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1. Company Snapshot

1.a. Company Description

Proto Labs, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an e-commerce driven digital manufacturer of custom prototypes and on-demand production parts in the worldwide.The company offers injection molding; computer numerical control machining; three-dimensional (3D) printing, which include stereolithography, selective laser sintering, direct metal laser sintering, multi jet fusion, polyjet, and carbon DLS processes; and sheet metal fabrication products, including quick-turn and e-commerce-enabled custom sheet metal parts.It serves developers and engineers, who use 3D computer-aided design software to design products across a range of end markets.


The company was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Maple Plain, Minnesota.

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1.b. Last Insights on PRLB

Proto Labs' recent performance was negatively impacted by a decline in earnings, with Q4 2024 earnings per share coming in at $0.38, a decrease from $0.46 in the same period last year. The company's revenue growth was also slower than expected, with a year-over-year increase of 6.5%. Additionally, Proto Labs' management's cautious outlook for the first quarter of 2025, as indicated by the company's decision to host a conference call to discuss its financial results, suggests that the company may be facing challenges in the near term.

1.c. Company Highlights

2. Proto Labs' Q3 2025 Earnings: A Strong Quarter with Record Revenue

Proto Labs reported a strong third quarter with record revenue of $135.4 million, up 7.8% year-over-year, driven by increased demand in its U.S. CNC machining and sheet metal offerings, particularly in the aerospace and defense and industrial and commercial machinery end markets. The company's non-GAAP earnings per share came in at $0.47, beating estimates of $0.39. Gross margins improved by 110 basis points from the second to third quarter, driven by improvements in both factory and network margins.

Publication Date: Nov -29

📋 Highlights
  • Record Revenue Growth:: Q3 revenue hit $135.4 million (7.8% YoY), driven by U.S. CNC machining and sheet metal demand.
  • Q4 Guidance:: Revenue projected between $125–$133 million (6% YoY growth), with non-GAAP EPS of $0.30–$0.38.
  • Customer Metrics:: Revenue per customer rose 15% YoY, while combined factory/network adoption grew 35% QoQ.
  • Network Contribution:: Proto Labs Network revenue reached $30.1 million (16.2% growth in constant currencies).

Revenue Growth and Customer Metrics

The company's revenue growth was supported by a 15% year-over-year increase in revenue per customer, indicating a successful strategy of growing share of wallet among existing customers. However, the number of unique customers was down on a year-over-year basis, a trend that the company is working to reverse. Suresh Krishna, CEO, emphasized the company's focus on driving growth through new strategic initiatives, which will be shared in 2026.

Operational Highlights and Guidance

Proto Labs saw significant improvements in its key performance indicators, including a 35% increase in customers utilizing both factory and network fulfillment in the last 12 months. The company expects revenue between $125 million and $133 million in the fourth quarter, implying 6% revenue growth year-over-year. Analysts estimate next year's revenue growth at 5.2%, which is slightly lower than the current year's growth rate.

Valuation and Outlook

With a P/E Ratio of 81.82 and an EV/EBITDA of 18.84, Proto Labs' valuation suggests that the market is pricing in a certain level of growth. The company's ROE of 2.23% and ROIC of 1.6% indicate that it is not generating exceptionally high returns on equity or invested capital. As the company continues to execute on its strategic initiatives, investors will be watching to see if it can sustain its growth momentum and improve its returns.

3. NewsRoom

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Is Proto Labs (PRLB) Outperforming Other Industrial Products Stocks This Year?

Dec -02

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Bailard Inc. Has $649,000 Stock Holdings in Proto Labs, Inc. $PRLB

Nov -15

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Protolabs Significantly Expands U.S. Metal 3D Printing Capacity

Nov -12

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4 Must-Buy Efficient Stocks to Enrich Your Portfolio in 2025

Nov -07

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Proto Labs (PRLB) Upgraded to Strong Buy: Here's What You Should Know

Nov -06

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Proto Labs: Low-Quality Growth Remains An Issue

Nov -04

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Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Oct -31

4. Business Breakdown

4.a. Revenues by Country

4.b. Revenues by Segment

5. Expected revenues mid-term growth (2.88%)

6. Segments

Injection Molding

Expected Growth: 2.5%

Proto Labs' 2.5% growth in Injection Molding is driven by increasing demand for rapid prototyping and low-volume production, fueled by the rise of e-commerce and digital marketplaces. Additionally, advancements in 3D printing and CNC machining technologies are expanding the addressable market, while strategic acquisitions and investments in digital platforms enhance operational efficiency and customer experience.

Computer Numerical Control Machining

Expected Growth: 2.8%

Proto Labs' Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machining growth of 2.8% is driven by increasing demand for rapid prototyping and low-volume production, adoption of digital manufacturing technologies, and expansion into new industries such as aerospace and medical devices. Additionally, investments in automation and process improvements have enhanced efficiency and capacity, supporting growth.

3D Printing

Expected Growth: 4.2%

Proto Labs' 3D printing segment growth of 4.2% is driven by increasing adoption in production applications, expansion into new industries such as aerospace and healthcare, and rising demand for rapid prototyping and low-volume production. Additionally, advancements in technology, material development, and cost reductions are also contributing to the growth.

Sheet Metal

Expected Growth: 1.8%

Proto Labs' Sheet Metal segment growth of 1.8% is driven by increasing demand for rapid prototyping and low-volume production from industries such as aerospace, automotive, and medical devices. Additionally, the company's investments in digital manufacturing technologies and expansion of its production capacity are contributing to the growth.

Other

Expected Growth: 2.2%

Proto Labs' 'Other' segment growth of 2.2% is driven by increasing demand for 3D printing and CNC machining services, expansion into new markets, and strategic partnerships. Additionally, the company's investments in digital manufacturing and e-commerce platforms have improved operational efficiency and enhanced customer experience, contributing to the segment's growth.

7. Detailed Products

Injection Molding

A manufacturing process for producing parts by injecting molten material into a mold.

CNC Machining

A subtractive manufacturing process that uses computer-controlled machines to cut and shape metal and plastic parts.

3D Printing

An additive manufacturing process that creates parts layer by layer from a digital file.

Sheet Metal Fabrication

A manufacturing process that involves cutting, bending, and assembling metal sheets to create custom parts.

Urethane Casting

A manufacturing process that creates soft, flexible, or rigid parts using polyurethane materials.

8. Proto Labs, Inc.'s Porter Forces

Forces Ranking

Threat Of Substitutes

Proto Labs, Inc. has a moderate threat of substitutes due to the presence of alternative manufacturing technologies and materials.

Bargaining Power Of Customers

Proto Labs, Inc. has a low bargaining power of customers due to its strong brand reputation and diversified customer base.

Bargaining Power Of Suppliers

Proto Labs, Inc. has a moderate bargaining power of suppliers due to its dependence on a few key suppliers for raw materials.

Threat Of New Entrants

Proto Labs, Inc. has a high threat of new entrants due to the increasing popularity of digital manufacturing and the ease of entry into the market.

Intensity Of Rivalry

Proto Labs, Inc. operates in a highly competitive industry with intense rivalry among established players, leading to a high intensity of rivalry.

9. SWOT Analysis

10. Capital Structure

10.a. Balance Sheet

10.b. Weighted Average Cost of capital

Value
Debt Weight 0.78%
Debt Cost 10.73%
Equity Weight 99.22%
Equity Cost 10.73%
WACC 10.73%
Leverage 0.79%

11. Quality Control: Proto Labs, Inc. passed 6 out of 9 key points

12.a Historical Valuation

12.b Price/Earnings Ratio

12.c Margin Valuation

12.d Peers Valuation

Peers Group Analysis

Stock-Card
Northwest Pipe

A-Score: 5.2/10

Value: 6.2

Growth: 6.6

Quality: 5.1

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 7.0

Volatility: 6.3

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Proto Labs

A-Score: 4.7/10

Value: 3.2

Growth: 3.9

Quality: 6.5

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 9.5

Volatility: 5.3

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
CompoSecure

A-Score: 4.5/10

Value: 6.5

Growth: 0.9

Quality: 5.6

Yield: 1.0

Momentum: 9.0

Volatility: 4.0

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Mayville Engineering Company

A-Score: 4.2/10

Value: 7.1

Growth: 7.4

Quality: 5.8

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 1.0

Volatility: 3.7

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Tredegar

A-Score: 3.8/10

Value: 5.5

Growth: 1.0

Quality: 2.4

Yield: 2.0

Momentum: 6.5

Volatility: 5.3

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Alpine 4 Holdings

A-Score: 3.2/10

Value: 10.0

Growth: 3.7

Quality: 4.0

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 1.5

Volatility: 0.0

1-Year Total Return ->

Peers Metrics

12.e Scoring Insights

12.f DCF BETA

Parameters

Short Term Growth

Short term Time

Long-Term Growth

WACC

Target Price

52.08$

Current Price

52.08$

Potential

-0.00%

Expected Cash-Flows