Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE:PRLB) Shares Sold by BNP Paribas Financial Markets

BNP Paribas Financial Markets trimmed its stake in shares of Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE:PRLB - Free Report) by 62.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,190 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 8,718 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets' holdings in Proto Labs were worth $203,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Northern Trust Corp boosted its position in shares of Proto Labs by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 281,639 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $11,009,000 after acquiring an additional 9,314 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP boosted its position in shares of Proto Labs by 175.7% in the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,585 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 1,010 shares during the period. Aquatic Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Proto Labs by 18.2% in the 4th quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC now owns 8,981 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $351,000 after purchasing an additional 1,381 shares during the period. Dark Forest Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Proto Labs in the 4th quarter valued at about $448,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Proto Labs by 5.5% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,300,864 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $50,851,000 after purchasing an additional 68,006 shares during the period. 84.54% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently issued reports on PRLB shares. Wall Street Zen raised Proto Labs from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Needham & Company LLC reissued a "hold" rating on shares of Proto Labs in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald upped their target price on Proto Labs from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 10th.

Proto Labs Price Performance

Shares of PRLB stock traded down $0.60 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $37.01. 175,841 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 237,222. The company has a market cap of $879.76 million, a P/E ratio of 56.94 and a beta of 1.37. The company's 50 day moving average is $36.36 and its two-hundred day moving average is $38.84. Proto Labs, Inc. has a 1 year low of $25.76 and a 1 year high of $46.73.

Proto Labs (NYSE:PRLB - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, May 2nd. The industrial products company reported $0.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $126.21 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $123.71 million. Proto Labs had a return on equity of 2.44% and a net margin of 3.31%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.40 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Proto Labs, Inc. will post 0.81 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Proto Labs declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Friday, February 7th that permits the company to repurchase $100.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the industrial products company to purchase up to 9.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often a sign that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Proto Labs Profile

Proto Labs, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a digital manufacturer of custom parts in the United States and Europe. The company offers injection molding; computer numerical control machining; three-dimensional printing; and sheet metal fabrication products. It serves developers and engineers, who use 3D computer-aided design software to design products across a range of end-markets.