Is Proto Labs Stock a Good Investment?

Proto Labs Investment Advice

  PRLB
To provide specific investment advice or recommendations on Proto Labs stock, we recommend investors consider the following general factors when evaluating Proto Labs. This will help you to make an informed decision on whether to include Proto Labs in one of your diversified portfolios:
  • Examine Proto Labs' financial health by looking at its balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. Analyze key financial ratios, such as Price-to-Earnings (P/E), Price-to-Sales (P/S), and Price-to-Book (P/B), to determine whether the stock is fairly valued or over/undervalued.
  • Research Proto Labs' leadership team and their track record. Good management can help Proto Labs navigate difficult times and make strategic decisions that benefit shareholders and increases its net worth.
  • Consider the overall health of the Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components space and any emerging trends that could impact Proto Labs' business and its evolving consumer preferences.
  • Compare Proto Labs' performance and market position to its competitors. Analyze how Proto Labs is positioned in terms of product offerings, innovation, and market share.
  • Check if Proto Labs pays a dividend and its dividend yield and payout ratio.
  • Review what financial analysts are saying about Proto Labs' stock and their price targets. However, remember that analysts' opinions can vary, and their predictions may not always be accurate.
It's important to note that investing in Proto Labs stock, carries risks, and you should carefully consider your investment goals and risk tolerance before making any investment decisions. Also, remember that it's important for investors to have a long-term perspective and a well-diversified portfolio to manage the impact of stock market volatility on their investments. Below is a detailed guide on how to decide if Proto Labs is a good investment.
 
Sell
 
Buy
Cautious Hold
Proto Labs advice module can be used to check and cross-verify current recommendation provided by analysts analyzing the firm's potential to grow using all of fundamental, technical, data market data available at the time. To make sure Proto Labs is not overpriced, please check all Proto Labs fundamentals, including its price to sales, debt to equity, number of employees, as well as the relationship between the net income and short ratio . Given that Proto Labs has a price to earning of 27.47 X, we recommend you to check out Proto Labs market performance and probability of bankruptcy to ensure the company can sustain itself in the current economic cycle given your recent risk tolerance and investing horizon.

Market Performance

OKDetails

Volatility

Not too volatileDetails

Hype Condition

Under hypedDetails

Current Valuation

OvervaluedDetails

Odds Of Distress

LowDetails

Economic Sensitivity

Hyperactively responds to market trendsDetails

Investor Sentiment

InterestedDetails

Analyst Consensus

BuyDetails

Financial Strenth (F Score)

StrongDetails

Financial Leverage

Not RatedDetails

Reporting Quality (M-Score)

Unlikely ManipulatorDetails

Examine Proto Labs Stock

Researching Proto Labs' stock involves analyzing various aspects of the company and its industry to make an informed investment decision. The key areas to focus on are fundamentals, business model and competitive advantage. It is also important to analyze trends in revenue, net income, and cash flow, as well as key financial ratios, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and debt-to-equity (D/E). About 91.0% of the company shares are owned by institutional investors. The company has price-to-book ratio of 1.5. Typically companies with comparable Price to Book (P/B) are able to outperform the market in the long run. Proto Labs has Price/Earnings To Growth (PEG) ratio of 1.71. The entity had not issued any dividends in recent years.
To determine if Proto Labs is a good investment, evaluating the company's potential for future growth is also very important. This may include expanding into new markets, launching new products or services, or improving operational efficiency. Companies with strong growth prospects can be more attractive investments. This aspect of the research should be conducted in the context of the overall market and industry in which the company operates and should include an analysis of growth potential, competitive landscape, and any regulatory or economic factors that could impact the business. Some of the essential points regarding Proto Labs' research are outlined below:
Proto Labs is way too risky over 90 days horizon
Proto Labs appears to be risky and price may revert if volatility continues
Proto Labs has a strong financial position based on the latest SEC filings
Over 91.0% of the company shares are owned by institutional investors
Latest headline from gurufocus.com: Proto Labs Inc Trading 3.02 percent Higher on Nov 22

Proto Labs Quarterly Accounts Payable

15 Million

Proto Labs uses earnings reports to provide investors with an update of all three financial statements, including the income statement, the balance sheet, and the cash flow statement. Therefore, it is also crucial when considering investing in Proto Labs. Every quarterly earnings report provides investors with an overview of sales, expenses, and net income for the most recent period. It also may provide a comparison to Proto Labs' previous reporting period. The quarterly earnings reports are usually disseminated to the public via Form 10-Q, which is a legal document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission every quarter.
9th of February 2024
Upcoming Quarterly Report
View
3rd of May 2024
Next Financial Report
View
31st of December 2023
Next Fiscal Quarter End
View
9th of February 2024
Next Fiscal Year End
View
30th of September 2023
Last Quarter Report
View
31st of December 2022
Last Financial Announcement
View
Earnings surprises can significantly impact Proto Labs' stock price both in the short term and over time. Negative earnings surprises usually result in a price decline. However, it has been seen that positive earnings surprises lead to an immediate rise in a stock's price and a gradual increase over time. This is why we often hear news about some companies beating earning projections. Financial analysts spend a large amount of time predicting earnings per share (EPS) along with other important future indicators. Many analysts use forecasting models, management guidance, and additional fundamental information to derive an EPS estimate. Below are the table of largest EPS Surprises Proto Labs' investors have experienced.
Reported
Fiscal Date
Estimated EPS
Reported EPS
Surprise
2023-08-04
2023-06-300.30.330.0310 
2012-07-24
2012-06-300.20.230.0315 
2012-05-03
2012-03-310.210.240.0314 
2013-04-25
2013-03-310.310.350.0412 
2023-02-10
2022-12-310.210.260.0523 
2021-07-29
2021-06-300.440.39-0.0511 
2013-02-13
2012-12-310.260.310.0519 
2017-04-27
2017-03-310.450.510.0613 

Know Proto Labs' Top Institutional Investors

Have you ever been surprised when a price of an equity instrument such as Proto Labs is soaring high without any particular reason? This is usually happening because many institutional investors are aggressively trading Proto Labs backward and forwards among themselves. Proto Labs' institutional investor refers to the entity that pools money to purchase Proto Labs' securities or originate loans. Institutional investors include commercial and private banks, credit unions, insurance companies, pension funds, hedge funds, endowments, and mutual funds. Operating companies that invest excess capital in these types of assets may also be included in the term and may influence corporate governance by exercising voting rights in their investments.
Shares
Wellington Management Company Llp2024-06-30
364 K
Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc2024-09-30
330.8 K
Assenagon Asset Management Sa2024-09-30
299.8 K
Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management Llc2024-09-30
292.4 K
S Squared Technology, Llc2024-09-30
292 K
Northern Trust Corp2024-09-30
272.3 K
Prudential Financial Inc2024-09-30
223 K
Deutsche Bank Ag2024-06-30
191.4 K
Jupiter Asset Management Limited2024-09-30
175.8 K
Blackrock Inc2024-06-30
4.3 M
Vanguard Group Inc2024-09-30
2.9 M
Note, although Proto Labs' institutional investors appear to be way more sophisticated than retail investors, it remains unclear if professional active investment managers can reliably enhance risk-adjusted returns by an amount that exceeds fees and expenses.

Proto Labs' market capitalization trends

The company currently falls under 'Mid-Cap' category with a current market capitalization of 1.02 B.

Market Cap

1.8 Billion

Proto Labs' profitablity analysis

Last ReportedProjected for Next Year
Return On Tangible Assets 0.04  0.03 
Return On Capital Employed 0.04  0.04 
Return On Assets 0.02  0.02 
Return On Equity 0.02  0.02 
The company has Profit Margin (PM) of 0.05 %, which maeans that even a very small decline in it revenue will erase profits resulting in a net loss. This is way below average. Similarly, it shows Operating Margin (OM) of 0.07 %, which suggests for every 100 dollars of sales, it generated a net operating income of $0.07.
Determining Proto Labs' profitability involves analyzing its financial statements and using various financial metrics to determine if Proto Labs is a good buy. For example, gross profit margin measures Proto Labs' profitability after accounting for the cost of goods sold, while net profit margin measures profitability after accounting for all expenses. Other important metrics include return on assets, return on equity, and free cash flow. By reviewing multiple sources and metrics, you can gain a complete picture of Proto Labs' profitability and make more informed investment decisions.
Please note, the presentation of Proto Labs' financial position, as portrayed in its financial statements, is often influenced by management's estimates, judgments, and sometimes even manipulations. In the best case, Proto Labs' management is honest, while the outside auditors are strict and uncompromising. Please utilize our Beneish M Score to check the likelihood of Proto Labs' management manipulating its earnings.

Evaluate Proto Labs' management efficiency

Proto Labs has return on total asset (ROA) of 0.0242 % which means that it generated a profit of $0.0242 on every $100 spent on assets. This is way below average. Similarly, it shows a return on stockholder's equity (ROE) of 0.0352 %, meaning that it created $0.0352 on every $100 dollars invested by stockholders. Proto Labs' management efficiency ratios could be used to measure how well Proto Labs manages its routine affairs as well as how well it operates its assets and liabilities. As of November 25, 2024, Return On Tangible Assets is expected to decline to 0.03. In addition to that, Return On Capital Employed is expected to decline to 0.04. At present, Proto Labs' Other Assets are projected to increase significantly based on the last few years of reporting. The current year's Intangibles To Total Assets is expected to grow to 0.41, whereas Total Assets are forecasted to decline to about 487.9 M.
Last ReportedProjected for Next Year
Book Value Per Share 26.55  27.88 
Tangible Book Value Per Share 15.11  8.08 
Enterprise Value Over EBITDA 14.29  26.99 
Price Book Value Ratio 1.47  2.32 
Enterprise Value Multiple 14.29  26.99 
Price Fair Value 1.47  2.32 
Enterprise Value941.9 M1.7 B
The decision-making processes within Proto Labs are key to its success in a competitive market. By evaluating these processes, we assess the stock's potential for future gains.
Beta
1.319

Basic technical analysis of Proto Stock

As of the 25th of November, Proto Labs holds the Coefficient Of Variation of 892.08, risk adjusted performance of 0.0946, and Semi Deviation of 2.33. Compared to fundamental indicators, the technical analysis model allows you to check existing technical drivers of Proto Labs, as well as the relationship between them.

Proto Labs' insider trading activities

Some recent studies suggest that insider trading raises the cost of capital for securities issuers and decreases overall economic growth. Trading by specific Proto Labs insiders, such as employees or executives, is commonly permitted as long as it does not rely on Proto Labs' material information that is not in the public domain. Local jurisdictions usually require such trading to be reported in order to monitor insider transactions. In many U.S. states, trading conducted by corporate officers, key employees, directors, or significant shareholders must be reported to the regulator or publicly disclosed, usually within a few business days of the trade. In these cases Proto Labs insiders are required to file a Form 4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) when buying or selling shares of their own companies.

Proto Labs' Outstanding Corporate Bonds

Proto Labs issues bonds to finance its operations. Corporate bonds make up one of the largest components of the U.S. bond market, which is considered the world's largest securities market. Proto Labs uses the proceeds from bond sales for a wide variety of purposes, including financing ongoing mergers and acquisitions, buying new equipment, investing in research and development, buying back their own stock, paying dividends to shareholders, and even refinancing existing debt. Most Proto bonds can be classified according to their maturity, which is the date when Proto Labs has to pay back the principal to investors. Maturities can be short-term, medium-term, or long-term (more than ten years). Longer-term bonds usually offer higher interest rates but may entail additional risks.

Understand Proto Labs' technical and predictive indicators

Using predictive indicators to make investment decisions involves analyzing Proto Labs' various financial and market-based factors to help forecast future trends and identify investment opportunities. Select the indicators that are most relevant to your investment strategy. Each indicator has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it's essential to combine multiple indicators to get a more comprehensive view of the market and reduce the risk of making poor decisions based on limited data.

Consider Proto Labs' intraday indicators

Proto Labs intraday indicators are useful technical analysis tools used by many experienced traders. Just like the conventional technical analysis, daily indicators help intraday investors to analyze the price movement with the timing of Proto Labs stock daily movement. By combining multiple daily indicators into a single trading strategy, you can limit your risk while still earning strong returns on your managed positions.

Proto Labs Corporate Filings

14th of November 2024
Other Reports
ViewVerify
13A
8th of November 2024
An amended filing to the original Schedule 13G
ViewVerify
10Q
7th of November 2024
Quarterly performance report mandated by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to be filed by publicly traded corporations
ViewVerify
8K
1st of November 2024
Report filed with the SEC to announce major events that shareholders should know about
ViewVerify
Proto Labs time-series forecasting models is one of many Proto Labs' stock analysis techniques aimed to predict future share value based on previously observed values. Time-series forecasting models ae widely used for non-stationary data. Non-stationary data are called the data whose statistical properties e.g. the mean and standard deviation are not constant over time but instead, these metrics vary over time. These non-stationary Proto Labs' historical data is usually called time-series. Some empirical experimentation suggests that the statistical forecasting models outperform the models based exclusively on fundamental analysis to predict the direction of the market movement and maximize returns from investment trading.

Proto Stock media impact

Far too much social signal, news, headlines, and media speculation about Proto Labs that are available to investors today. That information is available publicly through Proto media outlets and privately through word of mouth or via Proto internal channels. However, regardless of the origin, that massive amount of Proto data is challenging to quantify into actionable patterns, especially for investors that are not very sophisticated with ever-evolving tools and techniques used in the investment management field.
A primary focus of Proto Labs news analysis is to determine if its current price reflects all relevant headlines and social signals impacting the current market conditions. A news analyst typically looks at the history of Proto Labs relative headlines and hype rather than examining external drivers such as technical or fundamental data. It is believed that price action tends to repeat itself due to investors' collective, patterned thinking related to Proto Labs' headlines and news coverage data. This data is often completely overlooked or insufficiently analyzed for actionable insights to drive Proto Labs alpha.

Proto Labs Sentiment by Major News Outlets

Investor sentiment, mood or attitude towards Proto Labs can have a significant impact on its stock price or the market as a whole. This sentiment can be positive or negative, and various factors, such as economic indicators, news events, or market trends, can influence it. When investor sentiment is positive, investors are more likely to buy stocks, increasing demand and increasing the stock price. Positive investor sentiment can be driven by good news about the company or the broader market, such as solid earnings reports or positive economic data.
Note that negative investor sentiment can cause investors to sell stocks, leading to a decrease in demand and a drop in the stock price. Negative sentiment can be driven by factors such as poor earnings reports, negative news about the company or industry, or broader economic concerns. It's important to note that investor sentiment is just one of many factors that can affect stock prices. Other factors, such as company performance, industry trends, and global economic conditions, can also play a significant role in determining the value of a stock.

Proto Labs Corporate Directors

Rainer GawlickIndependent DirectorProfile
Sujeet ChandIndependent DirectorProfile
Moonhie ChinIndependent DirectorProfile
John GoodmanIndependent DirectorProfile
When determining whether Proto Labs offers a strong return on investment in its stock, a comprehensive analysis is essential. The process typically begins with a thorough review of Proto Labs' financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, to assess its financial health. Key financial ratios are used to gauge profitability, efficiency, and growth potential of Proto Labs Stock. Outlined below are crucial reports that will aid in making a well-informed decision on Proto Labs Stock:
Check out Your Equity Center to better understand how to build diversified portfolios, which includes a position in Proto Labs. Also, note that the market value of any company could be closely tied with the direction of predictive economic indicators such as signals in bureau of economic analysis.
For information on how to trade Proto Stock refer to our How to Trade Proto Stock guide.
You can also try the Money Flow Index module to determine momentum by analyzing Money Flow Index and other technical indicators.
Is Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components space expected to grow? Or is there an opportunity to expand the business' product line in the future? Factors like these will boost the valuation of Proto Labs. If investors know Proto will grow in the future, the company's valuation will be higher. The financial industry is built on trying to define current growth potential and future valuation accurately. All the valuation information about Proto Labs listed above have to be considered, but the key to understanding future value is determining which factors weigh more heavily than others.
Quarterly Earnings Growth
(0.06)
Earnings Share
0.94
Revenue Per Share
19.816
Quarterly Revenue Growth
(0.04)
Return On Assets
0.0242
The market value of Proto Labs is measured differently than its book value, which is the value of Proto that is recorded on the company's balance sheet. Investors also form their own opinion of Proto Labs' value that differs from its market value or its book value, called intrinsic value, which is Proto Labs' true underlying value. Investors use various methods to calculate intrinsic value and buy a stock when its market value falls below its intrinsic value. Because Proto Labs' market value can be influenced by many factors that don't directly affect Proto Labs' underlying business (such as a pandemic or basic market pessimism), market value can vary widely from intrinsic value.
In summary, please note that there is a difference between Proto Labs' value and its price, as these two are different measures arrived at by various means. Investors typically determine if Proto Labs is a good investment by looking at such factors as earnings, sales, fundamental and technical indicators, competition as well as analyst projections. However, Proto Labs' price is the amount at which it trades on the open market and represents the number that a seller and buyer find agreeable to each party.