Financial leverage has increased significantly, with the debt-to-equity ratio rising from 0.08 in 2023Q4 to 0.63 in 2026Q1, signaling a growing reliance on debt to fund operations.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 | Dec'00 | Dec'99 | Dec'98 | Dec'97 | Dec'96 |
|---|
| Total Current Assets | 2.02M | 1.14M | 2.75M | 3.58M | 4.92M | 3.95M | 5.43M | 7.31M | 3.71M | 2.36M | 4.59M | 8.67M | 10.37M | 11.95M | 14.33M | 4.31M | 7.46M | 4.31M | 4.94M | 7.47M | 3.13M | 3.82M | 2.72M | 5.32M | 5.29M | 8.27M | 15.36M | 9.7M | 6.7M | 9.7M | 8.2M |
| Cash & Short-Term Investments | 1.28M | 664.3K | 1.99M | 2.48M | 4.23M | 3.03M | 4.77M | 6.59M | 2.97M | 1.74M | 3.21M | 7.23M | 9.07M | 10.94M | 13.44M | 3.66M | 6.96M | 3.76M | 4.67M | 7.26M | 3M | 3.64M | 2.6M | 5.08M | 5.13M | 7.94M | 15.12M | 9.3M | 5.4M | 2.2M | 500K |
| Cash Only | 1.28M | 664.3K | 1.99M | 2.48M | 4.23M | 269.96K | 4.77M | 6.59M | 2.97M | 1.74M | 1.69M | 5.71M | 7.57M | 5.87M | 8.39M | 2.4M | 6.96M | 3.76M | 2.37M | 7.26M | 3M | 3.64M | 2.6M | 5.07M | 5.12M | 853.21K | 3.81M | 8.1M | 5.4M | 2.2M | 500K |
| Short-Term Investments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.76M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.52M | 1.51M | 1.5M | 5.08M | 5.05M | 1.26M | 0 | 0 | 2.3M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.88K | 11.25K | 7.08M | 11.31M | 1.2M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Accounts Receivable | 544.99K | 408.67K | 658.21K | 1M | 589.6K | 831.64K | 598.29K | 656.06K | 689.68K | 597.44K | 1.12M | 1.31M | 1.18M | 867.16K | 688.32K | 484.05K | 380.18K | 376.49K | 128.79K | 101.03K | 65K | 40K | 54.54K | 159.89K | 138.15K | 201.81K | 0 | 200K | 0 | 0 | 100K |
| Days Sales Outstanding | 243.48 | 133.03 | 179.89 | 402.64 | 398.76 | 240.33 | 263.6 | 153.11 | 169.1 | 144.5 | 329.88 | 239.03 | 268.3 | 146.44 | 128.36 | 208.84 | 180.8 | 193.6 | 27.98 | 91.65 | 145.88 | 105.23 | 98.89 | 226.04 | 231.81 | 518.73 | - | 365 | - | - | 365 |
| Inventory | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Days Inventory Outstanding | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Current Assets | 192.46K | 70.97K | 93.49K | 96.78K | 100.97K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52.73K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 240.99K | 200K | 1.3M | 7.5M | 7.6M |
| Total Non-Current Assets | 1.06M | 1.11M | 1.29M | 274.38K | 444.96K | 596.35K | 771.78K | 949.28K | 346.74K | 516.13K | 685.22K | 869.78K | 2.2M | 86.97K | 81.65K | 105.03K | 328.87K | 166.38K | 346.35K | 189.95K | 125.26K | 134.11K | 143.71K | 368.19K | 973.42K | 1.05M | 370.31K | 300K | 300K | 300K | 200K |
| Property, Plant & Equipment | 1.01M | 1.05M | 1.24M | 218.31K | 388.9K | 562.78K | 738.21K | 915.71K | 313.18K | 482.56K | 651.65K | 836.22K | 660.2K | 64.36K | 59.04K | 82.43K | 109.77K | 143.77K | 159.9K | 127.42K | 102.65K | 111.51K | 121.1K | 135.88K | 200.81K | 279.62K | 347.7K | 300K | 300K | 200K | 200K |
| Fixed Asset Turnover | 0.65x | 1.07x | 1.08x | 4.17x | 1.39x | 2.24x | 1.12x | 1.71x | 4.75x | 3.13x | 1.90x | 2.40x | 2.42x | 33.58x | 33.15x | 10.26x | 6.99x | 4.94x | 10.51x | 3.16x | 1.58x | 1.24x | 1.66x | 1.90x | 1.08x | 0.51x | 0.96x | 0.67x | 0.33x | 0.50x | 0.50x |
| Goodwill | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Intangible Assets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Long-Term Investments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.5M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Current Assets | 56.07K | 56.07K | 56.07K | 56.07K | 56.07K | 33.57K | 33.57K | 33.57K | 33.57K | 33.57K | 33.57K | 33.57K | 33.57K | 22.61K | 22.61K | 22.61K | 219.1K | 22.61K | 186.45K | 62.53K | 22.61K | 22.61K | 22.61K | 232.31K | 772.61K | 772.61K | 22.61K | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0 |
| Total Assets | 3.08M | 2.25M | 4.04M | 3.85M | 5.37M | 4.55M | 6.2M | 8.26M | 4.06M | 2.88M | 5.27M | 9.54M | 12.56M | 12.03M | 14.42M | 4.42M | 7.78M | 4.47M | 5.28M | 7.66M | 3.25M | 3.96M | 2.86M | 5.69M | 6.27M | 9.32M | 15.73M | 10M | 7M | 10M | 8.4M |
| Asset Turnover | 0.25x | 0.50x | 0.33x | 0.24x | 0.10x | 0.28x | 0.13x | 0.19x | 0.37x | 0.52x | 0.23x | 0.21x | 0.13x | 0.18x | 0.14x | 0.19x | 0.10x | 0.16x | 0.32x | 0.05x | 0.05x | 0.04x | 0.07x | 0.05x | 0.03x | 0.02x | 0.02x | 0.02x | 0.01x | 0.01x | 0.01x |
| Asset Growth % | -76.29% | -44.26% | 4.91% | -28.25% | 18.05% | -26.67% | -24.91% | 103.42% | 40.87% | -45.37% | -44.74% | -24.04% | 4.43% | -16.53% | 226.34% | -43.26% | 74% | -15.33% | -31.01% | 135.56% | -17.83% | 38.33% | -49.73% | -9.2% | -32.79% | -40.72% | 57.29% | 42.86% | -30% | 19.05% | -16% |
| Total Current Liabilities | 316.11K | 297.88K | 269.03K | 277.43K | 301.86K | 297.94K | 226.07K | 387.43K | 457.66K | 313.75K | 369.27K | 468.21K | 482.68K | 162.33K | 242.39K | 309.94K | 312.24K | 308.52K | 411.69K | 328.6K | 259.02K | 310.95K | 468.37K | 220.84K | 292.58K | 274.98K | 991.21K | 500K | 300K | 400K | 200K |
| Accounts Payable | 101.11K | 132.67K | 85.83K | 50.88K | 71.08K | 66.46K | 33.41K | 169.75K | 133.49K | 58.09K | 29.93K | 46.73K | 159.31K | 56.6K | 72.27K | 96.15K | 51.94K | 52.39K | 104.68K | 144.44K | 120.34K | 132.58K | 116.44K | 85.82K | 88.61K | 79.2K | 203.79K | 200K | 100K | 100K | 100K |
| Days Payables Outstanding | 595.85 | 259.4 | 118.86 | 7.87 | - | - | 4.39 | 16.85 | 20.15 | 6.78 | 2.67 | 3.6 | 13.14 | 3.54 | 6.6 | 9.7 | 5.83 | 6.01 | 12.91 | 9.13 | 18.43 | 18.44 | 16.14 | 12.35 | 12.29 | 10.53 | 25.49 | 40.56 | 24.33 | 20.28 | 30.42 |
| Short-Term Debt | 149.47K | 146.04K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Revenue (Current) | 71.56K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.73K | 50.57K | 824 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25K | 25K | 25K | 25K | 25K | 0 | 0 | 5K | 5K | 10K | 23.68K | 12K | 37.5K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Current Liabilities | 65.52K | 19.17K | 0 | 5.16K | 5.16K | 360 | 358 | 0 | 199.6K | 206.9K | 211.09K | 173.92K | 75.57K | 4.76K | 23.81K | 35.4K | 100.36K | 80.25K | 118.48K | 79.86K | 69.17K | 90.11K | 238.52K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 787.42K | 300K | 200K | 300K | 100K |
| Current Ratio | 6.38x | 3.84x | 10.21x | 12.89x | 16.30x | 13.26x | 24.01x | 18.86x | 8.11x | 7.54x | 12.43x | 18.53x | 21.48x | 73.59x | 59.13x | 13.91x | 23.88x | 13.96x | 11.99x | 22.73x | 12.07x | 12.29x | 5.80x | 24.10x | 18.09x | 30.08x | 15.50x | 19.40x | 22.33x | 24.25x | 41.00x |
| Quick Ratio | 6.38x | 3.84x | 10.21x | 12.89x | 16.30x | 13.26x | 24.01x | 18.86x | 8.11x | 7.54x | 12.43x | 18.53x | 21.48x | 73.59x | 59.13x | 13.91x | 23.88x | 13.96x | 11.99x | 22.73x | 12.07x | 12.29x | 5.80x | 24.10x | 18.09x | 30.08x | 15.50x | 19.40x | 22.33x | 24.25x | 41.00x |
| Cash Conversion Cycle | -352.37 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total Non-Current Liabilities | 981.26K | 1.02M | 1.17M | 55.36K | 267.72K | 464.13K | 646.22K | 812.6K | 501.41K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Long-Term Debt | 981.26K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Capital Lease Obligations | 2.15M | 1.02M | 1.17M | 55.36K | 267.72K | 464.13K | 646.22K | 812.6K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Tax Liabilities | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Current Liabilities | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 501.41K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Liabilities | 1.3M | 1.32M | 1.44M | 332.79K | 569.59K | 762.06K | 872.28K | 1.2M | 959.08K | 313.75K | 369.27K | 468.21K | 482.68K | 162.33K | 242.39K | 309.94K | 312.24K | 308.52K | 411.69K | 328.6K | 259.02K | 310.95K | 468.37K | 220.84K | 292.58K | 274.98K | 991.21K | 500K | 300K | 400K | 200K |
| Total Debt | 1.13M | 1.17M | 1.3M | 267.72K | 464.13K | 646.22K | 812.6K | 975.83K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Debt | -148.57K | 501.99K | -698.03K | -2.21M | -3.77M | 376.25K | -3.96M | -5.62M | -2.97M | -1.74M | -1.69M | -5.71M | -7.57M | -5.87M | -8.39M | -2.4M | -6.96M | -3.76M | -2.37M | -7.26M | -3M | -3.64M | -2.6M | -5.07M | -5.12M | -853.21K | -3.81M | -8.1M | -5.4M | -2.2M | -500K |
| Debt / Equity | 0.63x | 1.25x | 0.50x | 0.08x | 0.10x | 0.17x | 0.15x | 0.14x | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Debt / EBITDA | -0.51x | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.07x | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Interest Coverage | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total Equity | 1.78M | 933.63K | 2.6M | 3.52M | 4.8M | 3.78M | 5.33M | 7.06M | 3.1M | 2.57M | 4.9M | 9.08M | 12.08M | 11.87M | 14.17M | 4.11M | 7.47M | 4.17M | 4.87M | 7.33M | 2.99M | 3.65M | 2.39M | 5.47M | 5.97M | 9.05M | 14.74M | 9.5M | 6.7M | 9.6M | 8.2M |
| Equity Growth % | -177.41% | -64.15% | -25.97% | -26.67% | 26.77% | -28.97% | -24.51% | 127.65% | 20.73% | -47.66% | -45.96% | -24.88% | 1.79% | -16.25% | 245.07% | -45.04% | 79.4% | -14.51% | -33.54% | 144.96% | -17.93% | 52.42% | -56.26% | -8.45% | -33.98% | -38.59% | 55.14% | 41.79% | -30.21% | 17.07% | -16.33% |
| Book Value per Share | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.08 | 0.11 | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.17 | 0.24 | 0.12 | 0.11 | 0.20 | 0.38 | 0.51 | 0.52 | 0.70 | 0.22 | 0.43 | 0.26 | 0.32 | 0.48 | 0.21 | 0.27 | 0.19 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 0.75 | 1.22 | 0.86 | 0.60 | 0.94 | 0.82 |
| Total Shareholders' Equity | 1.78M | 933.63K | 2.6M | 3.52M | 4.8M | 3.78M | 5.33M | 7.06M | 3.1M | 2.57M | 4.9M | 9.08M | 12.08M | 11.87M | 14.17M | 4.11M | 7.47M | 4.17M | 4.87M | 7.33M | 2.99M | 3.65M | 2.39M | 5.47M | 5.97M | 9.05M | 14.74M | 9.5M | 6.7M | 9.6M | 8.2M |
| Common Stock | 3.49K | 3.37K | 3.37K | 3.35K | 3.31K | 3.17K | 3.16K | 3.13K | 2.77K | 2.4K | 2.4K | 2.4K | 2.39K | 2.31K | 2.27K | 1.85K | 1.83K | 1.65K | 1.54K | 1.54K | 1.45K | 1.38K | 1.28K | 1.27K | 1.22K | 1.21K | 1.21K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Retained Earnings | -128.15M | -127.62M | -125.58M | -124.26M | -122.36M | -119.69M | -117.84M | -115.5M | -111.69M | -109.06M | -106.65M | -102.41M | -98.13M | -93.32M | -87.47M | -84.41M | -80.27M | -76.4M | -72.4M | -69.8M | -62.24M | -58.93M | -55.19M | -50.92M | -46.15M | -42.2M | -37.66M | -30.1M | -26.4M | 23.7M | -20.5M |
| Treasury Stock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Accumulated OCI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.43M | -2.25M | -2.07M | -1.9M | -1.76M | -1.73M | -1.68M | -1.65M | -1.61M | -1.56M | -1.52M | -1.48M | -1.44M | -1.4M | -1.36M | -4.63K | -1.25K | -111.13K | -199.06K | -200K | -700K | -600K | -500K |
| Minority Interest | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Imminent liquidity and dilution
As reported in recent financial statements, the company's equity base has contracted from $3.5 million in 2023Q4 to $1.8 million in 2026Q1, reflecting a persistent inability to generate retained earnings and a reliance on external capital to offset chronic operating losses.
The consistent decline in equity highlights a business model that is failing to achieve the scale necessary for self-sustainability. Investors should interpret this downward trajectory as a clear indicator that the firm's intellectual property assets are not currently translating into meaningful shareholder value.
Based on the provided quarterly data, the debt-to-equity ratio has surged from 0.08 in 2023Q4 to 0.63 in 2026Q1, suggesting that the company is increasingly relying on debt financing to bridge the gap left by declining royalty revenues.
While the absolute debt levels remain relatively low, the rapid increase in leverage relative to a shrinking equity base is concerning. This shift suggests that the company's financial flexibility is narrowing, potentially limiting its ability to fund future patent defense or R&D initiatives.
According to recent SEC filings, the company's cash position has dwindled to $1.3 million as of 2026Q1, which, when measured against ongoing operating losses, indicates a precarious liquidity buffer that may necessitate further dilutive equity raises in the near term.
The volatility in the current ratio, which has fluctuated significantly over the last ten quarters, underscores the unpredictable nature of the firm's cash inflows. Without a significant and immediate inflection in royalty-bearing unit volumes, the current cash runway appears insufficient to support long-term operations.
As indicated by the balance sheet, the company's asset base is dominated by minimal PPE and a lack of goodwill, with total assets declining from $3.9 million in 2023Q4 to $3.1 million in 2026Q1, confirming an asset-light model that lacks operational leverage.
The absence of significant tangible assets suggests that the company's value is entirely tied to its intangible patent portfolio, which remains unproven in terms of commercial scalability. This asset structure leaves the firm highly exposed to the risk of patent obsolescence or failure to secure new licensing agreements.
Based on the reported figures, the company carries no goodwill on its balance sheet, which may mask the true risk of impairment if the underlying patent portfolio fails to generate the expected royalty streams in the competitive smart-glass market.
Investors should monitor the potential for future write-downs or the need for increased R&D spending to maintain the relevance of these patents. The lack of capitalized value for these assets on the balance sheet suggests that the market may be overestimating the long-term durability of the firm's intellectual property moat.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying REFR stock.
As of 2025, Research Frontiers Incorporated (REFR) had total assets of $2.3M including $1.1M in current assets.
Research Frontiers Incorporated (REFR) carries total debt of $1.2M, offset by $0.7M in cash and short-term investments. Comparing total debt to cash helps evaluate the company's debt burden and net leverage.
Research Frontiers Incorporated (REFR) has total shareholders' equity (book value) of $0.9M ($0.03 book value per share). Book value represents the net worth of the company belonging to common stock holders.
Research Frontiers Incorporated (REFR) reported a current ratio of 3.84x. A current ratio above 1.0x indicates that the company has more current assets than current liabilities, suggesting sufficient short-term liquidity.