Stock fact sheet · data as of
Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Industrials · Manufacturing - Miscellaneous · United States · Blend
Is PRLB undervalued?
PRLB closed at 88.97 on 16 Oct 2026, more than 30% above the GLS average fair value of 32.30. Only 0 of the 8 models that produced a value sit above the price. By our models the shares are priced well beyond what the filed earnings, cash flow and book value support; the Sunday Scan drops names like this at the "below fair value" rule.
The 8 models disagree widely: Lynch gives 10.00 while Payback Time gives 72.09. A spread that wide means the average is sensitive to which methods you trust; the model table below shows where each one lands, and the Quote page lets you switch any of them off.
The nightly engine files PRLB under Blend.
Nine valuation models for PRLB
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 | 13.00 | -85% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | 28.81 | -68% | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share |
| Graham Growth | 30.15 | -66% | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields |
| Lynch | 10.00 | -89% | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25% |
| GLS Growth | 24.30 | -73% | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year |
| 10 Cap | 65.93 | -26% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | 72.09 | -19% | 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 | 14.17 | -84% | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth |
| Zombie (liquidation) | 5.17 | -94% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 87.00 | -2% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
On financial health PRLB scores 8/9 (Piotroski): most of the nine tests - positive earnings and cash flow, falling debt, rising margins and turnover - are passed, which is the kind of balance sheet a wheel trader is happy to be assigned. The GLS Moat score is low at 4.5 out of 10, which says the ten-year record of revenue, earnings, margins and returns on capital has been inconsistent - growth and shocks rather than steady compounding.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC 3.1%, ROE 3.2%, ROA 2.7% - with debt at 0.00 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 2.9%.
Proto Labs, 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 Injection Molding 92%, Sheet Metal 8%, Other Products 0% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 2/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 8 / 9 | ROIC | 3.1% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 4.5 / 10 | ROE | 3.2% |
| Debt / equity | 0.00 | ROA | 2.7% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 2.9% | Payout ratio | 0% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 2 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 55: Fair
PRLB scores 55 out of 100 on the Wheel Score (Fair band, 50-64): a usable but unremarkable fit for the wheel strategy. The parts: Value 0/25, Health 18/20, Moat 7/15, Premium 20/20, Stability 10/20. Value (0/25) is where the points are missing.
Implied volatility is 61% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out - above the 60% ceiling of the sweet spot. Premiums are large, but the Wheel Score tapers the Premium points (20 of 20) because volatility this high usually comes with a reason. Chain open interest is 2,336 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 184k shares a day on a market cap of $2.1B, with a beta of 1.38 - 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 10 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 0 / 25 | -175% margin of safety | |
| Health | 18 / 20 | Piotroski 8/9 | |
| Moat | 7 / 15 | moat 4.5/10 | |
| Premium | 20 / 20 | implied volatility 61% | |
| Stability | 10 / 20 | 184k shares/day, $2.1B cap, beta 1.38 |
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
Proto Labs, Inc. reports earnings on 29 Oct 2026 (before the open) - inside the 14-day window the Sunday Scan avoids, because a put sold now would carry the report's gap risk.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Manufacturing - Miscellaneous
The 12 companies below are the closest to Proto Labs, Inc. by market cap within the Manufacturing - Miscellaneous industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLGI Greystone Logistics, Inc. | 0.2600 | 0.0618 | -321% | 15No options | $7M |
| MNIZ Gen 2 Technologies Inc. | 0.2500 | - | - | 17No options | $991K |
| VVX V2X, Inc. | 68.12 | 118.43 | +42% | 82Prime | $2.1B |
| RDW Redwire Corp | 8.62 | - | - | 45Weak | $2.2B |
| CTOS Custom Truck One Source, Inc. | 9.20 | 3.02 | -205% | 52Fair | $2.1B |
| TRN Trinity Industries, Inc. | 26.13 | 75.42 | +65% | 79Good | $2.1B |
| ARXS Arxis, Inc. Class A Common Stock | 53.81 | 4.70 | -1045% | 25Weak | $2.2B |
| CDLR Cadeler A/S | 21.36 | 71.53 | +70% | 39No options | $2.1B |
| ATROB Astronics Corporation | 61.54 | 44.36 | -39% | 26No options | $2.2B |
| ATRO Astronics Corporation | 61.57 | 44.37 | -39% | 51Fair | $2.2B |
| MAN ManpowerGroup Inc. | 43.74 | 77.95 | +44% | 79Good | $2.0B |
| PLUG Plug Power Inc. | 1.45 | - | - | 45Weak | $2.0B |
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about PRLB
Is PRLB undervalued right now?
No: at 88.97 the stock trades 175% above the GLS average fair value of 32.30 (data as of 16 Oct 2026), well beyond what trailing earnings, cash flow and book value support.
What is the Wheel Score of PRLB and what does it mean?
PRLB scores 55 out of 100 (Fair). 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 PRLB?
32.30 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 Proto Labs, Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 29 Oct 2026 (before the open), 13 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does PRLB have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 242 listed contracts with 2,336 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 61% 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.