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Cardiac And Digital Health Expansion Will Encounter Bitcoin Risks

Published
10 Aug 25
Updated
20 Nov 25
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AnalystConsensusTarget's Fair Value
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1Y
-69.0%
7D
-2.8%

Author's Valuation

US$65.6769.9% undervalued intrinsic discount

AnalystConsensusTarget Fair Value

Last Update 20 Nov 25

Fair value Decreased 13%

SMLR: Shares Will Reflect Upside As $1.4 Billion Acquisition Advances

Analysts have lowered their fair value estimate for Semler Scientific by approximately $10. This change is due to reduced revenue growth projections and updated guidance in light of recent acquisition and settlement developments.

Analyst Commentary

Analyst perspectives on Semler Scientific reflect a mix of optimism and caution in light of recent corporate developments, updated management guidance, and the new acquisition agreement. Their evaluations focus on both the company's valuation potential and execution risks moving forward.

Bullish Takeaways

  • Bullish analysts believe the proposed all-stock acquisition deal presents an attractive entry opportunity, viewing current share levels as undervalued relative to longer-term prospects.
  • The acquisition is seen as a potential catalyst for further consolidation within the corporate bitcoin treasury space. This could benefit Semler Scientific through increased scale and recognition.
  • Despite trimmed price targets, Buy ratings are maintained. Analysts indicate there is still room for upside if the company can effectively execute post-acquisition strategies.
  • Some analysts highlight that resolving outstanding legal settlements reduces uncertainty and could help management focus more fully on operational growth initiatives.

Bearish Takeaways

  • Bearish analysts express concern about management’s reduced revenue growth guidance and lower estimated earnings for the next several years, which is reflected in reduced price targets.
  • The company’s recent settlement of civil claims, although removing a legal overhang, brings attention to prior compliance and operational risks that may continue to impact market perception.
  • There is cautious sentiment about the long-term value proposition of the acquisition. The market continues to assess how the combined entity will drive sustainable growth and profitability.
  • Execution risks surrounding the integration process post-acquisition could place pressure on both margins and revenue momentum in the coming quarters.

What's in the News

  • Strive, Inc. announced a definitive agreement to acquire Semler Scientific for approximately $1.4 billion. Each Semler share will be exchanged for 21.05 Strive Class A shares, representing a 210% premium. The transaction is pending customary approvals and a shareholder vote (M&A Transaction Announcements).
  • Semler Scientific entered into a $29.75 million settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and other parties regarding alleged civil violations of the False Claims Act related to Medicare claims for its medical devices. The company did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement (Lawsuits & Legal Issues).
  • A major customer representing nearly 45% of second-quarter revenue informed Semler Scientific it will drastically reduce use of the QuantaFlo device. As a result, Semler forecasts at least a 50% revenue drop for the fourth quarter of 2025 (Corporate Guidance - New/Confirmed).
  • Renae Cormier resigned as Chief Financial Officer. CEO Dr. Douglas Murphy-Chutorian has been appointed as interim CFO, effective October 30, 2025 (Executive Changes - CFO).
  • Shareholders voted to increase authorized common stock from 50 million to 210 million shares at the company’s 2025 AGM. A proposal to authorize new preferred stock was not approved (Changes in Company Bylaws/Rules).

Valuation Changes

  • Fair Value Estimate: Lowered from $75.33 to $65.67 per share, reflecting a decline of about $10.
  • Discount Rate: Increased from 7.81% to 8.62%, indicating higher perceived risk in future cash flows.
  • Revenue Growth: The forecasted revenue decline is marginally less severe, with estimates improving from -30.83% to -29.67%.
  • Net Profit Margin: Projected to rise substantially from 40.29% to 91.46%.
  • Future P/E Ratio: Reduced sharply from 296.55x to 128.82x, suggesting lower expected valuation multiples moving forward.

Key Takeaways

  • Diversification into cardiac disease markets and value-based care tools positions the company for higher recurring revenues and improved long-term margins.
  • Unique strategy leveraging healthcare cash flow to invest in Bitcoin assets distinguishes its growth model and supports potential value appreciation.
  • Heavy dependence on volatile Bitcoin and shrinking core healthcare revenues heighten financial risk, while limited diversification and industry disruption threaten future stability and growth.

Catalysts

About Semler Scientific
    Provides technology solutions to enhance the clinical effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare providers in the United States.
What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
  • Expansion of the health care business into new, high-growth cardiac disease markets via CardioVanta (heart failure, arrhythmia) leverages demographic tailwinds of an aging population and higher chronic disease incidence, which could drive significantly higher revenues and diversify recurring income streams.
  • Growing adoption of preventative, non-invasive screening tools (including QuantaFlo® and future SaaS-based products) aligns with the healthcare industry's increasing focus on value-based care and early detection, supporting longer-term revenue acceleration and margin improvement.
  • Strengthened relationships and contracts with Medicare Advantage plans and payors for existing and new devices may improve reimbursement outlook and pricing power, enhancing both gross margins and earnings potential.
  • Ongoing investment in research, regulatory approvals, and expanded indications for the company's devices positions Semler to capitalize on the expansion of digital health and remote patient monitoring, facilitating entry into telemedicine and at-home care markets, which could broaden the company's addressable market and boost revenues.
  • The company's unique dual-engine model-generating operational free cash flow from healthcare to acquire appreciating Bitcoin assets with intelligent leverage-creates a differentiated value proposition, supporting potential EPS and net asset value growth as secular adoption of both digital assets and preventative health continue.

Semler Scientific Earnings and Revenue Growth

Semler Scientific Future Earnings and Revenue Growth

Assumptions

How have these above catalysts been quantified?
  • Analysts are assuming Semler Scientific's revenue will decrease by 12.5% annually over the next 3 years.
  • Analysts assume that profit margins will shrink from 86.2% today to 16.7% in 3 years time.
  • Analysts expect earnings to reach $4.8 million (and earnings per share of $-0.28) by about September 2028, down from $37.0 million today.
  • In order for the above numbers to justify the analysts price target, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 401.0x on those 2028 earnings, up from 11.2x today. This future PE is greater than the current PE for the US Medical Equipment industry at 29.7x.
  • Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to grow by 7.0% per year for the next 3 years.
  • To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 7.9%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

Semler Scientific Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Semler Scientific Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Risks

What could happen that would invalidate this narrative?
  • Heavy reliance on Bitcoin price appreciation and the success of a highly leveraged Bitcoin treasury strategy exposes Semler to significant volatility and downside risk if Bitcoin underperforms, which could materially impact both reported earnings and long-term shareholder equity.
  • Core healthcare revenues are declining (Q2 2025 revenues down year-over-year) due to reimbursement headwinds like the 2024 CMS rate changes, and decreased device usage at key customers, indicating risk to recurring revenue and cash flow stability required to fund ongoing operations and Bitcoin purchases.
  • The business is operating at an operating loss ($1.2M for Q2 2025) and is increasingly dependent on dilution through equity issuances or leverage (convertible debt, ATM stock offerings) to maintain liquidity and support its dual strategy, which could compress net margins and dilute per-share value for existing shareholders over time.
  • The company faces product concentration risk around QuantaFlo and limited geographic diversification, increasing vulnerability to U.S. healthcare regulatory changes, potential reimbursement cuts, or competitive threats, which could further erode earnings and future revenue growth.
  • Industry disruption from rapid advancements in AI-driven diagnostics, preference for integrated/bundled care platforms, and intensified competition from larger med-tech firms may threaten the relevance and market share of both existing and new healthcare product lines (including the CardioVanta initiative), impairing long-term earnings and valuation potential.

Valuation

How have all the factors above been brought together to estimate a fair value?
  • The analysts have a consensus price target of $85.333 for Semler Scientific based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of $101.0, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just $60.0.
  • In order for you to agree with the analyst's consensus, you'd need to believe that by 2028, revenues will be $28.8 million, earnings will come to $4.8 million, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 401.0x, assuming you use a discount rate of 7.9%.
  • Given the current share price of $28.07, the analyst price target of $85.33 is 67.1% higher. Despite analysts expecting the underlying buisness to decline, they seem to believe it's more valuable than what the market thinks.
  • We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.

How well do narratives help inform your perspective?

Disclaimer

AnalystConsensusTarget is a tool utilizing a Large Language Model (LLM) that ingests data on consensus price targets, forecasted revenue and earnings figures, as well as the transcripts of earnings calls to produce qualitative analysis. The narratives produced by AnalystConsensusTarget are general in nature and are based solely on analyst data and publicly-available material published by the respective companies. These scenarios are not indicative of the company's future performance and are exploratory in nature. Simply Wall St has no position in the company(s) mentioned. Simply Wall St may provide the securities issuer or related entities with website advertising services for a fee, on an arm's length basis. These relationships have no impact on the way we conduct our business, the content we host, or how our content is served to users. The price targets and estimates used are consensus data, and do not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and they do not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Note that AnalystConsensusTarget's analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

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