PRLB

Industrials

Proto Labs, Inc. · Manufacturing - Miscellaneous · $2B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
53.3
Good

Proto Labs, Inc. scores 53.3/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Industrials Sector
PRLB
53.3
Sector avg
42.4
Quality
Weak
Moat
Weak
Growth
Good
Risk
Strong
Valuation
Neutral

What is Proto Labs, Inc.?

Proto Labs is a digital manufacturer connecting engineers and developers to fast, on-demand custom parts through an e-commerce platform. Headquartered in Maple Plain, Minnesota, it serves a wide range of industrial end markets.

Proto Labs enables engineers to upload 3D CAD designs and receive custom-manufactured parts quickly. Revenue comes from injection molding, CNC machining, 3D printing, and sheet metal fabrication services delivered through a largely automated, e-commerce-driven workflow that reduces traditional manufacturing lead times.

Proto Labs was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Maple Plain, Minnesota.

  • Injection molding for custom prototypes and production parts
  • CNC machining services
  • 3D printing across multiple processes
  • Sheet metal fabrication

Is PRLB a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates PRLB as Good overall.

Proto Labs shows relative strength in its Growth and Risk pillars, suggesting a business navigating expansion while maintaining a manageable risk profile. Its Valuation pillar also registers as Good, meaning the stock does not appear obviously expensive relative to its fundamentals.

The Quality and Moat pillars both register as Weak, pointing to challenges around durable competitive advantages and underlying business quality metrics.

See the full pillar breakdown and financial metrics by signing up for a Pro account on UQS Score. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does PRLB pay dividends?

No — Proto Labs, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.

Proto Labs does not currently pay a dividend. As a growth-oriented digital manufacturer, the company reinvests resources into expanding its manufacturing capabilities and technology platform rather than returning cash to shareholders through distributions.

When does PRLB report earnings?

Proto Labs reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.

Quarterly results reflect the company's ongoing efforts to grow its digital manufacturing platform across multiple fabrication methods. Revenue trends and margin dynamics are best evaluated in the context of its Growth and Quality pillar ratings.

For the most recent quarter's results, visit Proto Labs' investor relations page directly.

PRLB Price History

-20.9% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Proto Labs, Inc.?

$
Today it would be worth
$8,220
That's a -17.8% total return, or -3.8% annualized.

Based on Proto Labs, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Proto Labs do?

Proto Labs operates a digital manufacturing platform that lets engineers upload CAD designs and receive custom parts quickly. It offers injection molding, CNC machining, 3D printing, and sheet metal fabrication, serving developers across many industrial end markets worldwide.

Does PRLB pay dividends?

No, Proto Labs does not pay a dividend. The company focuses on reinvesting in its manufacturing platform and growth initiatives rather than distributing cash to shareholders.

When does PRLB report earnings?

Proto Labs follows a standard quarterly earnings cadence. For exact dates and the most recent results, check the investor relations section of the Proto Labs website.

Is PRLB a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates PRLB as Good overall, with notable strength in Growth and Risk pillars. However, Weak Quality and Moat scores indicate areas of concern. The complete pillar breakdown is available to Pro members on UQS Score.

Is PRLB overvalued?

The Valuation pillar for PRLB is rated Good, suggesting the stock is not obviously overpriced relative to its fundamentals. Full valuation metrics are available in the Pro analysis.

What market cap bracket is Proto Labs in?

Proto Labs is classified as a small-cap company, placing it in a tier where growth potential can be meaningful but liquidity and volatility risks are typically higher than for larger peers.

Is PRLB a long-term quality indicator?

As a long-term quality indicator, PRLB's Good overall UQS Score reflects mixed signals. Strong Growth and Risk ratings are positives, but Weak Quality and Moat scores suggest the business has not yet established durable structural advantages.

What sector does PRLB belong to?

Proto Labs operates in the Industrials sector, specifically within digital and on-demand manufacturing — a niche that bridges traditional fabrication with e-commerce-driven technology platforms.

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Pro Analysis

PRLB — Score History

45505560Apr 2Apr 16Apr 30May 14May 28Jun 10v5
Score changes· 27 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
Jun 10, 202653.839.030.066.9100.054.60.0
Jun 9, 202653.839.030.066.9100.054.4-0.4
Jun 8, 202654.239.330.066.9100.056.50.0
Jun 7, 202654.239.330.066.9100.056.60.0
Jun 6, 202654.239.330.066.9100.056.5+0.2
Jun 5, 202654.039.130.066.9100.055.4+0.1
Jun 4, 202653.939.130.066.9100.054.9+0.4
Jun 3, 202653.538.830.066.9100.053.2-0.3
Jun 2, 202653.839.030.066.9100.054.8-0.1
May 30, 202653.939.030.066.9100.055.0-0.1

PRLB — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

39.0/100 (25%)

Proto Labs, Inc. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Weak

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityWeak

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityWeak

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityWeak

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsStrong

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationModerate

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

66.9/100 (20%)

Proto Labs, Inc. demonstrates healthy growth trends across revenue and earnings.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthStrong

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookStrong

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

100.0/100 (15%)

Proto Labs, Inc. carries minimal financial risk with conservative leverage and strong solvency.

Financial LeverageStrong

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityStrong

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioStrong

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageStrong

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

51.4/100 (15%)

Proto Labs, Inc. has a mixed valuation — some metrics suggest fair value while others appear stretched.

Earnings YieldWeak

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowModerate

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorWeak

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

30/100 (25%)

Proto Labs, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for PRLB.

Score Composition

Quality
39.0×25%9.8
Growth
66.9×20%13.4
Risk
100.0×15%15.0
Valuation
51.4×15%7.7
Moat
30.0×25%7.5
Total
53.3Good

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the PRLB UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Proto Labs, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Proto Labs, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Proto Labs, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.