Stock fact sheet · data as of
Photronics, Inc. (PLAB): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Technology · Semiconductors · United States · Value
Is PLAB undervalued?
PLAB closed at 28.36 on 16 Oct 2026, 19% below the GLS average fair value of 34.92 from 8 models (5 of them above the price). That is a moderate margin of safety: the stock passes the "below fair value" rule of the Sunday Scan, and the Wheel Score gives it 20 of the 25 Value points.
There is a wide gap between GLS Growth (9.65) and 10 Cap (66.73). When the models are this far apart the "fair value" is really a range, and the margin of safety above should be read with that range in mind.
The nightly engine files PLAB under Value: positive earnings at a P/E of 18 or less.
Nine valuation models for PLAB
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 26.29 | -7% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | 37.49 | +32% | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share |
| Graham Growth | 54.69 | +93% | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields |
| Lynch | 15.90 | -44% | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25% |
| GLS Growth | 9.65 | -66% | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year |
| 10 Cap | 66.73 | +135% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | 37.11 | +31% | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself |
| DDM | - | - | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend; no value tonight |
| EPV | 31.53 | +11% | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth |
| Zombie (liquidation) | 11.58 | -59% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 55.00 | +94% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
Photronics, Inc. scores 5 of 9 on the Piotroski F-score: a middling result that falls one point short of the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule. Some of the nine tests on profitability, leverage and efficiency are failed, so the accounts are worth a look before selling a put on the name. On durability PLAB scores 6.7/10 on the GLS Moat - a middle reading; the Scorecard on the Quote page's Financials tab shows which ten-year lines are steady and which are not.
Returns on capital are moderate - ROIC 11.6%, ROE 11.6%, ROA 7.6% - with debt at 0.01 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 6.6%.
Photronics, Inc. pays no dividend, so the DDM model does not apply and a covered-call holder earns only the premium and any price gain. Revenue comes mainly from Mainstream Integrated Circuits 44%, High end Integrated Circuits 28%, High end Flat Panel Displays 23% (quarter Q1 FY2025).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 1/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 5 / 9 | ROIC | 11.6% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 6.7 / 10 | ROE | 11.6% |
| Debt / equity | 0.01 | ROA | 7.6% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 6.6% | Payout ratio | 0% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 1 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 76: Good
With a Wheel Score of 76 - the Good band - Photronics, Inc. clears the Sunday Scan's "70 or higher" rule. The parts: Value 20/25, Health 11/20, Moat 10/15, Premium 20/20, Stability 14/20; Health (11/20) scores lowest.
Implied volatility is 49% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out - inside the 35-60% range the Wheel Score pays full marks for: enough premium to be worth selling, not so much that the risk is unpaid. Chain open interest is 31,772 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 900k shares a day on a market cap of $1.7B, with a beta of 1.32 - a high beta, so the stock tends to move more than the market and a strike can be gapped through; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 14 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 20 / 25 | 19% margin of safety | |
| Health | 11 / 20 | Piotroski 5/9 | |
| Moat | 10 / 15 | moat 6.7/10 | |
| Premium | 20 / 20 | implied volatility 49% | |
| Stability | 14 / 20 | 900k shares/day, $1.7B cap, beta 1.32 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
The next earnings report is due on 9 Dec 2026, 54 days away - outside the window of a 30-45-day put sold today.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Semiconductors
The 12 companies below are the closest to Photronics, Inc. by market cap within the Semiconductors industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about PLAB
Is PLAB undervalued right now?
By the GLS models, moderately: at 28.36 the stock trades 19% below the average fair value of 34.92 (data as of 16 Oct 2026).
What is the Wheel Score of PLAB and what does it mean?
PLAB scores 76 out of 100 (Good). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for PLAB?
34.92 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 8 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does Photronics, Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 9 Dec 2026 (before the open), 54 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does PLAB have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 132 listed contracts with 31,772 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 49% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.