Coupang, Inc. (CPNG) Stock Analysis

Coupang, Inc. (CPNG) Stock Analysis

Analysis from 10-Q filed 2025-11-04. Data as of Q4 2025.

Overall Grade: F (Concerning)

Coupang, Inc. faces challenges in financial performance that warrant careful analysis.

Metric Value Context
ROIC 2.5% Below expectations
FCF Margin 1.5% Cash flow pressure
Debt/Equity 0.2x Conservative leverage

Investment Thesis: Financial metrics indicate concerning business quality with areas requiring attention.

Explore Coupang, Inc.: Earnings History | Filing Intelligence | ROIC Analysis


Profitability: Coupang, Inc. earns 2.5% ROIC, Bottom 50% in Consumer Discretionary

Coupang, Inc.'s trailing-twelve-month ROIC of 2.5% ranks Bottom 50% in Consumer Discretionary companies (sector median: 8.8%), driven by NOPAT margin of 0.5% combined with asset turnover of 2.0x. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-04. Gross margin of 29.4% with operating margin at 1.4% reflects a competitive pricing environment.

Metric CPNG Rating Context
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) 2.5% Red flag Below sector median of 8.8%
Gross Margin 29.4% Adequate Competitive pricing environment
Operating Margin 1.4% Warning Moderate operational efficiency

Cash Flow: Coupang, Inc. generates $522.0M FCF at 1.5% margin, positive NaN/8 quarters

Coupang, Inc. generated $522.0M in free cash flow (TTM), a 1.5% FCF margin, a margin that ranks Bottom 50% in Consumer Discretionary. Operating cash flow exceeds net income by 8.5x, indicating high earnings quality. FCF was positive in N/A of the last 8 quarters. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-04.

Metric CPNG Rating Context
Free Cash Flow Margin 1.5% Warning Thin cash margins
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $522.0M Good Positive cash generation
OCF/Net Income 8.5x Excellent High earnings quality
FCF Consistency (8Q) N/A Warning Variable cash flow

Balance Sheet: Coupang, Inc. at 0.2x leverage

Coupang, Inc.'s debt-to-equity ratio of 0.2x reflects conservative leverage. Net cash position of $5.5B provides financial flexibility. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-04.

Metric CPNG Rating Context
Debt to Equity 0.2x Excellent Conservative capital structure
Net Cash Position $5.5B Excellent Net cash positive

Valuation: Coupang, Inc. trades at 214.5x earnings

Coupang, Inc. trades at a P/E of 214.5x. Free cash flow yield of 1.2% reflects market expectations for growth.

Metric CPNG Rating Context
P/E Ratio 214.5x Warning Premium valuation
EV/Sales 1.1x Excellent Attractive revenue multiple
FCF Yield 1.2% Warning Lower cash yield

Capital Allocation: Coupang, Inc. returns 0.0% shareholder yield

Coupang, Inc.'s total shareholder yield is 0.0% (dividends + buybacks). Source: 10-Q filed 2025-11-04.

Metric CPNG Rating Context
Total Shareholder Yield 0.0% Warning Dividend + buyback yield combined
Total Capital Returned (TTM) $0 Adequate Dividends + buybacks returned to shareholders

Sector Rankings

Metric Value Percentile vs Median
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) 2.5% Bottom 50% 0.3x below
Free Cash Flow Margin 1.5% Bottom 50% 0.6x below
Gross Margin 29.4% Bottom 50% 0.7x below
Operating Margin 1.4% Bottom 50% 0.3x below
P/E Ratio 214.5x N/A -

Financial Scorecard

Metric CPNG Rating Sector Context
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) 2.5% Red flag Bottom 50% of sector (median: 8.8%)
Free Cash Flow Margin 1.5% Warning Bottom 50% of sector (median: 2.7%)
Gross Margin 29.4% Adequate Bottom 50% of sector (median: 39.5%)
Debt to Equity Ratio 20.8% Excellent Conservative capital structure
P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings) 214.5x Warning High expectations priced in
Free Cash Flow Yield 1.2% Warning Growth-focused valuation

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Coupang, Inc.'s Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)?

Coupang, Inc. (CPNG) has a trailing twelve-month Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 2.5%. This compares below the sector median of 8.8%. An ROIC below 8% suggests the company may be destroying shareholder value.

Q: What is Coupang, Inc.'s Free Cash Flow Margin?

Coupang, Inc. (CPNG) has a free cash flow margin of 1.5%, generating $522.0 million in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. A thin FCF margin may indicate heavy reinvestment or operational challenges.

Q: Is Coupang, Inc. stock overvalued or undervalued?

Coupang, Inc. (CPNG) trades at a P/E ratio of 214.5x, which is above the sector median of N/A. The EV/Sales multiple is 1.1x. Free cash flow yield is 1.2%, reflecting growth expectations priced into the stock.

Q: What is Coupang, Inc.'s revenue and earnings growth?

Coupang, Inc. (CPNG) grew revenue by 14.1% year-over-year. Earnings per share increased by 37.5% compared to the prior year. Solid growth above 10% suggests healthy business momentum.

Q: Is Coupang, Inc. buying back stock?

Coupang, Inc. (CPNG) repurchased $243.0 million of stock over the trailing twelve months. This represents a buyback yield of 0.6%.

Q: How does Coupang, Inc. compare to competitors in Consumer Discretionary?

Compared to other companies in Consumer Discretionary, Coupang, Inc. (CPNG) shows: ROIC of 2.5% is below the sector median of 8.8% (Bottom 30%). FCF margin of 1.5% trails the sector median of 2.7% (Bottom 38% of sector). Gross margin at 29.4% is 10.2 percentage points lower than sector peers. These rankings are based on MetricDuck's analysis of all Consumer Discretionary companies with available SEC filings.

Q: What warning signs should I watch for with Coupang, Inc.?

Investors in Coupang, Inc. (CPNG) should monitor these potential warning signs: 1) FCF margin is thin at 1.5%, leaving limited buffer for economic downturns. 2) ROIC has been declining, potentially signaling deteriorating competitive position. Regular monitoring of SEC filings and quarterly trends is recommended.


Data Source: Data sourced from 10-Q filed 2025-11-04. TTM metrics as of Q4 2025.

Methodology: Financial metrics calculated from SEC 10-K and 10-Q filings using standardized formulas. Sector comparisons use peer group based on SIC code.

Scope: This analysis covers SEC filing fundamentals — profitability, cash flow, balance sheet, and valuation metrics. For analyst estimates and price targets, consult sell-side research.

This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.