivered so far and more than analysts expect.
What the price assumes ⓘThis turns our valuation around: instead of asking what the share is worth, it asks what growth the current price requires. It uses the cash the company keeps after all spending (free cash flow), the same discount rate as our models, five years of growth, then slowing evenly to 2 % a year by year ten. Compared with the analysts' sales forecasts extended to the same five years (at least three analysts, for context only, it does not enter the Fair Value): within 3 percentage points counts as "in line" (amber), below that little optimism (green), above that a lot of optimism (red).
+40.3%
Yearly growth needed for the next five years to justify today's price.
What forecasts expect ⓘAnalysts publish sales forecasts for the next two fiscal years. For the years after that, growth slows evenly to 2 % a year by year ten (2 % is the long-run rate our models use). Projected years are marked as such.
+10.2%
Yearly sales growth analysts expect, extended to five years.
After inflation (USA: IMF forecast 2.4% a year to 2030, 3.1% from 2016 to 2025) that is about +37.1% a year for the price and +7.7% for the forecasts.
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Peer GroupⓘHow this stock ranks against its industry: the green marker is this stock, the band is the typical 25–75% peer range, and the tick is the median.Medical Devices · 322 stocks
Beats the industry median on 2/10 measures
Overall it trails its industry peers.
Valuation
Quality Score45 · Below median
Fair Value upside−65.7% · Bottom 25%
Profitability
Return on assets−7.0% · Below median
Net margin (12 months)−3.1% · Below median
Operating margin (12 months)−3.2% · Bottom 25%
Growth and dividend
Revenue growth (quarter YoY)9.5% · Above median
Balance sheet
Debt / equity0.63× · Highest 25%
Valuation Multiplesvs Medical Devices median · lower = cheaper
P/B7.56× · Priciest 25%
P/S (12 months)2.19× · Cheaper than median
Price / free cash flow57.0× · Priciest 25%
Strength profile in five axes (Snowflake)
This stockSector peers
VALUE (fair-value potential)0· sector 8
FUTURE (revenue growth)48· sector 34
PAST (return on equity)0· sector 17
HEALTH (low debt)68· sector 98
DIVIDEND (yield)0· sector 35
VALUE 0: the price sits above our fair-value range.
For bloggers, editors and developers: paste this into your site or blog (a “Custom HTML” block in WordPress), it shows the current fair value and links back here. Free, plain HTML, and welcome. Full data streams (CSV/JSON) at /developers.
Cite: Fair Value Calculator (2026). "Cerus Corporation Fair Value". https://www.fairvalue-calculator.com/stock/CERS
Frequently asked questions
Is Cerus Corporation (CERS) overvalued or undervalued?
As of Oct 28, 2026, our model estimates a fair value of $0.8300 versus a price of $2.42, about −66% upside (overvalued).
What is the fair value of CERS?
Our model-based fair value for Cerus Corporation is $0.8300 (as of Oct 28, 2026), built from audited fundamentals. The current price: $2.42.
What is the quality score of CERS?
Cerus Corporation has a Quality Score of 45/100. It measures business quality (profitability, growth, cash flow, balance-sheet strength, investment discipline, share issuance). Market factors such as price momentum and volatility do not enter the number; they are shown separately in the detail view.
What is the price target for Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
Our model-based price target is the fair value of $0.8300 (as of Oct 28, 2026) from 7 valuation models. Cautious scenario $0.5900, optimistic scenario $1.34. It is a calculation from audited fundamentals, not an analyst target.
What is the Cerus Corporation stock forecast for 2026?
Our models put fair value at $0.8300, about −66% upside versus a price of $2.42 (overvalued). Cautious scenario $0.5900, optimistic scenario $1.34. The calculation is refreshed regularly with new filings.
What is the revenue of Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
Cerus Corporation reported trailing-twelve-month revenue of about $222M (latest available figure, as of Oct 28, 2026).
What growth is priced into Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
For today's price to be fair in a discounted-cash-flow model, Cerus Corporation would have to grow free cash flow by +40.3 % per year for five years (discount rate 13.6 %, then slowing evenly to 2 % perpetual growth by year ten). Over the last 5 years revenue grew +17.5 % per year. As of Oct 28, 2026.
What discount rate (WACC) does the fair value of CERS use?
Our models discount Cerus Corporation at 13.6 %: a base by market capitalisation (small), damped by beta 1.83, country premium for USA. The same rate applies in all 26 models.
What is a reverse DCF?
A reverse DCF turns the usual calculation around. Instead of deriving a value from assumptions, it takes today's price as given and asks: what free-cash-flow growth would a company have to deliver for exactly this price to be fair? The result is not a forecast but the expectation already priced in. For Cerus Corporation that is +40.3 % per year a year over ten years, using the same discount rate (13.6 %) and the same formula as our fair value.
How much growth has Cerus Corporation (CERS) delivered so far?
Over the past 5 years revenue at Cerus Corporation grew +17.5 % a year. The price currently implies +40.3 % per year free-cash-flow growth a year. Comparing the two shows how much confidence is in the price: if it demands more than has been delivered, the business has to accelerate for the maths to work.
How fast is the sector of Cerus Corporation (CERS) growing?
The median revenue growth in the sector is +6.1 % a year. That is the yardstick for the growth priced into Cerus Corporation (+40.3 % per year a year): it shows whether the expectation is within the usual range or beyond it.
What is the free cash flow yield of Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
The free-cash-flow yield on the price is 1.76 %: that much free cash flow Cerus Corporation produces per unit of market value. When it exceeds the discount rate of our models (13.6 %), the business already earns more than its cost of capital demands, and the price needs little additional growth.
What is the intrinsic value of Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
Intrinsic value and fair value mean the same thing: what the business is worth on its numbers, independent of the share price. For Cerus Corporation it is $0.8300 per share (as of Oct 28, 2026), against a price of $2.42. It is the blended result of 7 valuation models (cash flow, earnings, asset, dividend).
Is Cerus Corporation stock overvalued or undervalued in 2026?
As of Oct 28, 2026, CERS trades above its calculated fair value: price $2.42, fair value $0.8300, a gap of about −66% (overvalued). The calculation is refreshed with each new quarterly report, so the verdict can change during the year.
Is fair value the same as the market price of CERS?
No. The price is what the market pays today ($2.42); the fair value is what the company's own numbers justify ($0.8300). For Cerus Corporation the two are $1.59 per share apart. That gap is exactly why we show both numbers side by side.
How much is Cerus Corporation worth?
The market values Cerus Corporation at about $485M (market capitalisation, as of Oct 28, 2026). Per share that is $2.42; our models calculate a fair value of $0.8300 per share.
What do the bullish and bearish scenarios say about CERS?
Our models span a range for Cerus Corporation: cautious scenario $0.5900, base $0.8300, optimistic $1.34 per share (as of Oct 28, 2026, price $2.42). The range comes from different growth and margin assumptions, not from analyst opinions.
How solid is the balance sheet of Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
Balance-sheet figures for Cerus Corporation (as of Oct 28, 2026): return on equity −10.8%, debt of 0.63 per unit of equity. They feed the Quality Score of 45/100, which measures business quality independently of the share price.
How far is CERS from its 52-week high?
Cerus Corporation trades at $2.42, about 26% below its 52-week high of $3.28 and 73% above the low of $1.40 (as of Oct 28, 2026). Distance from the high says nothing about value: that is what the fair value of $0.8300 is for.
Which stocks are comparable to Cerus Corporation?
From the same area (Healthcare) we also value Abbott Laboratories,, Medtronic plc, Stryker Corporation, Boston Scientific Corporation, among others. Each of them has its own fair-value calculation on this site using the same models, so the comparison is like for like.
Is Cerus Corporation stock attractive at the current price?
The data as of Oct 28, 2026: price $2.42, calculated fair value $0.8300 (−66%), Quality Score 45/100, from 7 models. Whether that fits your horizon and risk tolerance is your call. We provide the calculation, not investment advice.
How is the fair value of CERS calculated?
We run Cerus Corporation through 7 models from four families: discounted cash flow, earnings models, asset and balance-sheet models, and dividend models. Every model gets the same audited fundamentals; the result is the weighted average of $0.8300, with the spread shown as a cautious and an optimistic scenario.
Is it still worth investing in stocks now?
The global stock market currently sits 13.4 % above its aggregate fair value. Cerus Corporation itself currently trades above fair value. An expensive market is no reason to stay out and no reason to buy everything at once: keep a broad savings plan running, buy single stocks only with money you can do without, and hold part of your money liquid while the market is high. The full picture including sectors is on is it worth investing now.
What is the share price of Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
The closing price on Oct 28, 2026 was $2.42. Our model-based fair value is $0.8300, about −66% upside (overvalued). We carry closing prices from our data provider, not a live tick.
What should I pay attention to with Cerus Corporation right now?
The price sits above even our optimistic bull case ($1.34). The favourable scenario is already priced in. The large gap to fair value rests on thin data (low evidence): fewer applicable models and a shorter history. Read it with extra caution. Solid but not exceptional quality (45/100) and above fair value, neither a clear bargain nor a standout compounder. A fairly wide model range ($0.5900 to $1.34) leaves room in how you read the outcome.
Key figures of Cerus Corporation
How large is the market capitalisation of Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
The market capitalisation of Cerus Corporation is $485M. The stock-market value of the whole company: share price times number of shares. It is what the market asks for the entire business today.
What is the P/S ratio of Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
The price-to-sales ratio of Cerus Corporation is 2.18 (last twelve months). Price to sales: market value relative to yearly revenue. Useful when profit is thin or distorted.
What are the earnings per share of Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
Earnings per share at Cerus Corporation are $−0.0300. Earnings per share over the last twelve months: total profit spread across every single share.
What is the net margin of Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
The net margin of Cerus Corporation is −3.1% (last twelve months). How much of every unit of revenue ends up as profit. 10% means 10 cents of profit per dollar of sales.
What is the return on equity of Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
The return on equity (ROE) of Cerus Corporation is −10.8% (last twelve months). Profit relative to shareholders' equity, how efficiently the company works with its owners' money.
What is the EBIT return on assets of Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
On an EBIT basis the return on assets of Cerus Corporation is −15.0% (avg 5y). Operating profit (EBIT) relative to everything the company owns, as a multi-year average. It describes the business model rather than one good or bad year.
What is the operating margin of Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
The operating margin of Cerus Corporation is −3.2% (last twelve months). Profit from the core business (before interest and taxes) relative to revenue.
How fast is revenue growing at Cerus Corporation (CERS)?
Revenue at Cerus Corporation is growing +9.5% versus a year earlier (3y avg +8.4%). How much revenue grew versus a year earlier (YoY). The 3-year average next to it puts the single year in context.
How much net debt does Cerus Corporation (CERS) carry?
The net debt of Cerus Corporation is $77.0M (fiscal year 2025, ≈ 9.0 yrs of FCF). Debt minus cash on hand. The note shows how many years of free cash flow could in theory pay it off.
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Thin data
Oct 28, 2026